McCade's Wish (The McCade Family Series Book 2) (19 page)

With the two women cuddled together on the stump, he scrambled back to the car. He brushed past Cole and pulled on the front door.

“How is she?”

“I don’t know. The only wound I can find is this gash on the side of her head, but she won’t open her eyes,” Cole choked, cradling Adri closer.

“Hang on, little brother. We’ll get help,” Trey grunted, digging his heels in.

The whole car rocked when he yanked on the driver’s door.  Cursing, he waded through the snow mounded around the front end to try the front passenger door, managing to get it open a bit before it fell to a couple of heavy kicks. Cole shook his head. The man was an ox. He felt useless at the moment, but he couldn’t force himself to let go of Adrienne.

“Is she okay?” Nate asked.

“I don’t know. She’s breathing. There’s a lot of blood,” Trey said.

Cole craned his neck to look into the front seat. Trey carefully eased Josie down on the seat.

“What about you?”

“My leg is pinned under the dash. It hurts like hell.”

“Can you move your foot?”

“Yeah. It hurts.”

“That’s good,” Trey muttered, putting his knee on the passenger floor boards and leaning in to look under the steering wheel.

“I’m glad my pain brings you joy,” Nate snapped.

“Calm down, kid. I meant that it was good you can move it and feel it,” Trey said, pushing up on the steering wheel. “We’re going to need something to pry this up to free the leg.”

“There might be a pry bar in the truck or something you can use,” Cole said, trying to think what was in there.

“You should take at least Gen and Evie up to the truck out of the cold,” Nate said.

“That’s a good idea,” Trey agreed.

“Get the truck driver to help you and I’ll stay here with these three.”

“How did I know you’d say that,” Trey asked, sliding back out the passenger side. “I’ll be right back. Hang tight.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Nate assured him, at least drawing a snort of amusement from the big guy.

Watching Trey and the truck driver start working their way back up the hill with the girls, Cole pulled Adrienne’s body tighter and leaned down to kiss her forehead. 

“You have to wake up, baby.”

“Did you hear that, Josie? I know he’s talking to Adrienne, but it goes for you too. Even if you’re still mad at me, maybe you’ll listen to Cole. You always liked Cole,” Nate said, his voice breaking on a sob. “You always said he was the nicest McCade.”

Reaching over the seat, Cole squeezed Nate’s shoulder. He wished he had words of reassurance to offer, but his own faith was lacking at the moment.

“I promise if you give me another chance, I’ll show you I believe in love,” Nate sobbed.  

The devastation in his little brother’s voice only added to the pain in his chest. Hunching over Adri he whispered, “This is really not the wedding day I had planned, beautiful.”

A soft moan broke her perfect lips. His heart leapt.

“Adri? Baby? Can you hear me?” He cupped her face, praying, but her eyes remained closed. “If you can hear me, I love you. Our wedding day can wait, just come back to me.”

“What’s taking Trey so long?” Nate demanded through his tears.

“You might not remember the crash, but that’s a hell of an embankment on foot. The girls are hurt. He’s hurrying. I promise.”

“Oh, God. Was Gen okay? Do you think it hurt the baby?”

“I heard her tell Trey they were okay.”

“There was so much noise and screaming.”

“I can’t imagine,” Cole said, looking up at the broken path the car had made through the snow and trees. He dropped his lips to her ear, kissing softly. “It looks like you took a hell of a ride, angel. Wake up and tell me about it. I need to hear your beautiful voice and that husky laugh. I’d give you anything to hear that laugh again.”

“I’m so sorry. I came around the curve and there was nowhere to go. I-I wasn’t going that fast. They have to be okay.” 

“Just keep praying,” Cole ordered, honestly wondering in that moment if he’d be able to look Nate in the face if he lost Adrienne.

He closed his eyes and buried his nose in the crook of her neck, breathing in the perfume he loved on her. It wasn’t the kid’s fault, but would it really matter? If Trey and Gen lost the baby, would his brother be able to forgive? The big man’s heart was just starting to heal. Something like this would devastate him. He shook his head. He’d still have Gen, but if he lost Adrienne…clenching his eyes closed he took his own advice and prayed.

He turned the ring box in his fingers as he paced the waiting room. Tucked in the confines of his pocket, the small box felt like a lifeline at the moment. They had pried his hand away from hers, and nothing had seemed real since. He swallowed the growing lump in his throat. Every time tears threatened, he gripped the box and prayed, begging and bargaining with God the way desperate people did. Even while he beseeched God, there was that little voice inside that wondered why this was happening to him. Why let him get so close to happiness, only to have it snatched away? First his daddy, then his mother, and now…He couldn’t even say it. What had he done that God was punishing him?

