LITMIR.BIZ

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and teasing followed. Cade should have anticipated that Rosie would be on a first-name basis with the hospital staff. She’d had a long career in social services and knew nearly everyone in town.

      Eventually the curtain was pulled back, and both nurses headed for the door. The short, stocky one smiled at Cade as she came out of the room. “She’s all yours, cowboy.”

      “And tell her to stop scaring us like that,” said the taller one.

      “Yes, ma’am.” Cade polished off his coffee and looked around for a trash can.

      “Cade?” Rosie sounded pretty strong for a sick woman. “Get a move on, son!”

      “Give me that.” Herb lifted the empty cup from his hand. “You go on in.”

      Cade took off his hat and made sure he had a smile on his face as he walked into the room. “You’ve been instructed to—”

      “Yeah, yeah, I heard.” Rosie looked a little pale, and her hair, which she’d started coloring a light blond, wasn’t styled the way she normally did it. But her blue eyes were bright and filled with love. “Come over here, you big galoot.”

      His breathing stalled. She was so important to him. Herb was right that guilt didn’t do anyone any good, so he’d work on eliminating that. But he might not be able to erase the regret over staying away so long.

      Being careful of the IV, he leaned down and gave her a cautious hug. He breathed in the antiseptic smell that reminded him of bad times, but Rosie’s signature floral scent was there, too, which he associated with good times. “I love you, Mom.”

      “I love you, too, but I hope you didn’t jeopardize your job to come see me.”

      “Nope.” He kissed her cheek and moved back. “Your timing was perfect.”

      “Glad to be so accommodating, but why was it perfect?”

      “He quit last night,” Herb said as he walked into the room. “I think there’s a story there considering that he brought a horse with him.”

      “And a cat. I hadn’t planned on the cat.”

      Rosie smiled. “It’s like old times when you boys used to haul home every stray for miles around. So where are these animals now?”

      “At the ranch. Lexi’s watching them for me.”

      Speculation filled Rosie’s gaze. “So you’ve talked to her, then.”

      “Yes, ma’am.” He wondered if she could tell by his expression that he’d also kissed Lexi. Whenever he wasn’t worrying about Rosie and what might be wrong with her, he was thinking about Lexi. He’d forgotten how good her mouth felt, and now he wanted to kiss her some more.

      “How’d that go?”

      “Fine.” This wasn’t the conversational direction he favored. “But enough about that. I want to know about you.”

      “You wouldn’t be trying to change the subject, would you?” She gave him a knowing smile.

      “Maybe. But seriously, what do the doctors think is going on?”

      “They aren’t sure yet, although I’ll bet it’s just a bad case of indigestion.” Rosie’s jaw firmed as if she wouldn’t tolerate any other diagnosis.

      “They have to run more tests,” Herb said. “We should know something in another day or so. Like she says, it’s probably nothing, but better to be safe than sorry.”

      Cade nodded. “Agreed.”

      “Anyway,” Rosie said, “you can see I’m in good hands. Judging from the way you look, I’ll bet you drove all night to get here. I appreciate you doing that, but now you should go back to the ranch and get some sleep.”

      “I’m okay.”

      “You’re dead on your feet. Herb, talk him into going home. In fact, you should go with him. I’ll be fine here.”

      Herb glanced at Cade. “I’m going to hang around a little longer, but she’s right. Go home and rest. You can come back later, after you pick up Damon.”

      “After he does what?” Rosie pushed a button that adjusted the bed, letting her sit up a little more. “Damon’s coming in?”

      “At one today.” Belatedly Cade realized that having them all descend might be alarming rather than comforting. “And Finn’s coming, too, but that doesn’t mean we think—”

      “That I’m about to croak? I hope not! Unless Herb knows something he’s not telling me.”

      “I swear I don’t.” Herb held up both hands. “I had nothing to do with this. Lexi called Cade, and Cade called the other two.”

      “And it might boil down to indigestion,” Rosie repeated, shaking her head. “What in heaven’s name did Lexi say to you, Cade, that started this frantic race to my bedside?”

      “It’s my fault.” Herb scrubbed a hand over his face. “You showed all the classic signs of a heart attack. For all we know, you actually had one. When I called Lexi and asked her to come over and watch the place for us, I might have been a little...upset.”

      “Oh.” Rosie’s expression softened as she looked at her husband. “I guess I scared you worse than I thought.”

      Herb shrugged. “I, um...” He paused to clear his throat. “Yeah, I was scared.”

      Her voice was gentle. “You still are.”

      “A little. But you’re looking lots better, and I’m sure you’re right that it’s nothing to be concerned about. Anyway, the boys will be here. That’s good news, right?”

      “Yes, it certainly is.” Rosie glanced at Cade. “But when you talk to them, could you let them know I’m not at death’s door? And don’t let them bring flowers. That would really freak me out, if I thought I’d be in here long enough to need flowers.”

      “Got it.” Cade hadn’t thought about flowers, mostly because nothing had been open when he’d driven into town, but Damon and Finn might have insisted they bring her some. Good thing Rosie had said something or she likely would have ended up with three monster bouquets.

      About that time his cell chimed, indicating a text. “That could be Finn.” He pulled out his cell. “Yep. He’ll be in a little after three.”

      Rosie sighed. “I don’t want to think about what those plane tickets must have cost, but what’s done is done, and I’ll be tickled to see you all together again.”

      “I’m sure they don’t care what the tickets cost.” Just like Cade hadn’t worried about giving up a potential job opportunity. Some things were more important.

      “No, they probably don’t care.” Rosie gave him a fond smile. “That’s the kind of guys you all are. I suppose you’ll want to stay in your old cabin, but the beds aren’t made and the place hasn’t been dusted in months.”

      “Doesn’t matter.” Cade had assumed that’s where they’d bunk. “Do you still keep the sheets and blankets in that big hall closet?”

      “Yes, but if you all just sleep in the house, it’ll mean less work for you.”

      “But it wouldn’t be as much fun.”

      “I suppose not.” She gazed at him. “Maybe Lexi would be willing to help you get that cabin ready.”

      “Nah, I can handle it.” He wasn’t sure how to approach the situation with Lexi, but he didn’t want to start out by asking her to do chores that were rightly his.

      “Go on home, Cade.” Rosie made a shooing motion with her hand. “You have things to take care of.”

      “Okay.” He gave her another peck on the cheek and left the

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