Technically, she was still on the clock.But this was her brother.She’d text Joel along the way and let him know.“As long as I can.But we’re shorthanded today.”
And as much as she would like to stay with her brother—she might not be able to.Every hand was vital in a large area like Masterson County, even with all the new hires lately.“You sure he’s going to be okay?”
This was her big brother—of course she was terrified.
“A really hard head, Claud.Promise.Now…let’s get him to the hospital, just in case.Then you and I will talk: Cal and Auggie.I can so see it.They’d be good for each other, too.”
Well, Claudia agreed with that.
But…her big brother looked horrible right now.
And the thought of anything happening to one of her brothers or sisters was her worst nightmare.
26
She hadtwo hours of uninterrupted time to work on what she needed to get done and take time to rest for herself.And to figure out…Calloway.
Maybe she’d even grab that library book Jules had sneaked from Em’s pile out and take a few minutes to do nothing but read.It was a romance novel—Auggie needed all the help she could get right now.A how-to manual sounded like a really good idea.
She could just sit and think about what she wanted for once.
And she was going to be thinking abouthimuntil she figured all of thisout.
She had just finished taking a hot bath and dressing in sweats and a t-shirt, when her phone buzzed.
Claudia’s ring tone.
She answered quickly.
“Aug, I need you.I know…damn it, I...”
There was a slight touch of panic in her bestie’s voice that had her attention sharpening.“What’s wrong?What’s happened?Are you okay?Are you hurt?”
“I’m not.Cal is, though.He’s at the hospital now.And I can’t get off the clock; we’re short-handed, and Cloe was just sent out with the ambulance, and Clancy went out on a call with Linsey Tyler a few minutes ago.I have no idea where Cadell is today.And I don’t have time to track him down.”
Ice cold panic went through her.“How badly is he hurt, Claud?”
“Bumps and bruises, broken ribs.Mild concussion.Ran off the road by some idiot.I’m at the hospital now.But I have to go.I need someone to come sit with him; I don’t know if they are discharging him tonight, or not.I don’t want him to sit here alone.”
He was hurt and he was alone at the hospital.She remembered what that had felt like.“I’ll be right there as soon as I can.Half hour, tops.”The hospital was only twenty-five minutes away from her ranch.
Claudia wouldn’t be asking if she didn’t truly need the help.And…Auggie needed to see that he was going to be okay for herself.
The idea something seriously could have happened to him made her sick to her stomach to even think about.
She just…would rest easier seeing him for herself.
27
When Cal opened his eyes,he figured out where he was pretty quickly.The beeps and monitors rather told the story.Someone was sitting next to the bed, saying his name.He turned slightly, wincing at the headache he hadnotmissed.
Blue eyes were watching him.She had a worried look on her beautiful face.
“Now I know I must look pretty bad.If they’ve called you in to sit with me.Where are my sisters?”It surprised him that the three monsters weren’t in there hovering over him right now.Especially Cloe.Cloe liked tofuss.
No surprise considering, right?
“Claudia is at the scene of your wreck, with Zach, talking to the WHP.She said something about driving around looking for a big truck that might have body damage.She’s determined.A woman on a mission.Clancy is working tonight—somewhere near the county line, I heard.And Cloe is out with the ambulance on a call.Cadell seems to have been eaten by wild gorillas or something, though.No one has tracked him down yet.So…I am the Cal-babysitter of last resort.They called in blood-sister favors.And since Cloe and I made vows to always be there for each other when we are needed, and I have done the same with Claudia, and Clancy and Em are practically surgically attached—you get me.I hope you can handle it.”
