Stubborn Read online

  I took a tentative step and winced.

  “I don’t know who that guy was, but Caleb, he wasn’t taking me where he said he was. He knew that guy Hunt. He wouldn’t let me out of the truck.” I paused a moment. “Why are you looking for me?”

  There was silence and more silence.

  “I’ll be there in a minute. I’ll explain when I get there. It’s Meggie. Hold tight, okay?”

  Meggie?

  I closed the phone before my real panic set in.

  Four

  “What happened to your foot? Looks like the work of my brother,” Caleb gibed in his loud Texan drawl as he got a look at the misused flag.

  He sat on the bench in front of the tavern, bumping up against my side. He radiated body heat. I hardly knew the kid and I wanted to hug him to death as soon as I saw his glorious face. He magically appeared out of thin air. The brothers had a habit of doing that.

  “I got manhandled on the court, remember?”

  His voice softened. “Doesn’t look so good. Might have to amputate.” He smirked. “We gotta go. You can have it looked at when we get to the hospital.”

  “What about the hospital? Who’s there? You said Meggie was looking for me?”

  My eyes climbed to rest on his earthy irises. Did something happen to Josh? Did he get hurt cliff jumping?

  Caleb slipped a hand around my waist and hauled me to his pickup. I tensed in his arms.

  “Get in. I’ll tell you,” he said into my neck.

  The engine purred and I fastened my seatbelt.

  “We’re going to Mercy Hospital. Your aunt’s there. Something happened and she called an ambulance. Josh’s with her. They called back to the coop and asked me to find you and Gabe. The kid won’t carry a phone. Everybody’s been trying to reach you.”

  His lead foot powered ahead. We sped through the Great Plains going eighty-five miles an hour.

  “You’re going the wrong way. What about Gabe?” I hollered. My hands slapped the glove box.

  “I told you. He’s fine. He’s an Eagle Scout. You know what that is? He can survive in the desert with no water. I gotta get you to the hospital. Then I’ll go back for him.”

  “Oh no,” I said as his words finally sunk in. “Something happened to Meggie?”

  “I don’t have a flyin’ clue. She sounded dandy to me. Nobody said nothing.” His eyes turned my way. “Hey, why’d you get in a truck with that knuckle? I can’t believe Gabe let you go.”

  I grunted. “I do what I want. Doesn’t always turn out good, but I wasn’t staying locked up in a truck getting heat stroke and possibly attacked.”

  Caleb let out a loud chuckle.

  “I get it. I do whatever I want too. So you think my brother was gonna attack you?” His brows moved up and down suggestively.

  I didn’t know why, but I sort of enjoyed Caleb’s teasing about Gabe.

  “No chance of that.” I ran a hand over my bangs. Caleb was the only person who hadn’t noticed my ill-fated artwork.

  “He’s just hung up on Jordan. It’ll fade. She ain’t worth his time. Stupid girl. She was all over Eli when Gabe wasn’t around. Now Hunt’s got her on a leash.”

  “Blinded by beauty,” I said and angled an amused glance his way. “Happens to all of us. I’m sorry about your brother Eli. It must be hard.”

  “Sometimes I don’t know how to deal with it. He’s never coming back. Ever. Gabe has a hard time because he’s such a loner.” He leaned close to whisper. “You’re just the kinda friend he needs, if you get my drift.”

  His flirty ways reared again.

  I wished Gabe knew he needed a friend like me.

  “Uh, Caleb?” My curiosity was eating up my insides. “You guys are related to the Halden in HalRem, right?”

  “Yes ma’am. Halden’s my dad’s name. Remington was my ma’s maiden name. You just figure that out, legs?”

  “Yeah. That guy who tried to...uh...he said you were a Halden. I didn’t know.” I shrugged. “What’s that like? Why do you live at Meggie’s?”

  “I’m gonna find out who that sonofabitch is. What did he look like?”

  “Heavy, short, wore a diamond watch that looked like it cost a hundred grand. He drove a big red truck with LOC painted on it. Gabe saw it. He knew him.”

  Caleb’s eyes tightened.

  “Hunt’s main goon. What the hell’s freaking wrong with Gabe? I’d never let Molly set a goddamn boot near those guys.”

