Chapter 37
“Declan, go . . .”
“No. I’m not going to ask the nurse another time if there’s been any word. The last time she threatened to kick us out if we bothered her again.”
“Well, damn. Do they know we’re here waiting?”
Mark gave a raw laugh. “They know, Kade. The three of us been buggin’ the hell outta them. ‘Spect there ain’t a person in this hospital don’t know Ida’s family is chompin’ at the bit in the waiting room.”
“Then why don’t they tell us anything?” Kade muttered.
“Said they would the minute they knew something to tell. The nurse said the surgeon would be in to see us shortly.”
“Yeah,” Kade growled, “well, their idea of shortly and mine are two different things.”
“I’m calling home,” Declan announced, reaching for his cell phone.
“Good idea,” Kade said, moving toward the coffee machine. “Anyone want more of this stuff they’re calling coffee?”
“Nope,” both men answered.
“Aw, hell. Me either.” He stuck his hands in his back pockets and strode to the window, looking out at the approaching night.
The enormity of his earlier impulsive actions was settling on his shoulders. With no one to help him, he’d agreed to raising three boys. Declan had his hands full with Maddy and would be moving out as soon as his house was finished. Mark would have more work dumped on him with Kade being pulled every which way. Who knew when Gran would be home? And when she was, it was a sure thing she’d be needing taken care of herself. He shook off the paralyzing fear that Gran might not make it home. He couldn’t think that way. He didn’t dare. She was essential to his life, his every breath.
Then there was Hope. Just saying her name squeezed his heart. Hope, with the beautiful eyes and the soft smile. Hope, whose kiss sparked a fire in him he’d never before experienced. While part of him wanted to push that thought away, the other part wanted to explore it. Hope, who wasn’t living a lie like Caroline.
It’s a little late for second thoughts, he told himself. Three boys had their feet under his table. Three sets of eyes had looked to him as their savior, trusting and hopeful. One of them was no more than a baby. Hell, he didn’t even know how old the other brother was. He’d guess five or six. Anger surged inside him. He wished he could get his hands on Jasper Cool just once more. He’d like to show him how it felt to be singled out for abuse.
Kade feared he’d made a fine mess of things. Taking a deep breath, he did what he’d always done when confronted with an insurmountable problem or task. He looked fully and honestly at the situation, and he solved it. The situation being he had four people, make that four almost helpless people, looking to him for security and answers—Gran and three boys. On the positive side, if there was one, he didn’t have the worry of meeting a bank loan. The ranch was back in the black. If it kept on like this, he’d be able to invest in newer machinery and maybe add to his herd. No, money wasn’t one of his worries.
Then what was? His inner voice questioned.
Before he could answer himself, Declan’s voice penetrated his thoughts.
“They’re all okay,” he said softly into the too quiet room. “Hope said the two smaller boys are curled up asleep in Jesse’s bed. A hot bath along with full bellies wiped them out. Jesse’s out doing the chores. Hope was just going out the door to help him. Maddy’s down for the count, too.” A smile entered Declan’s voice. “I guess she and Isaiah have become great buddies. In fact,” he laughed, “Hope said they ran Caleb off whenever he tried to join in. Guess there were a few clashes of will.”
“Bet we can both guess who won the clashes,” Kade said with a smile.
“Maddy. Kade, all we’ve done is added two more people for her to ride roughshod over.”
“That’s not all we’ve done. I should say all I’ve done. I’ve brought more responsibility onto the Double K.”
“If I remember correctly, I said I’d share that responsibility.”
“I can’t let you do it, Declan,” Kade said calmly. “You’ve got your own load to shoulder. No, I’m the one who spoke up. But darned if I could stand the thought of brothers being separated, even if they both got lucky and were placed in a good foster home or homes.” He gave a small smile. “It would have killed the three of us to be torn apart. Hard enough to have years and distances separating us.
“Regretting your decision?”
Kade didn’t answer right away. “No.” The word drug out of him. Then firmer, “No. I’d do it again. It’s the right thing. I’m just letting the enormity sink in, and quite frankly, it’s scaring the hell out of me.”
“Big Brother scared?” A voice boomed out from the back of the room. “Now this I’ve got to see.”
Three heads turned, drawn to the voice coming from the tall man standing in the doorway. A grin, similar to one often displayed on Kade’s and Declan’s faces, creased his.
“Morgan.” The three uttered the one word.
“In the flesh. Came as soon as I possibly could.”
In a flash, he was surrounded by the three men, hugged, back-slapped, and hugged again.
“Didn’t expect you here until morning.”
“Hung up from you, called in a favor, and a friend flew me here. Good to have friends.”
“Good to see you have any,” Declan ruffled his hair playfully.
Then a serious look took over Morgan’s face. He focused on Kade, the brother they’d always gone to for answers.
“How is she?”
Kade shook his head. “Don’t know. She’s still in surgery. All we’re being told is that the doctor will let us know her condition as soon as he’s out of surgery. Tight-lipped bunch.”
“Asked a few times, have you?”
“Threatened to kick them out,” Mark volunteered.
“I turn my back and you two are causing trouble,” Morgan teased. But a worried look was deep in his eyes. “How about I go play nice cop, or doctor, as the case may be?”
“Sure. Might as well put that expensive education to work.” Kade gave his brother a fond look. Having Morgan here rounded out the circle. The three would draw strength from each other. They’d face whatever was thrown at them. Always had and always would.
“Hey, Mr. Sobersides,” Declan said, using Kade’s childhood nickname for the middle brother, “flash those baby blues at that grouchy nurse guarding the desk. See if she’ll play nice with you.” He gave him a nudge toward the door. “I think she’s got a hate-on for my overwhelming good looks.”