He huffed out a sigh. “She seemed excited. The doctor has an experimental treatment he says has had promising results.” My brother didn’t bother to hide his skepticism.
“If she’s happy, that counts a lot.”
“I just don’t want some witch doctor getting her hopes up.”
An ambulance wailed as it pulled into the hospital drive. I waited until it was silent before continuing the conversation. “What if it works?”
“Then I might start believing in miracles.” After another pause, he said, “Hey, I’ve got some good news. The money you put in their account is still there.”
“I guess. It may disappear tomorrow, though.”
“I take it you won’t be home tonight either.” Something struck me as odd that my brother referred to the hotel as home. I liked spending time with him, but our living arrangement wasn’t permanent. Mulaney was my home.
“I’m not sure when I’ll be back, but keep me in the loop.”
We’d barely hung up when I received a text message. It was a photo of Mulaney, two men, and another woman walking. Mulaney led the other three, and I couldn’t get a read on any of their expressions, though they didn’t appear to be speaking.
Rodrigo is on the left. Damon is on the right. Gia is the other woman. All whores.
I bristled at my brother’s text. They were people, and what they chose to do was their own business. What Mulaney did with them . . . I darkened the screen and ignored the flare of jealousy that licked through me. It couldn’t mean what Drew was suggesting. Surely not. She wasn’t a liar.
Chapter Forty
Mulaney
“Have you seen that Green boy?”
I hated even asking the question, but having Bryce as part of a past that had shaped my life, I had to make sure my niece wasn’t affected the same way I was. The rejection had made me stronger, though my personal relationships with the opposite sex had suffered. It took Easton to make me see not all men would lie and cheat.
I passed Leona a cup of hot chocolate and picked up my coffee.
“Yes.”
Although her response was almost a whisper I nearly dropped the Styrofoam, some of the hot liquid splashing on my hand. “Shit.” I shook my hand off and blew on where I’d been burned. “What the hell do you mean yes?”
We sat at an empty table in the hospital cafeteria. To her credit, she didn’t shy away.
“He came by the ranch.”
I should’ve been there for that. Not that Leona couldn’t handle him, but my need to protect her was strong.
“That’s all you’re going to say about it?”
“You look like you might turn over the table, so I wasn’t sure if I should go on.”
Sassy britches. I’d take that any day over the sad girl she’d been at Christmas.
“Did he apologize?” I hoped like hell that boy was more of a man than his father.
She nodded. “A lot. He said he really liked me, and even though he was trying to make his dad happy, he’s really missed me. He understands he shouldn’t have listened to his father.”
That was progress, but I couldn’t stop myself from asking, “Do you believe him?”
Uncertainty creased her face. “I’m not sure if he’s telling the truth or if I believe him because it’s what I want to hear.”
I cupped my coffee with both hands and stared into it so she didn’t see the surprise on my face. At her age, I didn’t have the sense God gave a gnat. Hell, I still didn’t sometimes.
“I wish I had the answer on how to figure this out but that’s something you’ll have to work out on your own.” I looked across the table at her. “You know you might get burned again, right?”
“I don’t want to be that person who holds a grudge forever.”
I squinted at her. She couldn’t possibly know how close to home her statement was. “You take after my daddy.”
“I talked to him about it.” She sipped her hot chocolate, while I nearly choked.
“You told him?” This girl had more courage than anyone in our family. It took guts to talk to my father about guys, even though it was a great choice.
“Not everything,” Leona said, appalled. “Just that Luke had hurt me, and I asked what I should do.”
I placed a hand over my chest. “Damn it. For a minute there, I thought—good Lord, if Daddy knew, he’d have buried both of the Greens.” Just Bryce would’ve been fine by me.
“He told me guys are boneheads and to take it slow, see if he’s for real.” A secretive smile turned up her lips. “And . . . if Luke hurts me again, he’s got his .22 and a shovel ready.”
I snickered. That sounded like my daddy. “He’ll have to get in line.”
Her expression turned serious. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if it weren’t for you.”
“You don’t ever have to find out.” I leaned forward and covered her hand with mine. “It took guts to talk to me, maybe even more to talk to Daddy, and the fact you’re trying to forgive that little SOB? You’re already a hell of a woman.”
If only I’d had her maturity, I wouldn’t have been so screwed up in my own feelings. Leona had taught me a lot.
“I don’t want to be stupid,” she whispered.
“Then only do what you’re comfortable with, whether it’s friendship or whatever. If he’s serious, he’ll stick around. If he’s not, you’ll know you did your best and how it turns out is on him.”
Her nose turned red and her eyes glassed over, but she quickly collected herself.
“What about you and Mr. Carter?”
I glanced at the red ribbon still on my left hand. “I spit in the face of my fear.”
“Why didn’t you tell us you were married? I like him.”
“What your granddaddy said about boneheaded guys applies to grown women too.”
That earned me a smile.
“You aren’t going to divorce him, are you?”
I winced. “He probably should leave me, but I think we’re going to try to work things out. Hopefully, he’s got your outlook on forgiveness.”
“Tell him you’re sorry.”
