Rustler's Heart (A Kinnison Legacy Novel) (19 page)

Rein knelt in front of Rebecca. “Can I get you anything? A cup of coffee, tea?”

“Tea would be nice, Rein. Thank you.” Her voice remained steady.

He nodded. “Comin’ up.” Next to Jed and his brothers, she and Michael were like family.

Betty, silent now with her head bowed, hands clasped, chatted with God. She was one of those few and rare women that lived her religion. Not in terms of attending Sunday services every week, as they were open for the Sunday Brunch Buffet. But she believed in a higher being and Rein wasn’t about to interrupt her thoughts. He brought Rebecca’s tea, holding her hands in his as she took the cup. “He’s going to be fine.”

She nodded. Her soft brown eyes looked up at him. “He has much to live for. Our lovely Angelique is back home. It is good for Emily to be with her mother again.”

Rein had heard Michael talking once to Wyatt about Angelique’s time in the rehab center. She’d entered the facility on her own after a long bout with alcoholism and the accident that claimed her husband’s life and nearly hers and Emily’s. Emily had only been two at the time and given over to the care of her only surviving kin, Michael and Rebecca. It had been a long road, first recovering from her injuries and then her rehabilitation. Because Aimee had wanted Emily to be their flower girl, Aimee and Sally together agreed it only right to include Angelique in the bridal party. Rein nodded and realized the woman’s mind must be filled with many memories. He understood that all too well. He patted her hand. “It’s going to be okay, you’ll see.”

Needing a breath of fresh air, Rein walked into the hallway to look for either of his brothers. Given the hour, he was surprised at the traffic in the ER. A set of worried parents with a sick child stood at the admissions desk. Another doctor rushed past him and through a set of swinging doors that led to the operating room. However, he didn’t see Wyatt or Dalton.

Taking a quick look into the waiting room, he signaled to Betty that he was stepping outside. The double doors whooshed open and Rein took a deep breath, grateful for the cool air.

“I hate hospitals.”

He recognized the voice and looked in the shadows to see Wyatt seated on one of the concrete benches near the side of the building. “Yeah, me, too.”

Neither man seemed to know what to say next. Wyatt spoke first, “You know Aimee’s talked about having the baby at home, with a midwife. Did you know that Rebecca is a certified midwife?” He shook his head and clasped his hands over his knees. “I don’t know. The idea in theory sounds appealing, but what if something happened?” He glanced at Rein. “Any word yet?”

He shook his head. “Not yet. Dalton went to try to find someone. There’s an awful lot going on here tonight. I wonder if it’s always this crazy. That could be why it seems things are taking a little longer.”

Wyatt nodded, removed his hat and raked his hand through his dark, brown hair. Rein noticed the small shock of silver at Wyatt’s temples. “You know what they say…when one person dies, another is born.” He looked up at Rein. “Michael’s been like a father to us all.”

“And he’s a tough old Indian. Besides, he’s got Betty in there talking to the Man upstairs.”

Wyatt chuckled, and then pulled out his phone. “It’s almost two a.m. You suppose Aimee’s doing okay? I hate to call and wake them. She didn’t feel well after supper. Her stomach felt queasy. Is that normal?”

Rein rubbed his eyes. “I’ve never heard you fuss this much over anything in your life, Wyatt. Remember this is the woman that managed to keep a car full of kids safe when it nearly went over a cliff last winter. ”It’d had been a December to remember, for certain and most of it had happened while Rein and Dalton were stuck in Iowa during an unexpected early season storm that obliterated travel the three days before Christmas. The event that started with Aimee bringing out her kids for a pre-holiday field trip, turned out to be a pivotal, life-changing moment in his older brother’s life and as time went on, in Aimee’s life as well.

Wyatt nodded. “I know, you’re right. She’s a strong woman. It’s just that sometimes she looks so damn uncomfortable and I feel I feel guilty about that. I wish I could make things easier for her.”

“Yeah, well, she played a part in this too. She’s going to be fine. And Wyatt, you’re going to make one hell of a dad.”

“Yeah? You think I can do it?”

“I know so. Look how you handled all those kids in the house.”

“I had Aimee’s guidance. She’s amazing with those kids.”

“My point exactly. Besides, if anything had changed, we’d have heard from Liberty.”

“Yeah, I suppose that’s true.”

The ER doors swooshed open and Dalton appeared. “Doc’s in the waiting room talking to Rebecca.”

