Chapter Thirteen
Riley glanced down at the granny dress Garrett picked out for her. It didn’t help when the aide pushed her wheelchair to the room where they planned on casting her arm. Tara walked beside her, and when she saw the multiple-colored cast options, she squealed with delight.
“Oh, Riley. You can choose your favorite color, purple. Before you start acting practically, you have to wear it for six to eight weeks. You might try getting something you’ll enjoy,” Tara said excitedly.
“White. It goes with everything,” Riley told the aide.
“Oh, come on. White will get dirty after a few days. What about blue or tie dye?” Tara asked, staring at her hopefully.
“Fine,” she gave in. “Why don’t you pick out a color?
“How about purple for your arm?” Tara asked.
“It sounds perfect,” she said unenthusiastically.
Feeling exhausted, she didn’t give two cents about the cast as she added up the hospital bills.
She doubted Kenny planned to deduct it from the ten grand she gave him.
Her head throbbed as she realized she probably lost her job after not reporting over the last few days.
Obviously, she didn’t consider returning to the biker bar, but she needed an income.
On top of caring for her sister, she’d have hospital bills.
Every time they offered her medication, she calculated in her head how long she’d have to work to pay for one tablet.
They placed her on the table while they wrapped her arm. She gritted her teeth, regretting saying no to the medication. Luckily, Garrett left to prepare the cabin for their arrival. If they finished before he returned, Julio and Rebecca planned to take them to the ranch.
When they finished, she used the rest of her energy to sit in the wheelchair. Her leg throbbed, and her arm felt heavy. Her fingers appeared like little sausages.
Tara babbled beside her. “Garrett said he has a computer I can borrow to catch up on classes. I’ll need you to email the teachers to excuse my absence. Hopefully, they’ll let me turn in my late work.”
“I’m sure they will,” Riley said, disinterested. “Where’s the envelope I gave you?”
“I have it in my bag. Did you know they gave Garrett the cabin to use while he’s working there? It means no rent, Riley. We can save a ton of money. Oh, please say we can splurge and get the pizza,” Tara begged as they returned to her room.
“Can I at least get out of this place first? Every minute I lie there, it costs me a fortune,” she snapped at Tara.
Her sister grew unusually quiet. “I’m sorry, Riley. You must be uncomfortable, and I’m prattling on about food.”
Shit. “I’m irritable and took it out on you. I owe you an apology, Tara. I hate hospitals, and I expect Dad to show up any minute. He always seems to track us down,” she explained as the aide locked the wheels and helped her transfer to the bed.
Tara waited until the staff left before turning to Riley. “Rebecca told me they listed you as a Jane Doe. Dad won’t find us. Did you want me to give you the money?” she asked, walking over to a new backpack.
“Where did you get that?” Riley asked as her eyes narrowed.
“Rebecca gave it to me this morning. It sure beats the one I used when we left. It has space for a laptop. I’ll take good care of it, and it might make it until I start college.
Then, my financial aid will pay for one of those cool laptops in different colors,” Tara gushed as she brought the bag over for Riley to inspect it.
“What’s our number one rule?” she reminded Tara.
“If something comes for free, check it for strings,” Tara repeated. “Rebecca said she bought extra ones. She took me into a room where she kept her supplies, and they had tons of them. Do you want me to give it back?”
Riley sighed, feeling like an ass, especially when Tara gazed at her as if she had done something horrible. It’s a damn backpack, not a million bucks.
“No, you can keep it. Your old one can’t be sewn together anymore. Plus, it’s your favorite color,” Riley said, making a mental note to ask Rebecca how much it cost.
“Hey, kiddo,” Garrett said, smiling at Tara. When he saw Riley, it faded as he nodded at her. “The nurse caught me in the hall and gave me your discharge paperwork. Do you have everything you need?”
“Yes,” she said as he gazed at the ugly dress he bought her. Which reminded her she needed to pay him for it, too.
“I picked up your groceries and put everything in the coolers. Tara, you’ll have me organized in no time,” he complimented her.
“What list?” Riley said, narrowing her eyes toward her sister.
“Garrett recently moved to the cabin. He asked me to make a list of the basics he’ll need,” she explained. “We agreed to trade chores since we’re not paying rent.”
“What kind of chores?” Riley asked as Garrett pushed the call button to let the nurse know they were ready to leave.
“Don’t panic, Riley,” he said softly. “Tara said you don’t like anything free. We agreed to laundry and cleaning chores.”
