Stormy Passion (41 page)

“
I'm not so sure. I don't
know how long I'll be here. I'm just going to take one day at a
time.” Taylor glanced out the window. “Where's the bank? I don't
remember seeing one.”

“
'Cause we ain't got one.”
Joe rose from behind the desk and followed Taylor to the door. “We
have to go to Blue Ridge to do our banking. It's a damn pain, if ya
ask me.”

“
Thanks, Joe.” Taylor shook
his hand then slipped his gloves back on. “No bank, huh.
Interesting.”

Brenna drifted in and out as if she were
floating under the dark water. She could see herself standing in
her old living room. Blood was splattered on the wall and the rug.
“Why did you do this?” she could hear herself say. “Will I never
know why?”

Then she was writing her note to Taylor as
tears streamed down her face. She was almost brought back up to the
surface by a sharp pain. God her head hurt. Why did her head
hurt?

Lifting eyelids laden with lead, Brenna could
only squint at the blinding light. Quickly, she shut her eyes and
waited a few minutes before she tried again.

This time she was successful. She looked
around an unfamiliar the room and realized the white she saw wasn't
snow, but the bright lights of a hospital room.

Boy, she felt bad. Her mouth was dry and her
head hurt. She tried to lift her hand, but even that simple task
was an effort. What happened? Brenna searched the recesses of her
mind. She had been skiing and having a wonderful time until she hit
. . . Ice! Now she remembered. But how did she get here? She
squeezed her eyelids shut as she thought. A vague memory surfaced
of Taylor . . . he was crying. Had he been hurt, too?

The sound of running water caught her
attention and she turned toward the racket. Her head pounded at the
sudden movement. “Is somebody here?”

Taylor's fiancée straightened from washing
her hands and grabbed a towel. “It's good to see you're awake.”

“
What are you doing
here?”

Carol finished putting away her makeup and
turned around. “I volunteered to sit with you.”

If Carol was here, what had happened to
Taylor? Brenna tried to sit up, but every muscle in her body seemed
to hurt. “Is Taylor injured?”

Carol hurried over to the bed. “No--no he's
fine,” she said as she placed a hand on Brenna's arm to calm her
down. “What made you think Taylor had an accident?”

“
But the ice. I saw him,”
Brenna paused, muddled with jumbled thoughts. “Can I have some
water?”

“
Sure.” Carol poured her
half a cup and then explained. “Taylor knew about the ice, so he
stopped before he got to the turn. You had no idea and got in the
mess before you realized it.”

Brenna gratefully accepted the water and took
several sips of the soothing liquid. She was still just a little
confused about Taylor. She could have sworn he had been crying, but
since Taylor hadn't been hurt, she must have dreamed the whole
thing. A beeping noise penetrated her thoughts and she turned to
look at a
heart monitor
. “Why do I have that thing?”
Lord, she was going to die
. “Maybe you should tell me
exactly what happened. I seem to be disoriented, and my head
hurts.”

“
I imagine it does.” Carol
placed Brenna's hand gently on her forehead. “You have some knot
there.”

“
Wow. I've been told I'm
hardheaded,” Brenna admitted when her fingers touched the tender
spot. “No wonder my head feels like a drum is pounding in
it.”

“
I see the swelling has
gone down a little, but believe me, it’s huge,” Carol said and then
proceeded to fill Brenna in on what had happened
yesterday.

When she had finished, Brenna reached for
Carol's hand. “Thanks for staying with me last night. This was a
snow festival I won't soon forget. I hope you got some sleep.”

“
I must say it was an
interesting
night.” Carol stared at Brenna for a few minutes
as if she wanted to say more, but instead she rushed on. “Hospitals
are noisy, but I did manage to get some rest. Taylor is supposed to
come by and get me this morning,” Carol said as she stretched her
arms over her head. “I'm looking forward to getting back
home.”

“
I guess your vacation
didn't turn out quite like you expected?”

“
No, it didn't. But fate
sometimes has a funny way of changing one's plans.” Carol smiled
sincerely. “If our car hadn't broken down, I'd never gotten to meet
you and Lisa, so I'm glad things turned out the way they
did.”

