CHAPTER 16

“You called this meeting. What did you need?” Mr. Pierce settled back into his recliner and pinned Nathan with an affirming stare.

The words and the look seemed so unlike the father he’d known since his mother died that Nathan was taken aback for a second. Everything and everyone around here had changed since Susannah and the baby arrived.

The ache in his chest grew by leaps and bounds. God, this was so hard.

“Susannah and Melody have to leave the ranch no later than tomorrow morning. Hawk says their being here will create a distraction for Samuel Grayson. It’ll drive him crazy until he has to get rid of them—one way or the other. And no one wants all-out war with the Devotees.”

Well, maybe he did. But he was too responsible for everyone else’s welfare to let that happen.

“I dunno,” his father began. “I wouldn’t mind taking a couple of potshots at a Devotee or two.” He grinned over at him, and Nathan felt closer to his old man than he had since he’d been a little kid.

He’d called this meeting for advice and maybe for a little bit of help. But learning everyone was behind him made him feel stronger already.

“Where’s Derek?” His father folded his arms over his chest. “He’s a part of this family, too. He should be included in this meeting.”

Kathryn sat forward in her chair. “He said he’d be here. I’m sure he’s just running a little late.”

“And Susannah?”

“Nathan asked me to have her sit with Sara and Melody while we conduct this meeting. She and I talked about the kind of things she might like to do this morning. She’s really a bright woman. Whatever we come up with, I’m sure she’ll fit in fine anywhere.”

“I don’t like this,” Mr. Pierce growled. “Not in the least. I can’t stand the idea of sending such a sweet girl and her baby off into the world alone. It don’t seem civilized.”

You and me both, Dad. “It’s not the way any of us wants things. But we have no choice.”

“Why don’t you go with her?”

Nathan ground his teeth with frustration. “Damn it, Dad, you know why. I have a ranch to run here.”

His father muttered an unrepeatable word under his breath. “You just get stupid sometimes. You know that, boy? What’s wrong with me?”

“You want to go with Susannah?”

“For pity’s sake. No, I don’t want to go with Susannah, but I can run this ranch—especially with Mac’s help.”

Nathan was about to argue the point. He’d held his negative opinions about his father’s capabilities for a long time. But on second thought, maybe those opinions had always been misguided, colored by his emotions. He was seeing his father in a whole new light these days.

“I guess you probably could do a good job. But that’s not the only reason I can’t go.”

“What else?”

“Sara. I can’t leave Sara.”

Kathryn leaned forward and frowned. “You think I don’t do a good enough job with your niece?”

“Oh, no.” Great, he was getting in deeper trouble every minute. “But Sara would never understand if I left. It’s going to be hard enough to explain when Melody and Susannah disappear. But I’ve been the person Sara has counted on her whole life, her one constant and dependable security blanket. I can’t just walk away from her.”

“Maybe you won’t have to.” Everyone turned at the sound of Derek’s voice.

His brother was lounging in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Nice of you to show up, brother.” No, no. Sarcasm was not a terrific way of getting help from your family. “Sorry, Derek. I’m a little uptight today. Did you have another idea?”

“As a matter of fact, I do. It’s taken me a while to line something up. But I got confirmation this morning.”

“What the hell are you talking about? We’re discussing my responsibilities, mainly toward Sara. You can tell us your idea for Susannah in a moment.”

“I think I’ve found the right answer for everyone involved, bro. You can thank me for it later.”

* * *

Susannah hadn’t seen Nathan all day, and the hours were slipping through her fingers. There was not enough time. But then, forever wouldn’t be enough time.

Maria had come out to Sara’s quarters a little while ago and told her Dr. Black had arrived and wanted to see her and the baby in her room. Maria stayed with Sara so she and Melody could go for a checkup. Hopefully the doctor would remove her stitches so at least she would be leaving the ranch with a clean slate.

She still didn’t have a clue where she would be going. But Kathryn and Derek had promised they would find a good place. It felt strange, learning to rely on others for her future again after trying so hard to make things happen on her own.

But she trusted these people to help—not force her into something bad or wrong.

“Now let’s take a look at that cut,” Dr. Black said after he gave Melody’s health a good report.

“I’m leaving tomorrow, so I sure hope you can take these stitches out today.”

“Well, we’ll see.” He began removing the bandage. “I’m sorry to hear you’re leaving. I assume you’re taking the baby with you. Is that right?”

“Yes, of course.” She suddenly remembered how sad he’d been on his first visit when he was looking for someone. “Did you ever find out anything about that woman and her baby you were asking about?”

“No.” He still seemed sad but didn’t appear to want to discuss it with her. “Well, look at that. Your skin has already knitted together. You must be a fast healer. I’ll be able to remove your sutures today.”

She sat still while he worked on her forehead. Finally, he stepped back and surveyed his work.

“It looks like you’re going to carry a scar from this. I did the best I could, but the wound was too jagged.”

She shrugged. “I’m not worried. I can start wearing bangs.”

What did she care? There wouldn’t be anyone around to be pretty for anyway.

The tears threatened again. She chastised herself. These waterworks had to stop. Everything was happening for a reason. And even after all he’d said, she still felt that Nathan would be better off without her in the long run. He wasn’t in as deep as she was. He could find someone else someday. She knew she never would.