They followed him, crowding as best they could into the small room.

“We’ve gotten the preliminary tests back and they confirm what we suspected. Your husband has suffered a heart attack. However, we won’t know the severity of the episode until we do what is called a catheterization to determine the extent of the blockage in the arteries.” The doctor held Rebecca’s hand. “We’ll need you to sign a few permission forms stating your wish for us to proceed. As with any surgery there is always a measure of risk, however, from what I’ve seen thus far, and if my suspicions prove true, we can get things taken care of relatively quickly and have him back on his feet in no time.”

Rebecca waited patiently as the doctor finished. “If you feel this is what needs to be done, then yes, I will sign the papers.” She followed the doctor from the room. Rein and his brothers trailed dutifully behind.

The doctor glanced over his shoulder. “Are these your sons?”

“Not by blood, but in every other sense, yes.”

Rein placed his arm around the tiny woman and kissed her temple. He looked at his brothers and nodded toward the waiting room. “Well go wait with Betty, unless you need one of us to go with you?”

Rebecca touched his cheek and smiled. “Thank you, I can manage. I won’t be long.”

***

Rein awoke with a start and a crick in his neck. He rolled his head side to side, for a moment trying to remember where he was and why. He’d dozed off and fallen into a deep sleep. When his vision cleared, he realized a beautiful dark-eyed woman sat across from him. She caught his eye and smiled.

“Hello, Rein.” Her coal-black hair, sleek and beautiful like her Aunt Rebecca’s, she had pulled over one shoulder in a loose braid. The buff colored suede jacket she wore, her denim jeans and worn cowboy boots reminded him of how pretty she’d always been, even back in middle school.

“I must have dozed off.” He sat up and rubbed his eyes, then looked around. Wyatt and Dalton too, were fast asleep, one seated upright with his hat pulled over his eyes, and the other sprawled out on the small loveseat couch.

“You were all asleep when we got back to the room. Aunt Rebecca just fell asleep. Poor thing. This has been hard on her.” She motioned toward the coffee station, and using her coat as a pillow, eased her aunt to the small couch and covered her with a blue blanket the nurse had brought in.

Rein checked his watch, Three-thirty. Surely, they’d finished the catheterization by now. “Has anyone been in to talk to you?” he whispered as he followed Angelique around the small countertop.

“They came in about thirty minutes ago and said they found the blockage and did the angioplasty. They were preparing to put in a stint to keep the artery open. There’s only one surgeon and they said it’s been an unusually busy tonight.”

“Must be the full moon,” Rein chuckled.

“Now you sound like my uncle.” She smiled and poured a cup of coffee. She offered it to him and though it smelled freshly brewed, he declined.

“I’ve had enough, and clearly it’s not helping.” His back teeth were practically floating, truth be told. “I’m going to find a restroom and splash some cold water on my face. We should be hearing something soon.”

“How long have you been here?” Her gaze bounced to Dalton and back again. Rein knew from Sally that Angelique had had a crush on Dalton at one time, but he’d turned a blind eye, too much of a ladies man to notice the quiet young woman.

“Not long after they brought him in.” He held her eyes a moment and she quickly saw his curiosity.

“I got Aunt Rebecca’s phone call, of course, but I had to finish my shift at the market.”

“You’re working two jobs?” Rein noticed then the dark circles, touched up by makeup beneath her beautiful eyes.

“It’s just until I can get back on my feet. I have some obligations I want to get rid of.”

His mind wandered back to the ranch, wondering how Liberty and Aimee were doing. He thought of the kiss he’d shared with Liberty and wondered what had prompted her to leave in the middle of the night. Thank God he’d found her before she left, so he could tell her how he felt.

“Rein?”

“Uh, sorry, yeah.”

“I asked how Aimee and Liberty are doing. I haven’t seen them since the wedding.”

“Great, they’re doing great.” Despite the fact that Liberty had nearly flown the coop without saying goodbye. “Aimee is getting big, I mean big. I still have to wonder if she isn’t carrying two.”

“They’ve done an ultra-sound, haven’t they?”

Rein nodded. “Yep, and they say it’s just one, but I have my doubts.”

“My aunt mentioned your cabin project. How’s that coming?”

“Very well, thanks. We’ve been working hard on them since the wedding. Hoping to open up next spring, if possible. Maybe it will generate a little business for the town as well. Wyatt thinks we maybe ought to open it up to small groups, like summer camp for inner city kids.”

