Twice A Target (Task Force Eagle) (27 page)

Holt nodded. Savage pain seared his wound, shot up his
entire leg. He turned his face to her soft breast, absorbed her comfort and
breathed in her fragrance one last time as the blackness pulled him under.
“Maddy, it’s...over,” he gritted out. “Don’t...leave...me.”

Chapter 28

During the surgery on Holt’s leg and the next few days
of recuperation in intensive care, Maddy spent more time at the hospital than
at home. She couldn’t bear to be parted from Bobby again, so she kept him
snuggled against her in the sling carrier, or she carried him in the car seat.

The big-bore bullet had torn through muscle, but
mercifully missed the bone, major blood vessels, and nerves. The surgeon said
he would have a nasty scar on both entry and exit sides, but no limp after some
therapy. Holt’s only reaction was a thunderous complaint about having to remain
in the hospital.

“The bigger the man, the bigger the baby,” Espie said
after a quick visit with him.

Maddy tried to make light of his attitude, but
optimism was difficult when monosyllables comprised his only utterances. Before
passing out, he’d asked her not to leave him. What did he mean? He’d said
nothing more since, only terse requests for water and food other than gelatin
and soup.

The pain in her ribs was an itch compared to the bed
of nails she walked waiting for him to find more words. She loved him and she
owed him so much. He captured a killer and took a bullet in her defense.

For eight years, she’d wandered the globe, running
from her feelings for him, searching for a future anywhere but here. When
tragedy finally sent her back to him, she found the love she feared she could
never have, the love that gave meaning to her life.

He’d hardly spoken to her since Sunday and glared at
her when he did. Was he so afraid to trust? Would he again ask her to go?

He couldn’t force her to leave, could he? She needed a
plan for when he came home.

*****

On Wednesday Holt badgered the doctors into sending
him home. He was supposed to keep his leg elevated and let it heal, but that
sort of confinement felt like prison. Even in his own house he felt like a bear
in a cage. A wounded bear.

Maddy insisted he stay in the master bedroom with its
own bath. Dammit, lounging in the king-sized bed or on the sofa in the living
room seemed to be all he was good for. He read
Western Horseman
magazines and watched old movies and even a damn soap opera while she flitted
around fluffing pillows and fussing over him like he was Bobby.

She nursed him and tormented him with her damn breezy
energy and smile that always brightened the dark corners of his soul. Her sore
ribs had healed enough for her to perform light ranch chores. As if tending
Bobby wasn’t enough for her to do, she took over care of the horses so Bronc
could ride fence and check on the herd.

All day long, even late at night, she dashed in and
out of the bedroom because her clothes were in the closet and her shampoo in
the bathroom. In his weakened condition, he shouldn’t be thinking about sex.
When she popped in wearing nothing but that damn short silk thing she slept in,
it just about drove him over the edge.

For the first time, he noticed smudges beneath her
eyes. A haunted sleep wasn’t surprising after what she’d been through. So some
of her flip cheer was bravado. Maybe for his sake.

He tossed and turned with images of her long legs
wrapped around him. He ached for her, but his other aches made any moves as
stupid as tickling a bull. Then there were her injured ribs. How could he even
think of sex?

Thinking was all he
could
do.

And he hadn’t admitted it to her, but he had
nightmares. Of
El Águila
holding that deadly big-bore pistol to her
temple.

When the nightmares woke him in a cold sweat, he
thought about her.

His wife.

She was all he thought about all day as well. Her and
where his loyalties lay. She was bold and courageous and full of a zest for
life. Somehow along the way his desire for her had grown into more. Much more.
She’d nailed it. He couldn’t deny he loved her.

He couldn’t deny she loved the ranch and these mountains.
And Bobby. A thrill coursed through him at the thought of her having his baby,
their babies. With all his heart and soul, he wanted a life with her.

It all boiled down to one question. Could he shake off
the mistrust and guilt of the past and believe in her?

In us?

*****

By Friday morning, he itched to get outside and back
to work, but every time he tried hobbling around on those fucking instruments
of torture called crutches, he broke out in a sweat and nearly collapsed from
the pain. Instead he sat in bed and caught up on the bookkeeping and other
ranch business.

Maddy came in with a mug of steaming coffee as he hung
up the phone. “Kind of early for phone calls.”

