Black Hills Rebel

  Black Hills

  Rebel

  Black Hills Series, #3

  By

  A.C. Wilson

  *****

  Black Hills Rebel

  (Black Hills Series, #3)

  Amazon Edition

  ©2014 A.C. Wilson

  All Rights Reserved.

  Thank you for purchasing this book. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be

  re-produced, copied and distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes without permission of the author. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to purchase their own copy. Thank you for your support.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  *****

  Cover Photography by Allison Hazen

  Hazen Photography

  http://allisonhazen2010.wix.com/hazenphotography

  Cover Design by Ginny Gallagher

  Gin’s Book Notes

  http://ginsbooknotes.com

  *****

  Acknowledgements

  As always the people who support me and encourage me to make every moment and word count have my undying gratitude. You can’t possibly know what value you have in my life and my books. Thank you for letting this series touch you.

  I’d also like to recognize the cover models who have so amazingly given their time. Travis Kuhn and Nicole Michael, you both are fantastic!

  Thank you for purchasing my books and sharing them with your friends. I have always heard that the life of a writer is a lonely one, but apparently that writer doesn’t have all of you in her corner. I am undoubtedly the richest and most blessed of all.

  Chapter 1

  April 4, 2007

  “You’re doing great! One more push, honey, and we’ll be there.” Dr. Mooreland’s voice was muffled behind her mask. Nora felt her energy flagging after twelve hours of labor. Her heart was racing and she fought to stick to her Lamaze breathing, but it was difficult. Her sole focus had been the tiny person growing inside her and keeping her baby’s father anonymous. She almost wished she could have wiped his name from her memory as well. Nora was jerked back to the present the split second her contraction forced her to push. One more push. One more push. She chanted it over and over in her mind.

  “Now, Nora! You can do this!” Lacey Johnson, Nora’s mother, squeezed her brow together as they held hands. Nora’s fingers were white. Perspiration glistened on her forehead as she gave it all she could. She yelled as loudly as she could as the baby’s head sprang free of her body and soon the rest of the child followed. The relief was unimaginable and she collapsed back against the pillows that had been wedged behind her.

  "Well done, Mama! You have a son!” Dr. Mooreland cheered in her muffled voice as the pediatric nurse wrapped the squirming baby up in a blanket. As tired as she was, Nora couldn’t take her eyes off that little fussing bundle.

  “Oh, he’s precious, Nora! Good lord, I’m a grandmother!” Lacey’s blue eyes widened as if she’d just thought about the possibility. Nora let out a shaky breath and shook her head softly.

  “Can I hold him?” Nora asked tentatively, her mind reeling at the nurses flitting about the room. The delivery room was a hub of activity as her newborn was processed and tested. It seemed surreal, even the moment that a smiling nurse gently placed her son in her arms.

  My son. I can’t believe I have a son. Tears instantly sprang to her eyes and she tried to blink them back, but staring into those blue eyes, Nora was enthralled. Mother and son considered each other carefully.

  “Nora, he’s perfect. You did an amazing job, honey.” Nora’s mother ran the pad of her thumb over her grandson’s ruddy cheek. The baby turned his head and twitched his lips. The nurse smiled at them both and then held her hands out for the bundle.

  “He’s a smart one. We’ll evaluate him and then bring him back for some bonding with his mama.”

  Nora’s hands trembled as she handed the baby back to the smiling nurse, her stomach clenching at the unfamiliar pull to a child she had only held for minutes. She swallowed hard. Months ago she’d considered giving the baby up for adoption. Wisely she’d kept that tidbit to herself. Exhaustedly leaning back against the pillows, Nora sighed. She silently promised her son that she would do whatever it took to be the mother he needed.

  “Have you decided on a name, or is he going to be one of those babies who goes months without one?” Lacey asked as she scuttled about the hospital room hanging up Nora’s clothes in the small closet. Nora tried to push aside the annoyance of her mother’s tone. The weight of a surprise pregnancy coupled by Nora’s absolute refusal to tell anyone the father’s identity had made family ties tense. Nora hoped things would resolve themselves in time, but she was adult enough to know that things would never be the same again.

