Welcome Wagon (River's End Ranch Book 13) Read online

  With the kitchen cleaned up, he took her hand and led her back into the living room. “I had a great time exploring the Old West town today,” he said. “And I really liked the general store.”

  “It is a fun place, isn’t it?” Gwen replied. “They do a great job running it.”

  Gabe reached into his pocket. “While I was there . . .”

  The package had been beautifully wrapped in silver filigree-patterned paper with gold ribbon. Heidi hadn’t been kidding when she said she was an expert. He held out the box to Gwen, who looked at him with curious eyes.

  “I just wanted you to have something from me,” he said, feeling lame. He wished he could come up with something romantic like the men were always saying in Gwen’s movies, but his tongue felt thick and his brain felt thicker and he couldn’t think of anything likely to sweep her off her feet.

  She unwrapped the package and gasped when she saw what was inside. “Oh, Gabe. I can’t believe you got this for me.”

  “I can’t take all the credit—Heidi might have dropped a hint.”

  “But only because you asked her to. She wouldn’t approach you out of the clear blue sky and tell you to buy it.”

  “Okay, I did ask her. But she did everything else, including the wrapping.”

  Gwen fingered the pendant. “Are you sure? I know this wasn’t cheap.”

  Gabe reached out and laid a finger on her lips. “I want you to have it.”

  She nodded, and he lowered his finger.

  With trembling hands, she took the necklace out of the box and fastened it around her neck. “I’ll never take it off. Well, I will when I shower. And sleep. And when I’m helping out with housekeeping. How about, I’ll wear it every chance I get?”

  He chuckled. “That sounds perfect.” He touched the pendant and watched it swing back and forth against her throat. It was beautiful, just like her. “Fairies represent dreams and wishes coming true,” he said softly. “And miracles. Do you believe in miracles?”

  “Of course I do,” Gwen replied. She looked down and swallowed. “I believe in second chances, in providence, and in things working out the way they should, even when we don’t understand it.”

  “So do I,” he whispered as he cupped the back of her head with his hand and brought her in for a kiss. A real kiss, not the feather-light kiss from before.

  It was everything he remembered from their college days and everything he’d been imagining since he arrived on the ranch. Her lips against his were sweet and tender, and he couldn’t imagine that they could be any more perfect. When he pulled back, he rested his forehead against hers, and they sat that way for a long minute.

  “So, I fly out Sunday,” he said. “We have two extra days that we didn’t know we’d have. What should we do with them?”

  “Hmm. I work my regular hours tomorrow, and then I have Saturday and Sunday mornings off until two in the afternoon. I’d love to take you four-wheeling on Saturday, and I think you’d enjoy hearing Pastor Kevin preach on Sunday. I’ll make my Sunday brunch French toast.”

  “It sounds perfect,” Gabe replied. “I’ll check out your activities roster and see if I can keep myself busy tomorrow until you’re free.” He gave her another quick kiss. “Goodnight, Gwen. Sleep well.”

  “Thanks. You too.”

  He didn’t want to walk away from her. He didn’t want to walk away ever again. But he did, and he drove back to the ranch and studied the activity sheet. He’d go for a sunrise helicopter ride over the ranch with a pilot named Frank. That sounded fun. And then after lunch, he’d go snowshoeing. He called down to the front desk and scheduled everything with Carly, then climbed into bed. Two and a half more days to get Gwen out of his system so they could both get on with their lives.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Hey, Natasha? Mrs. Yost wonders if you could bring her some extra towels when you take up her room service tray,” Gwen called out as Natasha crossed the lobby carrying a series of covered dishes from the dining room.

  “You bet.” Natasha disappeared onto the elevator, and Gwen turned back to the computer. She’d had a cancellation, and she needed to cancel the associated snowmobiling trip that had also been scheduled.

  Amber stepped into the bunkhouse and came up to the counter. “Morning, Gwen.” She glanced around. “Can we talk for a second? Can someone watch the desk?”

