His eyes widened. “No. You can't be.”
“Why not?”
“I won't let you be.”
“You just told me that when you fall in love, you know. Well, I know. I don't need months or years to figure this out. I've never felt this way about anybody before. And please, don't tell me it's because we were caught in a situation that was forced on us. That's true. But we could easily be forced together and part ways without feeling this way. The feelings I have for you are real, Nash. And despite what you're doing, I know you have feelings for me, too. Otherwise, it wouldn't matter to you to walk away from me without explaining. I know you are afraid. But I also know that you love me. I just hope you realize it before you miss out on the best part of living. And that’s loving. Even if it means you might lose that love someday.
Sweet Montana Rescue: Chapter Thirteen
Harper left without eating a single bite of the lasagna she’d prepared. She’d said that she had more at home and the lasagna she’d brought would last him a few days. It had been an attempt at a joke, but he’d seen the sad look in her eyes. Sadness that he’d caused.
Damn. He should have been more careful. What made him think he could be with a woman like Harper Madison? She was amazing. Every moment they spent together was precious.
But he didn’t think he’d ever be able to go through loving a woman again. Not like he’d loved Carol. It was too much.
A few days later, Nash was on his way to the hardware store when he saw the ambulance out in front of Tara's shop. Before he headed to the hardware store, he’d seen one of the EMTs run out of the bakery and climb into the ambulance. A few minutes later, the ambulance soared down the street with sirens blaring.
Most people on the street stopped and looked. Someone came out of the hardware store and asked him, “What's going on?”
“Beats me,” he said. “The ambulance headed down the street.”
“Thanks. Probably another accident from an out-of-towner.”
The man walked on down the street to his pickup truck. Curious, Nash decided to go into the novelty shop to see if Tara knew what was going on. He didn't know why, but there was a nagging feeling in his stomach. He walked through the door and heard the bell. Tara was opening up boxes on the other side of the room. Another girl was standing behind the counter on the bakery side. Nash walked over to Tara.
Tara stood up as he approached. “How did those pastries do you at the potluck?” she asked with a smile.
“I don't know. I assume they sold to someone.”
“They did,” she said with a chuckle. “The fire chief took the whole box home with him. Wouldn't even let anyone in the department have a bite.”
Tara was clearly happy that her selection had gone over well.
“What can I do for you? Are you looking for something special? Or for someone special?”
“No, just nosy. I just saw an EMT run out of your store and take off down the street. I wasn't sure, but thought I heard the name Madison on her radio as she ran to the ambulance.”
“Oh, you're talking about Mia. Yes, she was just here. There was a call for an ambulance to go down to the Madison house. Something about some kind of an accident.”
Nash wasn't sure if he even said goodbye to Tara. He bolted through the door onto the sidewalk and looked around in a disoriented haze. He abandoned his plan to go to the hardware store for more batteries. Instead, he jumped into his truck and headed down the road in the direction he’d seen the ambulance go towards Harper Madison’s house. Fear strangled him by the throat as he drove, and he felt like a wild man with fear he couldn't control. Lucky for him there were no red lights or stop signs to stop him. He’d ignore them and he wasn't stopping for a ticket anyway.
Just as he feared, he saw the ambulance in the driveway as he pulled up to Harper's house. He parked on the street and bolted from the truck, running across the lawn to the front door.
“Whoa, you can’t go in there,” Zeb said.
“What happened? Is she okay?” he asked.
Zeb frowned. “She?”
“Harper Madison. Is she okay?”
“Harper’s not here. She's the one who called the ambulance for her grandmother.”
Relief seemed to deflate most of the fear that had clutched Nash in the last few minutes and had turned him into a crazy man. “How is her grandmother? Is she going to be okay?”
“You mean Daphne? She's fine. A little worried though.”
Nash saw the gurney through the screen door and didn't see anyone inside.
“Is she hurt bad?”
Zeb shook his head. “Oh, we're not here for Daphne. We’re here for Joel.”
“I don't understand.”
“I guess they were dancing,” Zeb said with a smile. “It's kind of cute if you ask me. She can barely walk without her walker. He’s only slightly better. But they wanted to dance as if they were two young kids. The only problem is that Joel took a tumble. I just hope he didn't break a hip.”
“Joel. That was the man I'd seen Mrs. Madison with at the potluck.”
“Yes, he was the principal when I was in school. Can you step aside? They will be bringing him out soon.”
“Sure, of course.”
Nash stepped off the porch steps and then took a few steps back to give the EMTs room to bring out their patient.
“What about Mrs. Madison? Will she be going with you?”
“She can't drive. And she can't go with him in the ambulance. There's not enough room.”
“Harper is still at
