Coming ine box set, p.161
Coming in Hot: Rescue Me Box Set, page 161
She'd called Poppy, the friend who'd offered her a place to stay far away from her ex and her past life, a very welcome and much needed change if Caitlin ever had any hope of seeing a future, and let her know about the accident.
Poppy had been understandably concerned after hearing the details of the mishap. Caitlin supposed she'd feel the same if her friend had called to tell her she'd been run off the road by some maniac and then chased into a forest where she'd been bitten by a wolf and left for dead only to be found by a knight clad all in black who had hardly left her side since she'd been brought to the clinic.
After assuring Poppy she was on the mend, healing far faster than Caitlin had expected, in fact, and then relating all the details on the two men who'd been meticulously caring for her, including the specifics on each one's glorious physique, her friend had let her off the phone with a stern promise to call and keep her up to date. She'd told Poppy she still intended to head to Green Rock when the doctor gave her the 'all clear' and she found out about the damage to her car, and she fully intended to do so.
A flash of scarlet on the blanket of white captured Caitlin's attention, drawing it away from reminiscing about the phone call. Was that blood covering the snow? Should she call someone about these dogs? They were far enough off down in the tree line not to be any direct threat to the clinic or the little town, she assumed, but what if they were rabid or something?
Her mind made up, determined she needed to tell someone what transpired outside the enormous window, effectively ruining her view of the snow covered landscape for the moment, Caitlin pushed the call button on the side of her bed.
The receptionist, Melody-Anne, lumbered into the room with her heavily pregnant belly swaying side to side and her hand supporting her back. "What can I get for you, Caitlin?
"Um, I know it's probably totally normal around here and you're going to think I'm nuts to worry over it, but there's dogs fighting down in that copse of trees just within view from the window and I swear there's too much blood covering the ground for it to be a simple dog fight anymore. Dumb, I know, but being the animal lover I am—"
"Dogs?" Melody-Anne interrupted, doing her best to sashay to the window with as much speed as a heavily pregnant woman could. "Now, can't say as there's many dogs in these woods, but we do get the occasional... Shit!"
The blood seemed to drain from the woman's face suddenly, making Caitlin worry for her safety.
"Melody-Anne, are you okay? What is it? Here, sit down for a moment. Let me get you some water." Caitlin pushed the pale woman into her recently vacated chair, flinching as a pain ripped through her thigh with the sudden movement. Her injuries were nearly healed but she knew enough to know that pain was a warning. She limped carefully over to the other side of the bed where the blue container that held the fresh ice water Melody-Anne had just brought her shortly before she'd gone to the window sat. She poured some into the cup that sat beside it and, holding the railing of the bed, cautiously moved back to the other woman's side.
The color had started to return to the young woman's face and Caitlin handed her the glass of water from the sideboard. "Here, drink this."
"Thanks." Melody Anne gulped the water and let out a sigh. "Looks like we are about to be a bit busier. I'd better go back out front. Don't worry about the dogs, hun, it looks like they've broken up and scattered now."
Caitlin glanced out the window, confirming that sure enough the circle of animals seemed to have dispersed rather suddenly and all that remained now was a splash of crimson over white.
"Sorry to have lost myself there for a moment, Caitlin. Must have been dehydrated or something," Melody-Anne mumbled as she pushed herself from the chair, her hand automatically supporting her heavy belly and then shifting to her back once again.
"No problem," Caitlin replied. "Just don't let it happen again," she grinned and flashed a wink, teasing the other woman, mimicking the same admonishing tone the receptionist slash nurse had used with her earlier in the day when she'd attempted to use the restroom alone.
Melody-Anne let out a sharp bark of laughter. "I like you, Cat. All sass and spirit. Truly hope you stick around here once Doc Nicky gives you a free and clear. I could use some more friends who give me back as good as they get. Gotta head up front now. You get yourself back into that bed, ya hear?"
"Yes, ma'am," Caitlin agreed. "I'm not crossing you again."
