“Be good eating on him. Dawn isn’t feeding them, is she? She’s not big enough.”
“Frank is there right now. He has experience.”
He slumped, suddenly exhausted. “Thank God.”
“Yeah. Bonner was doing okay, but the guys are doing good.”
“Thank y’all. Seriously.” He leaned back into the pillows.
“Hey, you would do it for us.”
“Of course. And you’d tell me I didn’t have to. Them’s the rules.”
“Yessir.” Win chuckled. “Let me text your man, see where he is.”
“Yeah. Yeah, I’m going to close my eyes for half a minute.”
“Want a pillow?” Win got up to put a pillow behind his head, but he noticed the man didn’t lower his bed.
It was probably best. He needed to start pushing. He had a ranch to run.
Kids to raise.
A lover who needed him.
A life that he wanted back.
21
Law felt almost human when he walked back into Seth’s hospital room. Sleep, food, two showers… Yay.
Seth looked not so yay, sleeping sitting up, still gray as oatmeal.
His eyes opened as soon as Law walked in, though, and Law got a smile. “Hey, you. How goes?”
“Better now I see you sitting up.” That was true enough.
“I’m looking like a million bucks, hmm?”
Law chuckled. “You look like hell.”
“Fuck off, asshole.” Was that a laugh?
“God, I miss you, baby.” He pulled up the chair Win had recently vacated.
“Yeah. I want to come home. I’ve been working hard at getting better today. I been breathing lots.”
“Have you? When do you start blowing up balloons?”
“Soon. As soon as I get to come home.” Seth arched carefully, trying to stretch.
“So breathing treatment? Win sit with you?”
“Uh-huh. He told me to cowboy up and get to work. I was letting myself get tired.”
“Is it working?” It had to be. Seth was sitting up.
“I’m awake. I’m here. And I want to come home.” Seth looked him up and down.
“I want that too, as long as you’re not gonna relapse.” No infections.
“Yeah, can you relapse from a bison beating?”
“You can from a collapsed lung, butthead.” Law chuckled, then grabbed Seth’s hand.
Seth held on tight, the strength in that hand making him grin. Such a cowboy. A fighter.
“How’s your leg, honey?”
“Better. Stretching out and then two hot showers did wonders.”
“Good. I want you to get enough rest. I worry.”
“That makes two of us. You want something to eat?” Law wanted Seth to start eating.
“I’m not hungry. I want to be, though, you know?”
“I know.” He remembered that sensation well. “I’ll get you some broth. No arguing. The only thing that makes it better is eating.”
“Can it be some chicken soup, maybe?”
“Hell, yes.” He knew it could be. The nurses would be ecstatic.
“Cool. I’d like that.”
His cowboy was getting better. Fucking A. The worry that he was going to lose Seth dissipated. He knew that look. Seth was better.
Now he knew he had to do tough love, get Seth up and moving.
First, though? Eating. Seth was tiny to begin with. Now the man was gaunt.
“Let me order you some soup.” He got the menu and ordered up chicken soup, juice, and a roll.
“Thank you. I’m ready for this tube to get out of my prick, babe. I want to come home.”
“God, yes. On both counts.” He’d ordered himself a tuna sandwich and some fries too. God, he wanted to cook for the kids.
“I want to sleep in our bed. Take a shower. Listen to the kids tell me about their days.”
“I want to hold you all night.” Law ached for it.
“Yeah. As soon as I can poop and prove I can get myself out of bed. I’m shooting for tomorrow.”
“Don’t overdo it, but I’m willing to help.” He knew how demoralizing it was to lie in that hospital bed. Law would see what the doc said, though.
“Yeah. It’s time. I need to be where I belong, with my family.”
“You do.” He squeezed that hand he held. “I love you.”
“Thank God for that.” The squeeze back was solid, strong. “The kids are all okay? They’re holding together?”
“They are. Wiley wants to drive up here every day. I keep reminding him of ditches.”
“And college and band practice.”
“That too.” Law chuckled. “He’s really been great.”
