Page 30 of Texas-Sized Secrets

Reed drove the hour it took to get to the hospital in Amarillo, trying not to glance at Mona every five minutes.

She looked so small and vulnerable sitting up straight in the seat next to him. Her eyes were puffy and red-rimmed, as if she’d been crying.

He could have kicked himself for kissing her. Before, they’d maintained a professional distance and she’d been more or less accepting of his help. Now, that was shattered.

She didn’t need more complications added to her life and he certainly wasn’t the right man to complicate it. He took a deep breath and let it out, amazed at how tense he was. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come on to you.”

“Seems I was the one coming on to you.” She sighed. “Let’s forget about it.”

“If you fire me, I’ll understand and leave.” Not that he wanted to leave. On the contrary, with too many unanswered questions and thieves out there preying on one overstressed, pregnant cattle rancher, he’d feel as if he’d failed in his duty if he did go.

She shoved a hand through her hair, her lips lifting in a crooked smile. “I fired you before, you didn’t leave.”

The smile, no matter how weak, gave him hope. “If you want me to leave, this time I’ll respect your wishes.”And find some other way to help.

She sat still, with her gaze pinned to the road, her fingers twisting in her lap. When she spoke, her words were strong, resolute. “You can’t leave. I don’t have anyone else.”

Alone. This brave young woman was pregnant and alone against the world. Despite her condition, she willingly took on the challenge to keep what was hers and what she wanted to share with her child. She had more grit than anyone Reed knew. Mona wouldn’t give up the fight.

Reed’s heart swelled behind his ribs. He completed the remainder of the trip in silence, afraid he’d say something stupid or sentimental if he opened his mouth.

Before he cut off the engine in the parking lot, Mona was on the ground and hurrying toward the emergency-room entrance of the hospital. A quick stop to ask directions and they were on their way up in the elevator, silence stretching between them. They found Fernando and Rosa hovering around one of the two beds in the hospital room. As soon as Mona walked through the door, Rosa fell into her arms, sobbing and speaking Spanish so fast, Reed couldn’t keep up. He understood a little of the language, but not enough to catch what the frightened woman said.

Fernando held out his hand to Reed. “Muchas gracias,Señor Bryson. Thank you for coming.”

Reed took the older man’s hand and shook it, his gaze going to Catalina. Her bleach-blond hair lay tangled against the sheets. A nasty cut grazed her right cheekbone, a deep purple bruise just beginning to show through her skin. Her bottom lip was swollen and cracked, dried blood clinging to the damage.

“Has she been awake?” he asked.

“No. She’s been unconscious since we got here. She had a blow to the back of her head and a few cuts and bruises to other parts of her body.” Fernando’s fists clenched and unclenched. “Someone beat her.”

Rosa grasped her daughter’s hand and lifted it to her lips, tears streaming down her face. “Catalina,mi corazón.”

Mona ran her hand down Catalina’s arm. “Who would do this?” Her eyes widened and she looked to Fernando. “Was she…?”

The older man shook his head. “The doctor checked. There weren’t any signs of rape.” He touched a hand to his daughter’s leg, buried beneath the white hospital blanket. “We won’t know who did this until Catalina can tell us.”

“Go home,hija.” Rosa wiped her tears away and stared across her daughter’s inert form to Mona. “There’s nothing more to do but wait.”

Facing Mona, Reed waited for her decision. Personally, he wanted to be there when Catalina regained consciousness. The sooner they discovered who her attacker was, the better.

“I’m staying here with you.” She looked across at Reed. “Do you think Jesse will be all right at the ranch by himself?”

Reed nodded. “He’s armed to the teeth and by now, sitting out in the pasture singing to the cattle.”

Catalina stirred and mumbled something.

“Sí,Catalina?” Rosa bent closer.

“Jesse can’t sing,” she said, her voice strong enough for Reed to hear across the room.

Mona chuckled, dropping a kiss to her friend’s uninjured cheek. “You’re right. But those cows are tone deaf. They actually like to hear him sing.”

“Mamá? Papá?”Catalina blinked up at her mother and father. “I’m sorry.”

She smoothed the hair away from her daughter’s face. “For what,hija?”

“Everything.” She sighed and closed her eyes.

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