She nodded, not wanting to tamp down Tara’s excitement.
An aide arrived to wheel her down to Garrett’s truck. Tara climbed into the back seat while she unsteadily rose and glanced toward the vehicle. Garrett’s truck stood higher off the ground. The aide held onto the wheelchair as if studying the perplexing problem.
Garrett swore under his breath and moved the wheelchair out of the way while he held onto her for safety.
He bent, picking her up in his arms and setting her on the seat.
He grabbed the pillows from the back, supporting her leg and held one out for her arm.
Riley stared at him as he tenderly moved her arm and placed the pillow under it.
“When’s the last time you took a pain pill?” he asked gently, searching her face.
Riley glanced out the dashboard window. “I’m good until we arrive home.”
“But Riley, you refused the pills when the nurse brought them to you. You said you can buy a whole bottle for what they charged for one,” Tara exclaimed.
Riley groaned and closed her eyes. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment at getting caught in a lie.
“Do you want to tell me the truth?” Garrett asked, his voice sounding pissed.
“I didn’t need it,” Riley lied. Her arm already throbbed, and her leg ached nonstop.
Garrett adjusted his hat low on his head as his expression turned thunderous.
She shrank into the seat in uncomfortable silence. Her usually quiet sister turned into a narc.
Garrett pulled into a drugstore drive-thru and handed the woman the prescription.
“Do you have an insurance card?” the cashier asked, pleasantly.
“No. I’ll pay cash. How long will it take to fill it?” he asked patiently.
“I’ll need about twenty minutes,” the cashier told him.
“Thank you,” he said, pulling out of the parking lot. He drove down the road and pulled into Papa Joe’s Pizza. He turned in his seat to face Tara. “I’m in the mood for pizza. By the time we get Riley settled, it’ll be past lunch. Can you come with me and tell me what you like on yours?”
Tara grinned as she shot from the truck before Riley could stop her.
“Wait, she has money in her backpack,” she said as Garrett started to close his door.
“I’ve got the pizza. Tara did me a favor with her list.”
“What about me? You don’t know what I like on mine,” she said angrily.
“I doubt you’d tell me the truth, but your sister will.
I can’t tolerate lying, Riley. You need to keep ahead of your pain, and we still have to make the drive to the ranch.
If you don’t want the pills because you think I’ll hurt you or your sister, I’ll give you my license,” Garrett said, his voice sounding tense.
“You’ve already done enough. I appreciate it, but we can’t pay you anything. I won’t be able to work for a couple of weeks,” Riley stammered.
Garrett barked out a laugh. “You’ll be in a cast for six to eight weeks. And if I find out you tried to report for work before the doctor releases you, I’ll haul your ass out of there.”
“You don’t get to tell me what to do. You’re not the boss of me,” Riley shouted, feeling irritated by his cocky attitude.
“Try me. Why can’t you accept help when you care for your sister? Do you find it hard to trust people?” he asked.
“We don’t take charity,” Riley said, determined.
“It’s not charity, damn it. Tara offered to help me settle in at the cabin. I have to work the ranch and don’t feel up to coming home and dealing with dinner and unpacking,” he explained.
Riley fought back the tears as she glanced at her lap. She didn’t have much choice and seemed to dig herself into a bigger hole.
Under normal circumstances, she might’ve found Garrett attractive and protective. The ranch seemed like a secure place after her ordeal with Kenny, Bernice, and her father. Maybe she needed to bide her time, and when she healed, they’d catch the bus to Corpus Christie.
Garrett’s head threatened to blow as he waited patiently for the pizza.
Tara excitedly tapped her feet as they sat by the window, keeping an eye on Riley.
Using his remote, he turned the ignition on to keep her comfortable while they waited.
Her head hung down, and her blonde hair covered her face, making it hard to determine what she was thinking.
They called his name, and Tara bounced up, eagerly anticipating the meal. He grabbed two root beers, a lemon lime soda, and water for Riley. Holding the door and the pizza, he let Tara go first. She jumped into the back seat and held her hands out for the boxes.
He handed them to her, thinking no teen should feel this excited for pizza. He placed the bag with the drinks in the middle console as he slid into his seat. Passing Tara hers, he turned to Riley. “I have a lemon lime soda or water for you?”
“I’ll take the lemon-lime,” she said quietly.
“They said to eat before you take the medication. I say we eat some pizza before it gets cold, and we can finish it later,” he suggested, glancing in the rear-view mirror at Tara. She beamed from ear to ear.