Page 66 of River Justice

“He’s also here at the hospital,” the sheriff said. “Darius hit him pretty hard when Brand was trying to free Holly Jo. She was tied up in the house. Brand has a concussion and smoke inhalation, but his doctor said he should be fine.”

Holden shook his head, his eyes suddenly filling with tears. He wiped hastily at them, clearly angry with himself for even that sign of weakness. “This is my fault. Every bit of it.”

“We’ve all made mistakes in our lives,” Elaine said.

He scoffed. “Not like me.”

“You might be surprised,” she said and rose from the chair where she’d been sitting beside his bed. “I’m going to see if Holly Jo is ready to come up and see you.” He nodded, his eyes filling again.

“I’ll leave you to get some rest,” Stuart said and left the room with Elaine. “Are you all right?”

She nodded. “I will be. This almost killed him.”

He looked over at her, realizing she wasn’t talking about the bullet wounds that had put him in the hospital.

HOLDENCOULDN’TWAITto get out of this hospital bed. He had so much to repair and rebuild, the house the least of it. When his hospital room door opened, he wasn’t sure who would come through it. He thought he remembered Charlotte in his room, but even if it had been her, she hadn’t come back that he knew of.

Right now, he just wanted to see Holly Jo. He couldn’t rest until he saw the girl, saw with his own eyes that she was all right.

He couldn’t imagine what she’d been through. Elaine had suggested that she might benefit from some counseling. Whatever she needed, he would get it for her. He’d never forgive himself for putting her through this.

But the person who came through the door was Brand Stafford, his son. He swallowed the lump that rose in his throat. He’d never felt so much emotion since this nightmare had begun. He felt weak with it. He needed to be strong now more than ever.

As he looked at Brand, he was filled with his own recriminations. How could he not have known? he thought as he took in the young man. How could he not have seen himself in that build, in those eyes, even in the expression on that face?

His throat went dry as Brand moved toward his bed. He searched for words and found none even as his heart constricted in pain. He didn’t think about the lost years or Charlotte’s deception. None of that mattered.

This was his son.

There was so much he wanted to say, needed to say. He promised himself that there would be time for that as he extended his hand, his eyes brimming with tears. “Brand. My son.”

BRANDHADPLANNEDto wait to see Holden until the rancher was out of the hospital. But after waking up in the same hospital this morning, he knew he couldn’t put it off. The nurse assured him that Holden was on the mend and could have a visitor, especially when told about Brand’s relationship to him. “He’s my father.”

But even as he pushed open the hospital room door, he hadn’t known how this was going to go. He had no idea what he was going to say. He wasn’t even sure still how he felt. He just knew it was time. He had to get this over with.

Seeing Holden lying in bed, his face as pale as the sheets, he’d been taken aback at first. The man had always seemed so big, so powerful, so in control of everything—a lot like Brand’s own mother.

As he’d approached the bed, he’d had no idea what Holden’s reaction would be to him. So when the man offered his outstretched hand and called himson, Brand had taken that large weathered hand and let Holden draw him closer.

They’d stayed like that, just looking at each other for the first time as father and son. To his surprise, a kind of wordless understanding seemed to pass between them.

Then the door opened again, and Holly Jo rushed in, calling his name, “HH!” Holden squeezed Brand’s hand before Holly Jo reached his bedside. “You paid the ransom for me,” she said, sounding near tears as Brand stepped back.

“Of course I did,” Holden said.

“I thought maybe...since I don’t like beef and I wasn’t very good—”

“Don’t be so silly,” he said, reaching for her hand and drawing her closer. “You’re family. I would have done anything to get you back. I’m just so glad you’re safe.” He glanced at Brand and smiled. “I hear I owe Brand and Birdie for getting you out of that house.”

“They saved me,” Holly Jo said in a rush. “The house was on fire. It was so hot and smoky, and the flames...” There was a catch in her throat. “But the horses are fine,” she said, perking up. “Honey is fine. I missed her so much.”

“I missed you,” Holden said, his voice breaking.

The girl eyed him suspiciously before she said, “I promise to behave better from now on.”

He laughed and pulled her into an awkward hug. “You be you, and I’ll be me, and we’ll work it out. Don’t worry about the house. We’ll build an even better one, and you can design your own room.”

“Be careful what you promise,” Elaine said as she came into the room. She glanced at Holden and seemed pleased. Then she smiled at Brand and mouthed,Thank you.

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