Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
Bax stared down at the baby he held in his arms, fascinated by the faces the kid made as he slept. His lips moved, his forehead creasing—and he was working hard in there somewhere. Growing.
Jason held Em and Cotton’s other baby, looking surprisingly relaxed. They were packed up, and from here they were heading to the hospital then home. They’d had a good talk with Emmy, and Balta and Raul had stopped by. Bax felt like he could start to relax.
“You look like you can breathe,” Cotton said. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” He held the baby out to Cotton, who hooted. “Seriously. It’s good. All but Coke.”
“Emmy and me, we saw them last night. They stabilized his spine. He’ll be going to pick up the dogs then come to you in a couple of days.”
“Well, good.” They would set it up so Coke didn’t have to do dick all once he got up the stairs. “We’ve got tons of room for them and the bassets.”
“I know Dillon appreciates it too,” Emmy said softly. “Coke will need some enforced rest.”
“They can stay right there with us, as long as they want to.” Jason didn’t sound the least bit hesitant.
Bax did love him so.
“I can’t wait to see y’all’s place come spring.” Cotton wanted to come down and go deep-sea fishing.
“You’re welcome, anytime. We do have stairs.”
“We’ll bring a baby gate if we need one, but I bet they’re still pretty little in the spring, man.” Cotton chuckled.
“They’ll have a ball,” Jason said. “Y’all just call.”
“We will. We’ll let you settle some after the holidays.” Em gave them a husky chuckle. “Our families will want to see the babies a lot.”
“Of course. Between your brothers and Cotton’s momma, you’re going to be on fire.” Bax chuckled softly. “Come on, Jase. Let’s go see Gramps and head home.”
“You got it.” Mini was subdued some, but he knew that was all about Gramps. Hopefully, seeing him would make it better.
Then he was taking his man home, dammit.
They’d earned this.
Bax was starting to feel like there was a damn conspiracy to keep them from starting the new part of their life. There wasn’t, but he felt like it. He got Jason to give Em her baby back, then they were on the road.
“You get enough to eat?” Bax asked.
“Yeah.”
Uh-huh. Right. Jason hadn’t eaten a bite.
“You bring that muffin with you?” He needed Jason to at least try or he’d get sick on his stomach.
“Yeah. Yeah, I did. I love the lemon ones.”
Jason needed to talk to Coke and go home. Go back to life—real, long-term life.
They had so much to do. Hell, Bax’s honey-do list was longer than his arm. He was itchin’ to get to work.
The hospital was an easy drive, and they parked in visitor’s. “Come on, Mini. Let’s go do this. The water is calling me.” They wouldn’t make it home tonight, but the day after that? They’d be in their own bed.
“I’m in.” Jason stretched a little, and sure enough, halfway to the hospital Jason was eating that lemon muffin.
Coke was on the third floor, so they went straight up.
Dillon was sitting in Coke’s room, and he glanced up when they came in, his drawn face brightening. “Hey, guys. Congratulations, Jason. You did it.”
“I’m sorry. I swear to God, Dillon. I’m sorry.”
Dillon shook his head. “It could have been anyone, Jason. Coke knows the drill. Let me wake him up so he can say hi, huh? They have him a little dopey so he doesn’t move around too much.”
“How bad is it?”
“He’s tired, his body is wearing out, but he’s going to heal. He can walk. He can feel his arms and legs. He just needs a break and a rest.” Dillon stood and gently woke Coke up. “We’re getting out of here in two days, then we fly home, get the dogs and head to you.”
“That’s right.” Coke blinked awake. “We’re going to have a nice long vacation, a rest.”
Bax nodded easily. “You got it, Gramps. We got all the stuff you could need, huh?” He glanced at Dillon. “You gonna need any help driving down?”
“Nah. I’ll be good. The pups are in Waco, but Nattie said he’ll meet us with them and our truck in Houston. That’s an easy drive to you.”
“We’ll come hang with you, see the doctors in Houston, spend some time.” Coke met Jason’s eyes, like that mattered. “They’re going to make me retire, son. Ace came last night. I’m leaving. Nate is going to take over for at least a year. Dillon’s got two years left on his contract.”
