Finding Kate (11 page)

Chapter Nineteen

“I’ve got over twenty-five fire engines up here now,” Hal said over the radio. “I could use a few more helicopters. It’s spreading into some steeper terrain and it’s gonna get harder for the ground crews to contain.”

“We’re on it, boss,” the pilot answered back.

Hal wiped the sweat from his brow, turned to Will and said, “Head over to the museum, see what you can find out, and get back to me.”

The anticipation was itching inside of Will. He hated to see Mesa Verde on fire, but his years of training would finally be put to use.

“Take some crews with you and get those buildings protected. Get a few more sprinklers up on the rooftops, and keep the others going. We can fight this thing with plenty of water. Here’s hoping all of our fire prevention work comes into play. Keep me posted.” Hall walked toward his Jeep, continuing to holler across the radio.

An air tanker flew above the men, heading for the fire. Will climbed into his truck and slammed the door shut. He headed toward the Chief Rangers Office next to the museum. He drove several miles before spotting fire on both sides of the road.

Once at the station, Will pulled his truck over and called his boss on his cell phone.

“Go,” Hal answered.

“The fire’s jumped the road. It’s heading toward the museum. There’s no way we have enough time to get all those artifacts out before it burns.”

Hal didn’t respond. The line was silent.

***

Kate knew Will most likely had a plan in place, but she walked over to Emma’s to check on the animals anyway. For all she knew, he might be contained at the fire long enough to keep him from the ranch. The animals needed tending, regardless of what was happening just a few miles away.

A light dusting of ash fell around her. She squinted her eyes to see the glow on the western horizon up in the mountains. The fire looked out of control, even from so far away.

Max jogged next to her, his tail wagging all the while. He’d stayed by her side since Will left for Mesa Verde.

Kate drew in a deep breath and blew it back out. The barn had an eerie quietness inside of it. The rafters creaked in the wind, sending shivers up her spine. Kate lifted the metal bucket hanging on a wooden peg, scooped some chicken feed inside, and plodded toward the coop.

Kate stood at the gate for a moment building up her courage to go inside the coop. It was ridiculous, but she was still fearful of the smelly little birds. Visions of chickens flying up, pecking at her head, and bringing her to the ground danced around in her mind. Everything had a storyline. “Woman Found Attacked By Chickens,” she said laughing.

Kate lifted the latch and kept her eyes on them, hoping they wouldn’t band together and push her out of the way to freedom. Once inside, she buried her hand in the feed and scattered it around. They pecked at the ground, gobbling it up in seconds.

Most of the feed in the bucket was gone, and Kate hoped it would tide the chickens over until tomorrow.

“Bam!” The hair on Kate’s arms stood on end. The noise sounded like it came from the barn. She tiptoed toward the massive wooden door and peeked around the corner.

One cow stood inside the barn.

Her heart pumped faster and she grit her teeth together. “What are you doing in here?” she whispered. “It’s a cow, Kate. You can handle this.” Her mind understood, but her body wasn’t ready to cooperate.

She jumped around the corner, hoping it would scare the fat, furry animal outside. The cow stuck its head back into a sack of feed that was propped up against the wall of the barn.

Her heart continued to race. There was no way to get a hold of Will and she couldn’t leave the cow in here.

“Shoo,” Kate said, clapping her hands.

This time the animal, still chewing and drooling all over the floor, looked up and took a step toward Kate.

“Yuk.” Her shoulders shook trying to shake the gross image.

Kate stepped forward and hollered again, jarring the animal into submission. “Shoo!” The cow turned around and stepped out of the barn.

“Yeah!” she said, jumping up and down, waving her arms in the air. “I did it.” An ear-to-ear grin spread across Kate’s face.

She thought of Will, and longed to share the moment with him, knowing it would never be. Will had moved on and wanted nothing to do with her. He couldn’t care one bit if she chased a cow from the barn.

If only Emma were here.
Kate wanted to help with the animals because they belonged to Emma. Deep down, she had to admit, her desire to be around the ranch life was becoming stronger each day. But her heart ached so much for Will, she would never be able to stay in Wintervale.

***

“We’ve got the sprinklers going. Several more are in place and running,” Will told Hal. “The museum will be fine.”

“Great work. I knew I could count on you. Keep me posted, buddy.”

