Daring Dreamer (Quinn Valley Ranch Book 7) Read online

  “Yes! I can’t unfasten my jeans, and I wasn’t about to ask Chad after we’ve been dating for two whole days.”

  Riley grinned. “I’ll unfasten your jeans, and then we’ll get you changed.”

  It was something they’d done together many times, because Renae found ways to hurt herself where others didn’t. As soon as she was changed into her pajamas, Riley gave her the pain pills. “There. Now go to bed before you get all loopy. The last time you took this stuff you lost your belly button, and you called Mom crying.”

  Renae grinned. “I remember that. It completely disappeared!”

  “Sure it did.” Riley led her into her bedroom and tucked her into bed. “Sleep as long as you can. Someone will be here. I’m going to take over your guest room. I’m glad you keep a twin bed in there.”

  Renae was already settling into her bed, the drugs making her brain fuzzy. “Just don’t fall on the floor.”

  “I never fall on the floor. That’s what you do.” Riley left the room, leaving the door open a crack so she could hear Renae if she called out.

  Renae laid there quietly on her bed for a moment before closing her eyes. She was glad she had a family to take care of her when she was hurt. Even if she did want to shoot them all half the time.

  Renae woke feeling an intense pain in her arm the following morning, and she couldn’t remember what had happened at first. She hated the hangover Vicodin gave her, but she liked the numbing pain relief it gave her.

  She struggled to sit up, walking out into the living room. Her grandmother was there, watching television. “I usually meet with the girls on Wednesdays, but we’re putting it off this week,” her grandmother said by way of greeting. “How are you feeling?”

  “Like I fell on the ice and hurt myself.” Renae went into the bathroom and took care of business, calling out for her grandmother. “I need you to put toothpaste on my toothbrush.”

  Her grandmother was there a moment later, taking care of the little task for her. “What else can I do?”

  “Make me some cereal? I can’t even pour my own milk.” And she was going to take another pain pill. Better to sleep through the first day after an injury. She knew the first day was always the most painful.

  “Cereal? How about I make you an omelet?”

  “That sounds good, but I don’t want you to go to so much trouble.”

  “Oh, posh. It’s no trouble to do something for my favorite granddaughter.”

  “You told Riley she was your favorite yesterday,” Renae said.

  “Yes, but I didn’t think anyone else was listening!” Grandma Gertie went into the kitchen and started on the omelet. She knew exactly what Renae liked in hers, like she knew the tastes of all of her grandchildren. When she was done, she put the plate on the table in front of Renae. “Coffee or milk?”

  “I want milk. I’m going to take another pain pill with breakfast and sleep for a while longer.”

  “I think that’s wise. Brooke gave me instructions, and she wanted us poking pain pills down your throat as much as we could.”

  “Yeah, Brooke’s bossy.” Renae ate her omelet even though she wasn’t particularly hungry. She knew better than to take a pain pill on an empty stomach.

  “She’s looking out for your best interest. Now, tell me what’s going on between you and Chad? Riley said I’m to stay until he comes here around four this afternoon.”

  Renae shrugged. “I don’t really know. We just started dating a couple of days ago. I fell at his feet leaving the bakery on Saturday, and we knew each other when we were kids. He took me out on New Years’ Eve, and then to the house yesterday. When we got back to my place last night, I slipped on the ice. That’s the entire extent of our relationship.”

  “Well, you know I play Bunco with his grandmother on Wednesdays. We’ve always been close. Mildred Duncan and I are going to have to see what we can do to nudge you two toward the altar. I think he’s just what you need, and you’re just what he needs.”

  “We don’t need any nudges, Grandma.” She handed her grandmother the bottle of medicine, and her grandmother put one in her hand.

  “One or two?”

  “Just one.” Renae downed the pill with her milk. “You stop worrying about nudging me, and I’ll sleep better.”

  “Yes, dear,” Grandma Gertie said, a twinkle in her eye.

  “I mean it. We don’t need help.”

