Chapter 26
Hope was coming from her apartment when she saw Kade and Mark ride into the ranch yard. She craned her neck, seeing a boy hanging on to Kade’s middle. A look of fear and dread was on his face. Then she raised her eyes to the man that occupied more of her thoughts than she wanted.
Blood from the saturated bandana trickled down his cheek, and his face was pale, drawn, and full of pain.
“Kade,” she gasped, running toward him. “You’re hurt. What happened?”
“It’s not as bad as it looks, Hope.” He swallowed hard, mentally willing himself to remain upright. “Get Declan. I’m a bit woozy.” And with that, he toppled from his horse.
Mark ran to the crumpled man. “Hurry, Hope. He needs a doctor. The cut’s deep, and he’s lost quite a bit of blood.”
Jesse sat frozen, forgotten on the horse’s back. He’d killed the tall man. Now for sure he’d be turned over to his stepdad, probably go to prison, too. He clutched the rim of the saddle, thoughts racing through his head.
Minutes later a door slammed, and a man followed by an elderly lady came running.
Declan knelt down by Kade and gently removed the bandana. The gaping wound bled freely.
Gran pushed him aside. “Declan, load him into the back seat of my car and get him to the hospital. Hope, you go with him. I’ll stay here with Maddy.” Gran barked the orders. Then she noticed the boy rigid on Xanthous’s back.
“Who do we have here?” she asked kindly.
“The one responsible for all this,” Mark growled.
“Well, we’ll deal with that later. Get down from that horse, young man.”
“How?” a weak voice asked.
Gran frowned, then smiled recognizing his apprehension. “Mark would you help him?”
“I will,” Declan cut in, popping to his feet. Before Jesse could blink, he found himself standing alongside the horse, seeing only Declan’s back as he raced toward the building next to the barn.
Hope had disappeared and returned with a large quilt that she tucked around Kade’s inert body. Tears filled her eyes.
With efficient movements, Kade was tenderly lifted and laid on the car seat. Hope squeezed in beside him.
“I’ll call as soon as I can, Gran,” Declan promised as he gunned the car out of the drive.
Gran braced herself with one hand against the surprised boy’s shoulder and felt him wince. “He’ll be fine,” she whispered, more to reassure herself. “He’ll be fine.”
“I didn’t mean to do it, Ma’am,” Jesse said in a quivery voice. “I’ll just be leaving now,” and he shrugged free of Gran’s hand.
“You hold on right there,” Mark ordered. “Ida, he’s the one setting the campfires. Kade’ll want him here when he returns.” Mark paused, then added. “He’s hungry. Been on the run with no food. Kade said you’d feed him.”
“Of course, I will.”
“Thank you, Ma’am. I’ll eat, and then I’ll be on my way. I won’t build anymore campfires on your land. I promise.”
“I’m sure you won’t . . .” she paused.
“Jesse, Ma’am,” he filled in.
“And I’m Gran or Ida, not Ma’am,” she said patting him on the back. Jesse flinched again. “How’s bacon, eggs, fried potatoes, and pancakes sound?”
“Like I’m dreaming, Ma’am, uh, Miz Ida. Don’t want to put you to no trouble though.”
“Jesse, feeding a growing boy is no trouble. It’s pleasure.” She started toward the big house, guiding Jesse with her hand resting gently on his shoulder. This child/man had been beaten, there was no doubt in her mind. And as sure as her name was Ida McKune, she’d get to the bottom of it.
“Mark,” Gran called, looking over her shoulder, “you coming? I expect you wouldn’t turn down a late breakfast either.”
“That roast beef sandwich ran out hours ago. Kade didn’t want to take time for breakfast, so my stomach’s touching my spine. I’ll take care of the horses first.” Then he frowned.
“Jesse, you cause any trouble for this lady, and you’ll answer to me. Get leaving outta your head. You aren’t doing anything without Kade’s say so. Got it?”
Jesse nodded.
“He’ll be fine, Mark. We’ll be fixing breakfast and waiting for the phone to ring.” Gran’s voice trembled, betraying her worry over the man she loved like a son
~ ~ ~
“Forget it,” a voice bellowed from behind the pulled privacy curtains. “I’m not spending the night in a hospital for a small cut.”
Hope stopped pacing, a smile creeping across her face. Kade sounded strong, at least his bellow was. She glanced over at Declan, meeting his broad grin.
“Sounds like our boy’s giving them hell.”
“Music to my ears,” Hope murmured.
Declan cut her a close look. “Hope?”
“Yes?”
“Be careful.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just that. Be careful. Kade’s got a barrier around him that is inches thick. He needs someone, but that someone stands a good chance of getting hurt in the process.”
Hope looked away, not daring to meet Declan’s penetrating gaze.
“I’m not that someone, Declan.” Sadly, she shook her head. “Kade wouldn’t want someone like me.”
“Don’t be too sure. I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”
“You’re wrong. Kade wants, no, demands, perfection, and I’m far from perfect.”
They paused as they both turned their heads toward the commotion coming from the emergency room cubicle.
“If you ever need someone . . .” Declan said softly.
“I’ll remember. Thank you,” Hope said.
“Kade, dammit, you might have a concussion. I want to admit you for observation.”
Kade, his face as white as the bandage covering his forehead, burst from the room, the doctor two steps behind him.
“Declan,” the doctor said, spying the man moving toward Kade, “talk some sense into him. I know he’s hard headed, but that rock was harder.”
Declan put a steadying hand on Kade’s shoulder.
“Easy there, Bro. Better do as the doc says.”
“Like hell.” He gave Hope a bleary look. “You up to doing some nursing?”
Hope gulped. She’d spent the last few weeks trying to avoid him. Trying to not let him see how his nearness affected her. All she had to do was hear his voice, and her stomach clenched.
“Kade,” the doctor admonished, “you need to be closely monitored. I’d want you checked every two hours for the next twenty-four. I don’t need to remind you that you were unconscious when they wheeled you in on the gurney.”
Kade flinched. “We’ll forget about that,” he growled.
“No, we won’t,” the doctor persisted.
“Doc,” Declan interrupted, “you’re fighting a losing battle. Best thing to do is tell us what needs done, and we’ll get this big bear outta here.”
The doctor shrugged in defeat, turning to Hope. “I guess I’m outnumbered here. I’ll echo Kade’s question. Are you up to doing some nursing?”
Kade’s eyes never left her face. “I, uh,” Hope cleared her throat, “just tell me what to do. Of course, I’ll do my best, Kade,” she gave the watching man a tremulous smile.
“Counting on it,” Kade said softly. He licked his dry lips and, for a minute, closed his eyes, fighting the blackness threatening to overtake him.
“Get him a chair,” the doctor barked.
Declan guided Kade to the wheelchair, and moving the nurse aside, took hold of the handles. “Fill Hope in, Doc. I’ll get Kade settled.”
Once outside, Kade reached up and gripped Declan’s arm. “Thanks Little Brother. For a minute there . . .”
“Yeah, I know. But don’t think I’m giving you a ‘get out of jail free’ card. You’ll do everything the doc tells Hope. For the next few days, she’s the new sheriff in town.”