What the Heart Wants by Jean Brashear

Author:Jean Brashear
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2002-06-28T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

LINC CURSED the slow pickup, banging the heel of his hand on the steering wheel as the truck refused to budge above fifty miles an hour. The landscape crawled by as he headed for the hospital where they’d taken Carl; his mind was focused on his last glimpse of Ivy’s haunted face as she’d climbed into the ambulance.

Despair had shadowed her features and drawn her skin taut across her bones. Even as scared as she was, she’d still had the forethought to have Lora Lee call Sally and to clasp Prudie to her briefly, whispering words of comfort.

How like her to think of everyone else, when Linc knew that she was dying inside, donning a hair shirt of guilt for something that had been an accident. She was only human, for God’s sake, but Ivy never seemed to allow herself any failings. He was beginning to see that beneath her warm maternal air she was as driven as anyone he’d ever met—even himself. She deceived with her flowered dresses and ponytail, but no drill sergeant could be as exacting—except in Ivy’s case, she only had those superhuman expectations of herself. Ninety-eight percent wasn’t good enough. Only perfection counted. She made allowances for everyone else. Reserved no emotional space between herself and those for whom she cared.

If only she cared half as much for Ivy. She never did a damn thing to protect that tender heart.

He hit the redial button on his cell phone again, then swore as he realized he was still out of range. He needed to make Betsey aware that he’d be delayed. No matter what he’d promised her, he couldn’t leave Ivy now—not until he was sure she would be all right. If he was a praying man, he’d pray for Carl. He didn’t know how Ivy would handle it if anything happened to the old man.

As he pulled into Mineral Wells, he attempted the phone call again. Betsey answered.

“Betsey, I’ll still try to leave today, but there’s been an accident, and I have to stay until I see how things are.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. It’s not me—it’s Carl. He’s been hurt and Ivy’s scared.”

“Who’s Carl? Who’s Ivy? Why does she need you?”

The hospital appeared before him. Linc’s sense of urgency rocketed. “I can’t explain now—I’m at the hospital. I’ll be in touch.”

Just as he was about to disconnect, her voice stopped him. “Linc, are you sure you’re all right?”

A simple question with no answer in sight. “I don’t know.” Linc sighed, suddenly weary. “I’ll talk to you later, Bets.”

“Come back home, Linc,” she said. “I’m worried about you.”

“I’ll be fine. Don’t fret about me. ’Bye, Bets.” He hit the button to end the call, his mind caught by her words.

Home. Where was that, really? He didn’t honestly know. He’d never let himself think about it, not since the day he’d been thrust out into the world alone. It had seemed irrelevant; he’d been focused on showing his father what a big mistake the older man had made.

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