“
I guess I'm happy they
did, too. All except this broken foot.” Brenna winced as she tried
to move it. “I don't really need this right now.”

The door opened and Dr. Mac came in appearing
bright and chipper. “Welcome back to the real world.”

“
Thank you, I
think.”

“
How are you feeling?” he
asked while examining her foot.

“
Like hell.”

“
That's what I like, a
patient who beats around the bush.” He flashed a light in Brenna’s
eyes before saying, “Good.” He put the instrument in his shirt
pocket. “How about I set that foot before breakfast? And then we
can send you home.”

“
That sounds good, Doc. I'm
not hungry anyway.”

“
Great. I'll have a nurse
get you in a minute,” he said as he left the room.

She looked at Carol. “I'm sure you'll be gone
by the time I get back.” Brenna choked up and had to stop while she
composed herself. “Thank you for everything. And I hope you and
Taylor have a safe trip home.”

Carol moved over and gave her a hug. “It's I
who should be thanking you. Take care.”

The nurse came as promised and rolled Brenna
on a gurney down the hall. She reflected on Carol's strange remark.
Maybe she was thanking her for their little talk about Taylor, but
other than that Brenna couldn't imagine why Carol would make such a
comment.

Taylor. Brenna sighed and blinked back the
threatening tears. He would be gone by the time she came back to
her room. Gone. Deep down, she knew it was better this way because
she would probably have made a fool of herself if she actually had
to say goodbye.

“
I'm happy you're here,”
Carol told Taylor when he entered the room. She got up and kissed
him on the cheek.

“
Where's
Brenna?”

“
I'm glad to see you too.”
Carol laughed before she answered his question. “You've just missed
her. They took her to have her foot set. She said to tell you
goodbye.” Bending over, she picked up her bag and pocketbook. “I'm
looking forward to getting home. This has been a most unusual
weekend.”

“
You mean because of the
engagement?”

“
Among other things. I've
met new friends, and I believe I have an insight into what made you
the person you are.”

He wasn't quite sure he liked the way Carol
smiled. As if she had a dark secret she wasn't willing to share.
“I'm not sure I follow you. But I need to ask you something.”

“
Go ahead, ask.”

“
If you don't mind, I'd
like to send you home in my car, and I'll follow in a few weeks.”
He avoided her eyes by glancing down. “I don't see any way Brenna
can survive without some help, especially since she doesn't have a
family other than Lisa.”

Carol remained silent while she thought the
situation over. Taylor wouldn't blame her if she told him to go to
hell.

“
I agree. It's a sad
situation, and I think it's very honorable that you want to help.”
Again she gave him that funny little smile. “Don’t take this
wrong,” she hesitated, “but I think that some time away from each
other will do us good. Give us some time to think things
through.”

“
Thanks for understanding.”
He hugged her. “Let's go back to the Inn and get the jeep. I'll
help you with your luggage.”

Walking across the parking lot Carol asked,
“Do you want me to say anything to your mother?”

“
No.” He opened the car
door for Carol. “I'll tackle her later. Besides she's on a trip and
shouldn't be home for another three weeks.” He gave her a
half-smile. “When you get home, take my car to the bank. Give the
keys to Richard Wallace and tell him to arrange to bring my car
back up here,” Taylor instructed, then lean down and gave Carol a
kiss on the cheek. “He will know what to do.”

Carol would make someone a good wife, he
thought . . . He meant she'd make him a good wife.

Boy was his mother going to have a fit. He
wasn't coming home, and when he did he would be getting
married.

After seeing Carol on her way, Taylor drove
back to the hospital. Unfortunately, a nagging little voice kept
pestering him.

What are you doing, Taylor?

“
I'm taking care of a sick
friend.”

It took you three years to get Brenna out of
your life. After all, she left you.

“
I know all that,” he
snapped. “But she needs help and I'll get my answers before I
leave.”

But will you leave?

