“Mia can drive me,” Stevie argued. “And all we have to do is unwrap the bandage, check the wound, and re-dress the cut. I’ll be back home in half an hour, tops.”
“Mia is out in the pasture with Jesse,” Cody said. “I’ll drive you, and when we get back, you are going to sit on the sofa with that leg propped up, at least, for the rest of today.”
“You sure are bossy.” Stevie watched him meticulously put in the last stitch and secure it in place with adhesive tape.
Cody wrapped gauze around her leg. “It’s contagious. I got it from you.”
Addy chuckled. “Never a dull moment around y’all. Get ready for a pinch.” She pulled up Stevie’s T-shirt and gave her the shot.
“I hate needles,” Stevie moaned.
“Most people don’t love them.” Cody finished wrapping gauze around her leg to keep the stitches clean—not totally unlike how she had treated Buttercup, only she didn’t have to put stitches in the horse’s leg. “I’ve got a set of crutches in the closet that you can use. They’ll give you stability and keep you from putting too much weight on that leg until it heals. I’ll dress the wound every day, and help you encase it in plastic when you take a shower.”
“No baths for ten days?” she moaned again.
“That’s right, but you can have showers, and I’ve even got a bath chair that you can use,” Cody answered.
“I always thought those were for old people,” Stevie said.
“I loan it to young folks like you who fall through floors,” Cody said on his way to the closet to get the crutches.
Addy cleaned up the mess and tossed the disposable suture materials into the trash. “I’ll help you get that other boot and those jeans off soon as Cody brings the crutches.”
“Thank you, Addy.” She managed a smile. “Seems like I say that at least a dozen times a day.”
“You are welcome a dozen times a day,” Addy said, and nodded.
Cody brought the crutches out, leaned them against the table, picked her up for the second time, and set her feet on the floor. “Ever used these before?”
Stevie shook her head. “But I guess I’m about to learn.” She crooked her leg back at the knee and started across the room.
“Doin’ good,” Cody encouraged.
“My work is done here, so I’m going back to the house to check on Pearl and the twins,” Addy said. “Call me if you need anything at all, and I’ll have Mia bring supper to y’all tonight so you don’t have to get out again once you get back from Raymond’s place.”
“We’ve still got leftovers in the fridge,” Cody said.
“But I heard something about beans and fried potatoes, didn’t I?” Stevie asked. “Family meals are a bit of a treasure when you live alone. I seldom ever get beans, and I love fried potatoes.”
“I’ll send Mia down here with enough for both of you. I understand about family meals. When Mia and I lived alone, making dinner for two was a chore. There’s no way to just make a little pot of beans.” Addy followed her into the bedroom and closed the door.
Stevie unfastened her jeans but had to have help getting them off. No more skinny jeans—at least not for ten days. “I’d better wear those cargo pants with the elastic waistband,” she said.
“These?” Addy pulled them out of the closet and held them up.
“Yep,” Stevie said, and nodded. “I haven’t worn them in years, but I’m glad I saved them.”
Addy helped her into them and said, “Just holler when you get ready for a shower. Either Mia or I will come help you. And before you say thank you, this is what sisters and nieces are for, even if they’re pseudo-kinfolks.”
“I’ll repay you someday.” Stevie pulled up the wide-legged pants.
“You already have,” Addy said.
Stevie cocked her head to one side. “How do you figure that?”
“You’re making Cody come alive again. Something happened just before he came home that bothers him, but he won’t talk about it. You are helping him deal with whatever it is. Jesse said that he’s even heard him whistling a time or two since he rescued y’all from Max’s place.” Addy waved over her shoulder and left the room without closing the door that time.
* * *
Cody was amazed at Stevie’s determination and dedication, not to mention her sheer strength when they reached Raymond’s place. She had mastered the crutches, and when she got to the barn where the horse was, she asked him to set a milking stool beside the horse for her to sit on. Other than that, she wouldn’t let him do anything for her but hold her crutches. She sat on the stool, with her injured leg straight out, and talked to the horse the entire time she unwrapped the old bandage, treated the wound, and then rewrapped it.