  Gwen glanced at the duty roster and saw that Deena was cleaning on the first floor. She sent her a quick text and asked her to come. “All taken care of. What’s the matter?”

  “I’ll tell you in a second,” Amber said, and Gwen noticed for the first time that her friend seemed jittery. She hoped nothing was wrong with Wes.

  Deena came a minute later, and Amber led Gwen over to the sitting area in the lobby and patted a cushion. This was just getting weirder by the minute, and reached a crescendo when Pastor Kevin walked in and took a seat on Gwen’s other side.

  “Okay, you’re scaring me,” she said. “Please just tell me what’s going on.”

  Amber glanced at Kevin. He nodded, and she leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees. “Gabe scheduled a helicopter flight with Frank this morning.”

  “Yes, I saw that on the roster when I came in.”

  Amber pressed her lips together. “Gwen, Dani just got a call from Search and Rescue. Frank’s helicopter went down somewhere over Sunrise Ridge, and he hasn’t reported back to his hangar.”

  Gwen’s entire body suddenly went ice cold. “It went down?” she repeated.

  “That’s right. Search and Rescue has been called in, and all the Weston men are saddling up right now and they’re going to ride up there to see what they can do to help.” Amber reached out and grasped Gwen’s hand, but she couldn’t even feel it, she was so numb.

  “How long ago?”

  “Dani got the call about ten minutes ago. I didn’t hear more than that—what time they think the helicopter went down or anything.”

  Gwen’s fingers automatically reached for her pendent. “But all things are possible, right? Miracles happen. That’s what Gabe said last night.”

  “Yes,” Amber said. “Absolutely anything is possible. They’re probably both fine and are walking down the mountain right now because the radio failed. We have no reason to think the worst.”

  Gwen tried to cling to those words, but everything was starting to go a little blurry. Kevin got up, walked over to the desk and spoke with Deena, and came back with a key card. “Come on,” he said. “You need to lie down—Deena says there’s no one in room five.”

  “I’m okay,” Gwen protested, but had to eat her words as a wave of dizziness washed over her.

  “No, you’re not,” Amber replied. “We’ll help you up.”

  Gwen let them lead her to room five. Kevin closed the blinds while Amber slipped Gwen’s shoes off her feet and covered her with a blanket. “I want you to rest,” she said. “I’ll be right over there.” She nodded toward the table by the window.

  “You don’t have to stay,” Gwen protested.

  Amber turned to Kevin. “Have you ever noticed that when someone is in crisis, the first thing they do is try to take care of everyone around them? It’s like they don’t realize that they’re the ones who need help.”

  Kevin nodded. “I have noticed that. And they’re so stubborn about it, too.”

  Gwen closed her eyes. “Okay, okay. Stay here with me. I get the hint.” She was starting to shiver. The blanket was such a good idea.

  “I’ll go tell Deena what’s going on and see if the staff needs help this afternoon,” Kevin said to Amber. “I’ll also have some hot soup sent over.”

  “Great idea. The sooner the better—I think she’s going into shock.”

  “Am not,” Gwen mumbled.

  “Are too,” Amber retorted.

  Going into shock was a silly thing to do. There was no reason for it—they didn’t have any information yet, and it’s not like Gabe was her fiancée or husband or anything. She
didn’t even know what he was. That was really stinky. See—no reason for shock at all. But as much as she tried to logic herself out of it, her body didn’t listen, and she began to shiver all the harder. She felt more blankets being piled on top of her, and a few minutes later, she felt a warm water bottle get put near her feet. She heard Bridget’s voice and felt a hand on her forehead, and then she slipped into deep, black sleep.

  ***

  Gwen woke with a start, her heart pounding, and couldn’t figure out where she was. Then she recognized that she was in the bunkhouse, but why was she in one of the beds? She glanced over and saw Amber at the table, reading something on her phone.

  “What’s going on?” she asked.

  As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she remembered, and gasped. Amber was at her side in an instant.

  “How are you feeling?” Amber asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.