“
Yes, damn it! Now go
away.” Had he turned so daft he was talking to himself? He just
needed time--time to help Brenna--time to figure out what he wanted
in life.

I'll leave for now. But I hope you know what
you're doing.

Taylor rubbed the back of his neck. “I do,
too,” he whispered and then swung the vehicle into the hospital
parking lot.

Three hours later, Brenna was being wheeled
back to her room, but this time in a wheelchair.

“
Why the sad face?” Dr. Mac
teased. “It wasn't all that bad. I tried to give you a decorative
cast.”

“
Yes, you did. I especially
like the happy face looking up at me.” Brenna smiled. “I've just
never broken anything before, and I don't know how to use those
sticks.” Brenna pointed to the crutches. However, that was only the
small reason she felt flatter than a pancake. The big reason she
would keep to herself. “I guess I need to call Geraldine to come
and get me.”

“
Here we are.” He turned
the wheelchair around and backed her into the room. “I don't think
you'll have to call Geraldine.”

“
How come? Are you going to
take me home?”

“
No. But I am,” said
another voice behind her.

“
Taylor!” Brenna turned her
head as the doctor swung the chair around. Taylor leaned against
the far wall dressed in a pink shirt and black cardigan. His blue
eyes never left her as a gentle smile touched his lips.

She glanced at him in shock. “I thought you
and Carol would be gone by now.”

Taylor moved over to the bed. “Somebody had
to take you home.” He picked up a soft pink robe and let it dangle
from his fingers. “And I thought you probably could use some
clothes, so I brought you a bathrobe.”

“
Thank goodness. I don't
think I can get my ski pants over this thing.” She pointed to the
white glob of plaster.

Dr. Mac finished scribbling something on a
prescription pad. “This is for pain. Brenna can take it every six
hours,” he said as he tore off the paper and handed it to Taylor.
“Please try to keep her quiet for a few days.” He directed his
attention back to Brenna. “I'll leave you in Taylor's capable
hands, and I'll see you in two weeks.”

“
But he's not staying,”
Brenna tried to tell the doctor. They both ignored her.

“
Thanks, Doc,” Taylor
called to Dr. Mac as he left the room. “I've already put your ski
clothes in the car,” Taylor said, turning back to Brenna. “Let me
help you with your robe.” He moved over and stood in front of her.
“It's pretty cold out there today.”

“
I really do appreciate
this. But I don't expect you to take any more time from your
vacation.” She was getting flustered. He shouldn't be here. This
wasn't right.

“
Brenna,” he said her name
like an impatient father. “Let me worry about my vacation. You need
to cooperate.”

Placing his hands under her arms, he helped
her up, being careful not to bump her foot. He watched her face for
signs of pain as she stood. She winced when the blood surged to her
wounded foot. He didn't like seeing her in pain and unable to help
her. “Hang on to me with one hand, and I'll slip your arm in the
robe.”

If her foot didn't hurt so bad, she would
have laughed at the picture the two of them made. She was standing
on one foot with her left arm around Taylor's neck while he
awkwardly tried to slip her right arm in the bathrobe's sleeve. And
he was much too close. He had his right arm around her waist so she
wouldn't fall, and she caught a whiff of his aftershave. Finally,
with a little struggling, he successfully placed her other arm in
the robe. Then he methodically wrapped the garment around her and
tied it at the waist. He was so serious about his task that Brenna
started giggling.

Taylor's right eyebrow rose a fraction. “Did
I do something wrong?”

“
No.” She wanted to say,
you do everything
right
. But she realized his hands
were still on her waist and she really had to fight the urge to
kiss him. “It's just that I feel like a baby with you dressing
me.”

He evidently saw the humor and started
laughing, causing his expression soften. “Now that you mentioned
it. It's the first time I can remember putting clothes on you.”

Brenna's face flushed at his intimate
referral. If only the man knew what he did to her. “Taylor! Shame
on you.” But silently she said,
And shame on me for wanting you
so bad it hurts.
Her face flushed with embarrassment and she
stared straight at his shirt, careful not to let him see her
desire. “I think I'm ready to go.”