“Mr. McCade?”

Scooting chairs squawked discordantly as everyone stood up to meet the doctor. He paused to look at the expectant faces, his gaze settling on Cole. His expression was serious, but a sense of empathy, no doubt honed by years at his profession, seemed to roll off him.

“Is Adri okay?”

“Your fiancée broke her ankle, and there is deep bruising down the left side of her body. She has various cuts, abrasions, and contusions. The worst of which was the cut on the left side of her head where we think she hit the car window. There’s a very nasty bump. We are monitoring her closely to make sure there isn’t any excessive swelling. She hasn’t regained consciousness yet.”

“Can I see her?”

“As I said, she hasn’t regained consciousness yet, however, if you wish to sit with her for a short while, I don’t see any problem with that.”

Cole glanced at Trey. The big man nodded.

“We’ll let you know when we hear anything about Josie or Nate.”

Genevieve stepped from the protective confines of her husband’s arms to hug him.

“Just talk to her. Give her a reason to wake up. Tell her we love her and that I’ll be in to see her as soon as they allow.”

“I will,” he promised, returning the embrace. “I’m glad you and the little one are okay.”

She squeezed him again, arms around his neck. “I’m praying.”

He blinked when he stepped back. The intent look she was giving him said she knew. Was it a woman thing or had Adri told her? He forced a small smile. It didn’t matter. They needed as many people praying for them as they could get, and maybe Genevieve was in better standing.

“Thank you,” he choked out and turned to follow the doctor down the hall.

She looked like an angel covered in the stark white sheets and her black hair spread over the pillow. Pulling up a chair, Cole eased down beside her, wincing as the gash in his knee spoke up. Kneeling in the snow had numbed it while they were waiting for help but now, in the hospital, the rock’s damage was more evident. He fingered the tear in his new suit pants. Blood stained the shin and more stood out on his shirt and jacket. Some was his, some hers, their blood mixed. He wiped his hand on a clean spot before he laced his fingers through hers.

“Hey, beautiful. I’m here. Sorry about earlier. They wouldn’t let me stay with you. I guess I would’ve been in the way, but I didn’t go far. Everything is going to be okay. You just need to open your eyes and let me see those emerald sparklers. You know, as much as I love your ring, the stones aren’t as bright as your eyes,” he said, swallowing hard.

His words sounded like babble to his ears, but he didn’t know what else to say. He wanted her to know he was here.

“It looks like Gen and the baby are okay. She said to tell you that they love you and that she’ll be in to see you as soon as she can. I pulled rank. I know she’s your best friend, but you’re the woman I love.”

A sob broke his words and he shook his head viciously. He would not cry. Crying felt like giving up, and there was no quit in him. If sheer will power could bring his woman and child back to him, then they were safe. He leaned forward, placing a reverent kiss on her belly.

“Come back to me, Adri. I need you. I love you. You need to open those pretty eyes so you can make an honest man out of me,” he said, forcing a tight hopeful smile. “I can’t wait to see what our little ones look like. Do you think they’ll have straw colored hair like me, or your shiny black locks? I’ll have to whittle a big club if we have daughters as gorgeous as their mama. Come on, baby.”

He talked to her until he was hoarse and still he rambled on. Declarations of love flowed seamlessly with stories of his childhood and promises for their child. Nurses came in and out, one sweet enough to bring him a cup of coffee. Adri had moaned when he’d mentioned their wedding at the accident scene so he droned on, confident she could hear him, and refusing to allow her to think she was alone.

“Nate’s out of surgery. They set his leg the best they could. The doctor said he’ll probably have a limp, but he should be okay with some time.”

He looked up to see Trey and Gen standing in the doorway. He offered a weary smile and settled back in the chair, but didn’t let go of Adri’s hand.

“That’s good.”

Trey shrugged. “I told him that he sits behind a desk anyhow. He’ll be fine.”

“I’m sure the runt appreciated that.”

“He had a few choice words that he didn’t have to go to college to learn,” he said with a chuckle. “How’s she doing?”

“She still hasn’t opened her eyes, but she seems particularly fond of hearing about our adventures growing up and all the things I’m going to teach my kids.” He nodded at the question in Gen’s eyes. “The doctor said she shows early signs and that, so far, it looks as if the baby is safe.”

“Thank God,” Trey said, his broad shoulders lifting and falling in a sigh of relief. His hand spanned his wife’s stomach protectively.

Lifting his hand to her face, Gen kissed it softly and then slipped from the curve of his arm to the bedside. Lacing their fingers, she placed their joined hands on Adri’s stomach.

