The Cowbear's Christmas Bride (Curvy Bear Ranch 4) (11 page)

“Will she be okay?” Carol asked.

“She will. It will take time though,” the doctor said.

For the first time in hours, Hank relaxed slightly. The news wasn’t good, but it could have been a lot worse.

“She has a concussion and will need to stay in the hospital for several days, but she’ll recover.”

“Thank you so much.” Carol jumped up to give the doctor a hug. He patted her back awkwardly.

“There’s another matter I need to discuss with you,” the doctor said when Carol finally released him.

“What?” Hank asked.

“Your mom is a drug addict,” the doctor said.

“What?” Carol asked.

“We found track marks in her arm.”

“Oh God,” she said.

“I’m guessing you didn’t know,” the doctor said.

“I had no idea.”

“My guess is that she’s been using for some time. We’re running some tests to determine the drug, but I suspect methamphetamines,” the doctor said.

“Meth?” Hank asked. He couldn’t believe she was doing such a dangerous drug. That would sure explain her irrational behavior toward Carol.

“Yeah. It’s a big problem up here. It’s too easy for people to cook it in remote places in the woods. As soon as law enforcement busts one meth lab, another springs up. It’s a damn shame,” the doctor said.

“What can we do to help her?” Hank asked.

“After we get confirmation, we should start a methadone treatment program. It’s the safest way to detox from methamphetamines.”

“Will it cure her?” Carol asked.

“No, but it will stop the biological addiction. The psychological addiction is a lot harder to contend with. I can recommend some good programs when we’re able to release her,” he said.

“Okay,” Carol said. “When can we go see her?”

“They’re bringing her to a post-op room so we can monitor her. As soon as we confirm the drug, I’ll send the nurse in with the authorization forms to start the addiction treatment. I want to get her on it as soon as possible before the withdrawal symptoms get really bad. Good luck to you folks. If you need anything, ask one of the nurses to page me,” the doctor said.

After he’d left the room, Carol slumped back into the chair. Hank sat next to her and held her in his arms. He brushed a gentle kiss across her head. If he ever saw Trevor again, he’d kill him. His bear was in full agreement, so much so that his claws started to pierce the tips of his fingers.

Carol took his hands in hers and stroked them gently. She knew exactly what he needed because she was his mate. There was no other explanation for their overwhelming connection. He would have done anything in that moment to take away her pain. The fact that he couldn’t do anything but hold her crushed his soul.

Chapter 11

Carol kept stroking Hank’s hands until his claws retracted. The last thing she needed was for his bear to come hurtling out. If the creature wanted to hunt Trevor down later and eat him alive, she’d have no problem with it. But right now, they needed to focus on her mom.

“I don’t know if I’m going to be able to help her,” she whispered. The waiting room was still empty, but fear kept her from saying it any louder.

“Why?” Hank asked.

“She said she hated me and wished I hadn’t been born.” The words pierced her heart as sharply now as they did when her mom had first spoken them.

“I don’t think she meant that. Drugs make people irrational. She wasn’t the one talking to you. It was the meth.”

“I don’t have money for expensive treatments, and I’d have to move here. I’m not prepared for this. I can’t do it,” she said. The sheer enormity of what she’d have to do overwhelmed her.

“I’ll help you,” he said.

“You’ve already done so much.”

“I’d do anything for you.” The concern in his eyes warmed her heart.

“I’ve never tried to get close to anyone before. I always thought people would abandon me, so I never tried,” she confessed.

“I won’t ever abandon you,” he said. “And once your mom gets clean, she won’t want to lose you either.”

“How can you be so sure?” she asked.

“Because my bear would take my head off if I let you leave.” He smiled. “And I’m sure that once your mom gets to know you, she’ll see the same qualities that I see in you. You’re a kind, generous, thoughtful, beautiful woman. Anyone who can’t see that is an idiot.”

“My mom might be an idiot then,” she said.

“No. She’s just sick.” He rubbed her back.

The nurse walked into the room. “Your mom’s in room fifteen. She’s very drowsy, but you can come see her if you’d like.”

Carol stood on shaky legs. Hank quickly put his arm around her, giving her a place to lean until the dizziness passed. He navigated the confusing hallways and found her mom’s room. They stopped just outside the closed door.

“I’m afraid I’ll say something wrong,” she said.

“I’ll be with you the whole time. If you need me to jump in, I will.”