“I heard she had a mishap this morning at her house when the floor gave way,” Raymond said. “Most women would be laid up and whining after nearly tearin’ her leg off.”
“Yep, she is strong, but she’s also bossy and stubborn as an old mule,” Cody answered.
“I can hear you, and don’t be calling me old, not when you’re older than me, Cody Ryan,” Stevie told him.
“I see what you mean,” Raymond chuckled.
She finished up the job, stood up, and reached for her crutches. Then she took a carrot from one of the pockets of her cargo pants. “There you go, Buttercup. You were a good girl. In another week, you’ll be running wild again. Only, from now on, I want you to watch where you’re stepping.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Raymond said. “I’ve had my grandkids go over every inch of this place, and they didn’t find any more stray barbed wire. I think what happened is the blizzard blew it up here from somewhere else, and she got her leg tangled up in it.”
“You’re probably right,” Stevie said. “I’ll be back on Thursday to take care of her again.” She turned back to the horse. “And next time I’ll bring you a nice ripe apple.”
“I reckon I could do what you’re doing since you’re wounded yourself,” Raymond told her.
“I’ll be fine by the end of the week and maybe even off these crutches,” she said.
“All right then,” Raymond agreed without an argument. “I’ll feel much better about her if you check her out.”
Cody wanted to pick Stevie up and carry her to the truck, but he respected her pride more than that. He did open the door for her and got her settled into the passenger seat. “Feeling coming back yet?” he asked.
“Oh, yeah,” she told him. “I’m ready for a couple of pain pills, but just the over-the-counter ones, not the prescription kind.”
“And maybe ready to sit on the sofa with your leg propped up on a pillow?” Cody asked as he closed the door and jogged around the vehicle to get into his side of the truck. He started up the engine and glanced over at Stevie. She was pale, and from her expression obviously in pain.
“I’ll be glad to be still and let the pain medicine take effect,” she answered.
“Maybe some chocolate would help,” he suggested with a reassuring smile.
She leaned her head back on the seat and closed her eyes. “It sure couldn’t hurt.”
At the end of the lane, Cody turned out onto the main road. “I forgot to ask what Bobby said about your house.”
“He said it has bone cancer.” Stevie’s voice cracked. “Black mold, termites, dry rot. It’s not worth saving, so I guess the only thing to do is euthanize the place.”
“I’m so sorry, Stevie,” Cody said. “But please know, you’ve got a home at Sunflower Ranch for as long as you want.”
“Before I can have it torn down and put the lot up for sale, I’ve got to pack up everything that’s still usable and store it,” she said with a sigh. “Everything in there has a memory of some kind. I’m not looking forward to doing that job, Cody.”
“In my opinion, you shouldn’t do that right now. For one thing, you don’t need to be in a place like that until your leg heals, and for another, you’ve been through enough this past week without reli
ving every memory. Would you mind if I talk to Mama about getting someone to help you with that?” Cody asked.
“I couldn’t ask Pearl to do that,” Stevie said. “She’s got to take care of Sonny.”
“Mama knows people who would be glad to make a few dollars packing up everything for you,” Cody said. “Remember, she and Dad have lived in this area their entire lives.”
“That would be wonderful,” Stevie agreed.
“Then I’ll take care of that job,” Cody said with a smile. “Now open your eyes.”
“Why, so I can see more of my world falling apart?” she asked.
“No, because when your eyes are closed, all you feel is pain, both emotional and physical. When they’re open, you can focus on things around you and ease that pain,” he answered.
Her eyes popped wide open and she sat up straight. “Did you study psychology as well as medicine?”
“Had to take a few classes in it, and besides, coming from the background I did, psychology interests me,” he answered as he made a turn in to Sunflower Ranch. “We’re almost home. I forgot to tell you that I’m going to drive Dad down to Dallas on Wednesday morning. Mama hates to drive in the city, so she volunteered me to do the job. We won’t be back until Thursday afternoon. He has appointments both days for MRIs, X-rays, and other things. Will you be all right while I’m gone?”
