Rescuing Ryder (Serenity Securities, Team Hawk #1)

Chapter 41

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

The veterans and teens who didn’t enjoy the holiday or the gory costumes enjoyed the cafeteria and the back deck of the hospital. Treats galore covered every surface. Game tables covered the lower floors away from the noise and movies played all day.

The teens and veterans who enjoyed the season ran across the front yard of the hospital. Carnival games, food vendors, and a haunted jogging path put on by the veterans delighted the teens until their turn happened later in the evening on Bear’s Mountain. Old-fashioned games such as bobbing for apples, an egg tossing contest, and potato sack races offered fun for all.

Laughter filled the mountain while Ryder’s nerves felt shot to hell. He anxiously waited for Tex and his family to arrive. He already approached Kassie three times asking for Claire’s whereabouts. When Ryder walked toward her again, she sent him a menacing stare and pointed in the opposite direction. Frowning, he turned to locate Whiskey.

A hand clasped on his shoulder as Leo carried his baby girl in his arms. “Chase called. He picked up your friends and they’ll arrive in ten.”

“Leo,” someone called.

Leo turned around to discover his daughter with a sucker stuck in her hair and crying. “Shit. Can you hold Grace for a minute? Catherine’s on her way. I told Melody to ask her mom. She’ll strangle me if I have to use my KA-BAR on June Bug's hair.” Leo shoved the baby into Ryder's arms as he raced to aid his little girl.

Ryder held the baby out from his chest, trying to figure out what to do with her. Grace’s big blue eyes stared at him as her hands reached to grab at the first thing she managed to catch. He smiled at her and the next thing he knew, her eyes pooled with tears as her bottom lip quivered. Panic instantly set in.

“Hold her to your chest. You’re scaring her by holding her away. Babies love cuddles,” Claire’s voice came from behind him.

Ryder slowly lowered the baby to his chest and rubbed her back. Grace became fascinated with his beard, and he pretended to make noises when she touched it, making the baby cackle in glee.

“You’re a natural,” Claire praised him as she cooed to Grace.

“This isn’t as bad as I thought,” he bounced Grace lightly on his hip.

“It’s the fun part, not the feedings in the middle of the night, dealing with an overstimulated baby at 0200, and frantic trips to the pediatrician’s office, which cause parents to pull their hair out.” Claire played peek-a-boo with Grace as she spoke.

“I thought you wanted kids,” Ryder stated as he made faces.

“Someday. When I find someone who can tolerate a pink house and knows how to fix things,” Claire teased.

Chase waved at him, indicating Tex and his family arrived.

“I’ll take Grace. Visit with your friends,” Claire offered as she reached for the baby.

“I want you to meet them,” Ryder slid Grace into her arms.

“I’ll come over once I help Leo with the girls.” Claire didn’t wait for a reply as she trotted off. Ryder turned and walked to where Chase waited with his friends.

Melody hugged him. Tex gave him a handshake and a pat on the back as he scanned Ryder’s face. Tex’s daughter, Akilah, smiled as she wrapped her arms around him.

“I’m happy you came. You arrived at a great time. They’re throwing a fall festival. Did you eat yet?” Ryder asked the group.

“No. Chase apprised us about the party and Akilah wanted to wait until we arrived,” Melody explained.

Ryder led them toward the crowd, pointing out the food vendors and the games as they viewed the fun chaos. Chase held Tori for Kassie, allowing her to play games with Emma and Miya. Claire now worked on Melody’s hair while a nervous-appearing Leo held Grace. Ryder laughed as he watched Taco taunt the crowd of teens who threw balls to dunk him in the water and missed. Tess stepped up and blew him a kiss, hitting the lever and sending him down into the water. The teens burst into laughter.

Kassie approached the group.

“It’s nice to see you again, Tex. I’m Kassie Winters.” She shook Melody’s hand and then their daughter’s.

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Melody smiled. “This is our daughter, Akilah.”

“Can I borrow your daughter to join the other teens? They’re painting T-shirts and pumpkins in the section over there and on the other side, they’re playing games. What sounds fun?”

“All of it.” Akilah beamed as she glanced at her parents for permission.

Melody laughed, “Go have fun. We’ll sit over at the table and visit. Check in with us occasionally.”

Kassie walked her over and introduced her to Sara. They watched as the girls talked animatedly.

The trio sat at a table, and two teens brought them chips and salsa with water.

“I wondered if you’d appear as good as you sounded over the phone. I’m happy for you, Ryder.” Tex smiled at him as he assessed him from head to toe.

“Thank you.” Ryder met his friend’s eyes, conveying the whole meaning of his gratitude.