Will hung up the phone and ran toward the Chief Ranger’s office to join the crew adding sprinklers to different locations around the buildings.

“Will, come in…” the radio crackled.

“Go ahead.”

A worker on the other end of the line continued, “We have a structure fire. Can you get a team down here?”

“We’re on our way,” Will said.

Will arrived at a house several miles down the road, already engulfed in a blaze. He stepped out of his truck and lifted the handheld radio from his belt. As he pushed his thumb against the button to talk, a great pressure tossed him backward. His leg snapped as he landed on the ground, and his arm blazed with fire. His eyelids felt like a brick held them down. He struggled to keep them open. It was impossible.

***

“He’s in pretty bad condition. Burns across his arm, and his leg is broken in at least three places. The explosion catapulted him a good twenty feet.”

Kate turned the knob on the police scanner, upping the volume. She waited for more chatter.

“He’s coded twice on us already,” someone on the scanner said.

“We’re standing by. Bring him to the emergency doors.”

“Get the best docs in there.” Silence shouted on the line. “It’s Will Stonen.”

Kate swallowed hard and gripped the armrests on her seats. She crumpled papers scattered on the desk, looking for her car keys. She couldn’t lose Will. Even if he never wanted to see her again, she couldn’t face knowing he might not be around. Whether he wanted her or not, she would be by his side.

The seventeen-mile drive to the Cortez Hospital felt like an eternity. Kate pulled into a parking spot and ran into the emergency room. A nurse sat behind a desk in the center of a large room. “I’m here to check on Will Stonen.”

“He hasn’t been here too long. I think he’s in surgery right now,” the nurse said.

“Do you know how he’s doing?” Kate placed her hands to the top of the counter and tapped her fingers. She couldn’t stand it. She had to know.

“Who are you?” the nurse asked.

“I’m a…I’m a friend.” Not wanting to fully answer the question, Kate hoped it would be a good enough answer.

“It’s not good. He wasn’t alert when they brought him in.”

“Can I wait to see him?”

“Sure. But it’s going to be several hours. There’s a waiting room over there.” The nurse pointed in the opposite direction of her desk.

“Thank you.” Kate sat down in the darkened room. Waiting to learn of his condition would prove to be difficult. She sat down in one of the chairs and leaned her head against the wall. And waited.

***

“He’s out of surgery,” the nurse said, as she sat down in the chair next to Kate.

“How’s he doing?” Kate sat up and stretched her arms.

“I won’t kid you. He’s in bad shape.”

“Will he make it?” She didn’t want to ask the question, but needed an answer.

“They think he’ll make it, but it’s going to be a long recovery. He should be checked into an intensive care room in about an hour.”

Kate exhaled, leaned back in her chair, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Are you going to be OK?” The nurse rested the palm of her hand on Kate’s shoulder.

“I will be now.” Kate nodded.

“By the way, what’s your name?” The nurse stared at her.

“Kate Polson. Why?”

“The doctor said Will kept mentioning the name Kate over and over again.” She squeezed Kate’s shoulder before standing up to leave the room.

Kate’s heart soared at the news. She wiped the tears with her sleeve.

***

Kate pushed the hospital room door open and tiptoed into the room. Will’s leg was stretched out on the bed inside of a cast. White gauze bandage spanned the length of his arm from his fingers to his shoulder.

Kate sat down on the chair across from his hospital bed and watched him sleep. A small light illuminated the room and reflected off the window, making it impossible to see anything outside in the dark night. The nurse walked in, starting her routine checking IVs, vitals, and making sure the bandages were secure.

Before the nurse left the room, Kate’s eyes grew heavy and sleep beckoned. Kate finally gave in to exhaustion.

***

“Kate?” Will’s voice boomed across the room.

“Huh?” She rubbed her eyes and sat up in her chair.

“I need some pain meds.” He winced from the pain.

“I’ll get the nurse.” Kate stood and walked from the room. The red numbers on the clock read 3 a.m.

Several nurses milled around behind the nursing station down the hall. Kate rested her elbows on the counter waiting for one to stop long enough and pay attention to her. One of the older ladies looked up from her work.

“Can I help you?” the nurse said.

“Will Stonen, room 303, needs more pain medication.”

“He has a morphine pump. Just push the button. It should be hooked to the bed next to him. Let him know he can press that every once in a while, and it should keep him out of pain.”

