Redeeming the Billionaire SEAL(23)

He jumped from the saddle before the horse had a chance to come to a complete stop.

“Holly? Baby, can you hear me?” He knelt next to her on the soaked earth. When she didn’t answer, something close to panic gripped his throat. “Holly.”

He heard a small moan. Then remarkably, she moved her arm under her and attempted to push up.

“Take it easy, sweetheart,” he said. “Try not to move. Can you tell me where you’re hurt?”

His SEAL medical training kicked in, and thank goodness for that. Once he was sure she was relatively unharmed, he helped her sit up. She was groggy after apparently having the breath knocked out of her. Sin nickered and tried to push Chance out of the way. The rain was still coming down.

“Holly, we’ve got to get you to a dry place. I’m going to pick you up. Tell me if it hurts anywhere.” He saw her nod her head. As Chance drew her into his arms, she made no sound. But he wouldn’t know with any certainty if she was okay until he got her to his mother’s house, where he could check her more attentively. With Holly in his arms, he walked toward the gelding.

“Wait. The letter. Must find the letter.” She spoke in a whisper. It was hard to understand what she was saying. He felt her take a deep breath. “The letter. Chance, I won’t leave until I find the letter.”

What letter?

“Holly, this storm is building and about to kick our butts.”

She tried to push out of his arms. “Let me down. Chance, put me down. I’ve got to find the letter.”

He didn’t understand what could possibly so be so important that she would risk her life. But he set her on the ground.

“Just stay there, I’ll go look.” He walked back to the spot where he’d found her, and sure enough there was a white envelope half covered in mud. He picked it up, slung off most of the mud, folded it so that he could shove it into his back pants pocket, then he ran back to Holly.

“I found it. I’ve got the letter. Now let’s get you out of here.”

She nodded. “I can ride. I just got the breath knocked out of me when Sin fell coming up the side of the embankment. Is he all right?”

“He seems fine.”

When Chance didn’t move, she added, “I’m all right. Go. Get your horse.” She was now yelling to be heard over the wind and thunder. Chance lifted Holly onto the saddle. As he approached the bay, the lightning crackled overhead and the horse flinched and began to back up. Chance swung out his arms and managed to catch the reins. With a few calming words, he leaped into the saddle and maneuvered the horse toward Holly and Sin.

“You’re okay?”

She nodded.

“I don’t think we have time to make it back to the ranch,” Chance said. “I think we should head for Mom’s cabin. It’s not far from here.”

Holly nodded her agreement. “Lead the way.”

As soon as Chance cleared the tall, rocky uphill grade and reached level ground, he pulled his mount to a stop and waited for Holly and Sin to make it up the rocky hill from the river below.

“Ready?” she asked when she caught up to him.

“It’s this way. Let’s go.” Gathering the reins, he headed back to his mother’s small cabin.



The thunder continued to roll across the sky. It was so dark, it looked like midnight. The wind picked up. They were in for a whale of a storm. Only a couple of hours earlier, it had been a bright sunny day with not a cloud in the sky. Typical Texas weather. If you don’t like it, stick around a couple of minutes. It will usually change.

Holly urged Sin into a gallop. The thunder became louder, streaks of lightning hitting the ground all around them. The faster they went, the harder the rain stung Holly’s face. They had to traverse about a mile of open range before once again entering a tree line. His mother’s small house sat some distance deeper into the forested area. Entering the thickening trees, Holly slowed, allowing Sin to pick his way over fallen branches and around thornbushes.

“There.” Chance pointed ahead.

Holly could just catch glimpses of the blue roof almost hidden behind the trees. Chance guided them into the clearing around the house and into a small barn slightly to the left and behind the cabin. Jumping down, he pushed open the tall double doors and motioned for Holly to go inside. Compared with the main barn at the Masterses’ ranch, this was tiny. At some time in the past one of the six stalls had been converted to a feed-and-tack room. It appeared fresh bedding had been spread in the stall floors, the individual water troughs filled with fresh water.

“Somebody knew we were coming.” Holly laughed and slid down from Sin’s back.

