Chapter 5
In her bedroom, PJ was having similar panicked thoughts. For so many years after Coy’s brotherly pep talk, she had guarded her heart, saying no to the occasional man who asked her out because he wasn’t her ideal. She had waited for Mr. Right, and now somehow she had allowed herself to become attached to a handsome stranger, and not just any stranger—a fancy one from New York, with a girlfriend to boot. Work was the distraction she needed, and there was plenty of work to be done at the King’s ranch.
By the time she finished a quick shower, Ethan and the girl were packed and ready to go, a sure sign that they were all anxious to leave.
“Anyone want breakfast?” PJ asked.
“No,” Ethan and the girl answered in unison.
“Then let’s go,” she said. Ethan was trying hard not to stare at her as she tried not to stare at him. When their eyes happened to meet, they immediately turned away, in search of reprieve. PJ would have sprinted to the truck if not for the ice that slicked her driveway. Instead she walked cautiously, calling a warning to the couple behind her.
The girl was wearing predictably fashionable high-heeled shoes, totally inadequate protection from Montana weather. PJ rolled her eyes, glad she was facing front and they couldn’t see. It wasn’t as if Montana winters were a big secret from the rest of the country. How could someone possibly come so ill prepared? Then she felt guilty for her negative thoughts about the girl. Maybe it was possible that her blazing attraction to Ethan had biased her against the pretty blond. Yesterday had been a harrowing day for her. Maybe she wasn’t as obnoxious as PJ remembered.
“Ethan, are we sure we couldn’t hire a taxi to take us? I’m not sure I trust this hunk of junk to get us there,” the woman said as she surveyed PJ’s truck with a grimace of disgust.
PJ opened her mouth to answer, but Ethan intervened, which was a good thing because PJ didn’t trust herself to be nice. The truck had been her father’s, and she was protective of it.
“There are no taxis out here, Chrissy, and the truck works great. You’re forgetting we’re riding with a mechanic.”
“I’m not forgetting,” the girl, Chrissy, said, her tone filled with disapproval and disgust.
Chrissy. What kind of a name was Chrissy? Fluffy, that’s what.
“At least let me sit by the window again,” Chrissy demanded. “I’ll get carsick if I have to sit in the middle again.”
“Fine,” Ethan agreed. He vaulted into the seat and put a hand down to help Chrissy.
PJ settled in the driver’s seat, started the truck, and backed out. Within a couple of minutes, Chrissy was asleep and snoring softly. PJ glanced at Ethan who was making a concerted effort to stare straight ahead.
“Are we sure she doesn’t have mono?” PJ whispered. Ethan chuckled, cutting some of the thick tension in the vehicle. PJ smiled. Some of the crushing weight shifted off her chest. “Look, Ethan, about earlier,” she whispered, but he cut her off.
“Don’t, PJ. Let’s just let it go. You’re a very attractive woman, but it shouldn’t have happened. It was a moment out of time, and it’s best if we forget about it.”
PJ stared through the windshield in dismay. Her, attractive? Ethan, beautiful specimen that he was, found her attractive? She wasn’t used to feeling pretty, but his words had made her feel that way. PJ thought men were attracted to her for different reasons than her looks. She didn’t fool herself that people were able to see beneath her ponytail and jeans to the woman beneath. Usually she was either covered in grease or soot or both. The last man who asked her out had done so because she overhauled his transmission for free. She knew because he told her before offering to take her to a tractor pull, as if he thought her perfect romantic evening included John Deere.
“Have you ever taken a woman to a tractor pull, Ethan?” she blurted.
“No,” he drawled, clearly startled by her random question.
“I didn’t think so,” she said. Maybe that explained her instant and powerful attraction to him. Maybe it was because he was different. Didn’t someone say that familiarity breeds contempt? In her case it was certainly true. What she felt for the handful of cowboys she knew bordered on contempt, at least when it came to the possibility of dating them. She didn’t want a cowboy; she wanted a cultured gentleman. Someone like Ethan, but not Ethan, of course, because he was off limits. Maybe that had been another factor in her attraction. PJ had always possessed a rebellious streak. Maybe it was because she had been looking after herself for so many years, but she was independent and didn’t like to be told what she couldn’t do. Ethan, with his many differences, had presented a challenge. Yes, there were many reasons why she was attracted to Ethan, but none of them was compelling enough to overcome common sense.
