Chapter 19
CHAPTER NINETEEN
The Hospital
“Oh, and the dogs have been sleeping with us in the cabin,” Hadley blabbed on. “Because Tempest whines when they’re not all together. And they keep trying to get on the bed because you and Jane have spoiled them.”
Dad smiled at Hadley’s exuberance, but his eyes found mine for a moment before focusing back on Hadley.
“And I have my final dress fitting in a few days, and I think that’s all,” Hadley finished.
“That sounds good,” Dad said. His voice wasn’t loud or strong, but it came easily. I worried that he had to reach for words, but in the short time we’d been there for a morning visit, I was already hopeful about his mental state.
Declan placed his hands on Hadley’s shoulders and gave them a comforting squeeze. “Some fences on the east side of the property needed fixing, so I took Bowman with me to help and we knocked it out in a few hours.”
Dad frowned. “Bowman?”
“Declan’s best friend,” Hadley said. “Remember, Dad?”
Dad gently shook his head.
“He came to town early as a surprise,” Declan said. “I don’t know if we told you.”
“Oh, Bowman.” His brow smoothed out.
“Yeah. And he’s been helping out around the ranch,” Declan went on. “It’s been nice having him here.”
The door to Dad’s hospital room opened and Muddy and Jane entered. Jane only had eyes for my father and immediately went to his side and placed a kiss on his lips.
“We’re going to leave you in good hands,” Muddy said. “I need to take care of some things, but I’ll be back later.”
“I’ll see to him,” Jane said, smiling at my father who smiled back.
My internal hackles raised. I thought I was doing a good job of keeping my thoughts to myself until Hadley elbowed me in the ribs.
“Resting Salem face,” she whispered.
We said goodbye to Dad and left him with Jane. It was midmorning, and it had already been a full day. Feeding the chickens and collecting the eggs, mucking out stalls with Hadley, and relocating the skunk family from underneath our porch.
Declan had driven all of us, so we piled into his oversized SUV. I wondered how many car seats they’d end up having. Knowing Hadley, she’d want a handful of kids. And Declan, whose sole mission was to make her happy, would oblige.
The ride back to the ranch was quiet and when we were about ten minutes out, Muddy said to Declan, “Text Bowman to meet us at the house, would you?”
Hadley sat next to me in the back seat. Declan handed his phone to her and said, “Do it for me, yeah?”
“Why do you need Bowman to meet us at the house?” I asked.
“Because what I want to talk about involves him.”
Hadley and I exchanged a confused look, but she unlocked Declan’s phone and shot off a text to Bowman. He was waiting for us on the porch when we drove up a few minutes later.
“I’ve been summoned,” Bowman said, clapping his hand to Declan’s. “How’s Connor?”
“Better.” Declan looked at Muddy who nodded in agreement.
“He was more lucid,” she said. “Still tires easily and didn’t speak a ton, but he wasn’t grasping for words.”
“I noticed that too,” I said.
“He’ll be back threatening you with a shotgun before you know it,” Hadley teased Declan.
Bowman looked at me in confusion and I shrugged.
“Let’s all go to the den, yeah?” Muddy said, walking inside, not even bothering to see if we were going to follow.
But of course, we followed. She called the shots in our family.
“Everyone, take a seat,” she commanded.
Declan sat at one end of the couch and Hadley cuddled up next to him, leaving another spot on the couch which I took. Bowman sat on the ledge in front of the unlit fireplace and Muddy took her chair.
“So, I’m just going to get right to it,” she said. “Connor’s recovery is going to take some time, which means we need someone to fill his position to oversee the running of the ranch. The most obvious person would be Declan.”
Declan frowned. “Me? Not Josiah or Henry? Or one of the others who’s been here a long time.”
“They’re good men,” Muddy said. “But they’re not family. You are. Besides, you’ve been acting foreman for a while now. So, it makes the most sense for you to step up.”
“Whatever you need,” Declan said.
Muddy nodded. “Good. But we’re still going to need more help.”
My eyes swept over to Bowman who was leaning over, his arms resting on his thighs. His gaze was trained on Muddy.
“I know you’re only here for a short while,” Muddy said, addressing Bowman. “But until we can hire more men, would you be willing to—”
“Yes,” Bowman said immediately, his eyes flitting to mine quickly before returning to Muddy.
Muddy smiled. “I knew I could count on you.”
“You’ve been working the ranch with me anyway the last few days,” Declan pointed out with a laugh. “Might as well get paid for it.”
“Absolutely,” Muddy said with a nod.
“How many men are you looking to hire?” Bowman asked.
“Two,” Muddy remarked. “To replace you when you go back to the circuit, and to replace Declan who will be acting foreman. But the job isn’t for everyone.”
“I know some guys,” Bowman said. “Brothers. One’s a farrier and blacksmith. The other is a horse groomer. They might be interested.”
Muddy nodded. “If you have contact information, I’d love to speak to them.”
“They’re from the circuit?” Hadley asked.
“Yeah,” Bowman said.
“Why would they want to leave?” she inquired. “I mean, they’d make far less working for us than on the circuit.”
“It’s not always about money.” His tone was clipped and he clamped his mouth shut.
Tension filled the room.
“Get me their contact information and I’ll give them a call,” Muddy reiterated.
“Do I know them?” Declan asked Bowman.
“Archer and Brooks Keel,” Bowman said.
“They sound familiar,” Declan said. “But I’ve never met them.”
“They’re from Spearfish, South Dakota,” Bowman said. “They used to belong to a motorcycle club before they joined the circuit.”
“No kidding,” Declan murmured.
Bowman nodded. “Speaking of which, my Harley is on a hot shot truck as we speak.”
“You ride a motorcycle?” I asked in shock.
Bowman looked at me and grinned. “I like to live dangerously. I’ll give you a riding lesson, if you want.”
“Just what we need. Salem, the adrenaline junkie, finding a new hobby that takes ten years off my life.” Hadley stood. “I’m making lunch.”
“I’ll help,” Muddy said as her gaze bounced between me and Bowman.
“Do not get Salem on the back of your bike,” Declan commanded as he pointed to his best friend before following Hadley to the kitchen.
Bowman stood up and came toward me and lowered his voice, “I won’t tell if you won’t.”
I grinned. “Deal.”