LITMIR.BIZ

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playing out. “I’m going to wrap your head to stop the bleeding. You aren’t running me off like before. This is my home too, you know.”

      Sean glared at Ian but let him tend to his cut.

      The chimes of the doorbell echoed through the house.

      “I’m not going to the hospital.” Sean narrowed his eyes on Ian. “You know how I feel about hospitals.”

      “You lost consciousness. That’s serious.” Caitlyn rose to make room for the paramedics she heard coming down the hall.

      “I passed out from drinking. Not the same thing.” Sean gripped the wooden bed frame and started to hoist himself up.

      Ian grasped Sean’s arm to aid him.

      “Get out. Paramedics can patch me up.” Pain mingled with Sean’s anger, causing the creases on his face to deepen.

      When Alice escorted the two EMTs into the bedroom, Caitlyn stepped back and moved toward her by the doorway.

      The housekeeper shook her head. “I don’t understand what’s been going on for the past few months.”

      Caitlyn drew Alice into the hallway. “What do you mean?”

      “I was around when Sean had his car wreck. I never thought I would see him drink again or have this kind of anger. It’s like he’s changed places with another person.”

      Caitlyn had seen signs that Sean was struggling with something but not to this extreme. She’d thought it had been grief over his father dying. Caitlyn had tried to talk to him about Andrew’s death. He’d refused, and after that, Sean had avoided her. He stopped going both to church and to the Longhorn Cattlemen’s Association meetings and functions, two groups he’d been very involved in.

      Ian joined them in the hall. “Knowing Sean and his aversion to hospitals, I doubt the paramedics will get him to agree to go.”

      “I think we should stay awhile and see how he does. I’ll call Granny and Emma to let them know what’s going on.”

      Relief settled over Alice’s face. “I doubt you two have eaten dinner yet. I can fix you some food. It’ll give me something to do besides worrying.”

      One of the EMTs came out into the corridor. “He insists he’s gonna stay here, and he wants us to leave. We can’t force him to go to the hospital. We dressed the cut on his temple. His head hurts, but he says his vision is clear and he isn’t dizzy. If he has symptoms like nausea, blurred vision, trouble with his balance or he’s bothered by light or noise, he needs to see a doctor. He should get a few stitches as soon as possible. The laceration’s likely to leave a scar.”

      “Thanks,” Ian said as the other paramedic exited the room.

      “I’ll walk you to the door.” Caitlyn started down the hall with the two EMTs, praying that Ian could talk some sense into his brother. There was a time they’d been close. She hated hearing they weren’t now.

      After the paramedics departed, Caitlyn dug into her purse where she’d left it, on the round table in the middle of the foyer. She found her cell phone and noticed a call from Granny. She hurriedly returned it.

      “I’m sorry, Granny, for not calling earlier, but we came to see Sean and he was injured. The paramedics just left.”

      “What happened?”

      Caitlyn told her how she and Ian found Sean. “Is Emma there?”

      “Yes, we were hoping to talk y’all into eating dinner with us.”

      “Let her know about Sean. We’ll stay here for a while. Alice is fixing us something to eat. I’ll give you an update later. Tell Emma that Sean will be all right.”

      “Will he?”

      “If Ian has anything to say about it, yes.” It was one of the reasons she cared so much for Ian. He didn’t give up on people.

      “And that young man is mighty determined. He reminds me of you. Y’all always got along well, like a couple.”

      Was Granny trying to get her and Ian together? She was one of the few people who knew what had happened that summer after high school graduation. “Talk to you later, Granny. Bye.”

      What would have happened between her and Ian if she hadn’t told that other guy she’d been dating that she just wanted to be friends? She’d seen a future with Ian and hadn’t wanted any distraction as they took their relationship beyond friendship. But the consequences of that final date with Byron had left her shattered.

      * * *

      When Ian entered Sean’s room after the paramedics left, his brother was curled onto his right side away from the door. Quietly, he rounded the end of the bed to see if Sean was awake. His brother’s eyes were closed. Ian couldn’t tell if he was asleep or just faking it. Ian decided to give Sean space and time to sober up.

      Ian walked from the room, leaving the door open. Since the lock was busted, Sean couldn’t barricade himself inside like before. His brother needed to face the problems that had led him to this point, but Sean would never listen to him. Ian hoped he would listen to Caitlyn. What he witnessed earlier was a plea for help, even if his brother wouldn’t admit it.

      He was glad that Caitlyn had been here, ready to offer her support. When they were growing up, she’d always been there for him, and that hadn’t changed. He didn’t realize how much he’d missed her. Most of his professional life had been spent solving others’ problems, but he needed help with his brother. But with Sean he couldn’t be objective. He hoped Caitlyn could.

      Ian went downstairs and found her with Alice in the kitchen. The table was set for three, and the housekeeper placed a large serving dish of stew on it. “I know you can work wonders, Alice, but there’s no way you had time to whip up this dinner.” He inhaled deeply. “That smells delicious.”

      Alice grinned. “It’s Sean’s favorite. I made it earlier. I thought that would get him out of his room. It didn’t, but I’m glad it’s not going to waste.”

      “No way. I’ll take some home with me for later this week.” Ian caught Caitlyn’s attention. “Have you had Alice’s stew before?”

      “No, but the smell was what drew me to the kitchen.” Caitlyn took a seat at the table across from where Ian stood. “I talked with Granny. She’ll let Emma know that Sean’s okay. How was he when you left?”

      “Asleep—I think.” Ian pulled out the chair for Alice and scooted it in after she sat.

      The housekeeper’s cheeks reddened. “It’s been a while since a man did that for me.”

      “That’s the least I can do. I love Nana, but she doesn’t cook nearly as well as you.”

      Alice picked up the bowl, scooped the stew onto her plate, then passed it to Caitlyn. “Ian, are you going to stay at your grandma’s, come here or find your own place?”

      He dished out his serving, then set the container in the middle of the table. “I’ve thought about living in the foreman’s house here at the ranch since Bud doesn’t, but first I want to make sure Nana is okay by herself because I don’t think she’ll want to move from her place, especially with Sally next door.”

      “Granny and Emma are usually together most of the time at one of their places. They help each other. I’ve heard from both of them that they don’t want to move.”

      He would do whatever was best for his grandmother, but he was used to living alone. Over the years, he’d become set in his ways—coming and going whenever he needed to because of his job. Crime happened at all hours of the day, and Nana tended to worry a lot. “Have they ever talked about living together in one place?”

      “About once a month. So far neither one is willing to give up her house to move in with the other.” Caitlyn took a bite of the stew. “Mmm! Wonderful, Alice.”

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