Chapter Sixteen
“Cal, it’s Spence. Mel left here over an hour ago to meet the electrician at the store and he just called. She hasn’t shown. Have you heard anything?” After Cal said no, he continued, “I’m going to take my truck and head into town from here.”
“Want some help, boss?” one of his men asked, but he told them no. He slammed out of the house as he pulled on his coat. His mind was racing with possibilities and prayers.
A little over five miles away, more than halfway to town, Spence saw the shiny silver Lexus sitting at an angle in the ditch beside the road. He could see Melanie’s head through the window so he knew she was conscious.
He stood on his brakes, threw the gear into neutral and swung out of the truck almost at the same time. By the time he reached the car, Melanie was trying to push the door open.
“Honey, are you all right?” he demanded, yanking the door open and pulling her out.
“I’m f-frozen,” she said. “I didn’t know what to do. Your new car is ruined!” Tears ran down her cheeks.
“Who cares about the damned car. All that matters is that you’re all right.” He carried her back to his truck just as they heard sirens.
“That’ll be Cal.”
“You called Cal? Oh, that’s terrible. He had to come all the way out here to—”
“To do his job,” Spence assured her.
He slid her into the cab and cranked the heat on high. She was shaking, whether from shock or cold, he didn’t know.
Cal leaped out of his Jeep and came to the truck. “Is she all right?”
“She’s shaken. I’m going to take her in to Doc’s.”
“What happened? Did she slide off the road?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask.”
Cal started toward the truck door.
“Not now, Cal,” Spence protested.
“Just a question or two. I know how to do my job, Spence.” He gave his friend a level look.
“Sorry,” Cal said. “I’ve never—She’s—”
“I understand.”
Spence followed him as he opened the door to the cab, then stepped past him to put an arm around Melanie.
“Did you slide off the road, Melanie?” Cal asked.
“I tried to keep it on the road, but after that man hit me, I went into a spin and—”
“What man?” both men roared, and Melanie sank back against Spence’s arm.
“A man in a pickup.”
In spite of the terror filling him, Spence exchanged a smile with Cal. “Honey, could you be a little more specific? There’s lots of men out here with trucks.”
“It. . .it was a blue truck. He was going too fast and went into a spin. He came across the line and there wasn’t anything I could do.” She sobbed. “I’m sorry, Spence.”
He put both arms around her. “I told you that car doesn’t matter. You don’t have anything to apologize for. Now, we’re going to run into town and see Doc.”
“I’m sure I don’t need to. Really. I want to go home.”
He silenced her with a kiss, stepped back and closed her door. “If you need to talk to her some more, can it wait until she’s seen Doc?”
“Sure. And I will have to talk to her, Spence. Accidents happen, but leaving the scene of an accident makes that man a criminal.”
“WELL, NOW,” Doc said with a smile as he came into the examining room, but his sharp gaze was running over Melanie as she drooped in Spence’s arms. “What did you do to yourself?”
“Nothing, Doc,” Melanie said, her voice low. “I told Spence I was all right.”
“You are. But your blood pressure is elevated, and
I think you might be suffering from shock. But you’re going to be okay with some rest.”
“And the baby?” Spence asked quietly.
Melanie’s gaze stayed on Doc’s face.
“We’re going to check, but babies are pretty well insulated.” The nurse came in, pushing the ultrasound machine, as the doctor finished speaking. “Lie down and let’s have a look.”
She didn’t want to move out of Spence’s embrace. His warmth and concern had helped her. But she had no choice. She needed to know that her baby was safe.
“Looks like you’re going to have some bruising from the seat belt, but I imagine things might have been worse without it,” Doc commented as he parted the gown over her stomach.
“Will that hurt the baby?” Spence asked, standing by Melanie’s head, holding her hand.
“Nah. But Melanie will have a hard time standing up straight for a few days.”
Spence squeezed her hand.
Doc applied the jelly to her stomach for the sonogram and then started checking the machine for a reading. Because of the bruising the pressure he was putting on her stomach hurt, but Melanie gritted her teeth and closed her eyes.
“You okay?” Spence whispered.
She nodded, keeping her eyes closed.
“You’ve got an active little guy,” Doc said casually, his gaze on the screen.
“He’s all right?” Spence asked hoarsely, and Melanie’s gaze flew to the screen. Her child. She stared at the picture on the monitor, unable to believe her eyes. Spence’s hand captured hers and squeezed. She looked at him, but his gaze was fixed on the screen, amazement on his face.
