Rielle couldn't get in touch with Gavin. After a couple of hours she tried Sierra's cell. No answer.

When another couple hours pa.s.sed and still no word, she couldn't shake the bad feeling. She called Ben and Ainsley's house. Ben answered. "Rielle?"

"Hey Ben. I can't get a hold of Gavin or Sierra. Have you seen them since yesterday morning?"

Silence. Then, "Sierra was in a car accident last night."

Her breakfast threatened to come back up. "Is she okay?"

"Concussion, broken collarbone. She had to stay overnight in the hospital."

"Is Gavin all right?"

"He's..." Ben sighed. "He's really shaken up. He won't ask you to come home, Ree, and I ain't messing in your business, but he needs you here."

"I have to drop Rory off in Laramie and I'll be there late afternoon."

"They oughta be home by then."

"Thanks, Ben."

Rory came around the corner with four huge bundles of fleece. "Have you ever worked with Alpaca? This stuff is priced really low." She noticed the change in Rielle's face. "What's wrong?"

"Sierra was in a car accident last night."

"Holy c.r.a.p. Is she okay?"

"She's in the hospital, but she's coming home today. So I need to get back to Sundance right away."

"Is everything you bought today packaged and ready to pick up?"

"I think so. Maybe tell Jim at Good Seed to step on it. I added to the order yesterday."

"Will do." Rory dropped the bundles on the counter. "I know you're worried, but you have to make sure you bought all the supplies to get you through spring planting before we leave."

"I know. I'm good. I wanted to comparison shop kit greenhouses, but that can wait."

"I'll get your seed order and meet you at the truck."

The Natural Age Trade show filled the gigantic convention center. Some vendors had to take s.p.a.ce off the main site. Navigating the aisles took time even when she wasn't looking for specific items. Since Jim's display was on the other side of the arena, she knew it'd be an hour before they'd get to leave. She paid for her fiber and picked up greenhouse brochures as she pa.s.sed by on her way out the door.

Worried sick about Sierra, and Gavin, and facing a drive where she'd do nothing but worry more, Rielle knew this would be the longest day ever.

Rielle pulled into the driveway at dusk and saw Vi's car. Good. At least Gavin had some help and support.

Her purchases would be fine left in her truck overnight. She hunched into the collar of her coat as she climbed the stairs.

Sadie whined when she came inside. "Were you a good girl?" She gave her a thorough rubbing and petting.

Vi came around the corner. "I was hoping that was you."

"How is he?"

"Holding up. He's exhausted. I don't think he slept a wink last night at the hospital."

Rielle scratched behind Sadie's ears. "I'll make sure he gets some rest. How is Sierra?"

"Groggy. She's been out of it most the day."

"Is there anything I should know that he won't tell me?"

"No. I'm sure he'll tell you more than he told me." Vi reached for her coat. "There's a ca.s.serole in the oven. If you need anything, please call."

"I will."

"You'll probably be seeing a lot of me," Vi warned before she headed outside.

Shivering, Rielle closed the door behind her. It was much colder here than in Denver the last three days. She scaled the stairs two at a time. The TV was on, but the game wasn't as loud as usual. She crossed to the couch and saw Gavin stretched out. Poor guy looked tense even in sleep, but she was glad to see him resting and she didn't want to disturb him.

Turning to go, she heard a hoa.r.s.e, "Ree?"

She backtracked and crouched beside him. "Hey. I heard it's been a rough day."

Gavin dry-washed his face. "Yeah. Hard to believe it hasn't even been twenty-four hours since I got the call."

"How's she doing?"

"She's in pain, so we're keeping her pretty doped up for a few days."

Rielle grabbed his hand and kissed his knuckles. "How are you holding up?"

"Better than I was."

She waited for him to say, better now that you're here better now that you're here, but he didn't. "Can I get you anything? You hungry? Vi cooked supper."

"I could eat." He sat up and put his feet on the floor. "Although, I'll probably bring it up here so I can listen for Sierra."

"Stay. I'll bring it to you."

"Thank you."

She returned a few minutes later with a plate piled with ham and potato ca.s.serole and a slice of seven-grain bread. He'd given her such a weird vibe she hadn't brought up a plate for herself.

"That looks great." He dug in immediately. One eye on the food; one eye on the game.

He's hungry and tired and stressed. Don't read anything into this.

