Chapter 32
It was late before word came on Garth’s wife.
Kurt was still trying to wrap his head around what had happened, what would make a woman turn on her own mother that way.
Garth’s daughter Janie was sitting there with a stunned look on her beautiful face.
He’d always liked Janie—and her older brother Jackson—when they’d come around the ranch to see their father.
Janie had moved in with the Glasses back when Garth had had a mild stroke three years ago.
They had a house on the corner of Kurt’s own property—the Glasses had raised their three children in that house long before Kurt had bought the ranch before it could be foreclosed on six years ago.
It was their home. They were good people.
People he cared about, and he hated to see them hurting.
Marie was in critical condition. The Glasses’ former son-in-law was in guarded. Or something like that, Kurt wasn’t too clear on the distinctions and levels. All he knew was that Brenton Ryce was expected to recover eventually. But Marie…they still didn’t know her prognosis.
Kurt just waited.
And tried not to stare at the damned Hillers surrounding everyone.
Well, he made no bones about checking on the Hiller he wanted, whenever he could. She stayed with her family as they waited for news about her brother. Someone from social services had arrived to officially take over for Greer.
Now, she was free to be with her family.
He had never really seen them all together like this. Even at that barbecue they’d been spread out in various places.
Greer’s mother hovered, over all of them. Especially Greer and Greer’s little curly-haired friend. Hanan’s baby sister. That poor woman had bandages all up and down her arms—and nightmares in her eyes. Greer was hovering over her, too.
Jackson, Garth’s son, a man a few years younger than Kurt, was sitting next to the Hillers now. Next to Greer. They’d speak to one another occasionally.
Kurt wanted to be the one next to her. He could hold her.
Protect her from as much of this as he could.
Garth was just sitting next to Kurt now, holding Janie’s hand.
That poor kid. She was a quieter woman, sweet in a shy way.
Now, she had a look of determination in her blue eyes that Kurt did understand.
Janie was hovering over her dad, and watching over her niece and nephew, too.
The sheriff came in. And came to Garth. “Any word on how she is? How Brenton is?”
Brenton Ryce worked for Clay. Clay had been called back out to the scene an hour ago. Kurt just shook his head. “No change yet.”
Brenton Ryce didn’t really have anyone except Jessica’s family and Clay. Someone had said he’d grown up in foster care around Barratt and Finley Creek counties.
Hell, Kurt knew exactly how that felt. And he had two kids dependent on him now, too. If something happened to him…what would happen to the girls? To the baby he shared with Greer?
He had updated his will after getting the girls, but…it wasn’t quite the same. Who would love the girls the most?
Jackson came to his dad’s side. “Dad, let’s go for a walk. I need to clear my head.”
“But…”
“I’ll stay right here,” Janie said. She had her nephew in her arms, his little curly hair shot out everywhere on his head. “I’ll text if anything—”
Garth stood.
Kurt stayed where he was. He really didn’t know what he was supposed to do now. He just…Garth was one of his closest friends on the planet. And he needed Kurt now. And Greer…Kurt wasn’t going to be too far away from her. Not as long as she needed him.
Kurt stood, and stepped into the hall, after Jackson and Garth headed down the opposite direction. He needed to call the sitter, check on his girls. Make sure they were okay without him for a little while.
When he turned around—there she was.
Alone.
She hadn’t been alone all evening. “Hey. Honey, you need me?”
Greer gave him that little look of hers that said she thought he was being a damned idiot. “Never.”
He reached out, brushed a hand over her elbow. Greer had the softest skin of any woman he had ever touched. He wanted to touch her…everywhere. Forever. Did that make him a creep or an asshole?
Then her arms were open and she was reaching for him. Kurt just scooped her close. He hadn’t missed the fact that she could have walked right in on what had happened today.
He loved this woman in front of him. He would never deny that again. “Any new word on your brother?”
Whenever someone would bring an update, her parents and oldest brother George would step out of the room with the medical personnel—Greer’s doctor brother’s girlfriend or fiancée or whatever she was. Kurt was clear on the other side of the room each time.
He knew how much she loved her family. “I hate that you are hurting.”
If he could make it all better for her, he would.
His fingers spread, over her elbow. “Look at me, honey. Come on, look at me.”
“Why would I even want to do that?” But she was pressing closer, wasn’t she?
Kurt just held her as long as he could. All he wanted was for her to forgive him and love him again. He would do anything for that to happen.
“Because I’m not going away. And you are hurting. And I wish I could just make it better somehow.”
Kurt just held her, right there in the middle of the hospital, for as long as he could. “I’m not going anywhere.”