Read Welcome To My World (Hell Yeah!) Online

Authors: Sable Hunter

Welcome To My World (Hell Yeah!) (23 page)

BOOK: Welcome To My World (Hell Yeah!)

10.14Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub

ads

Cassie put her hands together and rocked in her chair. She was so worried. More than anything she wished she could have told him she loved him. Why did she hold back? It didn’t really matter about their past and she didn’t know what the future held, but she didn’t want to live in a world without Bowie Travis Malone.

“Look! There they are!” Shouts and movement obscured Cassie’s view until she saw him. God she saw him! Trying to move toward him, she kept running into obstacle after obstacle. “Bowie!

From across the way, Bowie heard her. “Cassie!” he answered.

“Hold on,” a medic cautioned as Bowie started to rise. “You’re not going anywhere until I say so.”

Bowie grimaced but he sat still. Looking up, he saw George and Michael bringing Cassie toward him. God, she’d been crying. “Hold on, I’ll be right there,” he said despite the warning look he got from the EMT. Shit, he was weak. Despite his urgency to get out of the well, Joseph had forced him to take it slow and at the right pace to avoid a problem like he’d experienced before.

“Am I gonna live?” he asked.

“Yea, I think so.”

“Good.” Then he pushed up and away and walked the few steps to where she was sitting, looking like a golden-haired angel.

“Bowie, I was so scared,” she cried and held up her arms. George and his uncle stepped away and created a bit of a barrier for them. Bowie sank to his knees and laid his head in her lap.

“I was scared too. Why couldn’t I get you on the phone?”

“I’m sorry. I ran away.”

“Ran away?” He looked up. “Why?” Seeing the tears, he took her in his arms and kissed her over and over again. “Are you okay?”

She hiccupped a soft sob. “I got hung on a stump.”

Bowie snorted. “What the hell were you doing on a stump?”

“I went down to the creek behind my house.”

“What for?” She just shook her head. Hugging her close, he whispered, “See, you need me.”

“Can we go somewhere and be alone? I have something to tell you and talk to you about.”

Her voice and her face were serious and Bowie felt a chill go over his body. “Yes, ma’am, just let me talk to a few guys first. It won’t take but a minute.”

With a little effort, he rose and was gone only a short time, speaking to Joseph, George, Michael and some man Cassie didn’t know. A reporter tried to come over to talk to her, but Michael wouldn’t let him close. Cassie was grateful.

Soon, he was on his way back. She couldn’t take her eyes off of him. He was so beloved. The idea of something happening to him was completely unacceptable.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay.” He took her to his truck and in a minute they were loaded up and pulling out of the park. “I don’t want to wait. Let’s park.” He pulled down a side road and pushed his seat all the way back. “Can I hold you?”

Cassie hesitated. Could she say what she needed to say in his arms? “Yes.” She decided she could. The truth might not set them free but it would open up the gates of communication.

“Now why did you go down back to your house? Did you go over to feed the guineas? I put out enough food a couple of days ago to last a week and if you want to we can bring those buzzards over to my house,”

“No, I think the guineas should stay where they are. Maybe I need to stay there with them.” God, this was hard. She didn’t know what she was expecting, but it wasn’t the way he responded.

“Not coming back to me? Why? What do you mean…?” He searched her eyes, looking for answers.

Nervous and shaken, her words came out choppy. “I know who you are. I know you’re the one who…”

She didn’t have to be eloquent for Bowie to understand her. Massive spears of guilt pierced his heart and soul. Tears began to roll down his face. “God, Cassie. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me, forgive me. I wouldn’t have done it for anything in the world. If I could turn back the hands of time, I would. Please don’t leave me because of that…” He pulled her close and buried his face in her neck. “Forgive me, please.”

She caressed his head, stroking his hair. “It’s okay, Bowie. I forgive you. I forgave you a long time ago before I ever knew it was you. I’m not leaving your home because I’m angry or upset about the accident.”

“Then, why? Why?” he implored, framing her face. “If you can forgive me, then why can’t we be together?”

Once more she tried to form the words. “I’m leaving because…”

Not understanding, he asked with desperation. “Don’t you love me?”

Cassie started crying anew, holding him tight. “Yes, that’s why I can’t be with you.”

“Baby, that don’t make a damn bit of sense. Try again.” He kissed her reverently. “I think you’re the most beautiful woman in the world.”

Suddenly the dam broke and the words came spilling out. “I need to go because I love you and you’re only with me because you feel responsible. You found out who I am and you’re trying to make it up to me. You’re sacrificing your life to try to pay me back and I won’t have it! I can’t stand it. That’s why I have to go home.”