A flirtation might prove fun if she was the type of girl who could do such a thing, but she wasn’t. She was a steady, serious person. Even though she was only twenty one, she had forever on her mind, and Ethan wasn’t a forever kind of guy. He wasn’t a keeper. All those years ago, PJ had promised herself that she would only settle for Mr. Right. Ethan wasn’t him, and she wouldn’t allow him to throw her off course.
All her pretty thoughts flew out the window, though, when they turned down the lane for the Flying K ranch. Ethan rested his hand on her thigh and turned to look deeply into her eyes.
“Thank you for all you’ve done for us, PJ. I really appreciate it, and I won’t ever forget you. Maybe if things had been different, if we had more time, if this wasn’t goodbye…Well, the point is I’m grateful, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed meeting you.” He flashed her a smile, his full red lips parting to reveal perfectly white teeth, and PJ felt her stomach turn a somersault.
“Oh, dear,” she whispered as she brought the truck to a stop. He thought he was gaining distance from her, but she had news for him. “I’m not going away, Ethan. I’ve been invited to stay.”
Ethan’s mouth dropped and something like panic filled his eyes as Chrissy sat up with a jaw-cracking yawn. “Finally,” she said. Then she opened the door, hopped down from the truck, and promptly fell on her behind before once again bursting into loud, angry tears.
It took a few minutes for Ethan to quiet the howling Chrissy. PJ used that time to gather some bags from the back of the truck and look around at the quiet ranch. The silence was unnerving. Such a large spread was always bustling with noise and activity, but today she could almost hear the pine needles dropping from the trees. Her heart speed increased and her stomach filled with dread. Was Ivy sicker than they realized? Had something worse happened? What else could account for such deadly stillness?
Once again Ethan had to practically carry Chrissy up the walk as she tried to balance on her stilts. As they drew closer to the front porch, PJ noted Josh sitting on the front porch, his wife, Sam, rolled in a quilt and tucked into his lap. Though Josh was the closest brother to PJ in age, they had never been friends. Truth be told, she hadn’t liked him much growing up. He had been as cold and unfeeling as a robot until he married his pretty little wife, Sam. Either Josh had been hiding his humanity all along, or Sam had found a way to bestow some because now Josh was almost as friendly as his brothers, but today he didn’t smile when he saw PJ ascend the steps, Ethan and Chrissy in tow.
“Josh,” PJ whispered, noting that Sam was asleep. “What’s going on?” Why was it so quiet and why wasn’t he working? The King brothers had a notorious work ethic, especially Josh.
“The women are sick,” Josh whispered. He drew Sam tighter and gave Ethan a narrow-eyed glance before turning back to PJ. “I’m glad you’re here, PJ. My brothers and I are overwhelmed trying to care for them. They’ve all caught some virus, and they think that’s what triggered Ivy’s labor, although she’s doing better now.” His gaze moved to Ethan once again. “Cam will be glad to see you. Belle is, uh, not an easy patient.”
Ethan smiled. He could only imagine. His amusement also included Josh who still seemed to harbor some jealousy, even though he
and Sam had been married for two years now. Ethan had been attracted to her when he first met her as Belle’s Montana secretary, but after meeting her in person and realizing she and Josh had something going, he had backed off. Apparently Josh had a long memory when it came to his wife, however, and was still wary. He was just getting ready to introduce Chrissy when she spoke.
“Do you have any masks?”
Josh looked at PJ for an explanation, and he learned more than he asked when she rolled her eyes. PJ was easygoing. Her obvious dislike of the girl spoke volumes.
“Excuse me?” Josh asked.
“You know, like doctor’s offices give out when there’s an epidemic. A mask.” She traced her finger around her mouth to indicate what a mask should look like.
“Uh…” Josh started, looking to Ethan for help.
“They don’t have any masks, Chrissy,” he said with barely controlled patience. His first thought had been getting inside to see what could be done to help Belle. He hadn’t given a thought to protecting himself from whatever was going around. All of the brothers were still healthy—the virus couldn’t be that contagious. It wasn’t the plague, after all.