He loved his child. Whatever else happened, at this moment, she was thrilled to know that Spence loved their baby.
“Doin’ fine,” Doc answered. “His heart is ticking along just like it should. Want to know if it’s a boy or a girl?” he asked.
“You can tell already?” Spence asked in surprise.
“Well, not for sure, but I’m getting pretty good at these things. Another month or two and we’ll know for sure.”
“Do we want to know, Mel?”
She appreciated his consulting her. She knew how anxious he was to have a son.
“If you want.”
“We’ll do what you want, honey.”
She stared at him, unable to see any anxiety about the sex of their child. “Tell us, Doc.”
“Well, I’d say you’ve got a little boy. A healthy little boy. And the nurse says you’ve gained three pounds, Melanie. Looks like you’re doing well.”
She smiled at him and then looked at Spence. He smiled, too, and bent and kissed her forehead.
“Now, Spence, I want you to take her home, give her a warm bath, then put her to bed. Tomorrow, you
may get up for a little while, if you feel like it, but stay warm and don’t do too much. I can’t give you a painkiller and you’re going to be uncomfortable for a couple of days.”
“It’s all right. I’ll be careful.”
“Good. And no more driving on icy roads.”
She almost protested, since her driving had been fine until the other car had hit her. But she didn’t have to.
“Mel didn’t mess up. A truck hit her and left her there.”
Doc frowned. “Cal after him?”
“Yeah.”
“You take care of your wife. Leave that stuff to Cal.”
Melanie darted a look at her husband. It hadn’t occurred to her that he would try to find the man who had hit her. “No, of course not!” she said anxiously.
“See? Her blood pressure will go up if you do.”
“I’ll take care of my wife, Doc.”
Those words sounded like heaven to Melanie.
SPENCE WAS AS GOOD as his word.
He took Melanie home and carried her into the house and up the stairs, calling for Maria as he went. She hurried up after him, anxiously asking about Melanie.
After reassuring his housekeeper that Melanie and the baby were fine, he asked her to run a warm bath
while he undressed Melanie. She protested that she was fine and could undress herself, but his gentle teasing about denying him the pleasure of doing so won her over.
Besides, the shock was wearing off. She felt stiff and sore and very tired.
After a few minutes in the bath, Spence carefully dried her off and helped dress her in a warm nightgown. Then he tucked her into bed and sat beside her.
“Maria is bringing you up some soup and a cup of hot tea. After that, try to take a nap.”
She nodded, too exhausted to argue.
Maria entered with a tray. “Edith just called. She heard about the accident and wanted to make sure Melanie was okay. She offered to come out but I told her to stay off the streets.”
“Good.” Spence took the tray and placed it on the bed for Melanie. “Do you want me to feed you?” Feeling weak, Melanie indulged herself. “Yes.”
Maria and Spence exchanged worried glances. Spence fed her while Maria hovered nearby. When she finished eating, Melanie scooted down under the covers, closed her eyes, and fell asleep.
“Is she really okay?” Maria asked.
“Doc said she was. He said she’d be stiff and uncomfortable for a few days, but he can’t give her any painkillers because of the baby. The seat belt bruised her a lot.”
“Oh, dear.”
“Maria, I’m going back into town. Will you keep an eye on Mel? I’ll take the cell phone with me in case you need me.”
“Why are you going? The roads are still so icy.”
“Someone knocked her off the road and left her there. I want to know who.”
“Now, Spence, you should let Cal handle everything.”
“She’s my wife. I’m supposed to protect her. I’ll be back as fast as I can.”
SPENCE DROVE INTO TOWN, his hands clenched on the steering wheel. He almost lost Melanie and the baby today. And he’d never told her he loved her. He’d let her believe he’d married her because of the baby—because he thought she loved Cal. He hadn’t wanted to be vulnerable.
And he almost lost her.
First he was going to find out who was responsible. Then he was going to beat the man up. After that, he was going home to tell Melanie how much he loved her.
When he entered the sheriffs office, there weren’t too many people there. But Mac and Tuck were sitting in Cal’s office while Cal talked on the phone.
“What are you guys doing here?” Spence asked.
“We heard about Melanie. Thought we’d offer to help look for the man who hit her,” Mac said.
“Yeah, or help you beat him up,” Tuck added.
Cal, hanging up the phone, said, “Hear now, there’ll be none of that. You hear me, Spence?”
“Yeah, I hear you. Have you found him?”