Kate returned to the room to find Will asleep. The cord to the pump was fastened to his pillow and she pressed the red button one time. Hopefully, it would release the medicine and help him to rest.

“Why are you here?” Will said, stirring from his sleep.

Her eyes met his. She paused, careful in what she would say. “Because…I care about you. I wanted to make sure you were all right.”

His hand slid across the bed and rested on hers. “Thank you for checking. But…” He closed his eyes and moved his hand away. His mouth opened and nothing came out, before he slid into slumber again.

***

The sunlight peeked in through the mini blinds and onto Will’s hospital bed. He pushed the button on his remote, turning on the light above his head. He lifted a Bible onto his lap and turned the pages, reading different passages.
Emma never said this would be easy. She was right.

He would give anything to have her by his side, telling him what to do. “Emma, I know you’re up there putting in a good word for me,” he said, looking up. “I’m going to try it your way.” He knew it would be a learning process, but the Lord kept him alive for a reason. Would God take his struggles and give him the joy he’d so longed for?

***

Tears streamed down Kate’s cheeks. How could she stay and love a man that didn’t love her? She must’ve gone through half a box of tissues before arriving home from the hospital. When she pulled into the driveway, Max ran to meet her. As she opened her door he jumped in her lap, licking her face.

“You may be the only one that loves me.” She laughed, but deep inside the pain tore at her heart. How could she stay here? It was not possible. She had to go home. Home to Chicago, where she belonged.

Chapter Twenty

Kate and Will were silent in the hospital room for what felt like an eternity.

“Your wounds look so much better,” Kate said. “It’s amazing what a week in the hospital will do for a person.” Laughter popped out of Kate in hopes it would lighten the mood.

He raised his healthy arm and situated it behind his head. “Hal said the fire was ninety percent contained.”

“That’s right. I’ve listened to the scanner quite a bit this past week. They are doing a fabulous job of putting it out. Many people in the community have given the firefighters quite a bit of praise. The Wintervale Fire Department has been up there nonstop. Community members have rallied together to do what they can to help out. Wintervale is a pretty amazing place.”

Will stared out the window as Kate talked.

“I’m leaving today…heading back to Chicago.” When the words came out, she felt the weight of leaving hit her shoulders. Kate didn’t want to leave. She loved Wintervale and Will. But she saw no other choice.

“I’m glad we had the chance to meet.” Will thumbed the bed remote, lifting it to a sitting position.

Kate slowly nodded her head. She fingered the locket from Emma, still around her neck. “I’d better be going. I just wanted to stop by and say goodbye.” She stood up and walked next to the bed.

“Be careful Kate.” Their eyes met and Will reached out to grab her hand.

A rush of emotion passed through her and she pulled her hand away. “I left your house key in the kitchen as well as a check for the rent. It’s clean and ready for the next person.” She couldn’t stop to think about him. It was time to leave. For good.

“Thank you.” Will stared at her. His silence hurt her deep within.

Kate paused for a moment, hoping he would grab her hand and stop her from leaving.

Will did nothing.

Kate forced a smile. A lump formed in her throat and she walked out the door. Out of his life. Forever. She made it to the end of the hospital corridor before the tears began to fall. It was over between them.

Kate fumbled for her keys and started her car engine. She grabbed a tissue sitting above a box packed with her belongings on the passenger seat and wiped her eyes. She stuffed it into a small trash bag hooked to the gearshift and pulled out of the parking space.

The rearview mirror held Wintervale in its sights. Her heart ached to stay. The beauty surrounding her was unsurpassed.

***

“What is wrong with you?” Hal walked through the door and pointed toward the hallway.

“What are you talking about?” Will asked.

“I just saw Kate leaving in her car. She was in tears.”

“Look Hal, it’s complicated—“

“No. It’s not complicated. You’re complicating it.” He walked up next to the bed with his arms crossed.

Will laid his head on his pillow. “She doesn’t want anything to do with me.”

“Do you realize that after she checked on you in the hospital every day this past week, she went over to Emma’s and fed the animals and cleaned out the stalls?”

Will’s mouth opened. “Why would she do that?”

“Because she does love you. It’s obvious to everyone but you.”

“How can she want anything to do with me?” Will said. “I’ve been so horrible to her.”

“I can’t tell you how to do things. But, I know you love her. Kate is the best thing that ever happened to you.” Hal said. “I’m going to have to push you out of this bed and break your other leg so you will have a really good excuse for not chasing after her.”