  “Andrew Travis Johnson is his name. Drew, for short.” Nora glanced fondly over at the rolling crib where her sweet baby boy slept. His little chunky cheeks warm and his lips pursed in a cute pout.

  “Your father will be touched. It’s a strong name. Boys need strong names.” Lacey paused to look into the crib, a smile touching her lips. Grandma was definitely enamored by his presence.

  “A name isn’t everything, Mom.” Nora sighed, clicking the remote to shut off the television placed on the wall across from the bed. Lacey put her hand on her hip and gave her only daughter a disbelieving frown.

  “It certainly is everything. It tells you where you come from and who you will be. It means something, because we build it up with actions and honor.” Lacey shook her head at her daughter. “Besides, your name means a great deal.”

  Nora wrinkled her nose. She hated the full version of her name. Sonora. She fought against sticking her tongue out childishly.

  “I’ve never liked my name, Mom. It sounds like something you’d name a love child.” Nora smoothed the blanket over her lap, trying not to look at her mother.

  “You were a love child, but that’s hardly the point. Your maternal grandmother’s name was Sonora and she raised four kids all by herself after your grandfather died. Her strength and her faith are traits to be greatly admired and emulated if possible.” Lacey straightened all of the skewed magazines on the rolling tray. She lined the rows of flowers and balloons up along the window sill. Bobbing balloons and stuffed animals were everywhere!

  “I really don’t want to get into this, Mom. Can we just leave all of that for later and just enjoy the new member of our family?” Nora’s blue eyes pleaded with her mother to drop the ongoing story of honorable actions and family first. She looked fondly over at her sleeping infant. Drew came first. He was her responsibility and she’d make him proud. She wasn’t sure how she was going to do it, but she was determined to show herself and her family that she could.

  “Of course we can enjoy that sweet boy! I’ll go down and get your father. I’m sure your brothers will be here by now too. Be back in a minute.” Lacey took one more look around the room before she left Nora and Drew in the hospital room. Nora let out a huge breath once her mother was gone. There was a time when Nora had hoped for a girl, but the relationship between she and her own mother was hardly perfect.

  Reaching over towards the tray, she picked up the plastic cup with a straw. Pressing her lips to the cup and taking a sip, Nora was glad she’d had a boy. Her brothers would be doting uncles and her parents could provide stability and love. Setting the cup back on the tray, Nora itched around the injection site of her IV. In two weeks she would start her nursing classes and then, with careful planning and sheer determination, she was going to c
arve out a life for Drew and herself.

  I’m a mother. Drew’s mother. Her heart briefly reached out for the guy who had made this all possible. There was love where there was anguish and Nora didn’t foresee one being without the other. One passionate summer, three unrequited words, and nine months later, Nora’s future had changed irrevocably. Her gaze swept the gentle lowering and rising of Drew’s chest. It was indescribable the emotions that were pounding her from all sides. Internally her self-confidence wavered. A million what if’s ran through her head causing her to doubt the plan she’d made for herself.

  I can’t do this by myself. What if Drew wants to know who his father is someday? What if he resents me for keeping them apart? But the biggest question that caused the most hurtful disturbance weighed heavily on her heart.

  What if I fail? Her stomach clenched and rolled with the anxiety she experienced. Nora gritted her teeth and fisted the scratchy knit blanket. She was a Johnson, damn it! The thread of steel reasserted itself in her spine. There was no backing down now. Drew needed all that she could give him and Nora vowed not to let him down.

  ***

  Gingerly Nora cracked first one eyelid and then the next to test the clarity of her vision. The glaring light made her vision blurry and she groaned, rolling her head to the side. Grimacing and tentatively touching her forehead, Nora attempted to sit up. Instantly a palm shoved her back down on the thin mattress.

