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  “They fell in love, Sherry.”

  “After such a short time?”

  Audra cocked her head. “Seems to me that’s what happened to you and Jim.”

  “But we didn’t marry for almost a year.”

  “That’s because you didn’t have any money. Clint Hawkins is a fifty-three-year-old man who’d been running a successful ski-shop business long before he met Pam.”

  After a silence, “All I know is, this has caused trouble that’s not going to go away.”

  “Do you know how you sound?” Audra was heart-sick. “What you’re saying is, it would have been all right if anyone else had bought the house except Clint.”

  Sherry lifted her head. “Look—I don’t care about this place, but the boys care. It’s part of their heritage. Jim’s hurt. They all are. Pam could still turn the bungalow into a bed-and-breakfast the way she once planned.”

  Audra had to count to ten. “There’s just one problem with that scenario. Contrary to what everyone expected, Uncle David didn’t leave the bungalow to her after all. He had to sell the ranch house.”

  “Even so—”

  “Even so what?” At this point Audra was livid. “What do you want Pam to do? Turn around and give the house back to the boys? How could she possibly do that when it’s her husband’s money invested?”

  “I don’t know. But there’s been bad blood ever since she married Clint.”

  “I have news for you, Sherry. The boys have been angry since the day Uncle David asked her to help him make a family out of what the tornado chose not to destroy. Pam’s been their scapegoat. But she has a worthy champion now, and all I can say is, watch out! Clint’s the kind of man who’ll make an awesome adversary if provoked. The boys will never prevail against him. You can tell them I said so.”

  “I’m not your enemy, Audra,” she responded in a hurt voice.

  Suddenly in the distance Audra could hear rotors whipping the air. She settled the crutches under her arms and started for the porch steps.

  Looking back at Sherry, she said, “You’re a fence-sitter, and you know what the scriptures say about that. You’re either with me or against me.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  RELIEVED TO SEE the lights of West Austin Regional Hospital’s AirMed helicopter, Audra negotiated the steps to greet the medical staff.

  It hadn’t been that long since Audra had been rushed to the hospital screaming for something, anything, to send her into oblivion. Rick Hawkins was a tough, powerful man both physically and mentally. If he couldn’t make it back to the ranch without help, that meant he was in agony.

  No sooner had the chopper landed when she saw the white truck approach with Pam at the wheel. Clint jumped down from the back. She had to assume her uncle followed with the horses.

  Audra had thought Clint unflappable like Uncle David. But this was his precious flesh and blood who’d been hurt. His drawn, pale features revealed a parent frantic with concern.

  “My son’s been passing in and out on the floor of the truck.”

  As the medical team worked to stabilize Rick and prepare him for flight, Audra realized that it hadn’t been too long ago that Clint had lost his first wife in an avalanche.

  From the look of anxiety on Pam’s face, her cousin was thinking the same thing. Audra hurried over to her. They clung to each other as they’d done so many times in their lives.

  “Clint’s given me the keys to Rick’s car. He wants me to drive it to the hospital. That way when he’s released, we’ll be able to bring him back to the ranch in comfort.

  “Will you take Rick’s cell phone and call Nate? Then it won’t be such a surprise when Clint tries to reach him.”

  “I’ll do it as soon as you take off.”

  Within minutes Clint and Rick were on board and the helicopter rose into the air. Pam had packed a few items in a suitcase and climbed behind the wheel of the car, ready to drive off. It was all a blur to Audra, whose eyes had filled with tears.

  Please, God—let Rick be all right. Let Clint be all right.

  In the background she could hear Sherry and Diane urging their children to get in the cars. They were going home.

  It couldn’t be soon enough for Audra. With her back facing the parking area, she clicked on Rick’s phone and searched the address book for Nate’s number. After a moment someone picked up.

  “Rick—” A female voice spoke up. “We were expecting you to say goodbye before you left for Arizona. We can’t bear to think you’ve gone!”

