AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“So…I-I talked to Tex’s doctors today, and they’ve said they plan to send him home in a couple days. I guess my boss Frank is going to loan us his plane again to fly your mom and him back, and I know you all have your truck, but he’s asked me to come into work tomorrow and maybe even stay an extra day, just to go over everything for the upcoming season before he flies me back a day later than your parents.”
The news stings more than I expect, given the fact that not too long from now, she’ll be set to leave the ranch for good, but in the interest of not ruining any more of a good night, I keep that tidbit to myself.
Instead, I smile and pull her into a hug that feels too damn good.
“That’s all right, darlin’. I’m just glad you’re comin’ back—glad you’re going to be there to help see to both of us, me and the old man.”
Talk about the understatement of the century. She leans in and puts her lips to my cheek, letting them linger there in a gentle kiss just long enough to make me close my eyes against the permeating warmth in my chest.
“I’m glad too.”
With one last smile and a hug for Joey, she retreats across the parking lot, back to her car and away from us for the next little while.
Watching her walk away is harder than I ever dreamed it would be.
And that worries me.
Because if it’s this hard now, what in the hell is it gonna feel like when Dr. Leah Levee moves on from us for good?
July 10th, Saturday
Leah
“Home sweet home,” Tex muses as he sits down in his favorite leather recliner.
After a short flight via private plane from Salt Lake City, we landed on the dirt runway of Shaw Springs Ranch. I thought I’d have to stay the extra day at work with the Slammers, but for whatever reason, Frank declared he’d seen everything he needed to, dismissed me with a smile, and sent me on my way to catch the plane with Jenny and Tex.
Given the choice, I probably would have driven back with Rhett and Joey, but they’d already left an hour before.
Upon arrival, it didn’t take long before we were swarmed by Tiny and other staff wanting to check on Tex.
He took all the attention in his usual gruff manner and told them he was fine, and then proceeded to say, “Now, get your asses back to work. This ranch ain’t gonna run itself.”
Oddly enough, everyone responded with smiles and laughs.
The man is a hard-ass, but he’s also a beloved hard-ass.
Now that we’re back at his and Jenny’s house, the main focus is getting him all settled in and comfortable. He’s been given the all clear from his medical team at the hospital, but the stress his body and heart have gone through will require a slower pace and low-stress mind-set to ensure a healthy recovery.
It’s become a full-team effort, and I’m honored and happy to be a part of this team.
While Joey helps Rhett outside with a loose fence post, I’m inside making sure Tex has all his medications lined up and laid out for the coming days.
It’s imperative that he sticks to doctor’s orders from here on out.
Proper diet, medication regimen, and frequent blood pressure checks—I have no qualms with being the bad guy in this scenario and enforcing the health rules if I have to.
Lord knows I’ve already gained some experience in handling stubborn Jameson men.
Jenny flashes a smile at her husband, relief still evident in her eyes, and heads down the hall to their bedroom with a new rolling suitcase in tow.
I can only imagine the anxiety and worry that’ve been plaguing her over Tex’s heart attack. I’m just thankful he got the care he needed and he’s stable enough to finish his recovery at home.
Home sweet home, as Tex calls it.
It’s an odd feeling for me right now, this sense of actually understanding those three words.
I never would’ve thought I’d feel reprieve in being back at the ranch, but I do.
Shaw Springs Ranch has become a place that I actually want to be.
It’s kind of insane, to be honest. I always considered myself a woman who thrived in a busy, urban environment, but that’s beginning to feel like a false assumption when living on a ranch like this has provided such peace for my soul.
“So, what do you think, Leah?” Tex asks as I finish up organizing his medications in the kitchen.
“What do I think about what?”
“You think you’re going to be able to keep up with treating two Jameson men now?”
I roll my eyes and laugh. “You’re both stubborn as hell, but I think I’ll manage.”
Right on cue, Jenny walks back into the living room and points a stern index finger at her husband. “If you don’t follow her medical instructions, you’ll have to answer to me. So, yes, I think we can all agree there’s not gonna be any darn problems with you being bullheaded, right?”