  “Easy there, Nora. You have a nasty bump!” Gloria’s voice was filled with concern and a no-nonsense edge. The seasoned nurse was not one to trifle with and Nora supposed that was why she always took the brunt of things instead of Gloria.

  “Oh, that’s going to leave a mark, isn’t it?” Nora groaned, touching the raised and angry spot on her forehead.

  “No doubt it will bruise. It knocked you out when the food tray smacked into you.” Gloria straightened Nora’s pillow, her sound effects causing Nora to chuckle. Mr. Clifton’s anxiety was not an unexpected experience, but you would think after the fifth straight day of this, the nurses would be better prepared.

  I love my job. I love my job. Nora repeated in her mind. There were times that she truly loved helping others and being a friend they could count on to be there in these tough times. Then there were times like now when it really just sucked.

  “I was having the weirdest dream.” Nora mused as she was handed a cup of ice water by her friend. Gloria nodded her head in understanding.

  “That explains a lot. You were talking the last thirty minutes or so about Drew.” Gloria took the plastic cup back and set it on the table. Nora took a breath and shook her head.

  “It was really strange. I was remembering having Drew and how amazing it was to hold him in my arms for the first time. I don’t think I’ve thought about that in years.” Nora sighed, leaning her head back against the pillows and closing her eyes against the light.

  “Head trauma can do that to a person.” Gloria muttered as she fussed with the blood pressure cuff and the stethoscope. Nora felt the cuff tighten uncomfortably and she waited quietly while Gloria finished her checks. The bump was still throbbing and the silence helped ease the bass drum going on in her skull. “Well everything looks fine, but Jeanine has your shift covered for the rest of the day. Are you okay to drive home or should I call Randy?” Gloria lifted a carefully plucked brow at Nora.

  “He is buying cattle in Nebraska, but I can call Andy if I get to my car and it doesn’t look like I can drive. I don’t feel dizzy or nauseous. It just feels like a brass band has taken up residence in my head.” Nora sat up and grimaced.

  Why does it feel like this lump is the size of a melon? She felt the bump gently and winced when she pressed too hard.

  Yep! It’s so going to leave a mark. Maybe she could get an extra day off out of the deal. Stifling the grin that threatened to spread across her face, Nora took out her cell phone from her scrubs pocket. A couple of flicks across the screen and she was calling her sister-in-law, Andy.

  “Hey girl!” Nora greeted Andy’s breathless hello. “What are you doing?” She grimaced when the furrowing of her brow caused a sharp pain from the lump.

  “Oh, well, nothing really.” There was silence between the two women and knowing her as Nora did, Andy spilled. “I’m moving furniture around and cleaning carpets.” Andy’s chagrined voice would have caused Nora to chuckle had Nora not been worried about Andy moving heavy things. Andy was four months pregnant with her second child. It would be Matt’s first child with Andy, but having such a loving brother, Matt had adopted Harper when the couple married.

  “Nesting already?” Nora couldn’t help the sarcasm that dripped from her words. The older she was getting it seemed bitter sarcasm was continually her thing and if truth were told, she hated it. “I’m just worried about you. You shouldn’t be moving heavy furniture. Can’t you wait for Matt or call Mom?” Nora knew that Andy wouldn’t call Lacey, her mother-in-law, unless it was to send Harper over for a few hours. Andy and Lacey’s relationship was far better than it started out, but sometimes there was still an overprotective mother hanging around. Funny thing was that it wasn’t always Lacey!

  “I know, that’s why I was hurrying before Matt got home. Harper is at the ranch.” Andy sounded a bit put out at being busted as well as confessing to it.

  “Well I won’t tell if you come and pick me up from work. I was assaulted by a meal tray and the lump on my head, I swear, is the size of a tennis ball.” Nora groaned, opening her car door and sliding into the front seat. She figured she’d just wait for Andy out in the parking lot.