I blinked at her. My niece blew me away with her wisdom once again. “That’s as good a place to start as any.”
* * *
Four days. That’s how long nobody let me see Ruby. In that time, I didn’t leave the hospital once. She was fine there, but I couldn’t bring myself to go in case she needed me. None of us left, except to get something to eat. The hospital had extended the VIP treatment because of Stone and given us an empty room with a couple beds. We took turns resting, but I hadn’t gotten much sleep. I’d completely abandoned business, letting Easton handle everything as best he could from the hospital. His unwavering support gave me strength and made me appreciate what I’d almost lost for good.
Ruby finally left ICU when she was fully awake, and all signs so far pointed to a full recovery. The doctor insisted she take it easy, but she was going to be okay. I’d understood the reason for minimal stimuli to allow her brain to heal, but it hadn’t been easy to rely on updates without seeing her. The minute she was in a regular room, I needed to lay eyes on her for myself.
“You given up bathin’, child?” she asked as I barged into her room and plunked down in the chair beside her bed.
“Temporarily.”
Ruby sniffed twice. “You smell worse than horseshit,” she said.
“That’s your damn fault. If you wouldn’t go around scaring me, I might be able to take a shower.”
I reached for her hand, and she wrapped her fingers around mine.
“Good thing you and that husband of yours are on the outs. If he got a whiff of you, he’d never come back. And you look like horseshit too,” she added grumpily.
I stifled a smile. “You don’t look so hot either. That gown doesn’t do a thing for your complexion.”
She gazed at the pale gray gown in disgust. “The doctor said y’all couldn’t sass me or stress me out.” She
tapped her index finger on the bed. “While I’ve been cooped up here, I’ve been thinkin’ about how we’re going to knock some sense into you and that boy. We need—”
“Don’t you go meddlin’ in my affairs, woman. My husband is here, and I don’t need you runnin’ him off,” I said.
“Why the hell am I just now finding out about this?”
“I almost got kicked out of here for coming into your room. You were taking a snooze so I couldn’t tell you, though Easton wasn’t here then. Damn nurses are like wardens.”
“Tell me about it. I tried to get the boot. Nothin’ worked.” I felt sure she had. “They said anything to y’all about when I might be able to get out of here?”
“Not yet.”
Ruby made her displeasure evident with an annoyed sound before she tilted her head toward me. “So is Easton here for me or for you?”
Damn mischievous woman. “Both of us, but mostly me.”
“Well,” she harrumphed, “I find that hard to believe.”
“Me too.” Her coloring was better than it had been the last time I’d seen her, her cheeks a pale shade of rose. “Ruby, you can’t leave me.”
Her eyes softened at the desperation in my tone, wrinkled fingers clasping mine. “When you’re my age, you’ve got to make peace with the fact that your days are numbered on this earth. That’s why your granddaddy and I live our lives to the fullest. When the good Lord calls me home, I’ll be ready. It’s going to happen on His time anyway.”
“He can’t have you. Not yet.” A few tears dripped from my eyes, and she wiped them away.
“Oh, Mulaney. You have been one of the greatest blessings of my life. Even when I’m gone, I’ll be right with you. Somebody’s got to watch over you, and that somebody has always been me,” she said stubbornly. A choked laugh escaped me.
We were quiet for a minute, the room dark save for the sun peeking around the cracks in the closed blinds. The doctor had insisted on as little light as possible to minimize brain stimulation. Her brain needed to rest so she could recover fully.
“You went to all this trouble so you could be waited on hand and foot,” I accused playfully, breaking the serious mood.
Ruby winked at me. “I’m gonna get me one of those bells to ring when I need something.”
I groaned. “Easton and I were going to stay with you and Granddaddy, but forget that. I’ll go deaf from hearing that damn thing ringing all the time.”
“You think we want some newlyweds stayin’ with us? I’ll wish I was deaf.”
“Believe me, I know. I’ve been living with some.” When Ruby’s gaze met mine with my reference to Stone and Muriella we burst into laughter. “But you can’t say no to me. I’m your favorite grandchild,” I pointed out.
“Who put that crazy notion in your head?”
“It’s a fact. No need to admit it.”
“Stone is my favorite, and everyone knows it,” she said matter-of-factly, and I snorted in disapproval.
“He came along and ruined everything,” I pouted. “Not just for me, but for Mitch too. Until Stone was born, Mitch was my favorite brother.”
“Hmm, I never really liked him all that much.” Ruby cocked her head as if puzzled and then we were laughing again.
The doctor entered the room, scanning his chart, his expression serious. “Mrs. Jacobs, how are you feeling today?”
“Like I should be on my way home.”
I held back a snicker.
“Then I’m happy to report I see no reason why you shouldn’t be able to do that tomorrow.”
“First thing?”
“More like midday.” The doctor was firm, and Ruby’s mouth turned down.
“You just want to make sure I get another helping of this slop y’all call food,” she sassed, and I couldn’t stop my smile then.
“You’ve caught me, Mrs. Jacobs.”
I’d have never guessed this stiff specimen had an ounce of humor in him.