Rielle started toward the stairs.

"Aren't you eating with me?"

She faced him. "You didn't ask and I didn't want to a.s.sume."

"Please a.s.sume that I'd like to eat with you whenever possible, okay?"

That mollified her. "Okay."

The meal was quiet. Afterward, Gavin pushed back his plate and sighed. "This has been a f.u.c.king nightmare."

"What happened?"

"You don't know?"

She shook her head.

Gavin relayed the events in a clipped tone and finished with, "I have to live with that."

"You're shouldering the blame for Sierra's mistake? She went to that party, knowing it was wrong."

"That's not the issue. I've been letting her drive wherever the f.u.c.k she wants, in this s.h.i.tty weather, on these s.h.i.tty roads, and I couldn't be bothered to do the maintenance on her vehicle in the last month when she's been driving all the time? Making sure her vehicle was safe? I should've just bought her a new G.o.dd.a.m.ned car instead of a used one. That is totally on me." He closed his eyes. "What the h.e.l.l has been so G.o.dd.a.m.ned important in my life that I let that slide?"

Rielle had a pang of guilt. Since Sierra had become mobile, she and Gavin spent all their free time together. Did he blame her?

"Sorry. Wishing I would've been more attentive is Monday morning quarterbacking and totally f.u.c.king pointless." He opened his eyes. "Anyway, would you mind sticking around to listen for Sierra while I take a shower?"

"Sure. Do I just check on her?"

"She has a bell to ring when she wakes up."

Rielle's eyebrows rose. "A bell? Like a bell an English aristocrat uses to a ring for her servants at tea time?"

"No. A cowbell."

"You gave a sixteen-year-old a cowbell?"

"Quinn gave it to her," he grumbled. "I told him I'm buying Amelia bagpipes for her next birthday."

She smiled. "Go take your shower."

Gavin didn't try to steal a kiss or pat her a.s.s-so unlike him.

After the shower kicked on, the sound of a cowbell drifted down the hallway.

Rielle knocked before pushing open the door. "Sierra?"

"Ree? Where's my dad?"

"He just jumped in the shower. Something you need?"

"A drink of water."

She grabbed the water bottle off the dresser. She couldn't help but smooth Sierra's dark hair back from her pale face. "How you feeling, sweetheart?"

"Sore. I can't move without it hurting." She struggled to sit up and Rielle adjusted her pillows. "Thanks. I thought you were gone until Monday?"

"I decided I was needed here. So make me feel needed. What can I do to help you?"

Sierra rested against the pillow. "Everything. I'm helpless. It's hard to even go to the bathroom. My right hand is useless. How can I wash my hair or even comb it with one hand?"

"Did you talk to your dad about this?"

She shook her head.

"Did he hire a home health aide to a.s.sist you?"

"I doubt it. He thinks it's his job to take care of me." She started to cry. "There's stuff I don't want him to help me with."

"Oh, sweetie, I don't blame you. Do you want me to talk to him?"

"Would you help me?" she asked in an unsure voice.

Rielle impulsively kissed Sierra's forehead and wiped her tears. "Of course. Anything you need, just ask." She rubbed a small section of Sierra's hair between her fingers. "It's been a while since I combed out a girl's hair. That said...payback will be sweet for the funky hairstyle you gave me."

That earned her a wan smile even through her tears. She winced. "I can tell it's time for a pain pill."

"I'll let your dad dispense that." She ran her hand up Sierra's good arm. "Need anything else right now? Food? Something else to drink? Another blanket?"

"What's going on?" Gavin said from the doorway.

"Ree's volunteered to help me with some girl hygiene stuff."

Gavin stopped beside the bed and looked at Rielle with disbelief. "Really?"

Did he really think she'd just stand back and do nothing while Sierra struggled? While he struggled? Staying out of Gavin's parenting decisions with Sierra didn't mean she wanted to stay out of Sierra's life. Didn't he see the difference? Didn't he know how much she'd come to care for his daughter?

Cut him some slack. He's figuring out a way to deal with all this.

Rielle smiled. At Sierra. "Let me know when you need me. Have a good night." She brushed past Gavin without a word and returned downstairs.

In the two days since Rielle had returned from Denver, Gavin hadn't kissed her. Hadn't touched her. Hadn't explained why he wasn't doing any of those things. So Rielle let it ride.