Holding Out for Christmas (The Christmas Tree Ranch 3)

“I keep thinking about the accident,” he said. “When I looked back and saw that pile of trees that had slid off the back of the trailer on top of Travis—Lord, that was the worst moment of my life. It’s hard not to blame myself. If Travis had been driving the ATV, or if I’d insisted on securing those trees with a second rope, or if I’d realized that the trailer was overloaded—or if I’d told him to stand back when I hit the gas on the ATV . . .”

“Don’t,” Megan said. “Accidents happen. It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t anybody’s fault.”

“Thanks. I needed somebody to tell me that. I’m glad it could be you.” Without taking his eyes off the road, he reached for her hand, found it with her help, and cradled it in his for a moment. Warmth radiated from the contact of his work-callused palm against hers. When he let go to manage the gears, Megan felt the emptiness in her hand. She was just beginning to realize how deeply she’d fallen for him.

Right now, their relationship was ripe with promise. But how would he react when he learned about her deception? If he turned his back and walked away, would she even want to stay in Branding Iron?

There was no way she could make a decision until she’d told him the truth.

“You told me you’d spoken with Maggie,” she said. “Have you talked with Travis at all?”

Conner shook his head. “He was unconscious when I got the trees off him. Until I felt his pulse and checked his breathing, I was afraid I’d killed him.” He shuddered at the memory. “I called an ambulance, then called Rush. We didn’t dare move him before the paramedics showed up. He came to later, in the hospital, but he was in so much pain that they had him on drugs. He was asleep when I last saw him. And I was busy working yesterday. So, no, we haven’t talked since the accident. That’s one reason why I wanted to see him today. He needs to know that I’m sorry, and that Rush and I will take care of the ranch and the business.”

Megan rested a hand on his arm. “I’m guessing Travis already knows those things.”

“Maybe so. But it would make me feel a whole lot better to hear him say it.”

They arrived at the hospital, left the Jeep in Visitor Parking, and took the elevator to the third floor. Partway down the long corridor of patient rooms, Conner paused and stepped through a half-open door. As she followed him inside, Megan stifled a gasp.

Travis was sitting up in bed. His head was circled with a bandage. His face was a mosaic of scratches, cuts, and small dressings. Monitors and an IV drip were attached to his hands. His other injuries were hidden under his hospital gown.

His mouth widened in a painful grin as he saw Conner and Megan. “Shh!” he whispered, nodding toward Maggie, who was slumped over the arm of an overstuffed chair. “Don’t wake her. She sat up with me all night, and she just nodded off.”

“No, it’s all right. I’m awake.” Maggie stirred, blinked, and pushed herself upright. Her eyes were bloodshot, her makeup gone, her hair and clothes rumpled. Still, she managed to look beautiful, Megan thought. Here was a woman completely in love, a woman who would do anything for her man.

“How’s the patient?” Conner asked her.

She yawned and ran a hand through her thick auburn curls. “Why don’t you ask the patient?”

Conner turned toward the bed. “The boss says to ask you. So, how are you doing?”

Travis’s smile was more like a grimace. “I feel about the way I look. My ribs hurt like hell and I’ve got a headache that won’t quit. I turned down the oxycontin and went with Tylenol last night, because I’ve seen what addiction can do. But I’m going to get through this.” He glanced at Maggie. “This lady is going to get her five-star wedding, if I have to be carried to the altar.”

Maggie laughed. “Listen to him. This is after I offered to bring in a justice and marry him right here in this room.” She reached over and clasped Travis’s free hand and squeezed it. If any two people deserved happiness, it was these two, Megan thought. Would she and Conner ever love each other as much? Would they get the chance?

Conner moved closer to the bed. “I want to make sure you know how sorry I am, Travis,” he said. “I’ve thought of at least a dozen things I could’ve done to keep that load of trees from sliding onto you. I didn’t do any of them.”

“Not your fault.” Pain showed in Travis’s face as he spoke. “If I’d been smart enough to get out of the way when that trailer started moving, I’d have been clear. Or maybe I should’ve tied those trees down better. Hell, partner, stop beating yourself up. It was an accident, plain and simple. All we can do is thank God it wasn’t worse. I may look like a train wreck, but at least I’ll heal—and I didn’t lose anything vital.”

“But I may put off our wedding portrait until after the wedding,” Maggie said. “That, or have this guy photoshopped.”

“Or we can leave me as is and have fun telling the grandkids how the old man got attacked by a load of trees,” Travis joked.

Just then, a nurse bustled in with a tray, which she set on the overbed table. “Lunchtime!” Her voice was as brisk as her manner.

As the nurse left, Travis lifted the metal cover on the plate. “Yum. Creamed tuna on toast. Highlight of my day. You might as well go get yourself something from the cafeteria, Maggie, darlin’.”

“I’ll wait until you’re asleep,” Maggie said. “Go ahead and eat. You need to keep your strength up.”

“What I need is a sixteen-ounce prime rib,” Travis grumbled.

“Speaking of lunch,” Conner said, “Megan and I have a date. I promised her a good time. So we’ll leave and let you enjoy your creamed tuna.”

“Is there anything we can do or get for you?” Megan asked.

Travis’s eyebrow lifted mischievously. “Chocolate,” he muttered.

“We’ll see.” Conner escorted Megan out of the room and downstairs to the parking lot.