“Making excuses for him won’t help him with his problem.”
“How can you tell he’s got a problem just by looking at him?” Jake’s tone was skeptical.
“He’s bouncing his leg because he’s anxious. He’s sweating and itching.” Daniel scratched his arm again, proving her point. “His skin is flushed, and it doesn’t look like he’s paid much attention to his appearance for a while now. These are all classic signs of drug addiction.”
Jake let out a deep sigh and put his face in his hands, propping his elbows on his knees. “He’s only been taking the pills for a couple weeks. Is it possible to become addicted that fast?”
“Addiction might be a strong word at this point, but he appears to be developing a dependency on his pain meds.” She put her hand on his arm. “You don’t need to tell me anything you don’t want to, especially something Daniel wouldn’t want you to.” She looked at Daniel’s back as he bounced his leg again. “I’d like to go talk to him.”
“It’s not safe out there.”
“I’m sure the driver of the black SUV has no intention of returning after you pointed a gun his direction. Get me my crutches, please, and go see if Lottie has a glass of lemonade.” She gave him her best determined look.
Jake stared at her for a moment. “Let me at least carry you out.”
“I’m a psychologist, Jake. If you carry me out, it will be harder for me to look competent and gain Daniel’s trust.”
She held his gaze, refusing to let hers waver.
Jake stood and went to get her crutches.
* * *
A few minutes later,Jake carried out two glasses of lemonade as Emily hobbled out onto the porch. Mindful of letting her shoulder support her weight on the crutches, she didn’t expect the effort of shifting the left crutch forward with her casted arm to be so awkward and painful. Her pride would not let her admit Jake was right though.
“Do you mind if I sit with you, Daniel? It’s so hard to stay cooped up inside on such a beautiful day.” She lowered herself as carefully and gracefully as she could onto the lounge chair, hiding a wince as she did so. Resisting the urge to wipe the perspiration she felt beading on her brow from that little bit of exertion, she gave Jake a subtle nod, letting him know he could leave.
Daniel rose to his feet then sat again after Emily settled herself. “Are you sure it’s safe for you to be out here?”
“I doubt we’ll see the SUV again today. If you saw Jake pointing a rifle your direction, would you come back?”
“I’d never go up against Jake in shooting. I’m no match for him.” He took a long swig of the lemonade.
“I bet you shoot well, though, don’t you?”
He shrugged. “Pretty good, I guess, but not as good as Jake and Robert. They’ve got impeccable aim.”
Emily giggled. “This is comical, don’t you think?” When Daniel gave her a questioning look, she explained. “The lame guarding the lame.”
“Yeah, kind of.” Daniel cracked a smile.
“So, how did you break your leg?”
“I crashed my motorcycle into a tree,” he mumbled.
Emily winced as she eyed his leg. “That’s a tall cast. Did you break your femur?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ve heard that’s the most painful bone to break. Would you agree?” Then rushing on she added, “I guess I should ask if you’ve broken other bones, so I know if you had a comparison.”
“I’ve broken my arm and my ankle. Yeah, the femur has been the most painful.”
“Let me guess; the arm and ankle had something to do with a horse and a bull?”
He smiled again. “A horse and a steer.”
“You sound like Jake.” Was Jake listening? If he’d returned to his office, where the window was remained open, he could hear their conversation. “Was it as hard for you to leave the ranch to go to school as it was for Jake?”