“Dawn’s staying away from the bison?”
“The guys are really strict about it, yeah. I swear, your buddies have been a lifeline.” Javier had left, but Frank and Ollie had been able to stay on.
“Win and Horse want to stay for the holidays. I think they’re bored.”
Talk about an odd couple. Good Lord and butter. Law just nodded, though. “I would be happy to have them. They’re solid as a rock.”
“Have been for a long time.” Oh, there was a story there, Law could tell.
He looked forward to sitting and jawing with those two. Mainly he’d seen them in passing.
The food came, and Law got Seth all setup to eat, knowing it would take most of his energy.
Seth managed pretty well, honestly, eating damn near half the soup before slowing down. God, it was fine to see. Law smiled, taking the bowl when Seth started to droop. “Want to stay sitting up? Seems to be working for you.”
“Yeah. Yeah, got to fill these lungs up to the bottom, right?” Seth swayed a little, resting back into the pillows. “We ought to make our Thanksgiving menu while we’re sitting.”
“We should. I have my phone.” Menu. It wasn’t like he was cooking during his years in service, and when he was CONUS, his dad had never done up Thanksgiving… “You just tell me what all everyone likes.”
“Well, we’ll need a turkey and a ham. Dressing, gravy, rolls. Taters and cranberry goo. We’ll need pies. Pea salad for Wiley, a cheese ball for Dawnie. Bethany likes sweet potato casserole, Keira loves cranberry salad, and Jordan always wants grape jelly meatballs.” Seth was the best father he’d ever met.
“What’s your favorite?” His thumbs flew, making a list.
“My mom used to make this layer salad with eggs and bacon and shit. I love it, when I can get it.” Seth lit up a little. “It’s got olives. I fucking love olives.”
“Oh, God. The one with peas and mayo and tomatoes in red wine vinegar dressing?” His stepmom had that recipe. “I love that.”
“Yes! There’s cheese and all? I love that. I’d like that a lot.”
“We’ll put it on the list.” He would start making actual grocery lists after the brainstorm. “Pies. Pumpkin?”
“Uh-huh. Pecan too. Something with fruit—apple? There’ll be a mess to feed. Seven of us. Bonner. The four guys.”
“I make a mean caramel apple or cherry. Chocolate too.” Cooking had really become a passion. Law was surprised how he loved it.
“You make it, they’ll eat it.” Seth grinned at him. “You know about making dressing? I know Momma used to make cornbread the day before and there was lots of worrying.”
“I know what Mom did, what my stepmom does. Onions, celery. Stock. We can do it.”
“Cool. I’m ready. We’ll Thanksgiving and decorate the house. I have to get better, because Christmas pageants and parades and concerts and recitals start soon.”
“Yep. The kids need you.” Law shook his head. “I need you. Been so worried, baby.”
“Yeah, rodeo life is a bitch.”
Law glanced at Seth. “You’re not riding the rodeo anymore, baby.”
“I know. I meant ranch life.”
He frowned a little. Seth had to be tired. That was all. He needed to let his lover have
a nap.
“You have to admit, this feels a little like being throwed, huh?”
“Yeah. You thought that when you got hurt too. The doc says your head is okay, though.” He winked, sharing the joke.
“My head’s always been harder than granite, hasn’t it? It’s my damn bones keep breaking.”
That was what happened when a guy who weighed a buck and a quarter—who had weighed that—played with two-thousand-pound animals.
“Tiny and birdlike, that’s you,” Law teased. “Trust me, bones break even when you’re my size.”
“I bet they do, and yours take more time, Gigantor.”
“They sure seemed to take forever.” Some days he wondered if he would ever feel healed, but Law knew he was damn lucky to be alive. He’d been waiting for Seth.
“I want to touch you.” The words surprised him, made him flush. “I want to be able to massage you, make you feel human again. Shit, I want to climb you like a jungle gym and get off.”
His breath caught in his chest. Seth must be feeling better. “Lord, yes. I want that too. I want you back in our bed, where you belong, baby.”
