Holding Out for Christmas (The Christmas Tree Ranch #3)(54)

He wanted her to be his girl—that and more. With his partners settling down, he’d begun to think ahead, picturing a family of his own. Would Megan be part of that family? He already knew he had strong feelings for her. But unless Megan returned those feelings, he was headed down the bumpy road to the Heartbreak Hotel.

With luck, after today, he would know.

*

Megan dismissed the impulse to check her computer as she waited for Conner to arrive. She had yet to receive a reply to her e-mail about driver training for Daniel. But nobody was going to answer her on a Sunday. For all she knew, the Department of Public Education was closed for the holidays.

And today was all about being with Conner.

Her pulse skipped as his Jeep pulled into the driveway. With a last-minute check in the mirror, she hurried out of her room, said good-bye to her family in the kitchen, and met him at the front door.

His smile warmed her to her toes. “You look terrific,” he said, offering his arm.

“Thanks. I worked on it.” And she had. She’d chosen to wear her new forest green sweater, with jeans and miniature Christmas bell earrings. She’d taken pains with her makeup, too, although she’d held back on the mascara and lipstick. Too much, and she’d start to look like Lacy.

“Have you heard any more about how Travis is?” she asked as he helped her into the Jeep.

“Maggie called me this morning. He’s doing better, but they want to keep him one more night.” He backed out of the driveway and headed in the direction of the highway.

“Poor Maggie must be exhausted. Did she say anything about the wedding?”

“I expect that right now the wedding is the least of her concerns. She just wants Travis to be all right.”

“That’s true love for you,” Megan said. “Maggie’s waited years for the beautiful wedding she wants. But she knows what’s really important, and that’s all that matters.”

“Yeah. Travis is a lucky guy to find a woman who loves him that much. So is Rush. All I can do is hope that when my turn comes, I’ll be lucky, too.”

The sidelong glance he gave her was unreadable. Was his comment leading somewhere? Was it meant for her?

“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.