With one additional hearty laugh, Melody-Anne shifted her swollen belly through the doorway and out of sight, strolling off down the short hallway between the front of the clinic and Caitlin's room.
Caitlin crawled back into her bed, as promised, and pulled the soft sheets up around her. They smelled woodsy, like Axel did, all male and spicy. Who knew healing took so much effort? Hopefully, she'd be back to her old, energetic self in no time and then she could get out of this bed for good. Sighing deeply into the bedclothes as she brought them up to her nose, Caitlin closed her eyes and drifted off, exhaustion setting in after her brief excursion.
Chapter Six
"You want the good news or the bad news first?"
Caitlin glanced at the door as it swung open to reveal Nicholas just as the light started to filter through the window of the room where she lay staring at the beauty outside. She'd grown used to his appearances at first light every morning over the last few days, and this morning she'd actually been awake and waiting for him to show up. Almost excited, even, though she'd never admit that to herself let alone anyone else.
"What's up, Doc?" Caitlin grinned as Nicholas flinched. She enjoyed getting under his skin with her flippant remarks. He was too easy. "Hit me with the good news first. I can take it."
Nicholas picked up her chart, made a few notations on the sheet in a rapid scribble, and then turned to flash her a smile. "You're getting released today. No more need to start your day off with digs at me. Your blood tests came back clean so there's no infection or residual concerns at the moment. That said, we will need to continue daily testing for at least another week, maybe two just to be sure you're in the clear. If necessary, I can make arrangements for you to have that done remotely at a clinic up near Green Rock. I've a friend there who owes me a favor." He frowned.
Caitlin groaned. "Another week or two of getting stuck with a needle. Yay."
Nicholas continued, ignoring her comment, "However, Glen and the boys found your car and towed it to the shop down the way. Glen's brother Colt is the owner there and will give it to you straight without ripping a hole in your bank account. I can tell you, it isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Something about throwing a rod through the block or the like. I'll let Glen explain it later when he gets back from breakfast."
"Shit!" Caitlin bristled. She didn't have the funds in her account to pay for huge car repairs, damn it. As it was the little she had would have gotten her as far as her friend's place in the north and then she'd have had to find work in the dinky town of Green Rock Falls before making any other plans. At least she'd left him far behind. No way would he have a clue to look for her here either. That, at least, still made this a plus.
"My purse? Laptop? Phone?"
"No clue." Nicholas shook his head. "Axel might have more news on that for you when he gets here.
Caitlin heard the bell on the outer door jingle, and chuckled. "Speak of the devil and who should appear..."
The door to her room swept open and Axel stepped in brushing snow from his collar and carrying fresh coffee and a brown bag that smelled heavenly. "Hey now," he smirked, "that any way to talk to the wonderful and amazing nurse who brings your gourmet breakfast every morning? You're breaking my heart, darlin'. All the trouble I go to and not an ounce of appreciation for my hard efforts!"
Caitlin laughed, "You know I appreciate what you do, Axel, but I'd hardly call muffins and sausage biscuits from the Fancy Nancy a gourmet breakfast. Hell, the coffee alone is thick enough to stop a bullet."
"Oh geez, don't let Nan hear you talk about her coffee that way. Best coffee this side of the Gorge and don't you forget it, Missy," he mimicked the kindly grey-haired woman who ran the local eatery.
"Nick," Axel handed over a large cup of the steaming pungent brew.
"Thanks. She's good to go as soon as she's eaten and signed the release forms Melody-Anne will bring by shortly. I have to run, though. Mrs. McNary is having 'feline troubles' again." He rolled his eyes. Turning toward Caitlin he flashed a smile. "I'll be back around noon, if you're still around then. Maybe you'll hang out long enough for Axel and I to take you over to Nan's for a real meal instead of this takeout stuff." His brows drew together, then, in an expression she'd come to know as part frustration, part insecurity. "That is, if you don't have to run off right away." He turned away and slipped out the door before she'd had a chance to respond.
"Why does he do that? Caitlin questioned Axel.
