Page 45 of Dead Man's Hand

Chapter Twenty

DJ was beside Sadie’s bed when she opened her eyes. She blinked, her eyes focusing on his face for a moment before she said, “Tell me you made it to the wedding.”

He laughed; it felt good. Sadie was awake. She was going to make it. He couldn’t remember ever feeling this overjoyed. “You just made my day and I’ve already had the most amazing day.”

She smiled. “Tell me.” She sounded weak, but back from wherever she’d been. He never wanted to come that close to losing her ever again.

So he told her about wanting to see Ansley before the wedding. “It was...incredible,” he said, his voice cracking. “I was afraid. I didn’t know what to expect. I had no idea what she was like and yet when I saw her...” He shook his head. Sadie reached for his hand, squeezing it, tears glistening in her eyes.

“She told me that she always felt as if a part of her was missing,” he said after a moment. “I understood at once. How can a person yearn for something they didn’t even know existed? I realized at the cabin that I’d tried to fill that need with Keira. The problem was, she never saw me as family. She never felt the immediate closeness I felt when I saw my twin. It was like a bolt of lightning.”

“And the wedding?”

He chuckled. “Of course you’d want to know about that. It was perfect. All of the Colts were there except for James, who’s still recovering. I’ll fill you in later. But Lori had him on her phone so he got to be there via the internet. I met all my half brothers.”

“And your mother?”

He nodded. “It was strange. She’s nice. Buck was right. I like all of them. They made me feel like...family.”

She smiled. “I figured as much.”

“It’s a complicated story about my mother and father. He was Del Ransom Colt, one hell of a bronc rider and one hell of a private eye, according to the family. I was named for him. Del Ransom Jr., thus the DJ. Apparently, I come from a long line of rodeo cowboys.” Sadie laughed, then winced in pain. “You need to rest.”

“So do you. I’m so glad you made the wedding.”

“Me, too.” She squeezed his hand and closed her eyes. He stayed there watching her breathe, thinking about everything. He didn’t move until the sheriff popped his head in and motioned that he was needed out in the hall.

He kissed Sadie on the forehead and went out to talk to his half brother Willie Colt. They’d met on the mountain in passing.

“How is she?”

“She’s conscious,” DJ said. “The doctor said she should have a complete recovery.”

“Good,” Willie said. “I’m going to need to ask both of you some questions about what happened up on that mountain. If now isn’t a good time for you...”

“No, I’d just as soon get it over with.”

AFTERDJLEFTher hospital room, Sadie found herself in tears. She hardly ever cried. But seeing DJ, seeing the change in him since meeting his twin and the rest of the family, filled her heart with joy. It would take him a while to get used to it. He’d already lost so much. It would be hard for him to accept this gift of family, but in time, he would and he’d be better for it.

Sadie thought of the pain she’d seen in his eyes on the helicopter ride to the hospital. He’d held her hand, begging her to stay awake. “I can’t lose you,” he said again and again, his voice rough with emotion, his blue eyes swimming in tears. “I can’t lose you.”

She remembered little after that until she opened her eyes and saw DJ beside her bed wearing a Western suit and bolo tie. He looked so handsome in the suit, so different from the Montana cowboy she’d known. Wiping her tears, she closed her eyes, surprised how exhausted she felt.

When she woke again, her room was filled with women all about her age. They introduced themselves as Carla, Davy’s wife; Ellie, Willie’s wife; Lori, James’s wife; and Bella, Tommy’s wife. The Colt women had brought her gifts, wanting to meet her. Ansley was with them.

“Shouldn’t you be on your honeymoon?” Sadie had asked.

“Buck and I aren’t going anywhere until all of you are out of the hospital,” the pretty dark-haired woman told her. “It’s my fault since I desperately wanted my twin at the wedding. I could have gotten you all killed.”

Sadie shook her head. “Your search for DJ actually saved our lives. We wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for your husband.”

Bella had just given birth to a little girl with dark hair and Colt blue eyes. “She’s precious,” Sadie said after looking at the photo, since the infant was still down the hall in the nursery after coming a month early.

The women were fun, laughing and bringing cheer to the hospital room. They were all so excited about DJ being found, commenting on how much he looked like Ansley.

“We brought you a few things you might like,” Lori Colt told her.

Bella had produced a dusty-rose-colored nightgown. “DJ said dusty rose was your color. I promise it’s more comfortable than a hospital gown.”

---