  “Of course you don’t, dear.”

  As soon as Gertie had Renae in her bed again, she closed the door tightly. Walking into the living room, she pulled out her cell phone. “Millie? You need to come see me. I’m at my granddaughter Renae’s. We need to talk about her and Chad.”

  Twenty minutes later, Mildred was there, her hair still in curlers. “You could have taken the curlers out of your hair before coming over.”

  “I don’t know why. I look good in my curlers.” Mildred still wore the kind of rollers they’d all worn in the seventies. They weren’t very comfortable, but they were what she knew best. “Now what is this about Chad and Renae?”

  “They’ve been seeing each other for just a few days, but they are perfect together. We need to do something to nudge them toward the altar. Chad is coming over here to watch her this afternoon after I leave.”

  “Why does she need to be watched? Don’t tell me the girl hurt herself again!” Millie shook her head. “The last thing I need is klutzy grandchildren.”

  “Think of how beautiful a child of Renae and Chad would be . . .”

  Millie smiled. “You’re right. I’ll call him later and remind him to bring her some flowers. What’s her favorite chocolate?”

  With their heads together, the two women planned their grandchildren’s futures . . . complete with great-grandchildren’s names.

  Chad arrived at Renae’s at exactly four like he’d been told. He carried a bouquet of flowers in his hand at his grandmother’s insistence. How Mildred Duncan had gotten roped into his relationship with Renae, he didn’t know, but he hoped she’d keep her nose out of it. They were doing very well on their own. No outside influence was needed.

  Mrs. Quinn came to the door and smiled at him. “Hello, Chad. Renae is in her room pretending to be sleeping.”

  “Why is she pretending to be sleeping?”

  “She got annoyed with me for asking about you. Now her mother should be here around six with supper for the two of you, and then Raina will be here at ten to spend the night. Can you stay for that long?”

  Chad nodded, wondering just what he’d gotten himself into. “I plan to watch movies with her tonight.”

  “Good. She needs movies where she’ll laugh and not cry. None of those romance movies she loves so much. No, what she needs are good old-fashioned comedies.” Gertrude put her coat on and wrapped a scarf around her neck. “Call Brooke if she falls again.”

  “Has she fallen today?” Chad asked, more than a little confused.

  “Not yet, dear. But she will. She’s Renae.” With those words, Mrs. Quinn had hurried off to her car and driven away.

  Chad shook his head, shutting the door behind him. “Renae?” he called out, wondering if she really was awake. He didn’t want to wake her if she was sleeping, but he wanted her to know he was there.

  Renae walked to the door of her bedroom and peeked out. She was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. Not exactly appropriate winter attire, but easier to go to the restroom if she needed to with her arm the way it was.

  “You brought me flowers! They’re beautiful!”

  “Just tell me where to put them, and I will.”

  “In the kitchen, in the cabinet to the right of the sink, on the top shelf. There are vases there. Just put them in one.”

  Chad had never actually put flowers into a vase, but he did his best, feeling a bit like a bull in a china shop. When he had set the flowers in the middle of her table where they could both see them, he walked over to sit beside her on the couch. “I thought we could spend the evening watching Netflix. Yo
ur grandmother said nothing that would make you cry. We can only laugh tonight.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Grandma was in a bossy mood today. She told me she and your grandmother are going to try to meddle, but I told her to let it be. I doubt she will, so expect your grandmother to be giving you advice about me any second.”

  He grinned. “She called earlier and told me if I showed up without flowers in my hands, she would disown me, and I’d have to find myself a new grandmother.”

  Renae shook her head. “Sounds like my grandma has already done her thing there. Lovely.”

  “What do you want to watch?”

  Renae frowned. “I’m feeling like a binge watch of Gilmore Girls, but if you don’t want to be part of that, I completely understand.”

  He frowned for a moment. “How about X-Files?”

  “I haven’t seen that whole series, but I love what I’ve seen. Yeah, let’s do X-Files.”

  “Perfect.”