"Do what?"
"Ask things in a roundabout way with a smile on his face one minute and then the next he's looking like a child who's lost his best friend and is entirely unsure if he should be speaking at all. It's confusing, in my opinion. He flip-flops pretty fast."
"Hmmm, never noticed." Axel sat on the edge of the bed, opened the heat-stained brown bag and passed her one of the freshly baked blueberry muffins. He set the two remaining coffee cups down on the tray beside the bed. "Two cream, no sugar, just the way you like it. So, what are your plans when you get your walking papers? You gonna stick around for the blood work or head back out on the road to wherever it is you were going?"
"Still heading out to Green Rock. No reason not to, right? Need to get my life back on track, finally."
Chapter Seven
"Shit. Shit. Shit!"
Caitlin had no idea what she'd find when she made her way to the mechanic shop, but seeing her car with the passenger side door all smashed in, missing the front quarter panel and the headlight, with the hood crunched up and a busted radiator came as a bit of a shock. She didn't think it'd been that bad when she tore off into the woods in the twilight, but seeing it here now, in daylight, gave her a clue to the extent of the external damage. And that didn't even account for the report Axel had given her of an essentially blown engine.
She didn't know a whole hell of a lot about cars, but she knew enough to realize the severity of a piston rod separating from its connection point, especially at the bottom of the rod where the rod bearing attaches to the crankshaft, sure wasn't some small ding they'd be able to fix in a day with a little epoxy and fiberglass resin.
Apparently the accident hadn't been the root cause of that damage, though, only the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak. It seemed when her ex so kindly restored the engine on her beat up old Sebring, he neglected use new hardware for the bearing cap bolts and nuts, which torquing and age had already overstressed. Caitlin wasn't too sure if he'd done that on purpose, one never knew what his end goals were, or just being the typical cheapskate he was it'd never occurred to him to repair the entire thing even though he'd made sure she thanked him properly for the act, making sure she knew well and good that he looked after what was his and he'd done her a favor so she could get to work and back.
According to Colt, the shop's owner, the impact of the car hitting the tree combined with the already leaky oil pan in the vehicle had simply made a bad situation worse when she'd left the car running to take off into the trees in her attempt to escape the idiot who'd nudged her just enough to make her slip into the loose gravel, yanking the wheel from her grip, and sending her plunging off the side of the road into a gully where it conveniently bounced out the other side just far enough to meet up with a huge Douglas fir.
She'd almost blown a gasket herself when the kindly old man had given her the repair quote. Not as much as it'd been to buy another junker to get her by until she could get a new job in Green Rock, but way more than she had in her bank account at the moment. In combination with finding out her medical insurance had been cancelled, despite the promises of the company to keep it going as part of her two week severance package, she'd no clue where to turn next. Thankfully, the hugely pregnant Melody-Anne had just taken her information and told her they'd figure something out when she got back from getting her purse and luggage out of the car.
Caitlin wiped the back of her hand across her hot, swollen eyes, straightened her back, and yanked open the door to the Fancy Nancy. Shear determination made her suck back the sobs and paste on a smile as she breezed through the door of the small restaurant. She'd be damned if she let on about her emotional state over a damned car and finances to the two men she'd come in search of.
A quick glance over the filled tables made her suck in a deep breath as she searched out the blue-grey eyes of her doctor or the caramel colored orbs of her protector. Seeing a shaggy blond head topping a wide pair of shoulders attached to a muscled back and tapered waist, she glanced across the table from the delectable male specimen and her gaze settled on the dark locks and strong, chiseled features of the succulent morsel she'd come to trust in her few short days here. Axel looked up and caught her gaze, his features marring as his brows lowered and his jaw hardened. Nodding in her direction, he hitched his head to the side, flashing a glance back toward the kitchen and indicating where the restrooms were. Apparently Caitlin's outburst was more visible than she'd thought.
