Page 56 of Rancher's Heart

“It was good. How was yours?” My tone suspicious as I moved closer to where he sat. “Griffin Harp, you better lift your head and look at me before I do it for you.” I frowned as I watched the man. Something was wrong. He never avoided looking at me.

“Was the office busy today?” He asked as he lifted his head.

“What in the actual fudge happened?” I glanced over at Parker, who rolled his eyes at me switching the word I really wanted to use. A gash along Griff’s hairline was oozing a little bloody and there was what looked like dirt imbedded in the wound.

“Had an accident.” He shrugged.

“Shocking,” I deadpanned as I crossed my arms and stared at him.

“It’s nothing, you hungry?” He stood and wobbled on his feet slightly.

“Sit your ass down.” This time, I didn’t bother changing the word. There was a time for responsible parenting and a time for fury and now it was fury. Heading back to the entryway, I grabbed my bag and dug around until I found my pen light.

Heading back to the table, I put my hand under Griff’s chin and made him look up at me. “Are you this rough with all your patients?” He groans as I turn his head, so I can assess the wound and the goose egg.”

“Only the ones I really like.” I smile tightly and listen to Parker laughing again. Letting his head go I reach for the pen. “Okay, look at me.”

“Gladly,” Griff exclaims as he gazes up at me. Lifting my hand, I shone the light into his eye, and I’m not overly happy with how slow his pupil response is to the glare. Moving to his other eye, it appears normal, and I go back to the one on the same side as his injury.

“Did you lose consciousness?”

“Nope, just got kicked in the chest, and thanks to the uneven footing I had on the mountain I fell.”

“Wait, what do you mean you were kicked?” I glanced down at his chest, and the dirty outline of a boot print was square in the middle of his chest. He followed my gaze and frowned as he tried to wipe the dirt off his white shirt.

“I caught someone trespassing on the mountain again. They got away, but the fence was cut between our place and Troy’s so I need to go talk to him tomorrow.”

Glancing at Parker I silently prayed his father had nothing to do with this. I knew he didn’t love the idea of Parker and mebeing here with Griff, but it wasn’t like he was offering his ranch for me to live on. Troy might not like the idea of another man in Parker’s life but I doubted he had it out for Griff. It wasn’t his style.

“I’m not accusing him of anything, Elle, I just need to talk to him.” Griff reached for my hand and I tightened my grip on him.

“Okay, well, I think I need to get that cleaned up and dressed. When did this happen?” I asked as I walked to the cupboard where we kept the first aid kit.

“I don’t know, just before noon?” Griff shrugged.

“If you need stitches, I’m sending you down to Jake,” I set the kit on the table and out of the corner of my eye, saw Parker get up and take his plate to the sink.

“I’ve got some homework.” He said as he left the room.

Griff shifted in his chair and I stood between his legs as I dabbed the wet gauze on his head. “Parker did his best when he got home from school.”

“I thought it looked like someone had tried.” Smiling, I looked down the hallway, but his door was closed. “Did you lose consciousness?” I asked and Griff shrugged.

“It’s a yes or no answer.” I huffed.

“Maybe? I blacked out but it wasn’t very long.” He added quickly.

“Any dizziness, or nausea?” Griff’s hand moved from his thigh to the back of my leg, and he absentmindedly moved it up and down as I finished cleaning him up. He pulled me to him and I tilted his head up. “Answers.”

He let his hands cup my ass, and he nodded. “Dizzy when I tried to get up, and I thought I was going to throw up right after.” As if he didn’t have a care in the world, he moved his hands, so they were between my legs, my scrub pants a poor barrier between my sin and the warmth of his hands.

Closing my eyes I took a deep breath, and tried not to think of his hands so close to where I wanted them. “I don’t think you need stitches, but it might not hurt to go see Jake tomorrow. I’m worried you have a mild concussion.” My tone low and concern filled.

“So, does that mean you have to keep me awake all night?” His voice was like melted butter and he’d moved his hands so his fingers grazed over my pussy.

“Nice try, pal.” I slapped his shoulder, and he grimaced. Of course, he was hurt. Given his head wound, he would have fallen on his bad shoulder. “Griff?”

“It’s fine, it just aches.” He let it fall to his side. It wasn’t fine. He wasn’t getting any better. The relief he’d once had from the massages was coming further and further apart. He needed to be open about what was happening. Cortisone was the next thing he would need.

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