He grabbed the mug and gulped down a swallow. The brew
burned his tongue, but he gritted his teeth.

“The coffee’s hot, but I see you’ve discovered that,”
she said sweetly, folding her arms beneath her breasts. Her perfect breasts.

“If you must know, I was calling Will. While the
guests are having breakfast is a good time to catch him in the house. I decided
to take him up on his offer to lease trail rights to Ghost Mountain.”

Her smile began with her eyes and curved her full
mouth in a way that had him craving a taste. “Fantastic! Keeping it in the
family.” She cocked her head. “What else?”

“The barn. Will’s sending a crew over next week to
frame out the new barn. I won’t be in shape to do more’n supervise, but if they
get a skeleton up, Bronc and I can do the rest soon enough. Before snowfall
anyway.”

She beamed an even sunnier smile. “I’m glad to see
your stubborn streak’s faded a tad. Neighbors helping each other is a good
thing, Holt.”

“Seems like it.” He sipped his coffee, but it was her
smile that warmed him. “While we’re having True Confessions, I might as well
tell you I’m giving Bronc and Espie a little land to build a house on.”

“Down that side road off the drive.”

“I should have known those two would blab.” He set his
mug on the bedside table. “Dad cleared that land the year before he died.
Thought Rob or I would build there.”

“It’s perfect. Sean and Danny will love being on the
ranch.” She cocked a hip. “You know what today is?”

“It’s Friday, five days, 118 hours and 25 minutes
since I got shot.”

“To be precise, it’s Friday, May 26, the date set for
the custody hearing. And speaking of phone calls, Edgar Patterson telephoned
you yesterday. Will you tell me about that, or do I have to call Chris Hawke?”

A cry came from the nursery, and she whisked off. A
moment later, she returned with the baby. She laid him on the blanket on his tummy.

Bobby squirmed and smacked his lips, blowing bubbles.
Holt put aside his coffee and tugged the little guy onto his chest. Clutching
at his uncle’s shirtfront, the baby lifted his head. “Look at that. And at
barely three months.”

When she didn’t react, he jerked a nod at the bedside
stand. “I found this book about a baby’s first months. All kinds of helpful
stuff in there.” He gave her a deadpan look.

“Okay, you’ve found my secret to child care expertise.
I confess. Now it’s your turn. The Pattersons?” Maddy sat on the bed and gazed
at him like a young robin waiting for a worm. Her honey-colored hair and smooth
skin were magnets to his lonely fingers.

He folded his hands on Bobby’s padded rump. “I should
have told you right away. I was just...”

“Feeling grouchy? Out of sorts?” She smiled. And
waited.

“They’re dropping the custody suit.”

Her eyes closed in thanks. When she opened them, tears
welled. “There has to be more to it.”

“Edgar was ticked as a milked mule we didn’t tell them
the truth from the beginning. Then he said that if a kidnapper could steal the
baby from their home so easily, they weren’t fit to keep him.”

“So they’ll make no more trouble?”

“And he won’t call in the loan.” Holt rubbed his chin
in thought. “He did mention two o’clock feedings and nonstop care being more
taxing than he remembered. I get the feeling exhaustion played a big part in
their decision.”

“Then you can start the adoption proceedings.” She
sucked in a breath, her lower lip quivering. “We’ll be his parents.”

“Maddy,” he began. How the hell would he breach the
wall he’d erected around himself?

The phone rang, and she picked up. “Sure, just a
minute.” Her hair flipping about with her energy, she carried a yawning Bobby
to his crib, then dashed to the kitchen.

At first, Holt heard only a muffled conversation until
one sentence nearly stopped his heart.

“Holt won’t even miss me.”

“
Won’t miss me.”
Won’t miss her? If she left,
she’d tear his heart out. And leave a hollow in his chest for the rest of his
empty life. He’d ignored her, trying to get his bearings, trying to find the
words, but his temper was running her off.

In a few days, it would be June first, the day she was
to start her calendar contract in Europe. She canceled that, she said, so what
the hell was going on? “Yes, I’m all set to start the job. Should be a lot of
fun. I’ll see you there soon.”

She was leaving. Holt’s heart stopped, then thumped
painfully against his chest.