“You laughed at me because I keep touching mine when no one can tell why, but I know and so did you. Mamas know. Your baby is right here, and he or she needs you. Cole needs you and so do I. There were times in New York that I wanted to give up, but I didn’t because I knew you loved me when no one else did. Now I want to share this with you. I want our babies to grow up together, cousins, just like they should be, because you’ve always been my sister,” Gen whispered, tears falling on their joined hands.

Cole rolled his eyes heavenward as they flooded with tears at Gen’s heartfelt words.

“She squeezed my hand!” Gen cried.

Lunging forward in his chair, Cole tightened his grip on the hand he held. “Can you hear me, beautiful? Adri, if you can hear me squeeze my hand.”

“I-I can’t.”

Cole’s eyes snapped up to lock with the emerald green eyes he loved so much. “Hey there, gorgeous,” he whispered, leaning up to kiss her lightly. “You can squeeze Gen’s hand but not mine?”

“You’re holding on too tight.”

Cole laughed in embarrassment and let the tears fall as he hastily released her hand. “I’m sorry.”

“That’s ok, handsome,” Adri said, shaking fingers coming up to stroke his cheek.

“Trey, get the doctor,” Gen said, more tears spilling onto their joined hands and dampening the blanket under them. “Oh, Adri, thank God you’re okay.”

“What happened?” she asked, forehead furrowing.

“A truck lost control on the curves and, when we came around from our way, he was sliding down the road sideways and there was nowhere for us to go. Nate swerved and we went down in a deep ditch. Thankfully, Trey and Cole found us.”  

“Is everyone else okay?” she asked, looking up at him.

“Nate broke his leg and Josie…” Cole paused, looking uncertainly at Gen.

“Josie slammed against the dash and broke her wrist, nose, and cheekbone,” Gen said softly. “The front end of the car was pretty smashed up. Like you, the big thing they’re waiting on is for her to wake up now. Evie and I are just a little bruised up.”

Adrienne closed her eyes and Cole leaned forward worriedly.

“Are you okay?”

Her eyes popped back open and she nodded. “We were lucky.”

Cole’s shoulders slumped and he nodded. “We were. It could’ve been so much worse.”

Adrienne cupped his cheek. “I love you.”

“I love you too, more than anything. I thought I was going to go out of my mind when I realized you were down in that ditch.”

“I’m going to be fine. You’re not getting out of marrying me that easy.” She gave a little laugh and whimpered, wrapping her arm around tender ribs. “Maybe I should’ve just agreed to the train station if this was Nate’s plan B.”

“Excuse me?”

Her head jerked up at the growl in his voice, and she threw both hands up in placation. She winced and rubbed her temple.

“I’m sorry. It was a joke, Cole. Nate told me that this was my last chance to change my mind and that we were going right past the train station on the way to the church. You should’ve seen Josie tear into him. She accused him of not believing in love. That girl has a lot more backbone than I gave her credit for. I almost felt sorry for your brother.”

“Almost, huh?” Cole asked, loving the impish sparkle that had crept into her eyes.

“You didn’t think getting married was going to change my personality did you?”

“You’re not married yet.”

“And don’t expect it to happen when I am.”

Cole threw his head back and laughed at the saucy wink and smug grin his fiancée gifted him. The doctor gave him a strange look as he walked in. Keeping a hold of her hand, Cole moved closer to the head of the bed to give the other man room.

“No need to worry. She’s as sassy as ever.”

“The right attitude is an important part of the healing process,” the doctor said, smiling as he checked her eyes.

“No one said it was the right one, or even a good one, but the girl has attitude,” Trey rumbled, cracking the family up.

“I’m never going to live that one down, am I?” Adrienne gasped through her giggles.

Tears trickled down her cheeks as she clutched her ribs. Cole wiped them away with a tender brush of his thumb.

“It’s not often someone bests the giant. Allow us to enjoy it,” he said with a smile. “Like today’s adventure, I have a feeling it will be a McCade story for generations to come.”

“Stories to tell our children, like the ones you were telling me earlier,” Adri said softly.

“You
could
hear me then.” 

“It was a little in and out, but I heard you talking. Thank you for staying with me.”

“I didn’t want to be anywhere else.”

“I thought we were going to have to get a saw when they brought you in,” the doctor said with a small smile. “He didn’t want to let go.”

A smile lit Adrienne’s face and he could read the love there.

“I’ll never willingly let you go, beautiful. You have my word on that.”

She reached up to stroke his arm.

“I’m going to hold you to that.”