  I was slowly realizing how little Gabe actually thought about me.

  “So why do you guys live at Meggie’s if you don’t have to?”

  Caleb heaved a sigh. “Oh, we have to, trust me. Our dad makes us live like all the other slugs until we can prove our worthiness. Lane only got out of the coop last year and got his own place. Only Eli was living in tall cotton, reaping the benefits of HalRem. He was running his own division out near Epping, building a natural gas pumping station. That’s where Gabe and me are gonna work this summer.”

  “You guys have nice trucks,” I observed. It was none of my business, but I couldn’t help prying.

  “My dad gives us wheels for work and driving home. That’s about it. It’s a perk, but we have to live by his rules. Being trapped in this business sucks. Not really having a break or a say. My dad’s a real hard ass, a control freak. Doesn’t allow drinkin’ or smokin’ or foolin’ or anything to mess up his name. But hell, you won’t see one of us following those rules,” he told me. “He flew jets in the Air Force. Then he got an eye problem or something that stopped him. He took over my grandpa’s oil business on my ma’s side after the first boom died out. I pretty much stay away from him. Gabe does too. They butt heads. They’re equally stubborn.”

  “Wow,” I mumbled. “I had no idea. Gabe didn’t say much. Didn’t he just go home?”

  “My dad was away. Gabe goes to see Eli. Heck of a long ride to go sit in a cemetery for a few hours, to burn daylight and eat sorrow by the bucketful. Especially since we’re going back next weekend.”

  The image nearly caused me to tear up. But I didn’t.

  “And he isn’t too big on talking if you haven’t figured that out yet.” His gaze fixed on my face and stared a little longer than necessary.

  I kept my eyes on the road in his place.

  “He’ll come around. You must be tempting him somehow. He usually don’t bother with new people.”

  “I don’t think I’m doing anything to him. I mean...I don’t think I mean anything to him.”

  “You’re dead wrong. I’ve seen it. You’re doing something, trust me.”

  He wiggled the shifter and returned his eyes to the road. The truck accelerated.

  * * *

  Williston came sooner than I expected. An ache filled my gut as we drove into the booming town. I was apprehensive about seeing Meggie. I resisted texting Josh’s number because I was afraid if I started texting, I wouldn’t be able to stop. I’d have to go through painful withdrawal all over again when I had to give the phone back. Mostly, I was afraid to learn what had happened.

  Josh soared down the hospital hall when he caught a glimpse of Caleb carrying me in spite of my objection. I observed their loaded exchange and scowled. I promised them both that I would have my ankle checked out as soon as I finished my visit.

  “What good was having you take that phone?” Meggie scolded from her bed. “You were unreachable for hours, kiddo.”

  She didn’t seem to notice I limped into the room barefoot.

  I settled on the edge of the bed at her feet. “What happened? Are you okay? Why are you here?” I ran my hand along the wooden footboard and drew my gaze to Meggie’s face, but my eyes fell to her bulbous stomach under the blanket. I looked at the door and then let my stare float back in slow motion.

  She reached for my hand.

  I had been in Williston almost three whole days. How did I not know?

  “Yeah. I am. I really am,” she said, chuckling. Her rosy cheeks crimped.

  My
eyes must have popped out of my head. “You’re pregnant?”

  “Yes, Avery. I’m very pregnant. I’d like to keep it between us, just in the family for a little longer. Okiedokie?”

  I tipped my head back, eyes wide. “And you’re okay, I mean, it’s okay? You’re happy?” I tripped all over my words.

  She nodded. “You betcha, I’m happy. I’ve been feeling energetic. I just wasn’t sure how to break it to you-know-who out there. I thought he’d be upset about a baby taking over his turf. He says he’s fine with it, as long as it’s a kid brother.”

  I could hardly wrap my mind around Josh having a sibling. My day of rude awakening had arrived.

  So had his.

  “I didn’t even know you were dating. You and my mother are so alike. Well, you know what I mean. Brianna will have a little cousin now!” I drew a startled breath. “But why are you here? Did something happen? Are you okay? Is the baby okay?”

  My mind spun like a cyclone.