Twice he’d tried to send her away, and twice she’d
stuck it out. How blind a jerk could he be? Was it too late?

He swung his legs to the floor and grabbed his
crutches.

When Maddy spotted Holt hobbling toward the bedroom
doorway, her pulse pinged. She sent him her best smile and hoped his heart had
finally turned his brain her way.

“Look at you, up and about. How about an outing to the
corral?” Crossing the room, she punched the disconnect, then placed the handset
on the bedside table.

“Maddy, you can’t leave.” He grabbed her. As if to
imprint her texture and shape on his hands, he slid them up and down her arms.

His mere touch, his heat tripped her pulse higher. But
she wouldn’t let herself hope only to be slammed down again. He had to spell it
out.

She lifted her chin. “Why not?”

“I know I’ve given you hell these past days. I’m
sorry. I needed time to work it out.”

“You’ve done your best to drive me away. Why should I
stay?” Her heart hammered so loudly she was sure he could hear its frantic
beat.

“I have to say this right,” he said. “Eight years ago,
I wanted you, too, in spades. I denied my feelings, for Rob’s sake. I’ve fought
myself ever since.”

“I know.” That was a start, but she
wanted—needed—more. She wrapped her arms around his waist. She felt his hard
body go rigid, his muscles bulge with tension.

“I don’t want to fight it any more. I know you’re not
that flighty girl I thought you were then. I do trust you.”

“When I arrived more than a month ago, that would have
been enough. Today it’s not even close.” She had to swallow down the tears
choking her. “I’ll ask you one more time. Why should I stay?”

His eyes held her with laser intensity. His restraint
fell away, and the naked emotion in the blue depths made her breath catch.
“God, Maddy. You were right. I love you. I need you, and not just for Bobby.
I
need you. Don’t leave me. Stay and be my wife.”

Tears blurred her eyes, but she couldn’t look away
from his face. Warmth suffused her as her love for him expanded. She stood on
tiptoes to kiss him. “Oh, Holt, I knew you needed time. You’re deliberate and
cautious, not hasty like me.”

“Then why were you going away? You have another
contract. I heard you.”

“I do, but it’s only at the Circle-S.” When he merely
gaped at her, she forged ahead, praying he’d catch on. “Will wants me to take
pictures for a website. And Faith and I have been talking about a bachelor
cowboy calendar to raise money for a therapy riding program. Now that Bronc’s
getting married, do you suppose I could use the bunkhouse for an office and a
photo lab?”

Like a pin deflating a balloon, her words seemed to
expel the pressure within him. His breath came out in a whoosh. “Then...you’re
not leaving.” He nearly stumbled on his bad leg, but she held him upright.

“I’m leaving, but only for the afternoon.”

He rested his forehead on hers. He smelled of healing
and hope. “I’ve been so hard on you but it’s because I love you. Damn, that
makes no sense.”

Her laugh caught on a happy sob. “It makes a crazy
kind of sense. You were afraid to love me.”

“Maddy, I don’t want to tie you to this valley. You
have too much talent to fence in. If you want to do a shoot in Mexico or
Honolulu or somewhere, I won’t hold you back.”

The glow of contentment began in her heart and rippled
through her soul. “I’ll always come back to you.”

He cleared his throat, smiled. “Maybe sometime, when
the ranch is on its feet, I could go with you.”

“I’d love that. Bobby too.”

The heat of passion shined in his eyes. “Bobby’s
napping, and Espie’s doing laundry.” He crutch-hopped to the door and pushed it
shut. “How are your ribs?”

“Still sore but better.” As he cupped her breast,
comprehension struck her brain, and heat swept through her. “Your leg—”

He kissed away her objection. “We’ll have to be
inventive and make love like the porcupines.”

Her smile widened as her eyes closed beneath his
kisses. Her knees could be spread on warm toast. “Very, very carefully.”

He laid her back on the bed, and they undressed each
other slowly, lips lingering where skin was bared, sighs quickening as need
built.

She felt her whole body dissolving under his hands and
mouth. “Love me.”

With the barrier of clothing removed, he tossed away
the last emotional barrier he’d kept between them. He mated his mouth with
hers, caressing her with thoroughness, with promise, with his soul.

Tenderness welled as he helped her to straddle him. “I
love you. I trust you with my heart.”