Redwood Bend (Virgin River #18)(92)

“That is shit hot,” Jack said. “I don’t think anyone around here has been mauled in twenty years.”

“Not bad, for an actor,” Preacher said.

“He was acting dead,” Andy pointed out to them for at least the tenth time. “We were acting dead together. But that bear didn’t like us anyway.”

“That bear’s days are numbered, I’m afraid,” Jack said. “Unfortunately for her, you can’t get away with that, even though that is a very shit-hot scar. I have a battle scar, but it’s nothing like that.”

“It’s on your ass,” Preacher reminded him. “And it’s the size of one round. Like maybe as big as a dime.”

“Yeah, but I bet Dylan can still sit. It was no picnic, let me tell you.”

“He’ll never let me hear the end of it,” Conner sulked.

“Got any more of that morphine, Doc?” Dylan asked. “Poor old Conner here could use a little something to ease his pain.”

“We played dead,” Andy said yet again. “Dylan was on the top, that’s why he got the scratch. That bear isn’t friendly.” He looked up at his mother. “Are you mad?”

“Yes,” she said. “I’m going to hug you all night long, but tomorrow I think I might yell at you all day long.”

“You don’t have to,” he said. “I’m not going to do that again.”

“I might still yell....”

“I think I’m going to have to break up this party,” Cameron Michaels said. “Dylan, I want you overnight in the hospital. Just one night, though the wound will probably bother you for at least several days, maybe a couple of weeks. I want to watch you for fever, infection, bleeding. I think we got ahead of it, but humor me. One night.”

“Can’t I just call you if I feel infected?” he asked.

“One night,” Cameron insisted. “We don’t know where those bear claws have been.”

“Someplace nasty—she had a terrible smell about her, like she’d been feeding in the dump. I was going to take Katie to Montana on Friday.”

“That might have to wait a week or so. I can write a letter so you get transfer credit on your tickets. You want to walk to the Humvee and lay on the gurney on your stomach?” he asked.

“After I have just a minute alone with Katie,” he said.

“You two kiss good-night, then let’s get going,” Cameron suggested. “We can give your grandmother a call from the hospital and tell her about all your excitement and that you’re fine.”

“Boys, come with me,” Conner said.

“Dylan?” Andy asked. “Are we gonna ride the horse?”

“Maybe next week,” Dylan said. “As soon as my scratch feels better.”

And slowly the cabin emptied of people. The sound of trucks and SUVs departing began to fill the night.

Dylan sat backward on a kitchen chair, straddling the chair so as not to disturb the antiseptic wash on his wounds. Katie stood in front of him. “This is not what I planned,” he said.

“This isn’t what anyone planned, Dylan. You saved Andy’s life, I’m sure of it. I don’t know how I’ll ever thank you.”

“That’s not what I meant, but you don’t have to worry about thanking me. See, I was holding a little something back because I had this grandiose plan for Montana. I was going to show you the place, the ranch, the airport, and you guys were going to have such a good time. I’d see you fall in love with it like I did. I’d get to watch the boys experience new things and get all excited. And then at night, when they were tucked in and asleep, I’d take you out on the back patio. I was going to show you that big, black sky at night—you can’t believe how many stars there are. And then I was going to tell you—I can’t live without you, Katie. I just can’t.”

“Dylan,” she whispered.

“I love you, Katie. I’ve never loved anyone before, not like this. I can’t be away from you for a day without thinking about how much I want to get home. And I don’t really care where home is—you can pick the moon for all I care. But, Katie, please, pick me. Marry me. Because you’re my life.”

She ran a hand along his cheek. Tears came to her eyes. “I thought you were more hit and run.”

“Yeah, what do I know,” he said with a laugh. “You amaze me every day, Katie. I want you in my life forever, through everything. I swear, I’ll make you happy or die trying.”

“No dying,” she said, shaking her head. “Been there, done that.”

“Marry me,” he said. “Let me take care of you and the boys and whoever you have in there. Love me. Choose me. Let me be your one.”

“Dylan, you are The One. You sure you want me? I don’t travel light.”

“Oh, I’m sure,” he said, pulling her mouth down to his for a kiss. “I’ve been wanting you since I found you in that wet T-shirt on the side of the road. You make my mouth water and my brain freeze—you are almost too much for my heart. I love you so much. I want you and your twins and your brother and Charlie’s medals. I want all of you. I want everything that’s part of you—your past, your present and your future. And I want you to be mine.”