“Wyatt Kinnison wants to have kids out to the ranch? I heard he used to be quite a hermit—Grinch, I believe, was the term my aunt used.”

“Yeah, “Rein laughed quietly. “People do change.” He thought about how much he’d changed being around Liberty the past few weeks. Even now, the thought made his heart twitch. They weren’t ready to walk down the aisle by any means. They had a lot to talk about, a lot more to find out about each other. In the last few hours, he’d come to realize that he felt they were just beginning something good, and not ending it.

Angelique took a sip from the cup and once again her eyes darted a look at Dalton.

“Then again, there is something to be said for consistency.” Rein smiled.

She raised her brow. “He’s pretty much the same guy I remember in school.” Her tone was matter-of-fact, the sound of a woman maybe hardened around the edges from life. Still, he detected softness when she looked at Dalton and while he loved his brother dearly, there were things about him that didn’t make him commitment material. Before he opened his mouth and said something he might regret, Rein excused himself in search of the restroom.

Another hour passed before a nurse came in and told Rebecca and Angelique they could go in for a few minutes to see Michael. He’d be in ICU until they felt ready to transfer him, perhaps tomorrow, to a regular room.

Rein sat with his brothers, staring at his phone, thinking about Liberty, where things might be headed between them. He wondered how Wyatt and Dalton would take to the idea.

“Did you get any sleep?” Dalton asked as he stretched his arms over his head. He tilted his head back and forth and released a massive yawn.

“A little. I had a nice chat with Angelique.” Rein waited, gauging his brother’s reaction. “She looks good. She was always pretty, you know in school, but she’s grown up to be a beautiful woman.” Rein met Dalton’s bleary gaze. “I heard she had quite a crush on you.”

Dalton chuckled and offered a wicked grin. “One of many. What can I say?”

“You ever take her out?”

“Like a date? No,” he scoffed.

He shot back his answer so quick, it made Rein curious. “Really? Someone as pretty as—“

“Leave it alone.”

Rein’s phone buzzed, and Dalton’s, then Wyatt’s phone’s followed. All three were part of End of the Line’s volunteer firefighting squad. Though they were called primarily as back up in extreme cases such as brush fires.

“Jesus,” Rein muttered. His concerned gaze met Wyatt’s. “It’s the ranch.”

Liberty awoke coughing, her thoughts disoriented. She stumbled her way across the hall following Aimee’s cries for help. A thick, heavy haze of wood smoke permeated the air. Her mind scrambled trying to remember what she’d done before she lay down to rest for a few minutes on Rein’s bed. One by one, she heard the alarms going off throughout the rest of the house.

She rushed into the bathroom, soaked a towel and placing it over her mouth, made her way back in the hall. Aimee, holding her round belly, stumbled from her bedroom, falling into Liberty’s grasp. “Breathe in this. We’ve got to get out of here.” She placed the towel over Aimee’s mouth. She had no idea what started the blaze, but a house made of logs wouldn’t last long. With a solid grasp on Aimee’s arm, she moved toward the front room. Smoke billowed from the kitchen door.

She looked up in time to see a dark figure move across the back deck and at that instant knew this was no accident. She’d not shown up at the airport and this was Angelo’s retaliation, his promise to make things worse. Whether Franco realized anyone was home didn’t matter. His chief concern included making sure Liberty didn’t live, and it didn’t matter who got in the way. That meant Aimee and the baby were in as much danger. But Liberty would die before she let any harm come to them. “We need to get outside. Come on. Through Rein’s room. The side porch.” She shoved Aimee through the room.

The roar of the fire on the roof grew to a deafening decibel. The heat became worse, tugging at her lungs, sucking the air from them.

Her heart ached for all the memories that would be lost—the nursery, the pictures, Rein’s beautifully crafted furniture, priceless mementos turned to ash and all because of her. She refocused her efforts to get Aimee to safety before Franco could see them. Slipping out the side door, she helped Aimee over the railing and kept low as she crept to the safety behind the pile of timber at the side of the house. She prayed that her nine-one-one call would get a fire truck here in time to save the buildings near the house. Her eyes burned. She squinted in the dim light and though dark, the flames shooting from the roof now illuminated a large portion of the yard. Liberty eased the cloth away from Aimee’s face. Tears streamed down her friend’s face. Her blonde hair was streaked with soot. “Breath slow, are you okay?”