  The concern and warmth in the other woman’s voice was wonderful to hear. It wiped out today’s ugliness for a few minutes.

  “Is this Laurel Hawkins?”

  After a shocked silence, “Yes? Who’s this?”

  “I’m Audra Jarrett, Pam’s cousin.”

  “Oh! I guess I don’t understand. Is Rick with you?”

  “Not at the moment. Laurel, is your husband there?”

  “He is. I’ll get him. Just a minute.”

  While Audra waited, she could see her uncle’s silhouette as he came around to the front of the house. Now that he’d brought back the horses, there was one less person she had to worry about.

  “Is this the redhead with the peg leg?” an appealing male voice spoke into the phone.

  Audra laughed quietly in spite of her sober mission. Already she liked him. Naturally she did. Clint Hawkins was his father.

  “Hello, Nate. I’ve heard so much about the hot-shot, I feel that I know you.”

  It was his turn to chuckle. “Laurel and I have been wanting to meet you.”

  “Now that I’ve met Rick, I’m looking forward to meeting you, too.”

  “I didn’t know he was going to the ranch first.”

  “I believe it was a last-minute decision. Your brother is the reason I’m calling. He’s going to be all right, but he had an accident while he and your father were out riding horses this evening.”

  After a slight pause, “How bad is it?”

  Such deep love in his voice reflected a lifetime of caring. The difference between the Hawkinses and certain members of the Jarrett household was like night and day.

  “They tangled with a snake and Pam’s horse fell on him.”

  “Good heavens.”

  “He’s hurt from his arm to his jaw. Uncle David thinks he might have a broken collarbone. Right now he’s on an AirMed helicopter with your father, headed for West Austin Regional Hospital. Pam has driven to the hospital in Rick’s car, otherwise I’d put her on the phone.”

  “Rick’s car?”

  “Yes. The one he drove from Colorado. My cousin asked me to call so you’d be prepared when your dad contacts you.”

  There was a brief silence. “Thanks for calling, Audra. After we hang up I’ll arrange for a flight to Austin tonight and come straight to the hospital. Let Dad know in case his cell phone can’t reach me once I’m on board.”

  “I will. He’ll be relieved when he hears you’re on your way. You and your father will be all the medicine your brother needs to make a full recovery.”

  “Thank you. See you soon.”

  Her uncle could see she was juggling the phone with her crutches and took it from her after she’d clicked off.

  “It seems Nate didn’t know his brother had decided to come to Texas first. That seems odd, when we know how close they are.”

  “I’m sure there’s a good explanation. The important thing is, he’s flying down to be with his brother and father.”

  “You’re right. They’re lucky they have each other. But then so am I, because I couldn’t love you more if you were my own father.”

  Her uncle’s eyes moistened. “That tornado took a lot away from the Jarrett clan. But I got you and Pam in return. The two sweetest girls in the Hill Country. I’m the lucky one.”

  They both sniffed before he said, “Let’s go inside while we wait to hear the news about Rick. I want you to stay at the main house with me tonight.”

  “I will.�
� Audra adjusted her crutches and started moving toward the house with him. “How’s Marshmallow?”

  “She made it back to the barn okay, but I’ll call Doc Shriver to come out and take a look at her in the morning. What a shame for Rick’s visit to end up like this.”

  If her uncle had any idea Audra was thinking just the opposite, he’d be shocked. “Tangling with a snake is no fun. I’m thankful neither he nor Clint was bitten.”

  “That makes two of us.” He opened the front door for her and they went inside the house to the living room. Her uncle looked around. “All the excitement sure cleared this place out in a hurry.”

  Audra heard the undercurrent of sadness in his voice. He wasn’t talking about the furnishings that had already been carted off. After so many years of battling the boys, their mean-spiritedness had taken its toll on him.

  There were no words to ease his heavy heart, or hers, in that regard. All she could do was rest one of her crutches against the wall in order to put a comforting arm around him.