  “Better. Terrible. I don’t know,” Gwen replied. “Any word yet?”

  “I got a text from Wes a little while ago,” Amber replied. “He and his brothers could see the helicopter crash site and had tied up the horses so they could climb up to it. That’s the last I heard—you know how sketchy phone service is up there.”

  Gwen nodded. “How long have I been out?”

  “About two hours. Bridget came over and assured me you were just asleep and not in a coma or something. She said that sometimes when a person goes into shock, sleeping it off is the best thing to do.” A guilty look crossed her face. “I ate your soup when it came, but I’ll send for more.”

  Gwen shook her head. Even though she was terrified for Gabe, she couldn’t help but be amused at Amber. “What I really need is fat and sugar.”

  “Oh, I’m excellent at fat and sugar.” Amber sent a quick text on her phone. “What else do you need?”

  “Tylenol. And a trip to the bathroom.”

  “Bridget brought some Tylenol, and it’s there on the nightstand. The potty trip—well, that’s up to you.”

  Gwen climbed out from beneath the covers they’d piled on her and went into the bathroom, then came out and took two Tylenol. Then she crossed the room and sat at the table. “Did you know that some hotels hardly ever wash their bedspreads?”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. That’s gross, right? So we don’t even use them here at the ranch. Everything on the bed is stripped and washed between every guest.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. I get the willies thinking about other people’s germs.”

  “Me too. It’s worse when one of your professors goes on and on about all the gross things that go on in hotels.” Gwen pressed her hands between her knees. “When do you think Wes will be back in cell range?”

  “He’ll text or call as soon as he can,” Amber said, squeezing Gwen’s shoulder. “In the meantime, help me choose a movie. I was just about to download one online.”

  Gwen’s initial reaction was to wonder how Amber could watch a movie at a time like this, but then she realized what Amber was doing—using one of Gwen’s interests to keep her calm. She took a deep breath. “Are you more in the mood for a comedy or a drama?”

  “I don’t know. I usually like to laugh, but every so often, I just want a good cry. You know?”

  “Sure do. Let me see your phone—what do you have to choose from?”

  They discussed the merits of Jimmy Stewart and Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy, and had just decided to watch Bringing Up Baby when a knock came at the door. Amber answered it and then carried a milkshake and a grilled cheese sandwich over to the table, setting them in front of Gwen. At first, Gwen was resistant—she’d eaten out a lot lately—but then she dove in. She couldn’t believe how much better she felt afterwards—she’d known fat and sugar would perk her up, but hadn’t expected such quick results.

  A few minutes later, just as Cary Grant was meeting Katharine Hepburn for the first time, another knock came at the door.

  “Wonder if they forgot something,” Gwen said.

  “I didn’t order anything else, but maybe,” Amber replied as she walked over to the door. But instead of one of the maids bringing more room service, it was Kevin, and he sat down on the edge of the bed nearest Gwen.

  “The Westons found the helicopter and stayed with it until the rescue chopper got there,” he said, studying Gwen’s eyes as he spoke. “Gabe and Frank are alive, but injured, and they’ve been helicoptered to Clearwater Valley.”

  “That hospital’s pretty small, isn’t it?” Gwen asked. Maybe if she focused on the details, it would be easier.

  “It is, but it has good staff, from what I understand.”

  “Just . . . just how badly are they injured?”

  “I don’t really know.”

  “But the Westons sent a pastor in to tell me instead of just texting me or Amber. That means something.”

  Kevin nodded slightly. “You’re not easy to fool, are you? Yes, they did think it was sketchy. It was Will who called me, and you know he’s rarely serious—he was serious about this.”

  Gwen squeezed her hands into fists. “Can we go there? To the hospital?”

  “Of course we can.” Amber stood up. “I’ll take you.”

  “And the bunkhouse . . .”

  “I’ll pitch in where I can here,” Kevin said. “Natasha told me the rooms are all clean and the laundry is done, so I’ll just stick around and fold napkins or make a nuisance of myself another way.”