“She’s gone, Hal. It’s too late.”

Hal walked out of the room.

“Where are you going?” Will hollered. “You mad at me, too?”

“I need an ambulance!” Hal shouted down the hallway of the hospital.

The nurse ran into the room. “Is everything OK? What do you need an ambulance for? He’s in the hospital,” she said.

“We have to chase somebody down and stop her from making the biggest mistake of her life.”

Will’s eyebrows creased. “Hal, what in the world do you have in mind?”

***

Emergency lights flashed in Kate’s rearview mirror. She glanced down at her speedometer to see if she might be speeding, but she was going under the speed limit. Could they pull her over for that?

Kate drove her vehicle to the side of the highway and turned off her engine. She fumbled through her purse to find her wallet and drivers license to have it ready for the officer.

The officer walked up to the car and Kate rolled down her window.

“Ma’am, I see you were going under the speed limit,” the officer said.

“Is there something wrong with that?” Kate’s heart pounded. Heat climbed up her cheeks.
How embarrassing.
Could the day get any worse?

“No ma’am. I was just wondering why you weren’t going faster.”

This had to be a first. “I’m having a bad day,” she replied.

“I am guessing that your day will get better.” The officer smiled. “Can I have your license and registration please?”

“Better? I’m about to get a ticket. How can that be better?”
Kate lifted up her hand and held out the pieces of information.

“I’ll be back. Stay in the car please.” The officer walked back to his patrol car.

Kate agreed and waited. An ambulance siren wailed in the background, and slowed as it approached their vehicles. The lights on the siren stopped as the emergency vehicle pulled in front of her and backed up.

“What is going on?” Kate’s eyebrows met.

The ambulance driver opened his door and walked to the back of the rig, paying no attention to Kate.

As he opened the back doors, Kate caught sight of Will on the gurney and a very wide smile on his face. Laughter burst out of her.

Kate stepped out of the car and walked to the back of the ambulance. “Have they had enough of you? Are they dropping you off right here in the middle of the road?”

Will looked at the two EMTs. “Can I get a private moment here with her?”

“Nope,” one of the men said. “We’re risking our jobs for you. We want to hear it all.” He laughed. “And it better be good.”

Will drew in a deep breath and exhaled. “You can’t go back to Chicago.”

“Really? Why not?” she smiled and cocked her head to the side.

“I love you Kate.”

A smile grew across her face and her hand lifted to her heart.

“You’re the klutziest, most hardheaded woman I have ever met. But, I can’t live without you.” Will pointed at her. “You’re the opposite of everything I’ve ever liked. But you can’t leave. I want you to marry me.”

Kate leapt into the ambulance and leaned in close to him. She whispered, “You’re hard-headed, your belt buckle is too big, and your cowboy hat is not in my idea of high fashion. But yes, I will marry you.”

Will lifted his hand and touched the top of hers with his fingers. Heat rose up Kate’s neck and onto her face. She leaned forward and their lips met in a warm embrace. She slid her hand through his hair, and leaned back. “I love you Will Stonen.”

***

The crisp leaves on the trees fluttered to the ground in front of the new church construction site. A chill settled in the air and Kate slid her hand through the crook in Will’s arm. “I love the fall. It’s my favorite time of year.”

Will smiled and paused before speaking. “They are releasing the mountain lion back into the wild today.”

“Are you upset you’re not able to see it?” She said, looking up at him.

“No. I wouldn’t be able to do much anyway.”

“That’ll be a great story,” she said.

“So, why aren’t you up there?”

“Trevor said he’d go. He wanted a day to hike so he thought this would give him a good excuse to go take some pictures.”

“Hey you two,” Pastor Connor yelled from across the church lot.

Kate and Will turned to see him approaching.

“Look at this.” He held out a large stone in his hand. “This is from the baptismal wall.”

Kate gasped. “These are the same rocks your mother and Emma helped pick out.”

“Once they get the walls up, we’ll put some of these rocks back in their rightful place,” Will said, staring at the frame of the newly built church.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Connor said.

“I am too,” Will said. “I’ve appreciated your Bible studies these last few months.”

“You bet. C’mon.” Connor tipped his head in the direction of the church. “Let’s get this thing built. You two have a wedding coming up.”