  Two hours later while she lay propped on the couch with a quilt and pillow, Rick’s cell phone rang. Audra broke off talking with her uncle to answer it. Clint was calling.

  “Clint?”

  “It’s Pam.”

  “Pam—” Her gaze darted to her uncle. “We’ve been waiting to hear from you. How’s Rick?”

  “Uncle David was right. Rick has a broken collarbone and bruised ribs. He also had a dislocated shoulder, but the doctor has already done the procedure to fix it.”

  Audra moaned before repeating the news to her uncle, who’d already suspected as much and only nodded his head.

  “They’ve given him pain medication through his IV. He’s asleep right now. The doctor was surprised he hadn’t broken his arm, too.”

  “Knowing Rick, he’ll probably think he can still drive,” Audra said without thinking. “That is…when he wakes up.”

  “Clint said the same thing. The doctor answered with an incredulous laugh.”

  Audra smiled. “I presume that was a no.”

  “An emphatic one,” Pam said. “If there aren’t any complications, he’ll be released from the hospital the day after tomorrow. For the next three weeks he’s to do nothing but rest. Then he has to come back to the hospital for another X ray. At that point the doctor will decide what Rick can or can’t do.”

  “That ought to be interesting.” Again Audra related the latest to her uncle.

  Pam chuckled. “It’s a good thing his father’s right here to make certain he minds.”

  “Do you think that’s possible?” Audra teased.

  “I guess we’re going to find out.”

  She smiled again. “We shouldn’t be this happy Rick’s not going anywhere for a while.”

  When she happened to look at her uncle, she discovered he was smiling, too.

  Chalk it up to one more person on the ranch who was glad Lucky Hawkins wouldn’t be screaming around a racetrack anytime soon. Pam’s happiness was of paramount importance to Uncle David, too.

  Like trickle-down economics, what affected Clint affected Pam and everyone else in the Jarrett household. After talking with Nate Hawkins and his wife, Audra knew the same held true at their house.

  “My husband hasn’t been able to spend three whole weeks of undivided time with his son in years,” Pam confided.

  A new wife would be understandably possessive of her spouse’s attention, but Pam wasn’t like most people. She was such a giving person, it was no wonder Clint had fallen hard for her.

  Audra cleared her throat. “Are you going to stay at the hospital with him?”

  “Yes. They’re bringing in a cot. Clint and I will take turns sleeping.”

  “That sounds good. I phoned Nate. He’ll be arriving as soon as he can.”

  “Thanks for calling him. Clint will be thrilled to know his other son is on the way.”

  “Nate didn’t know about his brother’s visit here.”

  “Rick made a last-minute decision to buy a new car and drive down instead of fly. He probably didn’t have time to tell his brother.”

  “Ah—that explains it.”

  “Before we hang up, how’s Uncle David? Today must have drained him.”

  Audra couldn’t talk freely with him sitting in the wingback chair next to her. “Why don’t you ask him yourself? He’s right here. I’ll talk to you later. Give Clint my love.”

  “Will do.”

  “Hold on.”

  She handed the phone to her uncle. Rick’s accident was the very thing needed to fill her uncle’s mind with other thoughts besides today’s painful experience with the boys.

  Audra lay back against the pillow with a sigh and closed her eyes. Today had been a day like no other.

  The racetrack lover whizzed into town all right. Reliable sources indicate he’s going to be making a longer pit stop than usual.

  IT WAS FIVE IN THE MORNING when Rick saw his brother walk into his hospital room. The nurse had just injected more medicine in his IV. He was feeling no pain at the moment. Nate looked good to him. “Who told you to show up?”

  His dark-blond brother pulled a chair next to the bed and sat down. Despite the concern in his blue eyes, Rick noticed he was smiling as if entertaining a private joke.

  “What goes around comes around. Now you know how I felt when I got off the plane from Philadelphia and discovered you’d brought Dad along to make me realize Laurel truly did love me. Thank God you did,” he added.

  “Marriage agrees with you. Where’s that beautiful wife of yours?”