She strode toward the double doors at the back of the fifties-styled diner, and pushed through the door of the women's bathroom. A glance in the mirror had her gawking at her own reflection. No wonder Axel had suggested she hit the ladies room. Far more than just swollen eyes greeted her. Tear tracks streaked her cheeks, her eyes were red-rimmed, and her hair looked like she'd run her fingers through it and pulled out clumps from the simple braid she'd tied it into after the quick shower before leaving the hospital. Well, truth be told, she had given the thick blue-black strands some rough attention after she found out about the lack of medical insurance, and presumably she'd added to the mess after talking to the older gentleman, the Sheriff, Glen Anderson, and his brother, Colt, about her car.
Turning on the taps, she splashed some cool water over her face, easing the heat from her eyes and wiping away the last vestiges of evidence from her tears. Lordy, that felt better. A quick redo of the braid and she was set and ready to face whatever came next with the same tenacity she'd faced down several bumps in the road lately. Onward and upward. She knew she'd get through it because she'd already fought the worst demons in her life and won. No one and nothing would ever convince Caitlin Leah Westlake that she couldn't handle whatever life threw at her again. She knew better now. Sometimes she just needed a little break before she could suck back the pain and stand up to the curve balls. She'd get there, or die trying.
Pulling the restroom door open and letting it swish closed behind her, Caitlin sucked in another deep breath and strode over to the men's table. She slid into a seat beside Axel and flashing Nicholas a brilliant smile. She could fake her way through this easily, right?
Chapter Eight
"So, what's the word on the car?" Nicholas asked as he cut a piece of steak, rubbed the thick meat in the run off yolk from the over easy egg, and slipped the dripping chunk into his mouth.
Caitlin let out an exaggerated sigh followed by a half assed smile. She refused to let this situation get to her. Refused to let Axel and Nicholas know how upset she really had become at the news.
"Uh, yeah, it's going to be a while. I'm not even sure if fixing it is the better option over replacement right now, but I'm low on options and Green Rock awaits. Colt said it'd be at least a week before he could get the parts in to rebuild the engine, though he didn't guarantee a second rebuild would last me all that long. I guess I just have to hope it'll get me where I'm going before it conks out again." Caitlin forced a chuckle, determined the two men think she was entirely okay about the prospects.
"So don't rush off to Green Rock just yet then." Axel frowned, his voice almost a growl.
"Obviously that's off the table until I find a way to pay for the medical bills and the car, Axel. What I don't know is where I'm supposed to get a job, where I'm supposed to stay while I do that. So, tell me, where can a girl get a good paying, short-term position in a hurry? Maybe one that has board and lodging, too?" She chucked again and followed it with a fake smile. "I'll figure it out. I always do. She slid a bite of hash brown into her mouth and groaned. "Oh my god, potatoes never tasted so good!"
"I can see if Carter needs someone to help out over at the hardware store," Axel spoke up from shoveling in his egg smothered hash browns. He took a long draw of his coffee, draining the cup and signaling to the waitress for a refill. He waited until the woman had filled his cup to the brim with the pungent dark brew and replaced the half and half container with a fresh little silver pot. "Thanks, Grace. I know he's been wanting to spend a bit more time at home what with Mel being so close to her due date and all. As for a place to stay for a while," He glanced across the table at Nicholas, his eyebrow arched. "We—"
"Nick! Carter Baker, the man Axel had just been speaking about rushed into the restaurant. He strode quickly over to the table where the three of them sat, panting to catch his breath for a moment before leaning forward to whisper into Nicholas' ear.
"Hey, Carter," Axel said. "We were just talking about you! Talk about your devil appearing!"
Nicholas wiped his mouth with a napkin and rose from the table. "Not now, Ax. We gotta go." He turned toward Caitlin. "Can you have Grace package this up and bring it over to the clinic for me, please?"
"Uh...sure, Nick," Caitlin stuttered. "What's wrong, can I help?" She glanced over at Carter who stood wringing his hands and practically dancing on the spot in clear agitation.
Nicholas shook his head and chuckled, "Not unless you know anything about labor and delivery."
