Page 39 of Hiding in Montana

“Hey, darlin’.”

A warm feeling passed over her as his deep, low voice said those two words.

A frown slipped over his mouth. “Why aren’t you resting?”

“I will once I know you’re okay. How’s the pain?”

He touched the thick bandage on his shoulder and gave her a forced smile. “Nonexistent.” He slipped his hand around the back of her neck, encouraging her to bring her face to his. “I do like waking up next to you.”

She brushed her lips over his. “This isn’t how I would have guessed we’d spend our first night together. You with a bullet wound and me worried you’re going to roll onto your shoulder and start it bleeding again.”

“I’m tough. Cowboy. Remember? We don’t let something like this slow us down.”

“I know, cowboy up and all that. You lost a lot of blood and need to rest and recover, so for today, I’m going to be your nurse and you have to do what I say.” She eased off the bed so it wouldn’t bend under her weight. “Breakfast will be ready shortly.”

He started to push up on his good side when he eased back down. “I think my pain med wore off. Any chance I can get some aspirin or something OTC?”

“I’ll get you something stronger.”

“No,” Clint said sharply.

Surprised, she said, “Clint, don’t be a hero and take something to ease the pain. You need to rest.”

“I need to be clearheaded. We need to talk about what happened and how we’re going to fix this mess so you’re safe and your ex goes back to where he belongs.”

She hovered in the doorway and knew she was about to tick him off, but she would never let him take the brunt of the rage that someone was obviously hurling at her. “This isn’t a discussion we’re having. I’ll take care of my problem with Matthew. While you were sleeping, I developed a working plan.”

He cocked a brow. “Really? Tell me what you’ve cooked up.”

“I’m going to make Matthew tell me how to contact these people. And I’ll get one of those phones that can’t be traced, a burner phone. Once I make contact, they’ll know the truth, and he’s going to sign over the house to cover his debts.” She wiped her hands together as if she was cleaning them from garden dirt. “Problem solved.” If that didn’t work, she’d just disappear again. Once she got over leaving Clint, it would be okay. At least she hoped she could survive the heartbreak.

With her arms crossed over her midsection and hip cocked to one side, she asked, “I take it you don’t approve?” She didn’t think his brow could go higher, but it did.

“These people mean business and if any of the movies I’ve watched are moderately accurate, they don’t care about people. Only the money.”

“I know that, which is why the house solves all the problems. It’s worth a lot more than what Matthew says he owes them, so they’ll make a tidy profit as well.” She tapped her chin with her finger. “What do they call that, juice?”

Now he grinned. “Good to hear you can speak the lingo, but you might want to just call it interest. No sense planning on annoying anyone.”

She relaxed. He was starting to see she could handle this just like everything else that had come her way.

He patted the bed and then held out his hand when she didn’t move. “Five minutes?” he asked.

That was a simple request. She sat down, being careful not to jostle him, leaning against the dark wood headboard.

“Polly, I’m not sure how to tell you. When we met for the second time last year, things changed for both of us. I don’t want you to think I’m rushing anything, but neither of us no longer need to shoulder the burdens of life alone. I recognize you’re a strong and independent woman capable of anything you set your mind to.”

She released a slow exhale. He understood her better than anyone had, even her sister.

“But,” he continued, “that doesn’t mean you have to face a mountain lion or anything else alone, and you certainly don’t need to protect me. I want to stand with you and support you. Not to diminish your strength, but to add to it. You can draw on me anytime you need to.”

She was not going to ask him to step up and be there as she faced down anyone. She couldn’t help it; she laughed.

Now he did push himself upright to sit shoulder to shoulder with her and despite beads of sweat popping out over his lip, his brow furrowed as he waited for her to stop laughing.

“I’m not sure if you’re laughing at me or if you think I’m sweet.”

Placing her hands on either side of his face, she kissed him. “Something struck me as funny.”

---