The Cowboy and the Angel | ✓

Chapter Eleven

Emily was clearly distressed. Her eyes flickered from her son to Dixie as they walked in with the doctor. She stood in the doorway of Matthew's room, wringing her hands.

Jason left Dixie's side to walk up to his mother. He grabbed her shoulders and looked down at her pale face. "Ma? What's the matter? Is. . .?"

"Is Pa okay?" Dixie asked, her voice full of concern. She was so distracted that she didn't realize she had called Matthew 'Pa.'

Dr. Ross gripped Jason's shoulder. "Your father is fine. It's who I just escorted out that troubles your mother."

Jason raised a brow. "Who did you have to escort out?"

"One of the men from the Crooked M," Emily spoke up, her eyes harboring undisguised fear.

"They're not men," Jason spat out, anger lacing his tone like a deadly poison. He turned his back on his mother in his anger, taking a few steps before spinning back to face Emily. "What did he want?"

Emily took a deep breath. She moved out of the doorway of her husband's room and closed the door. "He came to see Matthew, but he was asleep. Then he asked me to sell the Double A to them."

"Sell the Double A!?" Jason seethed. Every muscle in his body was rigid with hostility, and he shivered from the intensity of it. "Over my dead body!"

Emily quickly glanced behind her at the closed door before turning to face Jason, who was backed by Dixie. "Matthew has said that every time they've come and asked before."

"Before?" Jason repeated. He was so angry he could taste it, like the metallic tang of blood. Just when he thought his rage would consume him, Dixie grasped his hand. Immediately, he calmed enough to stop shaking. "They've come to you before?"

"Yes."

The hurt was evident in his eyes. "Why didn't ya'll tell me?"

Emily looked at her son with so much love that it was impossible for Jason to be upset at her for not telling him. "Because they always come when you, Leroy, and the boys are gone or working. And Matthew didn't want to put no more of a burden on you than you already have."

Jason fought against the sting of tears. He hated feeling weak, hated crying. "Dr. Ross. . ." he trailed off.

The good doctor was nowhere to be seen.

Dixie looked up into Jason's eyes. She was as concerned for him as he was mad at the Crooked M. "You okay, Cowboy?"

A muscle in Jason's jaw rippled. He returned her gaze, unable to keep the tiniest of tears from spilling over. "Yeah, Angel," he answered softly, but his eyes said otherwise. He kissed Dixie quickly before opening the door to Matthew's room. "I'm gonna go see Pa. I'll be back."

Dixie watched him go. She reached up and touched her lips absent-mindedly. She could taste his tears, salty and stark on her tongue. Her eyelashes fluttered shut, and she let go of a breath she wasn't aware of holding.

Lord, be with him. You are the Rock of our strength, and our Refuge is in You, she inwardly prayed. When she opened her eyes, she saw Emily standing nearby sobbing with her face buried in her hands.

Emily's sorrow pulled at Dixie's heart, and she wrapped the older woman in a warm embrace. She prayed for Emily aloud, unashamed of asking for help from the Great I Am.

"Thank you," Emily whispered when her tears had slacked up. "I needed that."

"What are daughters for?" Dixie said softly. Tears were forming in her eyes but she didn't care. It was right then that she realized Emily had become her second mother.

Emily didn't know what to say. She loved the young lady in front of her as if she were her own. And in some ways, Dixie was, because she helped Charles raise the small girl until they moved. She wrapped Dixie up in a tight hug "I gotcha, sweetheart."

Dixie savored the moment, enjoying the love of a mother who wasn't hers by blood. It felt so good, and was something she had craved since her own mother was killed seven years ago.

"I don't mean to interrupt," Dr. Ross stated softly, reappearing as mysteriously as he has disappeared. "But has anyone checked on Matthew?"

Dixie and Emily shared a look before turning their gaze to the doctor.

"Jason is with him," Emily answered with a smile.

Dixie arched her brow. "Do I need to check on them?"

"Yes, if you don't mind," Dr. Ross replied. He turned to Emily with a smile tinted by a hint of sadness. "I have fresh coffee made, if you'd like some."

"Yes, I'd love some," Emily thanked Dr. Ross as she turned to walk back with him.

"I'll let y'all know how they are," Dixie called after them, opening the door to Matthew's room and stepping inside.

The room was dark, with the only light being the soft glow of the sun from behind the curtains, and it took a few moments for Dixie's eyes to adjust.

Once adjusted, Dixie found Jason sitting by his father's bed, holding Matthew's hand and staring straight ahead. She slipped through the dimness to Jason and put her hand on his shoulder. "I love you."

A smile curved Jason's lips, and he pulled Dixie down to sit on his knee. "I love you more," he retorted softly.

"That ain't possible."

Jason laid his forehead at the curve of her neck. "Oh, but it is."

Dixie gave a little shiver. His warm breath on her skin sent her pulse skittering. "Maybe so."

The silence following was welcomed. The only thing that could be heard was the steady, rhythmic breathing of Matthew.

Jason was the first to break the peaceful stillness. "Has the Crooked M pestered y'all about selling the Broken H?"

Dixie's eyebrows drew together as she looked thoughtfully at the ceiling. After a few seconds, she shook her head. "No, not since before I called off my engagement with Nathaniel."

"You were engaged to Nathaniel McGuire?" Jason asked a little louder than he should've. The way he said the name of Thomas McGuire's son said it all.

Matthew stirred in his sleep, a frown on his face beneath the bandages. When he settled back into a deep sleep, the twosome continued.

Dixie held her breath. She hadn't realized Jason knew nothing about her former relationship. "Yes, I was."

A minute passed before Jason spoke. He turned her around to face him, his voice deep, "When was this?"

Dixie searched his eyes for any sign of contempt, but instead saw a gentle blaze of love with a touch of curiosity. "He started courtin' me when I was thirteen. Days before turning fifteen, he proposed. Right after my birthday, I ended our engagement."

"Your Pa was gonna let you marry that. . .that. . .person?"

Dixie nodded wordlessly. "Yes, but only 'cause I wanted to."

A flash of hurt blazed in Jason's eyes before vanishing as quickly as it appeared. He looked down briefly before meeting her gaze. "Why?"

Dixie took the time to breathe, trying to calm her overactive heart. "I thought I'd never be with you so I imagined Nathaniel as you."

Jason inhaled sharply. "I did the same thing, puttin' you in another's place."

Dixie cooked her head. Was it guilt and regret she saw in his eyes? Wasn't that what was in her own eyes? Whatever it was, she wasn't gonna force Jason to tell her anything. She smiled. "That's comfortin'."

Jason laughed quietly. "I suppose so. But, what made you dump Nathaniel anyway?"

"I came to see him as a surprise, and found him kissin' with some girl. Right then, it was over for me. I marched straight over there and told him, too. He called after me while I was leavin' claimin' it was a mistake. I haven't had a suitor since."

Jason wrinkled his brow in distaste. "I don't blame you, but that won't happen again. You're mine now," he stated matter-of-factly before pulling her close for a kiss.