“I don’t know what I’d do without her.”
The doors opened behind Hannah. Unless someone else used the same, subtle aftershave as Brett, she knew he was standing behind her. “I think you’d be perfectly fine. You could even teach Brett a thing or two about looking after himself.”
A deep male voice cleared his throat.
She looked over her shoulder and smiled. “Hello. Did you find all your supplies?”
“Most of them.”
Brett sat beside her. He looked almost as exhausted as Pat.
“Mrs. Bennett has been baking.” She lifted the lid on the basket and showed him what was inside. “I don’t know how she gets her muffins so light and fluffy.”
“Buttermilk,” Pat murmured. “Ida used it in her baking, too.”
Hannah looked at the muffins and sighed.
Claire’s shoes clipped along the vinyl flooring. “Here you go. I made you a coffee, too, Brett.”
“Thanks. How were your meetings?”
“Very productive.” Claire handed Hannah a hot chocolate. “I didn’t think you’d appreciate the extra caffeine.”
Brett raised his eyebrows.
“Two cups of coffee is my limit.” Hannah sipped the chocolate. “This is good.”
Pat lifted Mrs. Bennett’s picnic basket off the seat. “Would anyone like something to eat?”
While they were enjoying an early lunch, Hannah watched Pat. After a cup of coffee and some sandwiches, his face had more color and he didn’t seem so exhausted.
Pat handed everyone some paper napkins. “Have the police found the men who attacked Dave?”
Brett wiped his hands on his napkin. “The police think they’ve found them. I’m meeting Dave at the police station in twenty minutes.”
“That’s such a relief,” Claire said. “Are they connected to his father?”
“I don’t know.” Brett threw his empty coffee cup into the trash. “But I hope for Dave’s sake they aren’t. It’s bad enough that his dad wants money from his family. It would be worse if he were willing to hurt them to get it.”
Hannah thought about her own father. He might have been in and out of prison, but he’d never physically hurt them. That hadn’t been the case for everyone else. He was ruthless, determined, and violent—someone that no one could trust.
Brett picked up his jacket. “What time do you think you’ll be at the ranch, Hannah?”
She looked at her sister. “About two o’clock. Claire and I have some shopping to do, then we thought we’d come back to the hospital to see how Pat and Ida are doing.”
“You don’t need to do that,” Pat insisted. “The doctors and nurses are doing a great job of looking after Ida. Besides, the ranch is a lot safer than here.”
“Are you sure?” Hannah asked. “We really don’t mind spending time with you.”
“I’m positive. Do your shopping, then head to the ranch. Just remember, no one’s safe until the police confirm who was involved in Dave’s beating.”
Hannah gave Pat a hug. “We’ll be careful. I hope Ida has a restful night.”
“So do I,” Pat said sadly.
Brett wrapped his arms around Pat’s frail shoulders. “I’ll be back after I’ve seen Dave. Call me if you need anything.”
Pat nodded. “Take care. You’re just as vulnerable as Claire and Hannah.”
Brett nodded and looked at Hannah. “Are you ready?”
“We are.”
With one last goodbye to Pat, they left the hospital.
On their way to the ground floor, Hannah slipped her hand inside Brett’s. When his fingers tightened on hers, she looked up and smiled. It hadn’t been an easy few days for Pat or Brett, and it didn’t look as though the days ahead would get any easier.
