Courage (Heroes of Big Sky 1)

“You make beautiful babies,” I remind him. “And you have plenty of space out on your property to have a dozen.”

He laughs and shakes his head. “Don’t let Fallon hear you say that. She swears we’re done at two. So, you told me how Tash is doing. Now, how are you?”

I stop and blink at him. “I just—”

“Bullshit.” His face is expressionless as he stares back at me. I sigh.

“I’m fucked up in the head. Overwhelmed. Guilty. Pissed as all hell.” I punch the bag once more. “I want someone to pay, and I know they never will. Because it’s considered a goddamn accident.”

“I’m quite sure old man Betters didn’t mean—”

“It was fucking irresponsible,” I interrupt. “And it cost me two people I love.”

“I know.” The words are quiet as Noah nods. “You’re right.”

I swallow and shove the bitterness down. “I can’t, Noah. I can’t deal with all of this bullshit right now. I have too much on my plate. I have kids now, and a demanding career, and another job that I don’t even know for sure if I can take. I don’t have the luxury of swimming in my feelings right now.”

“So you hit the bag instead.”

“Yeah.” I shrug again. “It’s cheap therapy. Seems to do the trick.”

“Then I say punch away.” He stands and pats me on the shoulder. “I’m always around, you know. For anything. Even to take the kids for a little while. Fallon and I would love to have them. We can take them to the sanctuary and show them the birds.”

Noah owns and runs the Spread Your Wings wild bird sanctuary just outside of town. It’s a cool place. The kids would love it.

“I may take you up on that sometime.”

“Do. We’ll take the kids, and you can do something nice for Natasha. I know you’re not a couple, but I’m sure she could use some time out of the house without the twins in tow.”

My gut clenches at the you’re not a couple. Why? Of course, we’re not a couple.

But I smile and nod at my friend. “Thank you. Really. I’ll keep it in mind.”

Noah moves away to get his workout started, and I take off my gloves, done for the day.

I punched the bag so hard; it’s a wonder it’s still hanging.

Maybe I should take Noah up on his offer to watch the kids and do something nice for Tash. God knows she could use it, and so could I.

An idea starts to form as I grab my duffel, bypass the locker room and head straight for my truck. I’ll shower at the station.

But before I can even start the vehicle, I get a call.

From Tash.

“Hey,” I say into the phone but have to pull it away from my head because of the deafening screams blaring in my ears. “Hey, what’s going on?”

“Can you swing by real quick?”

“On my way.”

I hang up and start the truck, my mind already running through all of the horrible things that could be happening at Tash’s house.

Is someone cut? Bleeding out?

Did they fall and break a leg, their bone sticking out through the tender flesh?

I’ve seen too much on my job. It could literally be anything.

I come to a screeching halt in front of Tash’s house and sprint up to the front door, bursting inside to find both twins crying in the living room.

“What’s wrong? What’s going on? Where’s Auntie Tash?”

“In here,” she calls from the bathroom. I run down the hall and skid to a stop, taking in the scene. “I hope you don’t have a queasy stomach.”

“You’re bleeding.” I see a laceration across the palm of her hand. My EMT brain immediately takes over, and I grab a towel to clean away the blood so I can see what I’m dealing with here. “How?”

“I was cutting fruit for breakfast, and Kevin bumped into my arm. And, well… You see what happened. They’re upset, and I can’t stop this bleeding.”

“Because you need stitches.” I wrap her palm with the towel. “Keep pressure on it. I’m taking you to the ER.”

“I have to get the kids to preschool.”

“They’re in no shape to go to school this morning, Tash. They’re upset and worried about you. I’m calling Aspen to come sit with them.”

“She’s done too much,” Tash says with a sigh. “I can’t keep asking her to come running over to help. It’s been two months, Sam. There comes a time when I have to be able to take care of my life. Without calling in the troops every time someone cries, or I cut my hand.”

“That’s what they’re there for,” I remind her gently and brush my fingers down her cheek. Her skin is so damn soft. “Aspen would be pissed if she heard you say that, by the way.”

“Yeah, well. Okay. We’ll call her. But she’s probably at Drips today. She has a business to run.”