“This is a nice, cozy, place,” he said as he handed me books.
“Thanks. I’ve enjoyed living here. But it got a little lonely sometimes. And, just between you and me, Mrs. Benson is a little nosey.” I whispered the last part, though there was no way she could hear from outside. I wouldn’t hurt the older woman’s feelings for the world.
“We’re mates and I hardly know anything about you. Is this you with your parents?” Ben studied the small, framed photo before handing it to me.
“Yeah. I was around twelve there. My dad died a couple years after that was taken, and my mom moved away when I was 18. She had to sell our ranch.”
“Do you ever see her?”
I shook my head. “She remarried, and her new alpha husband doesn’t like me. I haven’t seen her since they moved away years ago.”
Ben turned to look at me, expression sad. “That’s terrible. I’ll bet you miss her.”
I did, but I didn’t like to talk about it. Ben was my mate, though, and I needed to share a piece of myself with him.
“I do. It hurt that she chose him over me. But a part of me understands it. She’s a beta and kind of weak. She was used to having an alpha look after her. It’s what she liked. My father did everything for her when he was alive. He loved her very much, and she loved him, too. When he died, she didn’t know what to do with herself or the ranch. To give her credit, she tried. We both tried. But it was too much for us. Selling the ranch was the right thing to do.”
Walking over to me, Ben stood beside me until I looked up at him from where I was sitting on the floor. Then he bent down and kissed me on the mouth.
“You have me and Angus now, and we’ll never leave you,” he said simply. Then he went back to the shelves, giving me some time to wipe away the tears that had filled my eyes.
Chapter eighteen
Ben
Colt and I worked for hours packing his things, taking only a quick break to make and eat a couple of sandwiches before getting back to it. I felt Angus’s absence, but the emotion wasn’t so strong I couldn’t push it back.
When my phone rang, I was surprised to see it was after four o’clock. Where had the time gone? But glancing around the room, I was pleased to see how much Colt and I had gotten done. He came back in the front door from taking a pile of trash to the road as I answered the call.
“Hi, David. What’s up?”
“Hey. Are you in the middle of something?”
“We’re still packing things. I can take a break. Why? Is something wrong? Is it Ollie?” Anxiety clenched my gut.
“He’s doing great. But Laura called and said that the hospital is full and understaffed. Since Laura is a doctor, as soon as the roads were clear, they sent Jeremiah home with her promise to look after him. But he isn’t doing well at all. She said she thinks he’s…” David left off, but I knew what he didn’t want to say.
“That’s terrible. Poor Nova and Eric,” I said. Colt looked at me solemnly, no doubt guessing what we were talking about.
I mouthed, “very sick” so he’d know the little boy was still alive.
“Ben, would you, uh, would you go out to the Borders’ ranch? I told Laura about what you did with Ollie...”
Groaning, I interrupted, “David, I didn’t do anything.”
“…and she asked if you’d come.”
How could Laura believe I could help? How I possibly say no?
“I’m just worried they’ll get their hopes up for nothing,” I said with a sigh. “But I’ll go.”
“Great. I’ll tell Laura you’re coming. Colt will drive you?”
I looked at Colt. “Will you take me to the Borders’ ranch?”
“Of course,” he said.
“Tell her I’ll be there in half an hour.”