  They watched the show from the beginning, enjoying the play between Scully and Mulder. When her mother showed up with a lasagna for them, they took a break to eat. “Thanks for the food, Mom. Are you eating with us?”

  April Lynn shook her head. “No, I need to go feed your father. He hates the low sodium thing he’s on, and if I’m not watching over him, he goes out for pizza or talks Ciran into bringing him tacos. He doesn’t need to be eating out that much!”

  Renae grinned, knowing the fight was an ongoing one between her parents since her dad had the stent put in over the summer. “Okay, go feed Dad something bland. We’ll enjoy your lasagna.”

  April Lynn looked at the food she’d just scooped onto her daughter’s plate. “Let me have at least one bite. Just because he has heart issues doesn’t mean I should have to eat bland food for every meal.” She took Renae’s fork and ate a bite, returning the fork to her daughter. “Thank you. How are you feeling?”

  Renae shrugged. “I drugged myself most of the day. Just really started being awake when Chad got here.”

  “Were you avoiding your grandmother?” April Lynn asked knowingly.

  “Yup. She was talking about going to Mildred Duncan and having her help force Chad and me to the altar, and I decided to just drug myself and sleep all day.”

  April Lynn shook her head. “I’ll talk to her.” She kissed Renae’s cheek and hurried out the door. “See you tomorrow!”

  “Your mother has always amused me. Do you know people in town call her the redneck witchdoctor?”

  “Yup. So does she. She embraces the name. She says she’s going to write a book someday and call it Confessions of a Redneck Witchdoctor. I can’t wait to read it.” She ate a bite of her lasagna and closed her eyes. “Mom makes the best lasagna in the whole wide world.”

  “She really does,” Chad said. “I love the garlic bread, too.”

  “It’s her specialty. She doesn’t love to cook, but she’ll do it. Anytime someone needs her to bring a dish for a potluck or something, she shows up with this lasagna. I love it, though, so I never complain.”

  “Will she bring another lasagna tomorrow?” Chad asked.

  “Either that or have one of my sisters make something. Actually, she’ll probably send Ciran over with tacos.”

  “It must be nice having a taco truck in the family. Does he deliver to other people?”

  “He’ll cater, but I think he mostly just delivers to family. He’s awesome like that.”

  “I’m jealous.” Chad frowned at her. “Maybe I’ll marry you just for the taco delivery.”

  “That was not the most romantic proposal I’ve ever heard. Maybe you should work on your technique.”

  “I don’t have anyone to practice on!” he protested.

  “Well, I’ll let you keep trying until you get it right then.” She finished her food and pushed it away. “I’m done. Just put the dishes in the sink, and I’ll make Raina do them when she comes over.”

  “I don’t mind. I’ll get them in the dishwasher really quick, and we’ll watch some more X-Files.”

  “Would you mind if I watched more after you left? I slept all day, and I have a feeling I’ll be up half the night.”

  “Nah. I’ve seen them all half a dozen times. You just enjoy them, and we’ll keep going from where you leave off tomorrow.”

  Renae smiled at him. “You’re going to be a good boyfriend, aren’t you?”

  “I’ll be a better husband . . .”

  “You just want taco delivery. I’m onto you, Chad Duncan!”

  “Oh, fine. Start the next show while I do dishes. I’ll join you in a minute.”

  She grinned as he disappeared into the kitchen. She couldn’t believe they were already joking about marriage. She was falling for him, hard and fast. She didn’t know if it was leftover feelings from when she was a teenager or if it was new feelings from being around him all the time now. Either way, she wasn’t sure her feelings were going anywhere.

  When he joined her on the couch, she leaned into him, happy to be close. Their grandmothers could say and do whatever they wanted. She was ready for their relationship to go further.

  “Do Mulder and Scully ever marry?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “No, they just have an alien baby together.”

  She blinked a few times, but his response shut her up fast. She would have to watch the show to see if he was making things up. He had to be. Even X-Files couldn’t get that weird, could it?

