“You’ve made your point, Pea.”Jake steps toward the hospital bed.“And now it’s your turn to listen.This is not the time for you to decide to recklessly throw yourself at a MacLaine.A lot’s happened in the last few days that you aren’t aware of.”
“Huh?”
My mom’s crying grows more desperate.
“What’s going on?”I look from Jake to my mom to all my brothers.“What’s wrong?”
Bo steps closer.I remain standing on top of the hospital bed, but suddenly, my knees are shaking.I rest my hand on Evander’s shoulder for balance.
“Dad’s taken a turn for the worse,” Bo says.
Rick moves into the room again.“The stress of your disappearance has been extremely hard on him,” he says.“It’s a good thing I was there when I was.”
“Declan?”My mother’s voice is wobbly.“Would you be so kind as to take me back to Travis Ranch?Now that I’ve seen with my own eyes that Phoebe is safe, I need to get back to him.”
“Of course, Mrs.Travis.”
“I’ll see you back at the ranch, my sweet girl.”Rick and Mason are walking her toward the door.“I love you and I’m so relieved that you’re all right.”
She stops and turns to Evander.“I can never thank you enough for what you did.You’re a very brave and good man, Evander.I’m deeply grateful.”
She continues toward the door.
“What’s going on with Dad?”I’m looking from one face to another, attempting to piece together what’s being said—ornot said.“I thought he was doing okay.”
“Your only job right now is to be by Dad’s side, Phoebe.”Jake’s voice is grim.“Like Rick just said, getting yourself stranded in a killer storm was the last thing he needed.”
Evander catches me when I start to collapse.He helps me down and balances me as I stand next to the bed.
Cal and Finn step aside so that Mama can get through the door, while Declan and Special K wait in the hallway for their passengers.
“I’ll stay with you overnight and get you home tomorrow, when the roads are clear.”Jake makes sure I understand that this is a statement and he’s not asking for my permission.And I don’t miss the look he gives Evander—it’s not a friendly one.
It’s right then that I feel Evander’s warm hand clasp my own.He gives my fingers a reassuring squeeze.But before I can say anything to him, he turns away from me and heads for the door.Jamie, Cal, and Finn leave with him.
Since my coworkers have wisely decided to step away from the madness and return to the nurses’ station, that leaves me alone with only Jake, Ryder, Kyle, and Bo.
All of them look crestfallen.
“Rick is a great guy,” Ryder says.
“He helped Dad a lot the last few days,” Kyle adds.
Bo shrugs.
Okay.I see the story that’s taking shape here.
Somehow, it’s my fault that an unexpected Sierra Nevada blizzard nearly killed me.
And that Dad had a setback when I was missing.
My ex has been crowned the hero.
While Jake thinks the actual hero is a villain.
Thank goodness Jake will keep watch over me tonight, since I’m still a dainty damsel in need of protection.
In other words, he didn’t hear a thing I just said.