  She tried to slide her back up the headboard. “This week I’ve had some cramping and nausea. It really wasn’t much until this morning.” Her voice sounded strained.

  “Yeah. I saw you run into the house once. Gabe said some banker came by. What was that about? Is everything okay?”

  I shifted my weight on the bed and crossed my ankle over my knee.

  Meggie shot up higher in the bed. “What’s that? Why do you have a flag around your foot? It’s filthy, kiddo.” She frowned, eyes narrowed. “Texas? What happened to you two?”

  She was going to jump to every bad conclusion before hearing me out. My thoughts flashed to Gabe waiting alone in his hot truck. Was he okay? Had the cougar returned?

  “It’s nothing. I promise. Nothing happened. You don’t need to worry about me. We all need you to be okay.” I tried to flip the conversation so I could evade the inquisition. “Does my mother know? I mean about the baby?”

  Meggie sighed and rubbed her belly affectionately. The extra pounds really were extra pounds. Pounds of baby.

  “Yep. She knows. We don’t see eye to eye, but she sent you all the way here to help me out. I’m so grateful you came.”

  “So I’m not here because of everything that happened?” I lifted my bangs. “Never mind. Don’t answer that.”

  A knock at the door interrupted me. I shot a glance over my shoulder to spot a nurse popping her head in.

  “Sweetie,” she addressed me, “I’d like to take you down to the ER to have that ankle of yours looked at.”

  I was sure Caleb sent her.

  “Avery Ross, what did you do? Don’t try to hide anything from me. I’ll call Gabriel down here to spill the beans.”

  Hearing it spoken, I realized how much I adored the sound of his name. Just the mention gave me a tingly, tight feeling behind my ears.

  “Oh, Miss Paulsen. Now you mustn’t get yourself worked up. I’ll take care of your daughter. Just rest. She’ll be back in no time.”

  Meggie and I exchanged a private smirk. I didn’t bother to tell the woman I wasn’t her kid.

  While I was having my foot looked at, my aunt fell asleep. The tight ACE bandage made walking on my mildly sprained ankle a lot easier, although the three long hours I spent in the emergency room made me downright miserable. I was the only person in the entire place who didn’t have an oil field injury or male body parts. When Josh swung by, I asked him to take me home.

  * * *

  “You stay here and I’ll run in for them,” Josh offered as he pulled into Albertson’s parking lot. The ER nurse told me to down two ibuprofens every six hours. My cousin had no idea what medication his mother stocked aside from assorted berry TUMS.

  He climbed into Meggie’s pickup after running my errand in the store and buying a case of Mountain Dew and a box of Honey Smacks. “Molly’s in there. She was asking if we’ve seen Caleb. He never showed up to meet her. I told her yeah, like four hours ago.”

  My lungs constricted as he set his purchases between us. Did something happen to Gabe? I was plagued with worry as the sky darkened with black clouds.

  I recalled how wickedly fast both of the brothers drove. “He should be back now. What do you think happened? Maybe Gabe’s truck really didn’t start. Maybe it wasn’t out of gas. Then he’d have to go get somebody to tow it, right?”

  Josh rolled his shoulders in a shrug. “Beats me.”

  I appreciated his indifference to my obsession. He told me where to find the spare key, and I let myself into the dark house. I wobbled through the kitchen and flipped on every light I came across before I limped my way down the basement stairs. I’d thought about a hot shower since the moment I set foot in the ER. I didn’t care that I would have to unwrap my foot or trudge to the basement. I just wanted to feel different somehow, to stop thinking about Gabe and Meggie. And Gabe.

  Washing the day off was the first step.

  The basement was dim. I couldn’t find a light switch at the bottom of the stairwell when I ran my fingers up and down the wall. I managed to adjust to the dimness and started for the bathroom. I ran a hand along one wall as I limped. My nostrils opened to an unexpected, sweet yet pungent smell.

  “Where ya goin’ Jord’n?” asked the southern drawl.

  I fell back against the wall. How did Gabe get in Meggie’s basement? His truck wasn’t anywhere outside. I made sure to check. I even double-checked and triple-checked.

  “Where are you?” I asked squinting. “Why are you here?”

