Chapter Thirty-nine
The ride to the doctor’s office was awful and Vaughn was grateful when they finally arrived and she could stand, freeing herself from the uncomfortable seat of the truck. Her legs were wobbly as she carefully emerged and stood on the pavement. Her mother was instantly at her side, gripping her arm as Gram locked up the vehicle.
“I can do it,” she managed to say as the two of them tried to lead her inside the doctor’s office. She was tired and cranky and in horrible pain. And she was sick of all the fuss everyone was making over her. But more than that, she was worried about the two idiots who were targeting her and the ranch. What would they do next? Hurt someone? Steal another horse? Her ranch, her employees, and her loved ones were in danger, and the cops were doing jack shit about it. She didn’t know what she was going to do, but she knew she needed to do something. The police just weren’t cutting it.
She made it into the medical building and all the way up to the elevator before Gram started talking about going to get her a wheelchair. “Absolutely not,” Vaughn said. “I can make it.”
“Vaughn, you can hardly move,” Gram said.
“It will hurt worse to sit in a wheelchair.” It was true, she knew that from sitting on the car ride over. But it was more than that and she knew it. She pushed her pride from her mind and left it at that. It would just be too uncomfortable, and thankfully, her mother and Gram seemed to accept it. So she forged on, rode the elevator up to the second floor, and staggered all the way down the long hallway to her doctor’s office.
Unfortunately, she had to sit in the waiting area after checking in, but it soon became too painful so she vacillated between sitting and standing as she waited. When she finally went back and saw the doctor, she didn’t receive great news. Her doctor referred her to a neuro-spinal center for a consultation and told her to rest. She argued with her, telling her about the ranch and all that needed to be done, but her doctor held firm. Vaughn walked out with her paperwork, too upset to talk. So her mother and Gram helped her back to the truck in silence. They made it halfway home before they couldn’t contain themselves any longer.
“Well, you gonna tell us what’s going on?” Gram asked as she drove.
Vaughn stared out the window, feeling trapped by pain and overzealous fussing from her mother and Gram. She wanted to jump out of the truck.
“I have to see another doctor. A neurosurgeon.”
“A neurosurgeon?” Vivian asked.
“Yes. She said I should consult a neurosurgeon because it involves my nerves. So she referred me to the Barrow Brain and Spine Center.”
“She thinks it’s that bad?” Gram asked, looking over at her.
“She suspects. And no, I don’t know anything else.”
Her mother placed her hand on her leg. “I know you’re in pain, Vaughn, and you’re upset, but you’re going to have to talk to us. We need to know what’s going on.”
Vaughn sighed and rubbed her forehead. Her mother was right. “I’m sorry, I’m just…”
“You don’t have to apologize for feeling crummy,” Gram said. “Just fill us in.”
“Well, I can’t work,” Vaughn said, her voice cracking with emotion. She’d never said those words before and they nearly tore her throat as they fought their way out. “She said I have to rest.” Even if she tried to work she knew she wouldn’t be able to. She was hurting too damn bad now.
“I’m sorry,” her mother said. “I know this is hard on you.”
“I’ve never not worked.”
“I know. But it’s only temporary. And I’m here, I’ll help.”
“It won’t be enough,” Vaughn said. “I mean, it’s appreciated, but it won’t be enough. Not with all the new business.”
“We’ll hire a couple more hands,” Gram said. “I know things will continue to be tight if we do, but we got no other choice.”
Vaughn closed her eyes and massaged her brow. “You’re right,” she finally said, opening her eyes to stare out into the passing desert.
“We’ll get on that with Natalie first thing when we get home.”
“Natalie? She helps with the hiring?” her mother asked.
“She posts the job listings for us on numerous websites,” Vaughn said. “She also made us a whole new website for the ranch. She did a really good job.”
“Did she? Wow. The more I hear about her, the more I like her, and I didn’t think it was possible to like her any more than I already did.”
“She’s a little trouper,” Gram said. “You don’t know the half of it.”
“I know she sounds like a keeper,” her mother said, smiling over at Vaughn. She patted her leg. “What do you think?”
“I think I’d rather not discuss my romantic life with my mother and grandmother right now.” Mainly because she didn’t know what to say in response to her mother’s question. She had too many other things on her mind at the moment. Maybe when all this chaos slowed down she could take the time to reevaluate and go from there.