Love flared up from her heart to fill her entire body. In that moment, she realized he’d do anything for her. He’d already proven that every day since she arrived at the ranch. She never expected to fall in love with a cowboy shifter, but she was.

She looked up at Hank, who locked gazes with her. The expression of pure love in his eyes melted the pain in her heart. With his help, she knew she’d be able to take care of her mom. He brought out a strength in her that she never knew she had. She couldn’t wait to tell him, but now wasn’t the right time. She needed to deal with her mom first.

After giving Hank a soft kiss, she pushed the door open. A single hospital bed sat in the center of the small room. Bags of clear fluid were connected to metal racks. Various lines and tubes connected to an IV in her mom’s arm. Dark bags hung under her eyes, making her look so much older than her fifty years. The hard life that she’d lived was etched into the lines on her face.

“Mom?” she asked tentatively.

Her mom opened her eyes into small slits, then closed them. Maybe she was too weak to talk yet.

“Go. I can’t let you see me like this,” her mom whispered.

“Mom,” Carol said as she gently touched her mom’s hand. “I’m here for you and I’m not leaving. I know about the drugs. I know about the abuse but I don’t care. I love you anyway and I’m going to take care of you.”

“I’m a lost cause,” her mom said.

“No one’s ever a lost cause,” Hank said.

“I’ve got too many problems.”

“We can help you,” he said. “We want to help you.”

“
We
, hmm? I thought you two were just friends.”

“We’re…” Carol hesitated. She couldn’t describe her relationship to her mom because she didn’t know how to define it. As soon as she could get a minute alone with Hank, she’d talk to him.

“Well whatever you are, he’s a good man. Keep him. Don’t make the mistake I did of letting a good man go,” her mom said.

The doctor strolled into the room. “Hello Victoria. How are you feeling?”

“Like I got into a fight with a bull and lost, which is actually about right,” she said.

“I’m going to have the nurse add some medicine into the IV in just a minute. You might be experiencing some withdrawal symptoms from the methamphetamines, but this will take care of that,” he said.

“Don’t bring that up in front of them,” she snapped.

“They already know,” he said. “The nurse will be in shortly.”

After the doctor left, her mom tried to roll away from them, but the tangle of wires kept her from getting too far.

“I know about the drugs mom, but we’re going to get you clean,” Carol said.

“You know how many times I tried to stop? More times than there are stars in the sky. It’s no use. I should have just OD’d years ago.”

“You’ve never had medical assistance before,” Hank said. “This will make it a lot easier, at least on the physical side of things.”

“What do you mean? What other side is there?” her mom asked.

“The emotional side,” Carol said. “We need to find out why you need the drugs in the first place.”

“You going to head-shrink me? Good luck. I went to a group for a few years. Didn’t do nothing. Got back on the meth when a dealer started hanging out in the parking lot after the meetings.”

“Bastard,” Hank said.

“Yeah,” her mom agreed.

After a few moments of silence had passed, Carol gave her mom’s hand a gentle squeeze.

“We’ll figure out all the details later. Right now, I want you to get better. Get some rest and we’ll come back in the morning. Okay?” she asked.

“If you keep insistin’ on helpin’, I guess I don’t have much of a choice,” her mom said.

“That’s right,” Carol smiled. “You can push me away all you want, but I’m not leaving.”

“I don’t deserve you, especially after all the terrible things I said to you. I didn’t mean it,” her mom said.

“I know.” She leaned down to plant a soft kiss on her cheek. “We’ll be back tomorrow to check on you. I’ll leave my cell phone number with the nurse in case you need anything.”

Her mom’s head rolled across the pillow toward Hank. “You take care of my girl.”

“I will,” he said.

“Can you do somethin’ for me?” her mom asked. “Can you ask them to keep Trevor out?”

“He’s in jail right now, but I’ll make sure security knows just in case,” Hank said.

“Good. I think I’m done with him.”

Relief flooded Carol’s body. Her mother had just taken the first step toward healing. As she followed Hank through the halls to the truck, a seed of hope sprouted in her heart. Maybe she could find a way to stay and build a relationship with her mom… and maybe even with Hank too.

***

Carol snuggled into Hank’s arms in the hotel room they’d rented for the night. He hadn’t wanted to drive back and forth between Bozeman and West Yellowstone. The trip was too long and too dangerous to be doing every day.

She pressed her cheek against his chest and listened to the thump of his heart. Earlier, she’d been ready to confess her feelings, but to actually come up with the right words was harder than she thought it would be.

“What are you thinking?” Hank asked softly.