“At least you’re honest.”
After a quick examination, the doctor left, and I gave Ruby a kiss on the forehead. “Did you hear that? You’re bustin’ out of here tomorrow,” I said, unable to contain my excitement.
“I won’t hold my breath. Until I get some fresh air in my lungs, I won’t believe it.”
Chapter Forty-One
Easton
“We’ll drive.”
I held out my hand for the keys to Juliana’s SUV.
Reluctantly, Mitch dropped them into my palm. “Do not let my sister behind the wheel.”
I slapped him on the back. “What are you worried about?”
“You’ve never been upside down in a ditch with her.”
Juliana slipped her arm through her husband’s. “They’ll be fine. Let’s get Miss Ruby home.”
“Y’all better have your shit sorted out by the time you get back to the ranch,” Miss Ruby hollered out the window. She’d decided Mulaney and I would take Juliana’s car back to Burdett alone while everyone else flew. I wasn’t going to tell the woman no and neither did Heartbreaker.
“Think she’s gonna be just fine,” Mitch said. “And Carter”—he pointed at me—“you make my baby sister cry, and I’ll make you cry. Capiche?”
“She has a better right hook than you,” I said, opening the passenger side door.
Mulaney kissed her grandmother and finger waved at her brother before she climbed into the car. “We’ll trade up in a couple hours. I’ll drive the rest of the way to Burdett,” she said loud enough that he could hear.
I closed her in before the argument could escalate. “See y’all at the ranch.”
They got into the car behind us, and I slid into the driver’s seat. Mulaney looked back as the other SUV pulled away.
“You sure you don’t want to fly with them?” I asked as I cranked the engine.
“I’m good. Besides, Ruby would give me a hard time the whole way home for not getting our shit sorted.” She buckled her seatbelt and put on the pair of sunglasses from the dash.
“I thought we pretty much had everything under control.” I maneuvered out of the hospital toward the interstate.
“We do?”
“Yep. Nobody had to ask me twice to get a few hours alone with my wife. Time’s hard to come by.” She gaped at me. “What? It’s taken me months to get you to share a bedroom. That shit stops now. We’re on the bottom bunk when we get back to the city.”
“I kinda like the top,” she protested.
“Fair enough.” I could compromise when necessary.
“If we ever get our own place, is that the setup we’re having in the master?” She sucked her bottom lip in to keep from laughing, and I squeezed her knee.
“Don’t care. I’m just happy you’re thinking about setting up house.”
“I’m sorry.”
My brows lifted. “I beg your pardon?”
“I said I’m sorry. It was wrong to handle everything the way I did.” She swallowed hard. “We got married, and then I was named CEO right after. It looked bad, like I was getting preferential treatment. I got scared because being with you was so different. You made me want things I have no business having, but I wasn’t only afraid of you and how you make me feel. There are things you don’t know about me.”
“That’s the main reason I didn’t push you. I know how much pride you have in your position. I didn’t want to give ammunition to anyone who might try to tear you down.” I paused as she drank in my words. “We’ve got the rest of our lives for you to tell me everything I don’t know.”
She turned her head away as if what I’d said pained her. I squeezed her hand to get her attention back.
“I haven’t even gotten my ring on your finger yet. I’m not going anywhere.” I rubbed my thumb over the red silk she hadn’t taken off.
She folded her arms over her chest and looked out the window. “How can you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Just move on. I’ve flung so much shit at you,
we’re both covered in it, and yet you don’t care.”
“I want to be married to you. I want a little girl that’s as stubborn as you are and a little boy who’s protective like his mama. Besides, it would get kind of boring if you didn’t keep me on my toes.”
She edged away from me. “I don’t remember you ever talking about kids.”
“Mama being sick made me realize I couldn’t keep putting it off. She deserves whatever happiness I can bring her.”
Understanding dawned in her eyes. “It’s admirable you want to give her grandchildren, but that’s not something you should do if it’s not what you want.”
“I do.” I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel. “Tell me that’s not a problem.”
“I’m not mother material,” she said quietly.
“Bullshit.” She jerked her head toward me. “I’ve seen the way you are with Leona and with that wild horse of yours. If anybody’s meant to be a mother, it’s you. I’ve always thought so.”
“You’ve got your head up your ass.”
“Sometimes, maybe, but not when it comes to that.”
“Turn at the next right.”
I slowed the SUV and turned onto the dirt road she’d pointed out. A Carter Energy sign indicated there was property we’d leased this way.
After a mile or so, she pointed to the left and I turned down another dirt drive. The scent of oil filled the car as we approached the working well. I eased to a stop between the storage tank and the pump.
Mulaney opened the door. The creak of the oil pump jack moving up and down was the only sound. She kicked at a rock and then an empty beer can, which sailed across the ground in the wind.
I got out and leaned against the hood of the car, watching as she cursed and stomped around. When she came close, I caught her by the waist. She wriggled in my arms, but I kept her back flush to my front.
“The last few months we’ve been tested, and we made it through.”
She managed to whirl around. “You shouldn’t speak so soon.”
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