“I’m sorry I can’t show you to your rooms,” Josh whispered. “PJ, could you…” he let the request trail off.
“I would be happy to show her where she can go,” PJ said.
Josh coughed and nodded, pressing a kiss to his sleeping wife’s head to try and hide his smile.
“Can I get you anything?” PJ asked before leading her charges inside.
Josh shook his head. “Sam was burning up with fever and wanted to come outside. We’ll just sit here until she wakes up. Thanks, PJ.”
PJ nodded, leading the way into the large farmhouse. She noticed that Chrissy had nothing disparaging to say about this house. Probably because it was technically a mansion with three suites and a few bedrooms in addition to a den, living room, and kitchen the size of Rhode Island. But everyone referred to it as a farmhouse because the Kings were unpretentious and would have been uncomfortable with the imagery a mansion evoked. And, truly, with four large sons, the house had probably felt cozy growing up. Even now Cam and Belle and Josh and Sam shared the space with room to spare for guests.
First she led Chrissy to the third suite. It was smaller than the two used by Cam and Belle and Josh and Sam, but still had an attached bathroom. “This is your room,” PJ said, indicating the room with a sweep of her hand. Chrissy stepped inside and turned in a circle, taking in the pretty room. Cynically, PJ wondered if she was searching for something to complain about.
“Do you think they have any disinfectant spray?” Chrissy asked.
“Check the bathroom,” PJ said, pointing to the closed door at the opposite end of the room. “Take your time.” She stepped out of the room, followed by Ethan, and closed the door emphatically behind them. The fact that Chrissy wasn’t her guest anymore and therefore didn’t require forced politeness was heartening, and she smiled.
Ethan watched PJ smile as they stepped out of the room, and wondered if she felt relieved to be away from Chrissy. He knew he did, and the realization made him feel guilty. Chrissy had occasionally shown flashes of temper or selfishness in New York, but so did everyone else he knew and so she had blended in. Had he been so dazzled by her looks and career success that he overlooked all her flaws? He hated to think himself as being so shallow, but it was as if this trip to Montana was shining a light on his life; he wasn’t at all sure he liked what he saw.
The people here reminded him of his family in Ohio. Maybe that was why he and Belle got along so well; they were kindred spirits. How had he gotten so far from his roots that the corporate backstabbing and serial dating of Manhattan became acceptable to him?
They reached Belle and Cam’s suite and PJ raised her hand to knock.
“Come in,” Belle and Cam called together, although both their voices were strained. PJ opened the door and led the way inside. She had never been inside this room, the largest of all the rooms in the house. Belle had good taste in clothes, so PJ had expected her room to be equally as fashionable, but her gaze was immediately drawn to the fireplace and a large painting of a red tree sloth and brown bear. Except on closer inspection, she realized the sloth and bear were people, and not just any people, but Belle and Cam. Granted, she was naïve about art. Maybe the horrid painting was some type of modern art that was fashionable in New York. But when Ethan looked at the painting and laughed, PJ thought maybe it was as bad as she thought it was.
“Ethan, you’ve got to help me,” Belle said desperately. “He’s holding me prisoner here. He won’t let me work.”
“Ethan, I’m so glad you’re here,” Cam said with equal desperation. He sank wearily into the chair at the side of the bed and wiped his stubbled face. In all the years PJ had known Cam, she had never seen him look so unsettled.
“What’s the problem, Belle?” Ethan asked.
“What’s the problem?” she croaked. “Look?” She twisted on the bed, revealing the bungee cords that held her in place. “He won’t let me up.”
“Woman, I told you I was going to hogtie you if you didn’t stop working,” Cam said.
“I have to get the Jones contract out,” Belle said, twisting frantically.
“Belle, I already sent the Jones contract,” Ethan said. His worried glance slid to Cam.
“She’s delirious,” Cam said, winding his finger around his ear in a “she’s crazy” gesture. “I can’t get the fever to come down, and I couldn’t get her to sit still or stay in bed.” He looked exhausted. PJ wondered when he had last slept.
Belle lay whimpering pathetically, her eyes darting frantically for escape.
“All right, Belle, I’m here to help you work,” Ethan said soothingly. He perched on the edge of the bed. “Tell me what needs to be done, and I’ll do it.”
