“Don’t be so silly,” he said, reaching for her hand and drawing her closer. “You’re family. I would have done anything to get you back. I’m just so glad you’re safe.” He glanced at Brand and smiled. “I hear I owe Brand and Birdie for getting you out of that house.”
“They saved me,” Holly Jo said in a rush. “The house was on fire. It was so hot and smoky, and the flames...” There was a catch in her throat. “But the horses are fine,” she said, perking up. “Honey is fine. I missed her so much.”
“I missed you,” Holden said, his voice breaking.
The girl eyed him suspiciously before she said, “I promise to behave better from now on.”
He laughed and pulled her into an awkward hug. “You be you, and I’ll be me, and we’ll work it out. Don’t worry about the house. We’ll build an even better one, and you can design your own room.”
“Be careful what you promise,” Elaine said as she came into the room. She glanced at Holden and seemed pleased. Then she smiled at Brand and mouthed, Thank you.
“I should get going,” he said.
“When I get out of here...” Holden met his gaze. “Until then.”
Brand nodded, turned and left the room, feeling lighter than he had since learning the truth about his parentage. It was over, behind him. Now all he had to do was figure out who he was. But even his footfalls were lighter as he walked down the hallway. He had a feeling that he was on his way to becoming the man he was supposed to be.
*
BIRDIE WAS UP, dressed and ready to leave when she looked up to see Brand come into her hospital room. Just the sight of him sent her spirits airborne. He had a bandage on one side of his head, but otherwise he looked wonderful—at least to her. Her heart kicked up a beat as he gave her one of his lazy lopsided smiles.
“The doctor said I can go home,” she said as he stepped to her bedside. “But what are you doing out of bed? I heard you had a concussion.”
He grinned. “Seems I have a hard head, so I’m going to be just fine.”
“A hard head, huh?” she said and coughed. He was still coughing too from breathing in all that smoke. “How’s Holly Jo?”
“I just left her visiting Holden. She’s contrite for being a headstrong kid before she was kidnapped and promising to behave from now on.”
Birdie laughed. “Did he buy that?”
“Not for a moment.” He could feel her gaze on him.
“So, you saw your dad. How did that go?”
“Better than I thought it would.” He sat down on the edge of her bed next to her and must have felt her waiting expectantly for all the details. “You’re going to be disappointed. Not much was said. He took my hand and called me his son.”
“That was it?” She was definitely disappointed. “Do you think you’ll see him again?”
“I do. Now, what about you?”
“If you’re asking if I’m going to give up my quest for justice—”
Brand shook his head. “I know better than that.”
She eyed him, surprised. The Brand she’d met would cross a raging river to avoid conflict, and yet he wasn’t asking her to stop, even though it now involved both sides of his parentage? “I’m not sure how this is going to end. You might want to keep your distance from me.”
He reached over to brush a lock of her hair back from her face. His fingers grazed her cheek, sending a shiver of desire through her. His blue eyes were intent on her. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”
She didn’t want to hurt this man. “Seriously, I could end up hurting people you care about.”
“I know. But I would never ask you to change who you are.”
That made her smile. “You sure about that? I’m too impulsive. You have no idea what I will do next—and, truthfully, neither do I.”
He shrugged. “That’s just you. Comes with the whole package.” He grinned. “Have I mentioned how much I like that package?”
“Brand—”
“Birdie, you called it right. I’m tired of playing it safe, being careful not to make ripples in the water, doing everything I can to keep peace in my family. Thanks to you, I’m ready to discover who I truly am.”
“I already know who you are,” she said and leaned toward him. She really enjoyed kissing this cowboy rancher. He must have liked it too, because he wrapped her in his arms and pulled her over onto his lap.
That was how the nurse found them.
“Looks like you’re feeling well enough to go home,” the nurse said as she pushed a wheelchair into the room. “The doctor signed your discharge papers.” With a chuckle, she turned and exited the room as they both burst out laughing.
*
ELAINE DROVE HOLLY JO back to Powder Crossing, explaining that they would be staying in the hotel in town until their house could be rebuilt. Before they left Billings, they shopped for clothing for both of them since theirs had all been destroyed.
Holly Jo didn’t care about school clothes. She just needed jeans, shirts and boots so she could get back to riding her horse. “Are we going to the hotel?” she asked as they drove into Powder Crossing.
Elaine glanced over at her and shook her head. “There’s someone who wants to see you.” Holly Jo frowned. “Out at the ranch.”
“Honey!” she cried. “My horse.”
“Your horse, but someone else.”
