AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“With five months of missing time?” He grinned at her, as he finally found a bit of humor in the situation. “Maybe I was abducted by aliens. I was headed for New Mexico.”
J.T. laughed. “Yeah. That’s probably it.”
The door opened and Sawyer returned with a nurse. She was wearing blue scrubs, and for a flash of a second, Jake thought he knew her.
She came to the bed. “Hi there. Welcome back. I’m Lisa. And I’ll be taking care of you tonight.” She checked all of his vitals and seemed happy with the results. “I’ll have the on-call physician come in and see you. It just might be abit.”
“I feel okay.”
“I’m sure you do. But you’ve been unconscious for two days. He’ll want to take a look at you.”
“Well, I guess I’ll be here.”
“He’ll be in as soon as he’s free.”
Jake looked at his kids again. “You guys need to stop looking at me like I returned from the dead. You’re freaking me out.” He took another drink of water. “Now. Tell me what I missed.”
J.T. spent the next hour filling Jake in on what had been going on at the Three Rivers Ranch. Jake listened to it all, then thought for a moment.
“Okay, sounds like everything is under control. But one thing you’ve been skirting around. My father. Has something happened to your grandfather?” Sage glanced at J.T. and got another nod from him. Jake looked at him. “Seems you’re the designated giver of bad news. Please don’t tell me—”
“No. Granddad’s fine. Or he’s okay.”
“Why is he only okay?”
“He had a…stroke two months ago.”
His father had always been a healthy man. A hardworking cowboy, who’d never taken a day off. A stroke was definitely unexpected news. “Well, shit. Why didn’t you tell me that first thing? How bad is it?”
“He’s clear-headed and ornery as ever. He’s just having some lingering issues on his rightside.”
“Just lay it out, J.T. What’s he dealing with?”
“He’s got some paralysis in his arm and the lower part of his leg and foot. The doctor says it may resolve itself in time. If Granddad does what he’s supposed to, that is.”
“And what’s that?”
“Physical therapy. Exercise. Stay off the back of a horse.”
Jake raised an eyebrow. “And which of those things is he doing?”
“We haven’t caught him on a horse yet. But as far as the other two. Not too much luck. He won’t even listen to Lucy.”
“Well, he damn well better listen to me. How soon can I get the hell out of here?”
Sage patted his hand. “Let’s see what the doctor says.”
Jake looked at Sawyer. “How are things with you, son? Are you still in Missoula?”
Sawyer tucked his shoulder length hair behind his ears. “No. I moved back home once you came up missing. I figured J.T. and Granddad could use some help. Then Granddad had his stroke and…well, I’m still there.”
Jake looked at Sage. “And why aren’t you in school?”
“I didn’t go back for fall semester.”
“Sage?”
“Dad. You were missing. Do you really think I could go sit in a classroom and concentrate onanything?”