This was happening the way it was meant to be.

“Is she going to live, Doc?” Nathan’s voice preceded him into the room.

Her heart stuttered as he appeared. It was so much easier to think of leaving when he wasn’t around to remind her of all she would miss.

“Probably for a very long time,” Dr. Black answered. “Unless she runs into another car explosion, that is.”

“Not to worry. No explosions of any kind where she’ll be going.”

The doctor chuckled as he packed up his bag. “Well, good luck to you.”

After the doctor left, she sat down on the edge of the bed. “What’s the news? Where will I be going?”

Nathan sat down beside her and took her hand. “Before I explain, I have something to say. To ask.”

His expression seemed so unfocused—not like Nathan at all.

“Okay.” She couldn’t imagine what was going on.

He cleared his throat. “Last night you said you loved me. Do you still feel the same way?”

Stunned, she nodded. “I…um…don’t think that’ll change anytime soon. But it’s all right. I understand that you don’t feel the same. I’ll learn to live with it. Don’t worry.”

“Quiet,” he said with a roll of his eyes. “Just listen. As it happens, I do love you—more than I ever thought possible. I was wrong not to tell you before, but I thought it would be too hard on you knowing you had to leave a man who might just perish from missing you.”

“You…what?” Had she heard him right?

“I love you, Susannah Paul. And I love Melody. And I want to spend the rest of my life telling you both that. I will make you a promise. Not another day will go by that you won’t know how much you are loved.”

“How? On the telephone? I don’t want that for you. It’ll be too hard. Find someone else, Nathan—someone who can stand beside you on the ranch you love.”

As much as she thrilled to hear him say the words, she hurt for him. Something that had been the hardest thing she’s ever done just became impossible.

“You’re not listening.” He bent his head and lasered a quick kiss across her lips. “Keep that pretty mouth closed for a second. I won’t be saying I love you on the telephone but in person. In bed. Every morning. And every night. I’m going with you and Melody. That is if you agree to the plan and want me.”

Not want him? It would take a thousand years or more to explain how much she wanted him.

“Wait a minute.” She shook her head. “What plan? What about the ranch? What about Sara?”

“My father has agreed to run the ranch until we can return. I don’t expect the Devotees will be here forever. Someday they’ll go. And when they do, we’ll be able to come home.”

She thought of Sara, how vulnerable and sweet she was. Susannah couldn’t stand the thought of Sara being without Nathan. It might kill the little girl.

“But what about…?”

“Sara? Derek and Kathryn came up with an idea. I guess it was mostly Derek’s plan. He’s certainly surprised me.”

“What’s his plan?”

“Well, Kathryn’s been concerned for some time that Sara wasn’t getting the best treatment here on the ranch. She told Derek about some special treatments for autism that she’d read about, and he looked into them.”

“But Kathryn is so good with Sara.”

“Yes, she loves her—almost as much as I do. But she also knows her limitations. Out here away from civilization, Kathryn can’t try any of the new treatments or medicines they’ve come up with in the past few years that might help Sara.”

“Oh, but Sara can’t leave the ranch. It’s all she’s ever known. What would she do without you and Kathryn?”

Nathan grinned. “You love Sara, too, don’t you?”

“Certainly. Why?”

“Because Derek found a special medical center and school in the northeast where they are having miraculous results with autistic children like Sara.”

“A school? With other kids?” It sounded like a dream come true for Sara.

“Yes. And wait until you hear about one of their programs. They pair the children who seem ready up with assistance dogs. The staff use canine therapy to promote socialization skills.”

“Sara might love that. What a great idea.”

Nathan moved in closer. “It’s a great idea as long as you and I and Melody are all there to back Sara up and get her used to her new circumstances. I wouldn’t want her to feel abandoned.”

“No. That’s not a good feeling.” She knew because she’d felt that way for most of her life. “So the plan is for all of us to go? What about Kathryn?”

“I asked her to come with us to help get Sara settled.” Nathan took a breath. “I thought you and I and Melody could use the extra hands—since two of us will be on our honeymoon.”

“Our what?”

He took her in his arms and held her close. “It’s all part of the plan,” he whispered. “Marry me, Susannah. None of this will work without you. I won’t work without you. We… I need you to make life worthwhile.”

Her tears started up again. But this time she knew they were happy tears, and she could almost stand them running down her cheeks. Smiling at Nathan, she found she’d lost her voice.

“Is that a yes?”

She nodded and pulled him down for another kiss. This time she put every unsaid word behind it.

She’d been so alone for so long, and now it amazed her that she would have a whole family. More than that, Nathan had somehow made her feel like she deserved them.

Wasn’t that astounding? The useless little girl she once was had broken out of her sad cocoon and turned into a butterfly. Having to leave the ranch wouldn’t be an end to everything she’d grown to love, after all.

Her new life was turning into something beyond special. She was leaving the ranch much wiser than when she came and going away with the knowledge that she and her baby were loved.

She might be losing the ranch she’d come to love, but she was taking friendship and love along with her. She now had a sweet baby girl to give her life meaning and a man she loved more than life itself.

Wasn’t life crazy? Running away from her old life had turned into the most magnificent new beginning she could ever have imagined.