Stevie shook her head slowly.
“You won’t be okay? I can ask Jesse to take him, but the family thought that since I’m a doctor…”
Stevie held up a palm. “I will be fine. If we hadn’t gotten stranded, and if my house hadn’t flooded, I would be living alone and taking care of myself. Sonny needs you, and besides, you will understand what the specialists are saying about him. I just hope that the report is a good one.”
“I really do admire your strength, Stevie, as well as your brains,” Cody said.
“Thanks for that. I don’t feel very strong right now,” she admitted, “but Mama was right, it helps to have friends and family.”
“And to have a Dr. Cowboy in your life?” He parked in front of the bunkhouse and turned off the engine.
She cut her eyes around at him, and almost smiled. “Yes, love…even a Dr. Cowboy in my life.”
Chapter Nineteen
To drive from the bunkhouse to the barn on a bright, sunny day seemed more than a little bit silly, but the ground was still soft from all the melted snow, and crutches would sink with every step.
Cody had kissed her on the forehead at the crack of dawn that morning just before he walked out the door with his duffel bag and briefcase. “See you sometime tomorrow. Addy says to feel free to come up to the ranch house if you get bored.”
“Be safe,” she had said.
Stevie parked the car as close to the tack room door as she could get, and then got out and crutched her way inside. She had planned to go straight to her van and take stock of what was in there since she would be driving it for the first time the next day when she went to check on Raymond’s horse. But her phone rang as she started across the room, so she sat down on the wooden bar stool and leaned her crutches against the worktable.
“Hello, this is Dr. O’Dell,” she answered.
“Oh, Stevie!” Gracie Langston moaned. “My Fifi just had two puppies, and I didn’t even know she was expecting. What do I do? She’s had them in my laundry basket on top of my towels, and they’re all messy.”
“You gently remove the top towel and wash it. Are the new babies nursing?” Stevie asked.
“Yes, they’re fat little things, but how did this happen? I never let her out of the backyard, and I even had it fenced just for her,” Gracie whined.
“Evidently, a male dog dug underneath your fence about two months ago and bred her,” Stevie said. “If you don’t want puppies a couple of times a year, you should have Fifi spayed.”
“I bet it was that evil corgi that lives next door with Eva Taylor. She thinks she’s better than the rest of us here in Honey Grove because her husband was a general in the Army, and they were in England for all those years. I hear she even has tea twice a day and keeps to English traditions.” Gracie’s tone went from a whine to dripping icicles in less than a minute and then back to just above a whimper. “My poor Fifi has to raise half-toy-poodle and half-corgi puppies. They’ll be so ugly that I won’t be able to give them away, and I’ll have to keep them so Fifi won’t be upset with me. Can you come over and be sure that she’s all right?”
“Of course I will. What time is good for you?” Stevie asked.
“I’ve got a hair appointment in thirty minutes and a lunch with the Ladies Auxiliary at the church. Would two o’clock work, and do you think I should leave Fifi that long?” Gracie asked.
“Fifi will be fine, and I’ll come by at two,” Stevie said.
“That’s wonderful,” Gracie sighed. “I’m so sorry to hear about your mother’s house. I heard that you’re living out there at the Sunflower Ranch in the bunkhouse with Cody Ryan. I don’t like to gossip, but…” She hesitated and then went on, “Do you think that’s a good idea? Folks in small towns talk. Not that I would ever say a word, but there’s already rumors going around about you and Cody.”
Stevie rolled her eyes toward the ceiling and tried to keep her voice from betraying the way she really felt about people prying into her business. “I can take care of myself, Miz Gracie, but thank you so much for caring about me.”
“It’s the least I can do since your mother and I were such good friends,” Gracie said. “But if things don’t go well out there, I’ve got a spare bedroom I would be glad to rent to you.”
