Page 99 of A Twist of Faith
He stopped her words with a finger to her lips. “We can talk about it later, Dee. No need for you to get upset. Right now you need your rest.”
Upset? Did she have a second chance with him? Was he only there because of his kind nature, nothing … more?
His finger slid to her chin. “We need to talk, but we can’t have a proper talk right this minute.”
Dee’s mother burst through the door, two bottles of water in hand. She looked back to Reese, who stood and stretched out his long lean body. How could she have been so careless to risk his heart? God, please don’t let it be too late.
“Well, Mama, I reckon I should get you back home and pick up the kids from Rainey’s.” He turned to Dee. “Unless I can help you with anything, darlin’?”
She loved the way her called herdarlin’, teasing her hope a little more. “Will you come back?”
He slapped his cap back on his head. “You can bet on it.” His gaze held hers. “Until you order me and my farm smell to take a permanent break, I plan to be here as often as I can. Neighborly, you know.”
Not exactly what she wanted to hear, but she’d take it. “Thank you, Reese. I do want to talk, about the Ball and the accident.”
His brow raised, but before he could say anything her mother broke in. “What? You don’t need to talk about that nasty accident. It can’t be good for you. Here.” She shoved the straw from a hospital cup. “Right now you drink this water and rest.
“We’ll come back and check on you.” Ma Mitchell waved a hand her way. “And I’ll bring something tempting to eat. Heaven knows the hospital food won’t do it.”
An overwhelming sense of gratitude forced a new swell of tears, and another solid pain in her head. She took a sip of water and relaxed back against the pillows, her swollen nose tingling. She’d thought she brought something special to Ransom with her expertise, but all along God was bringing something … or someone to her. An entire family in fact. A healthy, wholesome family with so much love it spilled over into strangers’ lives and made them want to stay.
Just like her.
Reeseslid into the room without making a sound. Dee’s dark hair fell across the pillow, framing her pale, bruised face. But the bruises had lightened from two days before and her nose wasn’t as swollen. He still shook inside at the recurring images of her trapped in the sinking car, her pale, bloody face, and the lifelessness in her cold body. His fists tightened against the handle as he gently brought the door to a close.
The crash, her brokenness, and the little surprises of her care found in the garage, affirmed his feelings for her. He loved her. Plain, but not quite so simple. Doc meant to leave Ransom. He’d known it going in, headstrong and heart-crazy. Would she stay with him? Charlottesville waited a good six months away, at least.
Out of the corner of his eyes he caught sight of another person in the room. A man.
Dr. Alex Murdock.
Not exactly as he’d been before. Dark circles shadowed his eyes and his hair sprayed out like he’d forgotten to comb it. Reese straightened and backed away from Dee’s bed, but Alex looked up, noticing him, and greeted him with a sad smile. In fact, he looked plum disappointed.
“She didn’t sleep last night. The nurse said she was in a good deal of pain.” Dr. Murdock’s voice stayed low. “They gave her something about an hour ago to help her rest. The doctor wants to keep her for two more days to make sure all signs of the concussion have subsided.”
Reese nodded and took a seat. He left for Chicago tomorrow. “Did you just get here?”
“About a half hour ago. I came to see how she was doing.” He gestured toward Dee and sighed. “And to congratulate her on her new position. She’s worked hard for it.”
A knot twisted tight in Reese’s throat. “UVA?”
Dr. Murdock nodded, his expression a wounded riddle.
“When does she start?”
“January, unless she chooses to wait until the fall.” Dr. Murdock grimaced. “She’s wanted to be there for a long time. I can’t imagine prolonging her stay in Ransom.”
“No, I’d reckon not.” Reese studied her peaceful face, the sense of loss deflating his chest.
“She will do well for herself there.” Alex’s voice spilled into the silence. “She’s always had more talent than she realized.”
Reese stared down at Dee and the knot closed around his heart. What had he been thinking? She’d give up her lifelong dream for his little farming family? And would he even ask her to? He shook his head and pinched back the uncomfortable warmth closing off his throat.
Another loss. One woman he’d lost to another man and this one he’s losing to a dream. Why couldn’t he meet someone who saw him and his family as her dream? He shoved his hands into his jean pockets and jabbed at the sadness with common sense.
Why should he be surprised? She’d known him and his ornery self for a grand total of three months—how could that be enough to change a lifetime of dreaming? His life, and the giant shift from singleness to readymade family, was a giant pill to swallow too.
And if he tried to convince her to stay, and she said yes, would she live to regret it later? His will stiffened at the thought.No, regret pushed people into foolish choices. He’d learned that lesson the hard way. Love didn’t take from people. It gave. He wouldn’t be the one to stand in the way of her dreams.