“Oh, alright. I guess I can understand that,” her mother said. “I never did like discussing your father with your gram and gran. It just felt weird.”
“Thank you,” Vaughn said, grabbing her mother’s hand to hold. “I appreciate you understanding.”
“You know, I’ve been thinking…” her mother said.
“Uh-oh,” Gram said. “That’s always a frightening statement.”
“Funny, Mama.” Her mother continued. “I’m selling my place in Taos.”
“You are?” Gram asked, turning to look at her.
“I’ve wanted to for a while now.”
“Why?” Vaughn asked. Her mother, as far as she knew, loved living in Taos and selling her art. This was definitely news.
“Well, because I miss home. I miss you,” she said, squeezing Vaughn’s hand. “And you, Mama. And well, I think it’s time to come back home. Especially now with all the help that’s needed.”
Gram smiled and patted her leg. “Well, I’m just thrilled! I’ll have both my girls. Doesn’t get much better than that.”
Vaughn smiled at her as well. “That’s great news, Mom. I’ve really missed you.”
“Thank you, sweetie.”
“Will you still paint?”
“Oh, I’ll always paint. I just might not do it full-time. At least not until you and the ranch get back on your feet.”
“Just think,” Gram said. “The three Ruger women all under one roof again.” But her face clouded. “Unless Natalie leaves. Then you’d be in the guesthouse I suppose.”
“Natalie’s leaving?” her mother asked.
“At some point I reckon she will,” Gram said.
Her mother looked over at Vaughn. “Why would she leave? I thought she was happy at the ranch and with you.”
“She is,” Vaughn said. “But it was only a temporary arrangement.” She leaned forward to look over at Gram. “Has she said she’s leaving, Gram?”
“She’s talking about it again. Talking about her future and looking for a place online. I don’t think she wants to stay in Phoenix. She’s still too worried about her ex-husband.”
Vaughn’s stomach clenched. “I wish I could fix that situation.”
“Don’t we all.”
“Maybe you could talk to her,” Gram said. “See what she’s thinking.”
“Yes, please do,” her mother said. “I’d hate to see her go. I’d really like to get to know her better.”
Vaughn nodded and stared out through the windshield. Natalie’s thinking about leaving Phoenix? While she understood why, she didn’t like the idea. In fact, it made her feel sick inside and panicked. Her heart was racing. She had to talk to her. Had to stop her. She couldn’t leave. Not the ranch, nor Phoenix.
“I’ll talk to her when we get home.” This was something that could not wait. She didn’t want Natalie taking off like she did last time. And knowing Natalie and the way she feared confrontation and her ex-husband, she just might try to pack up and sneak off, thinking it was the safest way to do it.
God, were any of them safe right now? What with Ricky and Pedro roaming free and doing as they pleased to make their life hell, and Natalie’s ex-husband lurking somewhere, none of them were safe and it was an awful feeling.
Her head hurt just thinking about it all. And her back was damn near killing her from sitting so long. Thankfully, they were almost back at the ranch.
Gram exited I-17 and turned off onto the private road. They drove for a few minutes before they passed an oncoming vehicle. Gram slowed and pulled over as the SUV drove by, not bothering to slow for them at all. Vaughn turned and tried to get a good look at the driver, but he’d blown by them, kicking up dirt along the way.
His tag said Arizona, so he was local.
“Who was that?” her mother asked, looking behind them as well.
“Some asshole,” Gram said, pulling back onto the dirt road.
“I don’t know,” Vaughn said. “I hope it wasn’t Natalie’s ex.”
“She said he drives a fancy Mercedes,” Gram said.
Vaughn glanced behind them once again, not having a good feeling about the mysterious SUV. Where was he going so fast and more importantly, where was he coming from?
“Do you think it was those ranch hands who’ve been bothering you?” her mother asked.
“No. They don’t have the money for a nice SUV like that. And the driver looked to be alone,” Vaughn said. “Whoever it was had to be coming from the ranch, so I guess we’ll soon find out who it was from the others.”
“I guess so,” Gram said as she slowed to turn onto the drive.
But Vaughn still had a bad feeling. And she hoped, as they drove up to the damaged gate and cameras, that she wouldn’t find more chaos ahead.