“Thank you, again. I’ll see you at two,” Stevie said and ended the call. “Like I’d rent a room from her. I’d be crazy as a loon before dark on the first day.” Stevie fumed as she picked up her crutches and headed out to the corral where the alpacas were kept these days. From the back door of the barn, she watched the two crias play for a few minutes, then closed the door and sat down on a bale of hay to pet Dolly and the kittens that had come out to greet her.
Her phone rang again, and the cats all scattered. Stevie pulled the phone from her hip pocket and a wide smile lit up her face when she saw Cody’s name on the screen. “Are you there yet?” she asked.
“Oh, yeah,” he answered. “They took Dad right in for an MRI, so I had a few minutes. Are you at the ranch house?”
“No, I’m in the barn. I’ve got a call out this afternoon,” she answered, and then told him about Fifi’s puppies.
“Those ought to be some weird-looking little dogs,” Cody laughed.
“I’m wondering if Gracie will make Eva pay puppy support because her corgi is the father,” Stevie said with half a giggle.
“Looks like it’s going to be a long day for both of us. Will you text me when you get back to the ranch?” Cody asked. “I still worry about you driving on that leg. Maybe Mia should go with you.”
“Yes, I will,” she answered. “But I can do this on my own, and Mia is helping Jesse today. You just worry about Sonny.”
“He’ll be ready for the hotel room by the end of the day. I’m glad there’s a restaurant attached to the hotel, so he won’t have to get in and out of the truck so much,” Cody said.
“That’s great.” Stevie frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Why would you think something is wrong?” Cody asked.
“I hear it in your voice,” she answered.
“Nothing is wrong, but on the way down here, I got to thinking about that old saying ‘Out of sight, out of mind,’” he told her.
“Am I about to lose my Sonic hamburger on the fourth date?” she teased, but tears welled up behind her eyelashes.
“Not at all. I know it sounds crazy, but I miss you,” Cody answered. “We don’t see each other for hours most days, but knowing we are this far apart…” He paused so long that she checked her phone screen to be sure she hadn’t lost service. “Well, that saying is bogus, Stevie. You are certainly
not out of my mind.”
“I’m glad,” she said, and finally smiled.
“Here they are, bringing Dad out in a wheelchair,” Cody said. “Now we go across town for the next appointment. Talk to you later.”
“Be looking forward to it.” Stevie ended the call.
She went to the van, tossed her crutches across the back seats, and slid the side door open. Things were in such a jumble that it took her all morning to get everything back into order. When she was done, she got out, eased the door shut, hobbled over to the big barn door, and pushed it open.
A limp was to be expected, but she wasn’t doing too bad, so when she got back to the van, she put the crutches behind the seats and drove out of the barn. That done, she ignored the crutches and went back to close the door.
“The horse, Buttercup, didn’t get crutches,” she muttered, “and I’m as strong as she is.”
Stevie drove into town, stopped at the diner and had a plate of nachos for lunch, and still had an hour to kill before her appointment with Fifi, so she went home—to the house where she had grown up. She parked in the driveway, got out of the van, and left the crutches behind again. The house was coming down. There was no doubt about that, but she wanted to spend just a little more time inside to say goodbye.
When she had unlocked the door, she turned the knob and pushed, but it wouldn’t budge. She had to get really tough with it but finally got it to open. Maybe that was an omen, she thought, something trying to tell her that she shouldn’t tempt fate by going inside again.
“I won’t stomp on the floor, and I will be careful,” she muttered as she gingerly stepped over the threshold.
The house was as cold as death, and the musty smell was even worse than it had been when she and Bobby had checked out the floor and drywall. “You really have died, haven’t you?” she said as she wandered back to her mother’s bedroom.
She was glad that she had taken all her mother’s clothing to a women’s shelter right before Christmas. There was no way she could have ever let strangers come into the house and go through her mother’s dresser drawers. But she was glad, too, that Pearl was going to get women she knew to come in and pack the kitchen stuff as well as what was salvageable out of the garage.
Texas Homecoming Page 20