  I made no move to leave the wall. Why was he asking for Jordan? I tried not to act surprised.

  “Right here,” he said sluggishly. “Where you going?”

  “Why are you here?” I repeated. “Where’s your truck? Where’s Caleb?”

  “He left me here.”

  Something underhanded was going on. I pushed myself off the wall and limped toward his voice and toward the curious smell that caught my nose.

  “Are you drinking?” I asked. There was no way he could possibly deny it.

  “Are you mad?” he asked in a childish tone.

  Why was he hammered? I stepped closer. My eyes fixed on the body lying across the pool table, balls scattered around him. He held the thirteen ball. An open book rested on his chest and a HalRem cap was pulled over his eyes.

  His favorite pose.

  My favorite pose.

  I hobbled to the back wall where I was sure to find a light switch. “I can’t see very well.” I ran across a cord and followed it along the floor and up to a desk lamp at Gabe’s bare feet. When I flipped the switch, we both gasped.

  “Turn the damn thing off,” he grumbled under the hat. His hands cast up to cover the cap.

  I scanned the table and his body. My cheeks warmed at the sight of him half-dressed and vulnerable, but I’d never let him know how he made me feel. He was spread out with his shirt open. He looked like he’d blacked out. I held my breath and counted the small empty bottles collected along the border of the table. Seven.

  “What on earth, Gabe?”

  “I’m tryin’ to sleep.”

  “What the heck is going on? If Meggie finds you here...”

  He lifted his head off the table. The hat stayed in place, shielding his eyes from the light.

  “She lets me. You didn’t tell her ’bout the lion, did ya?” His agitated voice slurred into the hat. “She won’t let me see you if ya do.”

  Since when did he care if he could see me? I bit my lips to stop myself from asking what he meant, though I thought I knew. I focused my eyes on a box of gauze bandages and medical tape sticking out of the table’s corner pocket. They hadn’t been there earlier.

  I held the bandages close to him. “What’s this for?”

  He shook his head and kicked the eight ball into a pocket without looking. “Don’t know. Can’t see.”

  I blew out my breath. I wasn’t getting anywhere. I inclined my nose toward his and pulled the hat off his head.

  “Gabe! What happened? Who did that?”

/>   His eye was splotchy and purple. His perfect skin swollen and bruised. I lifted my weight onto the table to get a better look and hung my sore ankle off the side.

  I didn’t touch him.

  “Why ya gotta scream at me?” He opened his good eye. “Me and Caleb got in a throw down,” he was quick to add. Then he proved he was totally trashed by making a goofy grin.

  I angled closer, glaring at his expression. Even with a shiner he was beautiful.

  “Caleb did this to you?” I couldn’t fully believe my own words.

  He laughed. “Nope.”

  I noted there was no bandage on his face.

  “What’s the tape and stuff for? Where’s Caleb. C’mon. Tell me something.”

  His grin widened.

  “And why are you drinking down here?”

  Gabe’s hand slithered across the table and found mine. I was holding my weight up when he tugged on my wrist.

  “This.” He pulled his shirt open on one side.

  The book slid off his chest. Blood stained his shirt. He pressed my hand to the side of his stomach. I flinched. His hot skin was as smooth as velvet. The electricity caused my fingers to tremble. There was a bandage the size of a deck of cards taped above his waistband. He slid my fingers over it for a few seconds.

  My questioning gaze jumped to his eyes.

  “I got shot.”

  I tore my hand out of his grip.

  “You got shot? Oh god! Who shot you?”

  “Naw. I’m just pullin’ your leg. I got cut. Caleb sewed me.” His hand landed on my knee and played with the hem of my shorts. “Where’s my flag?”

  I slapped at his wandering fingers. “Jeez. You can’t tell people you got shot. It’s not funny. What do you mean he sewed you? He stitched you up?”

  I quickly understood the need for the bottles.

  “Who beat you up?” My eyes ran up one side of him and down the other and looked for more damage. He looked fine, regardless of his black eye and stitches.

  “Hunt’s gorilla,” he pushed out then fell silent.

  “Gabe!” I shook his shoulder. “Gabriel.”

  I said it. I said his real name out loud. It just fell off my tongue.