“I’m thinking about you… about us.” She felt his heart beat a little faster.

“About us?”

“I don’t know where to start,” she confessed.

“You know I’m here for you, no matter what. Right?”

“I know.”

“It’s more than that, though,” he said.

“It is?” She propped up on her arms and looked into his eyes.

“Honey, I know we’ve only known each other for a few days. Incredibly intense days, but still, only a few days.” He stopped. “I’m babbling.”

“It’s okay,” she said, glad that he was starting the conversation.

“I’m just going to come out with it. I’m falling in love with you. I know you don’t really believe what I was telling you about fated mates, but it’s true. My bear recognized your bear as his mate the second he saw you. I was just too dumb to believe him,” he said with a crooked smile.

“I don’t know about fated mates,” she said. “But I’m falling in love with you too.”

“You are?” His eyes went wide.

“I am.”

“Oh honey. We’ll figure everything out, I promise. But we’re going to have to move your stuff here and I’ll find a place at the ranch. I mean, Madison will probably have to give up a room for a while, but I’m sure we can—”

She silenced him with a kiss and didn’t stop until he relaxed beneath her. He pulled her tightly against his naked flesh, making her instantly aroused. She wanted to forget everything but the feel of his skin against hers, but not until they talked about the future.

“Do you think we can really make something work between us?” she asked.

“Yes, of course.” He cocked his head to one side. “Don’t you?”

“I do. I guess I’m just nervous. What if I move out here and you decide you don’t want me anymore? I’ll have my mom, sure, but I could just as easily move her into my apartment in New York.”

“You can’t do that,” he said.

“Why?”

“Because I love you and I hate cities. Bozeman’s about as big a city as I can stand,” he said.

“Okay.” She laughed.

“You’ll move?” he asked.

“I feel like we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Normally people take months, even years to get to know each other before they start thinking about getting marr—”

She cut herself off.
Oh crap.
Why’d she bring up marriage? That would surely scare him away. When he didn’t immediately respond, her heart sank. Apparently he loved her, but not enough to get married? Figured.

“My brother just got married,” he said. “They decided on the spot. We were having a cake-baking contest and the minister happened to be at the party. They had the wedding within an hour of deciding.”

“That’s fast,” she said.

“Three of my brothers have either gotten married or engaged in the last few weeks. I have half a mind to check the well water. It must be spiked with something.” He grinned.

“When I was a little girl, I dreamed that I’d find a man to whisk me away to his castle and marry me. I guess a ranch is as good as a castle.” A hint of humor tinged her voice.

“Let’s get your mom settled, then we’ll figure out the rest of the fairy tale,” he said.

“That sounds good.” She laid her head back on his chest.

“Hey, princess?”

“You’re such a goof.” She slapped his shoulder. “What?”

“I want you.”

The husky tone in his voice was all it took to make her forget everything but him. As he rolled her onto her back, she shivered with need. He could make her go from zero to horny in two-point-five seconds.

When his mouth found hers, she moaned and met his hungry kiss. His hands swept across her body, rousing every nerve ending. By the time he slid his tongue into her mouth, she was half-mad with need.

“Don’t make me wait,” she whispered.

“Always so impatient, you dirty girl.”

A ripple of exquisite pleasure shimmied down her spine. She loved his dirty talk as much as she loved the way his fingers spread her soft pussy lips.

As he slipped one finger into her moist folds, he caught her earlobe in his teeth. She writhed against his hand, urging him to slide deeper.

“Tell me what you want,” he murmured.

“I want…” What she wanted was too naughty to ask for.

“Come on, I want to hear it.”

“You know that time we were in the truck?” she asked tentatively.

“The time I flipped you over and pushed my cock into your tight little pussy?”

Molten heat rolled across his fingers. The way he talked to her in bed was so dirty, so sexy, that she was instantly wet for him.

“Yeah,” she gasped.

“You want that again?”

“Mm-hmm.”

His mouth left searing kisses across her chest as he moved down to suck her breasts. As she tangled her fingers in his hair, he slid a second finger into her pussy.

“Oh God.”

“You know why I liked taking you from behind so much?” he asked.

“No.”

“I like the way your little heart-shaped ass looks.”

She arched her neck, letting her legs fall open as he worked his magical fingers in and out with ever-increasing pressure. When she tried to reach for his rigid cock, he grabbed both of her wrists in one large hand.

“Not yet, sweetie. I’m about to explode already and I haven’t even started with you,” he said.