  “Geez! Are you okay?” Andy’s motherly instincts rose quickly to the surface and Nora rolled her eyes.

  “Yes, I’m fine. I just think I’d better not be driving since I blacked out after the incident. It’s really not a risk I’m willing to try.” Nora blindly picked imaginary lint from her scrub top. She stared unseeing into the steering wheel and remembered flashes of the replay of Drew’s birth.

  Such a strange flashback to have! It all seemed so real. The emotions, the physical sensations, and the stressed relationship with her mother all seemed to be happening in real time. She pressed her lips together and figured she’d have to analyze this later.

  “I’m on my way and then you can tell me what else is going on.” Andy’s chiding tone was enough to have Nora leaning her head against the cloth head rest. Andy meant that too. The women had instantly been fast friends and being that Andy was an only child, she’d reached out to Nora as a sister. It was a wonderful novelty to Nora as well as she had only the two brothers.

  Although some days having a sister is rather annoying and uncomfortable. Nora sighed as she hung up the phone. Andy wouldn’t stop until she knew what she wanted to know. Matt’s wife was a sweet, lovely woman, but this subject between them was starting to wear thin. Nora knew at some point her bitterness and increasing unhappiness was going to be addressed. She just had no idea how to do it and not shatter everything around her.

  Half an hour later, Andy pulled into the parking lot of the State Veteran’s Home. Her black Ford Escape looking dirtier than usual with mud crusted underneath and around the wheels. Nora opened her door and clicked the lock button. She tucked her keys into her purse and waited for Andy to unlock the passenger side door.

  “Thank you for coming. I didn’t want to chance the drive.” Nora sat her purse on the floor board and climbed inside the SUV. Andy nodded, her green eyes duller than usual. Her brown hair was pulled drastically back into a messy ponytail and there were darkening circles underneath her eyes. She looked exhausted.

  “What did you do to piss the cook off this time?” Andy managed a smile as she looked over Nora’s bruising forehead. Nora nodded and sighed.

  “Actually it was Mr. Clifton again. This time he managed to hit me though.” Nora lowered the visor and opened the plastic backing to use the mirror. Shifting her head from side to side, she tried to see how bad it really looked. Gingerly touching the raised bum
p, Nora could see the bluish purple marking coming into view.

  “Yikes! You need a helmet!” Andy tried to make light of it, but working with Alzheimer’s patients was difficult. Sometimes the sudden changes in environment and personality took a person by surprise. In Mr. Clifton’s case, it really wasn’t a shock, but it had caught Nora off guard.

  “Trust me, I’ve thought about it.” Nora said as she put away the visor and tugged her seat belt into place to lock it across her chest. Andy put the car into gear and turned them back towards the main highway. They made it a couple of minutes before Andy broke the silence.

  “Matt said Randy was out of town again. Do you and Drew want to come out for dinner? We’d love to have you and Harper would love to see her cousin.” Andy fidgeted with the radio button on the steering wheel. It quieted and the car seemed be closing in on them. Nora swallowed hard.

  “I wouldn’t want to put you out, besides Drew is having pizza over at William’s house and I have a bottle of wine with my name on it. I think a date with a glass of wine and an ice pack is just what the doctor ordered.” Nora tried to make light of the fact that she was lonely. With so much family around her, she still felt very much like the black sheep. Andy shook her head disapprovingly, but she didn’t argue. Nora hadn’t spilled the beans about what was really going on between her and Randy. They’d been married for just over a year and it wasn’t good. It was glaringly obvious she’d made a mistake trying to be the single mother doing whatever she could to make her son’s life better.

  Too bad you forgot about yourself. Nora’s inner voice poked at her with a vengeance. It was cruel and painful. Drew was almost seven years old and he’d always had her brothers and her father to be good role models. Randy had even taken the responsibility with cheerful zeal. Now in the craziness that was her life, Nora just couldn’t put the past in the past. She wallowed in self-pity all the while not voicing her dissatisfaction with the choices she’d made.