Breaking Boundaries (5th in Breaking Series)

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter Thirty-One

Recovery was slow going for Nick but Aiden remained at his side, never leaving town or going out to the ranch as he helped nurse Nick back to health.

Finally, nearly a month after the bullet had come close to taking his life, Nick was fit enough to make the nearly two hour ride on horseback to the ranch. He had refused to go by wagon which would have been easier on his healing ribs and the thin tender skin sealing his wound.

Aiden's hand was scarred permanently, it was still sensitive to heat and it wasn't quite as easy to bend his fingers as it had been before but other than that he was healed. The townsfolk had kept their distance from the two men for the most part. Aiden supposed he should be happy with that since it meant there was no one harassing them but it still hurt to know that some people who had once waved to him on the streets now crossed to the other side.

And he figured the only reason that no one dared harass them was simply because Brody had made it clear they were under his protection and no one else in this town was dumb enough to cross Brody Atkinson—especially after what had happened to the last batch of men that had.

"We've been working nearly nonstop rebuilding," Susie said as she rode in a wagon beside Kaitlyn while Nick, Aiden and Wendell rode alongside on horseback. Aiden kept a close eye on Nick but if the man was in pain he couldn't tell. Nick was the quintessential 'tough-guy' and would probably rather die than admit he was hurting. That trait annoyed Aiden to no end.

"How much does it need to be done?" Aiden asked, making conversation since Nick seemed to be back in his silent moods. Nick never had much to say whenever anyone else was around. Aiden was happy though that when they were alone together the man's tongue tended to loosen a bit and he opened up more.

"The outside still needs to be decorated; Ellie is going insane without her flowers, and we're waiting on another shipment of lumber to get the shingles put on the roof but the inside is pretty much finished," Susie replied with a smile. "The bunkhouse is completely done and Elizabeth even went so far as to replace the cots with real beds and feather tick mattresses."

"And my back thanks her," Wendell grinned.

"When are you getting married?" Susie asked suddenly. "You've been engaged for ages."

"Not really ages, Susie," Kaitlyn cut in with a blush. "It's only been about a month and we've all just been so busy."

"You should do it soon. I know that Liz wants to help out the wedding on and I know that Thomas will want to be there now that he and Sally aren't leaving until after the baby is born."

The conversation turned to Thomas and Sally's impending child and move, both of which would take place in only a few short months.

Aiden hadn't even realized they were nearing the ranch until it came into view and he was shocked by what he saw. Gone was the continental estate that had once stood there and in its place was a rustic and yet elegant log cabin—or lodge would a more appropriate term for the ranch house.

Aiden stared in awe at all three stories with balconies and a wraparound ground floor porch. Rocking chairs and swings covered the porches and balconies. Even the bunkhouse was larger than it had been before.

All-in-all Aiden thought the new editions to the ranch were better than before and he smiled at the thought that even when beautiful things were destroyed it was often so more beautiful things could their place.

"Wow, I love this," Aiden admitted with awe. "I've always liked log cabins."

"What was your house like back east?" Wendell asked. "Your family was rich weren't they?"