“I think the foreman keeps this area fairly clean for just what happened to us today. The storms come on fast. This is about the halfway mark between the house and the butte with the views, where most guests eventually wind up.”

After riding up under the protective covering, Chance began to unsaddle his gelding and Holly followed suit with Sin. Everything needed a chance to dry out. Holly led him into the closest stall and removed his saddle, blanket and the headstall. With a good shake of his massive body, Sin dried himself off.

“I think there is some hay at the far end. You might check and make sure it’s fresh.”

Holly headed in that direction and sure enough, five bales of hay had been set in the corner. Breaking apart one of the bales, she checked for any sign of mold. All was good. She grabbed a couple blocks of the bale and tossed them into Sin’s stall before going back for more for Chance’s gelding.

While Chance took care of the tack, Holly stood in the structure’s opening. The rain was still coming down in heavy torrents. A glance up at the charcoal sky made her wonder if they were going to be bedding down in the other stalls. As a kid, she’d slept in worse. The image came to mind of her huddled next to Chance in the hollow of a giant hickory tree, listening for signs that the black bear had come back. But she’d never felt true fear. Not when Chance was there with her. But being stuffed in that tree hollow had made it a very long night.

“Let’s go,” Chance said, coming up from behind her.

“Where?”

“In the house.”

This was where his mother had lived the last years of her life. It was a special place. Holly hesitated, thinking it might be better if she just remained on the porch.

“If there is a blanket, I’ll be fine out here.”

His dark brows drew together in a frown. “Holly, it’s fine. Come inside. You need to get out of those clothes. We’re both soaked.”

She looked at Chance long and hard before finally nodding her head in agreement. She’d been very young when his mother died but she remembered the deep grief that had plagued him for weeks—no, months. She’d once overheard Wade ask Chance where he’d been for three days. He’d said, “Mom’s house.” It was a two-word answer that had been tossed to his brother as he’d walked past him headed to the barn.

“You can’t find her there, Chance. You need to accept she’s gone and get over it.” For the first time Holly had witnessed Chance lose it. He’d had his eldest brother on the ground, his fist slamming his face in less than a heartbeat. Some ranch hands had pulled him off. With one last glare at his brother, Chance had disappeared into the barn. Instinct had warned Holly that it wasn’t the time to approach him. She remembered the haunted look that covered his features, the straight line of his mouth, the dead look in his eyes. He’d disappeared shortly after. He’d reported to the Naval Special Warfare Center in Coronado, California, and she’d never seen him again. Until two weeks ago.

He broke into her reflections. “Holly?”

“Yeah. I’m coming.”

Holly knew that even after all these years the memories would be as fresh as if the events had occurred yesterday. Though he tried to hide it, she could feel his pain and regret at losing his mother at such a young age. And the anger at his father for contributing to her sadness and consequently, her early demise, stirred the anguish in Chance’s heart.

Inhaling a deep breath and blowing it out, Holly walked to the front door and stepped inside.





Eleven

The house was small, especially when compared with the mansion on the hill, but she could see how Chance’s mother could be comfortable here. Raised ceilings made it feel a lot bigger than it probably was. The kitchen with granite countertops and oak cabinets opened into the den. Frilly curtains hung over the windows. The four canisters on the counter intended for flour, sugar and such were shaped mushrooms, with small bright orange spotted mushrooms painted on the sides and lids. It was colorful, bright and cheerful.

Holly walked through the house at a leisurely pace. The bedrooms each had an accent wall painted in a cheery color of blue, yellow or green, the decor just as delightful as the kitchen’s. Whimsical. That was the word. The entire house was whimsical. And she loved it.

“Okay if I take a shower?” The force of the storm was increasing. It would be a while before they were able to return to the ranch. She could feel the dried mud on her face.

“Of course. Help yourself.”

The robe she found in a bedroom closet must have belonged to his mother. After taking a quick shower, she reentered the den. The robe fit perfectly. She set her dirty clothes on the kitchen floor, spreading them so they would dry a little bit. Chance had a small fire going in the fireplace. She couldn’t help but notice he still wore his wet jeans but his shirt had been removed and lay on the floor of the kitchen.