“Now is fine for me.”
Oh, thank God. As much as “cranky, wanting out of the hospital” Seth was going to suck, it was better than his cowboy not trying. No, this new-and-improved Seth was so much more hopeful.
Seth sighed, then settled back a little. “Guess I might nap. I have another breathing treatment this afternoon.”
“You want me to go?”
“No. I love Win and them to death, but you’re my lover.”
“I am.” He beamed. “I got a book down at the gift shop. I’ll read some.”
“Yeah? What you readin’?” Seth was slurring now, almost asleep.
“Uh. The newest Longmire mystery.” Law’s grin went wry. “They didn’t have any military suspense.”
“Cool. Liked the last one. You’re good at reading aloud.”
“Yeah? Want me to read to you a bit?” That would ease Seth to sleep.
“Uh-huh. Please, love.” Seth smiled at him. “Going home tomorrow.”
“That’s it.” They both knew it was bullshit, but Seth was one step closer. That was the important thing.
The rest would work itself out.
22
“Doc, you’re a nice man and all, but if you keep me in here another day, I’m going to stroke out. Clear? I have kids at home. Five of them. Kids. And it’s fixin’ to be my twins’ birthday day after tomorrow.” Seth was going to be home for that. No question.
“Well, you have been making progress, Seth, but I have to admit, infection is still an issue, and you live on a ranch. With kids. Who go to school and bring home all sorts of stuff.” The doc was smiling a little. The bargaining period had begun.
“Uh-huh. We all know that. I’ll wear a mask if the babies so much as sniffle, but I’m going home to be at that party. They’re fixin’ to be seven. Keira wants a ballerina-themed cake, and Jordan wants a Legoland one.”
“Aw. Mine just turned twelve. She had a Marvel cake with all the heroes on it. She got a pellet gun.” Dr. Stevens rolled his eyes. “Okay, look. If you make appointments before you leave to do your checkups and breathing treatments, we can talk turkey about discharging you in the morning.”
“I can do that. There’s a home health nurse that can help with them. She’s a trouper.” Emma was one hell of a lady and was married to the vet, so he saw her a lot.
“It’s good to see you’ve thought about this.” The doc looked up when Law walked in holding two coffee cups. “Ah, the voice of reason. We’re talking about Seth going home tomorrow.”
“No shit?” Law chuckled. “Sorry, Doc. Popped out. That would be amazing.”
“It will be.” He was going home.
“Yes, but I need home health in, I need appointments made, and I need your assurance that there will be no lifting or riding buffalo or hauling wood or anything to disturb either ribs or lungs or collarbone until Mr. Rodgers here is cleared.”
“If I have to hog-tie him, I will.” Law gave him a look. The soldier was learning to cowboy up.
“So long as you do it gently, I don’t give a shit.”
“You got it.” Law bounced a little, then glanced down at the coffees. “Oops. That’s awesome.” Those blue eyes gleamed at him.
“Yeah. I’m ready.” He couldn’t get any better here. He needed his family.
“Just have a little patience with everyone who will want a piece of you today.” The doc rose. “I’ll put in all the orders.”
“Maybe I can go home tonight, then? One night’s not going to make a difference, right?”
“Nope. I want one more night of vitals, and you still need to prove to me you can walk all the way around the ward with your therapist.”
“I’ll do it.”
“Is he always this stubborn?” the doc asked Law.
“Yep. It’s a thing of beauty.”
“It’s a thing, for sure.” The doctor rolled his eyes, and Seth tossed a wadded up napkin at him.
“One more night,” the doc said. “Be good and I’ll get you out right at shift change in the a.m.”
“I can do that. Seriously.” One more night. “I can’t wait to surprise the kids.”
“Me too.” Law sat down, just grinning, but the lines around his mouth were deep today. Those damn hospital chairs were hard.
“Why don’t you go home? Rest? Win can bring me home, or I can drive…”
“No, sir.” Law’s jaw firmed. “I get to bring you home. Me. Got it?”