“I believe I found something to snack on. Will you excuse me?” Melody stood and headed for one of the food stalls.

“Subtle, isn’t she?” Tex laughed.

“Thank you, Tex. You saved my life. I’ve waited all week to tell you how much I appreciate you not giving up on me, despite me acting like a pain in your ass.”

“No thanks needed. We do for each other.” Tex brushed off his thanks as Ryder witnessed him do countless times when he rescued entire teams from danger or helped someone in need.

Ryder stared at his friend. “The team asked me to join them as a corpsman. They offered to hold the position while I finish my stint here.”

“Matthew called me. He said you asked for time. Do you have something on your mind?”

“I don’t know if I can be responsible for another group of men,” Ryder confessed.

“What did Claire advise?” Tex asked.

“I didn’t talk to her about it. I switched to Dr. Hill a while ago,” Ryder refused to meet Tex’s gaze.

“That’s too bad. I liked Claire,” Tex sipped his water while watching his daughter.

“I like her, too. She’s great with the kids. The veterans fall over themselves to do whatever she bids. Did Matthew catch you up on Kilner?” Ryder asked his friend.

“Yeah. How did he manage it?” Tex asked.

“We don’t know. The mayor’s calling for an investigation into it. The team’s conducting their own investigation. It seems the mayor isn’t on the up and up. At least Kilner’s dead and can’t hurt her anymore,” Ryder shook his head. The thought of Kilner touching Claire made his blood boil. “Her eye still causes some headaches because he hit her with the gun. The specialist won’t allow her to drive for three more weeks. Claire’s not happy about it.”

“I’m glad she’s doing better.” Tex regarded Ryder.

“Claire’s around here somewhere. I wanted to introduce her to Melody. I think they’ll get along great.”

“Why did you switch, Ryder? You seem to like Claire.”

“I don’t know. One day, she asked me to put stuff together. The woman’s brilliant yet can’t figure out how to use a screwdriver. The next thing I knew, she asked me to play a trust exercise, and I freaking lost my shit. Then I kissed her on the jogging path,” he blurted.

Tex chuckled. “You like her, huh?”

“I do. It scares the hell out of me,” Ryder confessed as he searched for the woman in question.

“Did you tell her?” Tex questioned.

“No. She’s worried about how it will affect my healing process. I don’t understand because I’m seeing Dr. Hill. Nothing occurred between us until I transferred.”

“Ryder, did you sleep with her?” Tex shook his head. “I can tell you’ve changed. You appear happy. Did she cause this change in you? I’m not one to chastise you for sleeping with a woman, but from her point of view, she might worry about her career. If things go awry, Claire may worry that her actions caused you to slide backward. It’s a risk.”

Ryder sighed. Frustration ran through him. His heart pounded in his chest at Tex’s reaction. “It’s not like that. I can’t explain. She made me feel again. I’ve stayed numb since the day Gunner died in my arms. I’ve taken the pills and done what everyone ordered me to do. Claire gave me choices. She makes me laugh, lives in this Godawful pink house, and beams at it whenever she pulls into the driveway. When Kilner attacked her, Claire refused to let me go until they sedated her. Something changed inside me.”

“I can tell. What do you plan to do when you return home? I’m assuming you’ll continue to stay on the mountain for a while longer. What then?”

“I don’t know. I can’t be responsible for other people, not for another team, Claire, or Gunner.” Ryder swiped his hand through his hair, feeling stressed by Tex’s line of questioning.

“Gunner isn’t here anymore, Ryder. He died almost two years ago. What would he advise you to do if he sat here? We pulled in to find you holding a baby and smiling. Did you stop to think of what you wanted for your future? Gunner didn’t ask you to live his life; he said to live a life worthy of them. He wanted you happy.”

“Why? I don’t deserve happiness while Patty and his kids still mourn him. It’s not fair, Tex.”

“None of it’s fair, damn it. If life were fair, don’t you think I’d have two legs? My daughter might have her arm. These kids would all reside in happy homes, and the veterans would never need a place like this. When did you find fairness in war? Wake up, Ryder. You can feel and I’m damn proud of you for putting in the work. But what good does it do you if you don’t practice with the tools given to you?”

Melody sent a worried glance their way. Ryder pinched his nose, refusing to understand why Tex believed he deserved a life of sunshine and roses while his brothers never got the choice. Did he understand Ryder no longer needed to stare at a wall and worry about how to distribute his meager belongings?

Ryder stood and stared down at his friend. “Thank you for coming. Whether you want to hear it or not, I’m grateful. You no longer need to worry about me.”

Tex shook his head. “Ryder. Listen?—”

“Thanks, Tex. For everything.”

Ryder walked toward his cabin, no longer in the mood for the celebration.