“Maybe. Pete stopped a truck that may be him. Pete’s bringing him in now.” He stood and crossed the office to grab another chair from outside his of fice. “I assume you’re waiting?”
“Yeah.”
“Then sit down and behave yourself. How’s Melanie?”
“Shaken up, bruised, but Doc says she’s going to be okay. The baby, too.”
“You got lucky today,” Mac said.
“Yeah.”
Silence fell, a silence filled with sympathy and support. Spence knew he’d been lucky in more than one way.
Cal caught a glimpse of the police car coming in. “They’re here.” As the other three men stood, he waved them back. “You stay here. I’m not having a brawl break out.”
Spence followed Cal to the door, but he didn’t go past it. Even though Cal was his friend, he was also the sheriff.
Pete, one of Cal’s youngest officers, led a small, old man into the office. “Sheriff, this is Rudy Kato. He was driving a blue truck that had silver paint on it. He says he spun out on the road, but he didn’t know he’d hit anyone.”
“He’s right, Officer,” the old man said, his voice
shaking. “I wouldn’t’a left if I’d known. But when I got the truck straighted up, I worked to keep it on the road and—I didn’t know. He said I hit a pregnant lady. Is she okay?”
“Yeah, she’s okay. But she may press charges, Mr. Kato.” Cal’s voice was firm and emotionless. “You were going pretty fast, weren’t you?”
“Well, that icy stuff scares me and I was trying to get home. I didn’t mean no harm.”
“Go sit down over there with Pete and let him fill out an accident report,” Cal ordered. He watched as the little old man trotted after his deputy. Then he turned around to face Spence.
“What do you want me to do? I can hold him because he did leave the scene of the accident. But I believe he didn’t know he’d hit Melanie.”
“Hell, I don’t see how he even sees over the steering wheel,” Tuck commented, staring at the little man.
Spence took off his Stetson and ran his hand through his hair. “I was furious, but it’s hard to be angry when Mel’s going to be all right, and. . .and he’s so old.”
Cal shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll have the judge put him on probation and scare him good about driving dangerously. Will that satisfy you?”
“Yeah,” Spence agreed with a sigh. “And thanks, Cal.”
“You’re a good man, Spence,” Mac said, clapping
him on his shoulder. “Forgiveness is a good thing.”
The four men exchanged looks of a brotherhood that had lasted a lot of years and remained even after the changes in their lives.
Cal walked over to Spence. “You remember when I got shot?”
Spence’s head snapped up. “Of course I remember.”
“Well, events like today make you realize what’s important in life. That’s when I knew I was going to marry Jess. Because she was the most important person in the world to me. I guess you’re lucky you’ve already married Melanie.”
Spence was glad Cal didn’t know what a fool he’d been. He’d go home and tell Melanie he loved her. It was time to risk everything. If he’d lost her—
“I’m going home to Melanie,” Spence said, shaking his friends’ hands and thanking them for being there for him.
“Good idea. Give her our love,” Cal said, echoed by Tuck and Mac.
Driving back home, Spence realized he might even owe the old man a thanks. His endangerment of Melanie had brought Spence to his senses. He needed to be honest with his wife about his feelings for her. He’d realized that even without Cal’s words.
He loved their baby. But he loved Melanie first and foremost, and it was about time he tell her.
When he got home, he wanted to talk to Melanie
at once, but she was still sleeping. In fact, she barely awoke long enough to eat a little dinner before she fell asleep again.
Spence made a quick call to Doc to confirm that all that sleep was normal and good for her before he took a hot shower and slid into bed beside her. Very carefully, he eased her body to his and slid an arm around her.
He wanted to hold her close, to know, even in his sleep, that she was with him.
FIVE O’CLOCK came and went the next morning, but Spence didn’t move from the bed. After deciding that he was staying with Melanie for a while, he dozed off and on for several hours.
When Melanie stirred, then halted her movement with a gasp of pain, he came awake at once.
“Mel, are you okay?” he asked, stroking her cheek.
“I—I hurt.”
“I know, honey, but it’s the soreness Doc warned you about. How about I draw a bath for you?”
“Mmm, that sounds good, if you don’t mind.”
He slid out of bed as easily as he could, then pulled on some jeans and a shirt and headed for the bathroom.
After he’d filled the tub, he helped her to the bathroom.
There, she looked at him, frowning. “I’ll need
help undressing and getting into the tub. Do you mind? I could call Maria if—”
“No, we don’t need Maria. I’ll help you.” He helped her remove her gown and panties and hungered to touch her until she turned around. A wide bruise ran across the front of her body where the seat belt had been.