  “Home in Colorado Springs with the sweetest little baby girl in the world. They’re both waiting for a status report on you.”

  “I’ve been hurt worse.”

  “I don’t remember when,” Nate challenged. “While the nurse was taking care of you, I’ve been outside the door talking to Dad and Pam. He tells me you’re going to be laid up for a month or so.”

  “That’s what he thinks,” Rick muttered. “This sling feels like a straitjacket! I might be able to stand it for a couple of days, but no longer. He should never have gotten you up in the middle of the night to fly down here.”

  “Though Dad’s feeling all kinds of guilt for taking you horseback riding, he wasn’t the one who called me.”

  “Then it must have been David,” Rick muttered. “He had to bring in the horses while Pam drove me and Dad in the truck. What a hell of a way for this day to end.”

  “Accidents happen.”

  “You should have seen our father out there, Nate. He was so excited to take me riding. I swear you would’ve thought he’d ridden horses all his life. We saw bluebonnets. Thousands of them. Just like her curls…”

  “Whose curls?”

  The drug made Rick’s body feel disjointed, as if he was floating. “This snake spooked Marshmallow…she fell on me… Damn if it didn’t hurt. I’m sure David’s been on the phone to the vet by now, too.”

  “Rick—” Nate leaned forward with his hands clasped between his knees. “It was Pam’s cousin who phoned me.”

  “Which one? She has three of them. They hate Dad.”

  “Why would they hate him?”

  “It’s a long story. There was this tornado. So many died. Audra was only five…”

  “Audra’s the one who phoned us.”

  “Audra?”

  Rick tried to sit up, but if he tried to move, he fell back dizzy against the pillow.

  “I asked her if she was the redhead with the peg leg.” Nate’s voice sounded far away. “Why does her phoning me surprise you?”

  “Audra and I—we didn’t get off to the best start. Doesn’t know how she feels about me…yet.”

  “I see.”

  “We…dance around each other.”

  “I’d say her phone call showed major concern.”

  “Pam—it had to be Pam who told her to contact you.”

  Nate cocked his head. “How old did you say she was?”

  “I d
idn’t,” he said. “Twenty-eight.”

  “Where did I get the idea she was Pam’s age?”

  “Don’t know. Thought the same thing.”

  “Tell me about her.”

  A dozen images filled Rick’s mind at once. Particularly the one where he’d been driving her to the main ranch house.

  “That’s hard to do. When I asked her about the man who’d died in the accident—you know—the one that broke her leg?—she told me even if my father married her cousin, it didn’t make us related. Or entitle me to information that was none of my business.”

  “Really.”

  “Do you know what she reminds me of?” Rick was so high, he was blabbing his innermost thoughts.

  “I don’t have a clue.”

  “One of those bottle rockets we used to light on the Fourth of July. The kind that shot sparks in every direction the second you set flame to the fuse. And while you were still nursing your burned fingers, it had already reached altitude. Remember how we had to run like hell for cover because either it would find us during its descent or start a forest fire?”

  “What do you suppose it was about you that set her off?”

  Rick was trying to stay awake. “Since the crash…horrific nightmares. Our introduction came during one of them.”

  “You were in her bedroom?”

  Rick couldn’t open his eyes. “Not at first… When I broke in her window…she was lying there on the bed. Her leg…it was in a long cast and—”

  “And what?”

  “She was screaming. This knockout redhead was screaming. I had to wake her up—had to—couldn’t stand to hear the pain. Her eyes…Mom’s color.”

  RICK HAD PASSED OUT.

  Nate sat there for a full ten minutes staring at his brother. The last thing he expected to hear after flying down to Austin were the ramblings of a man who couldn’t seem to talk about anything but some gorgeous, redheaded female.

  Not just any female.

  He bowed his head. He’d never seen Rick like this in his life. It had nothing to do with his drugged state.

  Something strange was going on here. Something Nate couldn’t ever remember feeling around his brother before. He needed to talk to Laurel about it.