“No, no.” Bowie protested. “You don’t understand. You think I’m with you because I feel sorry for you? I fuckin’ adore you, I would give my life for you, I want you, just you. I don’t care if you can walk, run, jump or just let me carry you the rest of your days. I love you, Cassie Cartwright. I wish I could erase the hours and not have pulled that trigger, I’d trade places with you in a heartbeat, but I’m not with you because I feel responsible, I’m with you because I will die apart from you.”

Cassie’s heart almost stopped beating. “You mean it.”

What Cassie said wasn’t a question, it was a declaration. But Bowie didn’t understand.

“I don’t know how to convince you, Cassie. I don’t know what words to say.”

Gently, she kissed the tears from his cheeks. “You don’t need words, I believe you. You love me, I can see it written all over your face.”

“Can we go home now?” he whispered.

“Yes, let’s go home.”

EPILOGUE

Bowie paced the hospital corridor. He had help. Destry, Jacob, George and Michael paced with him. “Why don’t they come tell me something?”

“Soon, buddy, soon.”

It had taken some doing, but Bowie had convinced Cassie to have the operation. If she could be pain free, he was willing to give up anything he owned.

“Mr. Malone?” A doctor’s voice caused him to whip around.

“She’s in recovery.”

“How is she?”

He walked up to the group of men. “Well, it was a delicate procedure and we can’t be absolutely sure, but I think I got the bullet fragment without doing more damage to the spinal cord.”

Bowie almost went to his knees with relief. “Can I see her?”

“Just a minute, let me explain.” The doctor had more to say. Jacob touched his friend’s shoulder, giving him support.

“Go ahead.”

“I’m not saying she’s going to walk again. I can’t even begin to promise something like that. But with rehab, there could be some improvement.”

“As long as she’s not hurting, that’s all I ask.”

“Good.” The doctor held out his hand to shake Bowie’s. “I think we accomplished that goal.”

“Can I see her?”

“Yes, you can go in the recovery room. It might be a while before she wakes up.”

“I want to be there with her.”

“We’ll head to the waiting room,” Michael called, but Bowie didn’t even look back.

When he entered the room, she was asleep, her golden hair spread out on the pillow. He walked up to her and knelt by the bed, putting his face as close to hers as he could. “Cassie, my Cassie. I’m here.”

She didn’t move, so he just knelt by her bed and covered her hand with his own, laying his head on the bed. He needed some time to catch up on his thanks giving prayers anyway. Bowie didn’t know how long he stayed there on his knees. It didn’t really matter, he was close to her. But when he felt a soft hand on his hair, he almost wept with relief.

“Bowie?”

He shot to his feet and put his arms gently around her. “Baby, oh, baby. I’m so relieved.”

“Am I?” Cassie didn’t know what to ask. She was groggy.

“The doctor thinks it worked. He removed the bullet.” A bullet he’d put into her. As long as he lived, he’d never forget. Knowing she’d forgiven him was worth the world, but it would take much, much longer for him to forgive himself.

“I’ll never be perfect,” she whispered.

“You’re already perfect,” was his simple response. “If you’re pain free, that’s enough of a miracle for me.”

“Are you sure?” She so wanted to be just what he needed.

“Cassie, I want you in my home, in my bed and in my heart. I want you to step into my life and leave your cares behind.” Taking her hand, he kissed the palm and slipped a ring on her finger. “Will you marry me?”

“Yes, I love you, Bowie.” She threw her arms around his neck. “I don’t want you to ever let me go.”

Slowly and gently, he kissed her.

“Welcome to my world, Cassie.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sable’s hometown will always be New Orleans. She loves the culture of Louisiana and it permeates everything she does. Now, she lives in the big state of Texas and like most southern women, she loves to cook southern food - especially Cajun and Tex-Mex. She also loves to research the supernatural, but shhhh don’t tell anyone.

Sable writes romance novels. She lives in New Orleans. She believes that her goal as a writer is to make her readers laugh with joy, cry in sympathy and fan themselves when they read the hot parts - ha!

The worlds she creates in her books are ones where right prevails, love conquers all and holding out for a hero is not an impossible dream.

Visit Sable:

Website:
http://www.sablehunter.com

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/authorsablehunter

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/author/sablehunter

Beau Coup Publishing:
http://beaucoupllc.com

Hell Yeah! Series Reading Order

Cowboy Heat
http://amzn.to/WhY6dw

Cowboy Heat Sweeter Version
http://amzn.to/11fiBVQ

Hot on Her Trail
http://amzn.to/U3zpT1

Hot on Her Trail Sweeter Version
http://amzn.to/19m1WHf

Her Magic Touch
http://amzn.to/11b1aw6