26. Chapter 26
Chapter 26
Colt
I honestly didn't think this shitty day could get any worse. Fuck .
George is gone; paramedics confirmed it while I have been upstairs with Brynn. She is finally not sobbing and is now asleep against me as I hold her in my arms. I think she honestly cried herself to sleep. I have no idea what to do. I was really hoping one of her brothers would come up here so I could leave her with family.
I don't want to leave her, though. I could easily get her situated in the bed, but I can't make myself move. I kiss her tear-stained cheeks. I can still feel the agony of her sobs; I remember feeling them when my mother passed. A light knock sounds on her bedroom door, and Whitney walks in.
"Hey, how is she doing?" She whispers as she walks closer to the bed.
"She basically cried herself to sleep," I say as Brynn quivers in my arms .
"We should let her sleep. There are people downstairs wanting to see her but honestly, I think it would be detrimental to wake her." Whitney rubs a palm over Brynn's curls.
"Do you think it's okay to leave her alone in here?"
"Do you want to stay with her?" Whitney lifts her brow like she already knows that is exactly what I want.
"Can you pull back the covers if I stand up with her?"
"Sure."
I tighten my hold on Brynn and stand up with her in my arms. Whitney moves quickly to pull back her sheet and blanket so I can lay her down. As I lay her down, she wakes.
"Don't leave. Please," she whispers as she curls into herself and rests her hands under her chin. I lean down to kiss her forehead like it is the most natural thing in the world.
"You really do care about her, don't you?" Whitney asks, as she pulls the blanket up to Brynn's shoulder.
"Crazy, but yes. I do care for her, even if she can't stand me." I huff a laugh.
"She likes you a lot more than she lets on, Cowboy. Brynn is complicated."
"I like complicated," I say with a wink. "Can you stay with her while I go check on Callie and Millie? I also want to see Blake and Brooks."
"Sure. I don't want her to wake up alone. "
I close the door behind me as I exit Brynn's bedroom. I walk down the stairs as quietly as I can with my boots on and go find Callie. Everyone is sitting in the living room, more people here than there was when I went upstairs. Word must have spread fast.
"How is Brynn doing?" Callie asks as soon as she sees me.
"She's asleep; Whitney is staying with her, so she won't be alone when she wakes up."
Blake and Brooks both watch my every move as I take a seat beside Callie on the couch. Maybe I showed too many of my cards earlier, but I just wanted to console Brynn. I felt her heartache, and I wanted to lessen it.
"I have never seen Brynn cry," Brooks says. "Not even when were little. One time we told her she couldn't climb this huge tree in the yard, and she did it anyway. Fell right out of it on her way down, broke two bones in her arm and never shed a tear."
Blake sniffs, "I have never seen her cry either. Our sister is strong, to see her break like that right in front of my eyes. It. It broke me too."
"She is strong, for sure. But she is still human," Callie says as she wipes a tear away.
Momma Ann comes into the living room, "Coffee?" She sets a tray of mugs and the coffee pot on the table in front of the couch. Brooks leans in and pours a mug full and hands it over to Blake, he then repeats the process and leans back in the recliner he is sitting in. "Thanks Momma Ann."
"If you boys need anything else, you just let me know," she says quietly before making her way back to the kitchen. I am pretty sure she has already started meal prep for breakfast.
"We need to go to the bunkhouse. The ranch hands don't know what is going on. Matt text me and asked if there was an emergency and I could only reply yes." Blake shakes his head, rubs his palms down his thighs and goes to stand.
"I'll handle it. I'll be back in a few." I stand and walk in the direction of the front door.
I make my way to the bunkhouse, taking the cooler air into my lungs as I walk past the barn. It was just a few hours ago when Brynn and I were in there together. So much has changed since then. I knock loudly on the door once and then turn the knob to enter.
The guys are all sitting around solemnly as I walk in. I see they are all gathered in the common area, but the tv nor radio is on. It is quite eerie to see the bunkhouse like this.
"There is no easy way to say this, so I'm just gonna put it out there." I clear my throat, "George is gone." Gasps and sniffles come from all around the room. Men hang their heads and wipe their faces.
"Not sure of any details regarding the service, but I am sure Blake will let you know as soon as there is any information. "
The men nod and I turn to leave when Matt steps up beside me. "How's everyone doing?"
"As expected," I say as I put my hands in my pockets, eager to get back to check on Brynn.
"Are we allowed to come to the main house in the morning?" He asks quietly.
"Yes. Nothing changes in that regard." He nods in understanding and turns to the rest of the ranch hands. "Let's get some rest guys; the next few days are gonna be tough."
As I walk back to the main house, I look at the vast sky. Mother nature's diamonds are glittering in the dark inky sky tonight. The sounds of crickets and farm life surround me as I take a moment to appreciate the life of a mentor. George Rutherford was a good man; he quickly became a father figure to me. His love for nature, family and friends was immense.
I stomp the dirt from my boots before going inside the main house. Everyone is still gathered in the living room, and I notice Whitney is there, sitting in the recliner with Brooks. She makes eye contact with me and knows just what to say to ease my mind. "Brynn will be down in a few, she is just taking a shower." I nod and take a seat on the couch.
"Bunkhouse, okay?" Blake asks as he takes a sip of his coffee.
"Yeah," I clear my throat. "They will be okay." Blake nods as Brynn comes down the steps .
She is wearing my shirt and joggers from the other night. My dick should not be perking up at a time like this, but the fucker has a mind of its own. She plops down on the couch right beside me. Her fresh citrusy scent billowing around her. She leans her head on my shoulder. "Thank you," she whispers.
I nod in acknowledgement, but other than that, I keep my body still, so she won't move off my shoulder. Her brother's eye us suspiciously.