“Wow. I’ve got a tricolored wife. I’m impressed,” he teased even as he winced at the sight.
“Really attractive, huh?”
“Amazingly beautiful,” he whispered, and stood to wrap his arms around her.
She clung to him tightly, then stepped back with a sigh. “I need to tell you something.”
“It can probably wait until after your bath. You’ll feel a lot better after soaking.”
She gave him an uncertain look, then agreed with a sigh. “Okay. After my bath.”
He lowered her into the tub. “I’ll go straighten up the bed for you.” He hurried out of the bathroom. His libido could only stand so much time viewing his naked wife’s body without reacting.
“Spence?”
“Coming, honey,” he called, slipping into the bathroom to help her out and wrap her in a big towel.
“Here are some fresh clothes,” he said, gesturing to a pile of clothes he’d gathered.
“Doc was certainly right about the pain,” she said faintly as she leaned against him.
“You want me to call him and see if there isn’t something you can take?”
“No! I don’t want to do anything that could hurt the baby. I’ll be all right.”
After she dressed, he swept her gently into his arms and carried her back into the bedroom. He got her settled against the pillows again when she sighed with relief.
Turning to leave the bedroom, thinking she might be ready for some breakfast, Spence came to an abrupt halt when she said, “I really need to tell you something.”
Spence sighed. He figured it was time for him to do some talking, too. He hoped he didn’t upset her too much. “Okay. But I’ve got something to tell you, too.”
Her eyes widened, as if she feared what he might have to say. “You do?”
“It’s nothing bad. At least, I don’t think—Never mind. What do you want to say?”
“I—I wanted you to make love to me. That’s why I quit my job.” She kept her gaze on the blanket he’d pulled over her.
“You did?” He was stunned. He’d thought she was trying to pay him back for what he’d given her. That’s what she’d said. “Why did you want me to?”
She looked even more stricken.
He fell to his knees beside the bed. “Never mind. I have something to say, too. After yesterday, I didn’t want to let another day go by without telling you. I
fell in love with you last fall. But I knew you cared about Cal.”
Her cheeks burned bright red.
“I love you, Melanie. I have for a long time. I didn’t want to tell you because of my pride. But now I have to tell you because I almost lost you. I love you and I always will. From now on I’m going to try to win your heart. But I want you here, beside me, for the rest of our lives.”
“Oh, Spence,” she cried, reaching for him. “I love you, too.”
He stared at her. “You’re sure? You’re not just saying that?”
“I wasn’t really in love with Cal. He just seemed safe. When you—when you touched me, I discovered that. I was so attracted to you, it scared me. Then you were so sweet, so gentle. . . so bossy, I couldn’t help myself. I—we—I think we were meant to be.”
Slowly, gently, he lifted her against him and kissed her. Their ardor soon had them both frustrated. Spence wanted to celebrate their love in the most elemental of ways, but he didn’t want to hurt her.
“Damn, we do get in the most awkward predicaments,” he muttered as he lowered her back to the pillow. “I mooned about the place when you wouldn’t have anything to do with me after Cal’s wedding.”
“I was embarrassed. And afraid I was going to trap you just like my mother had my father. I
couldn’t see you and risk you finding out about the baby.”
“Now I’m all you’re going to see, Mrs. Hauk, for the next fifty or sixty years.”
“No complaints here,” she said with a smile, then leaned in for another kiss.
“If we don’t stop this, I’ll have to take a cold shower, and I don’t want any more cold showers.”
“Especially not when there’s snow on the ground,” she added with a chuckle that had her wincing.
“By the way, they caught the man who hit you.”
“Who was it?”
“A little old guy, almost a hundred years old. Came about to my waist.”
“So, I gather you didn’t beat him up?”
“Nope. He didn’t even realize he’d hit you. We can press charges if you want, but—”
“No,” she said, caressing his cheek. “I’m so happy, I don’t want anyone else to suffer.”
“Me, neither,” he whispered as he lowered his head for another kiss.
Noise in the hallway warned them of visitors just before someone knocked on the bedroom door.
Spence already figured out who had come, but he swung the door open for his parents anyway. Joe carried flowers and Edith some books and magazines.
“Darling girl, are you all right?” Edith asked.
“I’m fine. Just stiff and sore. Thank you for coming to see me.”
“Of course we came,” Joe boomed. “We’re family.”
Melanie smiled at Spence. “I’m so very lucky. . . to have my family.”
Spence stood there smiling. So was he. So very lucky.