  “We don’t fold napkins here,” Gwen said. “We don’t even have napkins—those come from the dining room or diner.” Then she blinked. “Sorry. I don’t mean to be so . . . weird.”

  Amber tucked her arm around Gwen’s shoulders. “It’s okay. Do you want to grab anything from home before we leave?”

  “No. I probably should, but I just want to go, please.”

  “All right. We’re outta here.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Gwen swallowed when she saw Gabe. He was unconscious, with an IV sticking out of his arm and a bandage around his head, and his face looked white. But he was breathing smoothly without an oxygen tube or anything, and she had to take that as a good sign.

  “What all’s wrong with him?” she asked the nurse. She’d told them she was his fiancée—she didn’t want to marry anyone but him, and that should count whether or not there was a ring on her finger.

  “He sustained a head injury that knocked him out,” the nurse replied. “He doesn’t have any other physical trauma aside from a few small bruises—we’re just waiting for him to wake up so we can evaluate him for further brain damage, cognition, that sort of thing.”

  Gwen nodded. “Thank you.” She sat down next to the bed and took Gabe’s hand, wishing her own wasn’t shaking so much. She felt downright silly for her first reaction to the news, but she supposed it was better to have her freak-out moment on the ranch and be calmer here than vice versa.

  Amber stepped in the room a minute later. “I just checked on Frank. Thank goodness he’s awake and could talk to me himself because the nurses weren’t in the mood to spill it.”

  “Frank’s awake? How is he?”

  “He’s got a broken arm and a concussion, but he’s doing remarkably well despite that. He said the engine cut out, just died, and he had to maneuver it through a crash landing.”

  A chill ran down Gwen’s back. “That must have been terrifying.”

  “Yeah, he seemed pretty rattled, but he’s got a good sense of humor and tried to have a good attitude about it while he was talking to me. He’s really worried about Gabe, though, and asked to be kept in the loop. He said Gabe had a premonition or something a few minutes before it happened, and they were getting ready to head back when the engine cut out.”

  A premonition? Gwen’s gaze went back to Gabe. He was lying there so still—if it wasn’t for the rising and falling of his chest, she could believe he was dead. No. She wasn’t going to think like that. She took a deep breath. “The nurse says he has a brain injury and the
y’re waiting for him to wake up so they can see how he is.”

  “Oh, wow. That’s rough.” Amber put her hand on Gwen’s shoulder. “How are you?”

  “I feel . . . I feel like I didn’t realize how much I love him until now.” Gwen blinked back the tears that sprang to her eyes. “And I still can’t believe it—he left my apartment last night around eleven, and now he’s lying here, and I can’t process it. I saw him just last night, and he was fine.”

  Amber nodded. “I understand. Would you like to get checked out while we’re here? You’ve had a really rough day.”

  Gwen was shaking her head before Amber even finished her sentence. “No, I’ve had my medical emergency for the year—it’s time for me to buck up and deal with it.”

  “Okay, but if you change your mind . . .”

  “I won’t, but on the wild off chance that I do, I’ll let you know.”

  ***

  Gwen fell asleep in the chair next to Gabe’s bed and woke up with a start when the doctor came in.

  “Are you the fiancée?” he asked when she sat up.

  “I am.”

  The doctor nodded. “I’m Dr. Pierce. I examined Mr. Grant when he first came in. He was in pretty rough shape, but his vital signs are a lot better now, from what I’m seeing on the chart.”

  “That’s good,” Gwen replied because she felt like she should say something, but it felt so incredibly lame. Of course it was good. What was she going to say—“Drat! I was hoping for some really terrible blood pressure!”

  “Any idea when he’ll wake up?” she asked, realizing that question was almost as dumb as what she’d just said. If he knew, he would have said something.

  “We’re just playing a waiting game right now,” he replied.

  He made a few notes on the chart and then moved on to his next patient, and Gwen settled back in her chair. Her back was stiff, but that was a small price to pay for being able to be there.