“You, huh?” That lit a little fire he hadn’t expected to feel at all yet. “If you say.”
“Yep. I do say.” Law nodded like that was that, and he reckoned it was. “The twins will be over the moon. We can pick up their cakes on the way home.”
“Ballerinas and Lego, right? Did Wiley take the others to get their presents?”
“Yeah. They went to the stores on Saturday.”
“I’m sorry I missed it.” He’d missed too much already.
“I got you some stuff for them, but yeah. It was tough to convince them to stay with me. I had to watch Swan Lake and The Lego Movie.”
“Oh man. You rock. Seriously. Is Keira ready for her Nutcracker performance at the fair?”
“Mostly? She’s been pouting a little at practice apparently, as neither one of us is there, but her teacher says she’s prepared. Just a little lackluster.” Law sighed. “We’ll cheer her up.”
“We will. They all need normal back.”
“So do we. I feel like we were fixin’ to get it.” Law started picking up little things and zipping them into his kit bag.
“We were. It’ll come back fast.” He needed to get home, get back on the horse, so to speak.
“I know. But you need to heal. Promise me you won’t rush it.” Law looked him right in the eye, waiting.
“You’re asking a lot. I need to come home, help. Be real again.”
“But you can do it for a few weeks without heavy lifting.” Law leaned forward to touch him, those eyes so damn blue. “I know what it’s like to rush it. I ended up in the hospital an extra three weeks because I fell trying to use my walker.”
Yeah, he wasn’t going to win this fight, was he? “I won’t do anything to have to come back. I want to be home with y’all. Swear to God.”
“Thank you.” Law stood to bend and kiss him, then hissed. “Doesn’t help that I am sore as a boil today.”
“You want to come sit on the bed?”
“Do you mind, baby? I would love that.” Law eased up while he scooted over to make space.
He leaned in to Law, humming with the heat of another body—his lover’s body—close.
“You’re warm, but not burning up, so that’s fine.”
“You smell so good. Seriously. I miss you.”
“I want you back in my arms,” Law admitted. “It’s like I found you and then whoosh.”
“Yeah. Ye
ah, I hear you. This sucks.”
“It does.” Law leaned their cheeks together a little.
He dared to turn his head, begging a quiet little kiss. Law gave it to him, lips clinging gently to his.
Oh, that was something else. He melted into the kisses, letting Law’s warmth soothe him.
He had to break away too soon to catch his breath, but it was worth it. “Soon, we’ll be able to explore a little, hmm? Take it slow.”
“Yeah. Yeah. We’ll be gentle.”
“I want to ride you like a prize pony, suck you off, but I’m not quite there yet.”
“Mmm.” Law’s low moan sounded so sweet. “I’ll jack off for you tomorrow night.”
“Mmm… promise?” He could watch that for days.
“I do.” Law would hold to it. The man didn’t give his word lightly.
“Tomorrow. In our bed. Tomorrow.”
“I swear it. Rest a little now. You have a treatment soon.”
“You’ll stay, hmm?” He snuggled right in with a sigh.
“I will.” Law held him so gently, but he felt that big body relaxing too.
That was all he needed. Just this and the promise of tomorrow.
23
Law tried not to snarl at anyone.
Win and Horse were there to help pack him and Seth home, and Seth was ready and waiting. And waiting.
This was always the worst part.
The IV was out, but they couldn’t give Seth any pain pills until they were on the move, and his lover was being pissy.
“Come on, y’all,” Seth said for about the fifth time.
“Now, you know they never mean it when they give you a time,” Win soothed.
“I know. I’m just… I want to be home before the kids get home from school. I want to get in and settled.”
“It ain’t that far,” Horse said drily. “It’s 9:00 a.m.”
Law bit back a smile. The doc had said shift change, and to Seth that meant seven. Hell, Law knew that could mean noon by the time the nurses made all their rounds.
Seth stuck out his tongue at Horse, and Win hooted. “You keep that thing away from my man.”
“Nope, that’s mine.” Law winked at the other men, and Win applauded.
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