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Jeff waved his protests away. “Yes, you are. Well, I’ll tell you this for nothing.” He pointed his finger at Adam. “Watching you wallow in your own misery taught me a lesson about how to deal better with Leanne.”
Adam had nothing to say to that so he just grimly stared at his father, one eyebrow raised.
“Talking to the other person really helps, you know. You should try it sometime.”
“Wow. Really? You finally worked that out?” Adam abandoned his breakfast and rose to his feet. “Shame you didn’t think about that years ago when Mom was begging you to listen to her, and you were too busy screaming at her to get off your property.”
Adam rammed in his chair, walked out of the kitchen, put on his boots, and headed to the barn. Mucking out the stalls should help him weather his impulse to strangle his own father. What the hell had that all been about? Jeff Miller was the last person in the world who should be allowed to talk shit about anyone.
He’d created the situation by not being there for his wife, and now he had the nerve to tell Adam he was a changed man?
Adam’s breath condensed in the still-cold air as he raised his head to study the outline of the Sierra Nevadas and the sun rising over them. He didn’t like the way things were changing around him. He felt . . . unsure, like the foundations of everything he’d believed in were being challenged. His father was talking to his mother. Lizzie was becoming more than a friend. Louisa’s parents were moving on, and his baby sister was talking about getting married.
And, he might as well admit it, he was angry with all of it. Like some rift had been breached deep inside him and now, despite his best efforts, he couldn’t stop the red-hot lava seeping through the hairline cracks. Which was so damn stupid, he didn’t even know how to deal with it. He had no right to be angry about anything.
He concentrated on the outline of the mountains, glad of that constant in his life and the sense of continuity and history. Did he want everything to stay the same? Maybe his dad was on to something.... But what was he afraid of? Why was he resisting so hard?
His cell buzzed. He took it out of his pocket and squinted at the screen before silently cursing and heading back to the house at a run. His dad was just coming out of the back door, his mouth open as if ready to argue again. Adam paused to speak to him.
“Carlos isn’t doing good. I’m going over to see if I can help. Tell Ben to watch out for the vet, okay?”
“Will do.” Jeff slapped him on the back. “Give them my best, won’t you? And let me know how it goes.”
* * *
It took less than ten minutes for Adam to reach the Cortez ranch. He parked to the side of the barn and went into the house, calling out to Ines as he heel-and-toed his work boots off.
She appeared at the bedroom door and beckoned to him.
“He won’t wake up! I’ve tried and tried.”
She stepped aside so Adam could get past her.
“Did you call nine-one-one?” Adam asked as he approached the bed.
“No, I—”
“Can you do that now?” Adam said gently as he searched for a pulse.
Like all ranchers, he’d taken his fair share of first-aid classes and knew the basics. He held his breath and focused on the faint flicker of life pumping beneath his fingers. Still holding Carlos’s wrist, he used his left hand to send a text to Dr. Tio in town.
The doctor responded immediately and Adam put the phone to his ear.
“What’s up, Adam?”
“I’m at the Cortez place. Ines couldn’t wake Carlos up. I’m with him now. His pulse is weak and so is his breathing.”
“Okay. Did you call nine-one-one?”
“Ines’s doing that now, but I thought you might be closer.” Adam hesitated. “Is there anything in particular I should be doing right now?”
“Just make sure his airway is clear, and keep an eye on him. I’m already on my way. Call me if anything changes.”
Adam set his cell phone on the bedside table and returned his attention to Carlos who appeared to be breathing more easily. Mindful of the doctor’s instructions, he checked his airway, and kept a firm grip on Carlos’s wrist.
Ines came back in, her expression distraught. “I called them. I left the front door slightly open so that anyone can get in.”