Immediately, Belle relaxed. She blinked her fever-bright eyes a couple of times as she tried to focus on Ethan. After watching her lick her cracked, dry lips, PJ retrieved a glass of water and straw for her. When she returned to the room, Belle was making a list of nonsensical directions while Ethan studiously wrote them on a pad of paper. After finishing her list, she closed her eyes and swiftly fell asleep.
Cam stood shakily to his feet and backed out of the room, PJ and Ethan in his wake.
“Thanks,” he whispered. He closed his eyes and leaned his head against the door.
“Get some sleep, Cam,” PJ whispered. “You look done in.”
“I don’t want to leave her,” Cam whispered.
“I’ll stay,” Ethan volunteered. “Go rest.”
Cam nodded wearily. He lurched away from the door and looked at PJ. “You might want to check Layla and Cade. He’s doing his best to keep the twins from their mom, but I bet he could use a hand.”
PJ nodded, her face filling with delight. She loved Layla and Cade’s one year old twins. They were an energetic handful, but they made her laugh and filled up a space inside her she hadn’t realized existed until she held the babies for the first time. Since then, she never left the ranch without stopping by for some cuddle time with the twins. After making sure Cam stumbled safely to the couch, she bounded out of the house and sprinted across the large yard to Cade and Layla’s house.
It was much smaller than the main house, and also much newer. The doorways were noticeably larger to allow room for Cade’s wheelchair. All the counters were at waist height, and the door handles were the easy-open kind for the same reason. The layout was simple and flowing, which made it a good space not only for a person confined to a wheelchair, but also for raising kids. The babies could be seen or heard from almost any room in the house.
She knocked on the door and was greeted by the same weary tone that had been in Cam’s voice, only this time it was in Cade’s. PJ stepped inside and saw Cade slumped in his wheelchair while his children ran in frenzied circles around him. When he turned to her, she could swear she saw tears in his eyes.
/> “My prayers have been answered,” he muttered. “Layla’s horribly ill, and I can’t take care of her and them at the same time because I’m trying to keep them away from her. I haven’t slept in two days, and I really think they might be plotting some type of coup.”
PJ chuckled at the impassioned tone in his voice, glad to be of service to this family who had done so much for her. “I’ll check on Layla, and then I’ll take the kids so you can both have a break.”
“Do you need a kidney, PJ? Because I’ve got two, and I’d be happy to give you one. Or anything else, for that matter. I can never pay you back for this.”
She waved away his effusive gratitude as she walked down the hall. When she poked her head in Layla’s room, she found her tossing and turning in her bed, crying copious amounts of tears.
“Layla,” she said tenderly, creeping toward the bed.
Layla rolled over and looked up, startled and dazed. “PJ?”
PJ reached out and clasped Layla’s hand. It felt hot and cold, all at the same time. “What can I do for you?”
“The babies,” Layla muttered before a coughing fit overtook her. “I haven’t seen the babies in two days, and Cade is exhausted…” She broke off and began crying again.
“I’m here to take care of the babies, and I’ll make sure Cade gets some sleep. It’s going to be okay.”
“Are they sick? Do they have what I have?”
“They’re perfectly healthy if the way they were terrorizing their father is any indication,” PJ said.
Layla smiled and swiped at her eyes. “I’ve been so worried, but too sick to check on them, and I miss them.” She sniffled again.
“You’ll be feeling better in no time. The babies and I are going to go have some fun. You know how much I love them, so don’t worry. Just get some rest. I bet by tomorrow you’ll be feeling almost normal again.”
Layla nodded, her eyes already closing with sleep before PJ backed out of the room and closed the door. She made her way back to the living room where Cade appeared to have slumped even farther into his chair. He watched quietly while PJ bundled the twins into their coats and picked both of them up together, cuddling one under each arm.
“Give your Daddy goodbye kisses,” she commanded as the twins lurched toward Cade and pressed their chubby faces against his.
“I love you guys,” Cade said. Turning to PJ he reminded her once more that she could have his kidney if she ever needed it.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” she said easily. “Get some rest and don’t worry about the babies.”
“What babies?” he muttered before falling asleep sitting up in his chair.