Jason gawped toward Coke. “What? Gramps, you can’t! Is this my—”
“Son, Jase— It’s time. I’m ready. Me and Dillon and Nattie got plans to start a bullfighting school in Waco. We want to travel. We want to live. You understand that, don’t you?”
“I do.” Jason nodded, but his lips shook a little.
“We’ve been talking about it ever since Coke broke his neck last time. I’ll take on an apprentice. I even have a few guys in mind,” Dillon said. “Ace is willing to let me go early if the fans are positive about my replacement.”
Lord. Shit always changed, but this seemed crazy. Crazy.
“Gramps, I—” Jason took Coke’s hand. “I don’t know how to do this.”
“Yes, you do.” Coke smiled at Jason, even though they all knew Jase couldn’t see him. “You go home with Andy. You get a dog. You have a life. You know how to do this.”
Jason stared at Coke’s hand like he was really looking. “You think I can? I can—like, learn to use a cane. And a dog. I need you to tell me I can.”
“I got no doubt. None at all. You won the championship without being able to see.” Coke chuckled softly.
“The rest is gravy.” There was a second where Coke stopped, his lips twisted and he said, “I’m proud of you, Jason.
You’re the closest thing to a son I’ve ever had, and you did good.
Now, go home and get ready for me to come for Turkey Day. ”
“I love you, old man.”
“Good deal, because we’re going to see a ton of each other.”
Dillon watched them, a tiny smile on his face, and Bax felt all damn choked up. “Like a soap opera, y’all. Jesus.”
“That’s us, Andy. As the Cowboys Turn.”
Jason chuckled. “The Young and the Bull Riders.”
“The Bullfighting Light,” Dillon added.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. All y’all have spent too much time over the years stuck in hotel rooms!” Bax groaned dramatically, and that got them all to laughing.
“Thank you. You and Dillon. For all your help.” Jason squeezed Coke’s hand, then squared his shoulders. “Y’all need anything?”
“I don’t think so. Y’all will be home day after tomorrow. We’ll be there a couple-three days after that. Pick me up some chocolate milk to take my pills with.”
“We can do that.” They would get all of Coke’s favorites. Some of Dillon’s too.
Dillon stood up with them. “I’ll walk them out, babe.”
“Good deal. Tell the nurse I want to get up and pee and have her change the sheets. I sweated.”
“You got it.” Dillon gave him double guns, then headed out with them, stopping by the nurses’ station to murmur a few words. Then he joined them again. “This is not your fault, Jason. This is cowboy protection. We can’t wait to come see you, though.”
“You tell Nate if he wants to come for a few days too, he’s welcome,” Bax said. “I know he’ll want to be home for Turkey Day, but we got time and room.”
“Tracey wants to come out between the holidays, but they have some things to discuss.” Dillon sighed softly, leading them to the elevators.
“Coke was considering retiring already, Jase. He wants to start this bullfighting school with Nattie. Nate’s going to sell his house and move out near us.
This isn’t your fault. Ace just made it so Coke didn’t have to say it out loud. ”
“I’m gonna believe you, Dillon, because you wouldn’t blow smoke up my ass.” To Bax’s ever-loving surprise, Jason reached out and snagged Dillon in a hug. Too bad Jason couldn’t see Dillon’s face. The man had clearly needed it.
“I’m ready for a holiday together. We’re damn near family, right?”
“Shit, we are family—huge and fucked up and weird, but family.” Jason snorted, tossing his head like a fractious horse. “We’ll see you at the house in a few days.”
“Go on.” Dillon jerked his head at Bax. “Get him out of here before I get any more emotional.”
“Yessir.” Bax shook Dillon’s hand. “You’re a good friend, even if you freak me out a little.”
Dillon did a little jig. “I love you too, Andy Baxter. Be careful going home.”
They all chuckled then they turned and left. Coke and Dillon didn’t need their dithering. Not one bit.
Jason reached out and took his arm, easy as pie, right there in the hospital. “I’m ready, Bax. Let’s go home and get me a dog. It’s time.”
Bax snorted, then kinda busted out laughing. “Well, all right, Jason, but do they let all them hound dogs you love be seeing-eye dogs?”
God help them all… If it could be, Mini would make it so.
Bax led them out the door into the sunshine.
Their beach was waiting.