Page 202 of The Cowbears of Curvy Bear Ranch

“Why wouldn’t she be?” heasked.

“I don’t know. I just don’t want anything to ruin today. It’s the best day of my life. I know that sounds really weird considering my meth-addicted mom is waiting for us in a hospital right now, butit’strue.”

“Life isn’t like it is in the movies. People fall in love during the strangest times,”hesaid.

She was so excited she could hardly eat. While she sat on his lap, he fed her bite-sized pieces of pancakes. She laughed and snuggled against him, enjoying every second of beingwithhim.

* * *

Carol stoodby her mom’s bed while the doctor explained the prescription for methadone. While she held her mom’s hand, Hank stood behind her, rubbing her shoulders. A new brightness had entered her mom’s eyes in the last few days. Each time they’d visited, she’d seemed a little clearer. The ugly black bruises turned dark purple, but they would fade in time. The bruises on her heart would take longer to heal, but Carol intended to do whatever it took tohelpher.

“I’ll get your discharge papers ready,” the doctor said. “I want to see you back here in a week for a checkup. But you should be feeling much better by New Year’s Day. Enjoy Christmas with your daughter and future son-in-law. Take care ofyourself.”

“I will,” her mom said. “Thank you foreverything.”

The nurse walked into the room with a wheelchair. “Let’s get you dressed. It’s cold outside, but at least it stoppedsnowing.”

“We’ll wait in the hall,”Carolsaid.

She gave her mom a kiss on the cheek before taking Hank’s hand and leaving the room. After the door closed, she lowered her voice. “Is everything ready at theB&B?”

“Madison made up a spare room. We don’t normally use it for guests because it’s really small, but it’s all we have right now,”Hanksaid.

“As long as she has a warm bed and a roof over her head, she’llbeokay.”

“Christmas Eve is tomorrow night. I hope it’s not too much for her. We usually throw a cookies-and-milk party for the guests’ kids,”hesaid.

“Don’t change anything on our account,” she said. “She’s been so isolated the last few years that I think she might enjoy thecompany.”

“Okay.” He brushed a kiss across her lips before nibbling a trail up to her earlobe. When he caught the sensitive flesh between his teeth, her insides turned tojelly.

“Not right now,” shewhispered.

“Later?” He pulled back to look at her withsmolderingeyes.

“We just did it thismorning.”

“Only once.” Hegrinned.

“You’reinsatiable.”

“My bear has certainneeds.”

She giggled as she ran a hand down his chest. The door to the hospital room opened. She jumped back, but not before the nurse rolled her mom through theopening.

“Don’t stop on my account,” her mom chuckled. “If I had a man like Hank, I’d be crawling all overhimtoo.”

Carol wanted to die of embarrassment, but Hank didn’t seem to mind. He hooked an arm around herwaist.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make her an honorable woman soon enough,”hesaid.

“How soon?” her momasked.

“As soon as she’ll let me,”hesaid.

“If you can manage to throw a wedding together in record time, I’d marry you tomorrow,”Carolsaid.

“Really?” he archedabrow.

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