  By the time Raina got there, she was ready to collapse in her bed. She needed to lie down after sitting for so long. Her arm was hurting her more than she cared to admit.

  Chad kissed her goodbye and left for the night, promising to be back the next day.

  As soon as he was gone, Renae groaned. “I need another pain pill. Can you make me some leftover lasagna to eat with it?”

  “Mom brought you lasagna? Is there enough for me, too?”

  Renae nodded. “Yeah, help yourself. I want to drink milk with mine. It’s the best thing to drink with Vicodin.”

  “No problem.” Raina nuked some of the lasagna and took her a small plate of it with a glass of milk before opening the medicine bottle. “One or two?”

  Renae debated with herself for a moment. “I think I need two for tonight. I’m weaning off of them tomorrow.”

  “I talked to Brooke, and she said you should take them if you’re in pain.”

  “Brooke’s a mother hen. I’ll be fine.”

  “You always say that.” Raina disappeared in her room. “I’m picking up in here and getting your jammies ready. Do you want a shower tonight?”

  “If you don’t mind . . .”

  “What are sisters for?”

  Chapter Six

  Renae spent most of the following day sitting on the couch with her tablet watching X-Files. She thought about putting the show on the big TV, but her grandmother had claimed it for her stories. So instead, she wore ear plugs and propped her iPad against her knee and held it with her good hand.

  When it was time to take a break from show-watching for lunch, her grandmother made them grilled cheese sandwiches and soup. It felt good to have something so comforting when she was so miserable.

  “I told your mother I’d be in charge of supper tonight,” Grandma said as they sat down at the table with their lunches. “What are you hungry for?”

  Renae sighed. She’d had her heart set on Ciran’s tacos. “I don’t know. Something easy is fine.”

  “How about I just make a couple of burgers for you?”

  “That would work. I probably have what we need.”

  “If not, I can run to the store during your nap.”

  “Nap? Grandma, I don’t always take a nap, you know. I’m not three any longer.”

  Her grandmother smiled. “I’m well aware of your age. I was there when you were born, young lady! You’ll take a nap today, because I can see you’re in too much pain for Advil to hold you. You’re taking another pain pill with your lunch.”

  Re
nae wrinkled her nose but nodded. “Yeah, I’ll need one, I’m sure.” She hated that she needed naps, but really, what else did she have to do? Watch more X-Files? She was starting to dream of aliens already.

  After her nap, Renae woke refreshed and ready to face the world, which was a good thing because Chad was coming over shortly. It felt strange to have him helping out with her care, but if he wanted to be with her anyway, it was working out well.

  Her grandma had the burgers staying warm in the oven when Chad got there. She also made baked beans and a potato salad. “Chad, you’re in charge of putting everything together for supper unless you want to eat right this minute.”

  Chad shook his head. “I’m perfectly capable. I could probably even cook for her if she didn’t mind simple.”

  “The cooking isn’t a problem. I just have a girls’ night out with my friends tonight, and I can’t stay a lot longer if I want to make supper for Harley first.” Grandma was already reaching for her coat.

  “Have fun, and tell my grandma hi for me.”

  “Oh, I will. We’ll talk about colors for your wedding while we’re at it.” She winked at Chad and hurried out the door.

  Chad shook his head. “Our grandmothers aren’t going to rest until we’re married, are they?”

  She shrugged with her good arm. “It’s doubtful. They love us, and they need us to be married to each other and have five children in ten years. Then we can do whatever we want.”

  “Well, I’m glad they’re really only planning our lives for the next ten years.” He took off his coat and hung it over the back of a chair, collapsing onto the couch beside her and kissing her softly. “How are you feeling today?”

  “Better. I’m always the worst the day after an injury, but I feel like I’m getting better already. I’m ready to throw the sling off and go snowmobiling!”

  He shook his head. “I’m not sure I like the idea of you snowmobiling . . .”

  “Or walking without assistance?” she asked, rolling her eyes. “I’m not going to hurt myself.”