use chasing rainbows. He’d keep his head down and get the work done. And maybe one day he’d find a lady to love. The older he got, the more settling down sounded like living the best life.
He climbed behind the wheel. Too bad he and Faith were on different paths and she hated his guts. Otherwise, he’d figure out a way to add some romance to her holiday—and his. It was mistletoe season, after all. The only one waiting for him was a sick reindeer, and he had no intention of kissing Dunder.
Chapter 7
Faith
Drake was a cutie. His dark hair and Nichollas family good looks probably had all the local teenage girls swooning.
But he didn’t hold a candle to his older brother and those blue eyes of his.
Faith stared after the two of them as they made their way down the hall, chatting and playing. They were the all-American cowboy breed. Came by it naturally, as she’d witnessed when she’d met their father. Abner Nichollas was all wrinkles and leather skin with an easy smile that belied the long hours of ranch life. Along with all that was a sense of peace that came with knowing what you’d been put on this earth to do.
She’d sensed some of that in Caleb as well.
Dad chuckled from his hospital bed. “If ya keep staring, you’re gonna go cross-eyed.”
Faith spun on her heel and smirked. “They’re quite the family, aren’t they?”
Dad’s whole face seemed to soften. “They’ve been more than kind to me.”
“Sounds like it. Their mom …” She held out a hand to get a name.
“Anna,” Dad filled in.
“Anna doesn’t need to stock the fridge. I can get groceries.”
He lifted a hand and let it drop, as if that took too much effort to make small gestures. The nurse said they’d had him walk a little this morning and that he was due for another lap this afternoon. His face was pale, and his normally restless spirit was calm. “Anna’s the type that has to be doing something for someone or she’s bored out of her mind. She’ll cook a few meals and put them in the freezer and bake some goodies. It’ll be the best food you’ve ever had, so don’t tell her to stop.”
Faith grinned. “How can I say no after that endorsement?” She walked over and sat on the end of the bed, patting Dad’s leg. “How are you feeling?”
“Like my well’s gone dry.” He had new wrinkles on his face, lines around his mouth that she didn’t remember.
“I expect that’s normal, but it doesn’t make it any less bothersome.”
He nodded. “Caleb said you went out to the ranch.”
She nodded, not sure how much she wanted to reveal about her resentment over the reindeer or the way they’d communicated with her. It was uncanny and more than unsettling. She finally settled on not following that path of conversation. She turned to tuck an extra pair of pajamas in the nightstand drawer.
“Dunder’s an amazing animal,” Dad said.
She sighed. So much for not talking about it. “He’s big for a reindeer.”
Dad’s nod was barely there. He was sinking into the pillows, wearing out quickly. “He’s different than most.”
“I recommended cutting off his antlers.” She smiled, thinking of how Dunder had looked like he’d wanted to bite her for saying that.
Dad chuckled, and a grin spread across his tired face. “I’ll bet that went over well.”
She laughed. “Not so much. I used your lab to start the blood tests. We should have some answers in the next 24 to 48 hours.” The monitors beeped at a steady rate, and a nurse passed by the door. It didn’t matter what was going on inside this room; life continued out there.
“Are you headed back to Grafton after that?”
Faith balked. “Why would I?”
“You have a life there.”
She stared at him, dumbfounded. “And where will you go?” Who will watch out for him? Keep his house from freezing over? Run the clinic? She’d glanced through his calendar—he had appointments scheduled. Someone would either have to call and cancel or substitute for him. “You can’t run a business from a hospital bed, Dad.”
“The doc says there’s a rehab facility. I can live there for a month or two until I’m back on my feet.”
Hot indignation rose up inside of Faith. “I dropped everything to come here, and you think I’m just going to leave you to face all this alone?” Did he think she was a coldhearted witch? Not that she’d ever put much into their relationship