Page 64 of Rancher's Heart

“There hasn’t been anyone come out since we got here,” Ryder said quietly. Everyone nodded and took seats around us. “I called his parents. They’re on their way.”

I wanted to tell them it wasn’t good, but I didn’t think I needed to state the obvious. I think they all knew how bad it was. “Wait, who has all your kids?” I asked, looking at Nora and Fallon.

“Mom and Phil have them all at their place. I’m sure we’ll owe them vacation after this.” Fallon laughed and Nora nodded in agreement.

We all seemed to take turns pacing the waiting room. “I’m going to get coffee. Who wants some?” Kristin said as she walked toward the exit. Everyone raised their hands, Linc stood up, and they walked out of the room hand in hand.

‘They’re back together?” I whispered to Nora, who had taken the spot right beside me.

“Yeah.” She shook her head. “I wish they could just see how good they are together.” She shrugged and looked at me. “Speaking of being good together.”

“I told him I loved him while I was doing compressions, so I don’t think it counted,” I whispered.

“He heard you. I know he did.” She smiled at me and hugged me. I hoped she was right, but if she wasn’t, I’d tell him again if he wakes up.

“Griffin Harp’s family?” A doctor walked through the double doors and pulled the surgical cap off his head.

Pushing myself out of the chair, I moved toward the doctor, followed by all the people who I now knew weren’t just friends. They were family. “He’s stable.” The doctor’s words were cautious, but that didn’t stop me from taking a step back. Ryder put his arm around my shoulders to steady me.

“The beam fell on his left arm and shattered his shoulder. We’re prepping him for surgery to see if we can replace it. I won’t lie, it’s going to be touch and go, but we’ll do our best. There’s far more nerve damage involved than I expected.”

“It’s not new doctor. He’s got severe damage from years of bull riding and a fall last year, where he broke it and his collarbone. I’ve been helping him with physical therapy, massage, and cortisone injections.” The room fell silent, and all eyes turned from the doctor to me.

“Thank you. That will be helpful when we open him up. You acted extremely fast Elle. You saved that man’s life. He might be mad at you until his ribs heal but I’m sure he’ll get over it.” The doctor smiled at me before turning to go back into the restricted area.

“What do you mean you’ve been helping him?” Kipp asked, crossing his arms and narrowing his gaze on me.

“It should be him telling you this, not me.”

“Well, I don’t think he’s available at the moment,” Ryder said with more attitude than I’ve ever heard from him.

Turning on my heel, I returned to the chair I’d been sitting in. Reaching for my coffee, I grabbed it and downed what was left coughing while I swallowed a mouthful of coffee grounds.

“When I got kicked out of my place, I moved in with Griff to help him rehab his shoulder, not because we’d been seeing one another. The first time I saw him since the hospital a year ago was when I brought his horses home.” Looking out the window I stared into the parking lot illuminated by the yellow lights and the occasional glow of red brake lights.

“So I did things around the house he wasn’t able to. By the end of the day, he usually has no use of that arm.” Running my hands through my hair, I realized how much I smelled like smoke and how dirty I must be.

“Even with me working on his shoulder almost daily, there was very little improvement. His last scan showed further deterioration. Surgery was inevitable. He just had to figure out when.” I shrugged like my explanation would solve every question they were bound to have.

“Wait. Was the dropping stuff, and keeping his hand lodged in his belt loops or pocket because he couldn’t feel it?” Ryder said as if he just realized all the signs were there, but they didn’t see.

I nodded in confirmation. “He didn’t want anyone to know. Even me, but I saw the signs and asked questions. He did a really good job of hiding it until someone knew what to look for.” I gave them half a smile, hoping it would set their minds at ease. All the guys took their seats around me and were quiet. Eerily quiet. This was what Griff didn’t want. He never wanted them to feel bad for missing the signs and not making him slow down. They were his brothers, the men he’d trusted with his life, and they didn’t see that he was hurting.

CHAPTER 34

GRIFF

There was an incessant beep beside my ear, and I wanted to stop it. Reaching over I swung in the air but didn’t connect with anything. “Hey, no, you have to keep still.” A soft voice said as a warm hand wrapped around mine, pulling it back down to the bed. It was then I realized I was in pain from that slight movement, and I groaned.

“I know, it’s okay, just breathe.” The same voice said, as whoever it was brushed my hair back off my face. “That’s it. Just breathe through it and relax.”

“He’s awake?” another voice said, this one lower, and a man. I needed to open my eyes; I didn’t want to be the only one who didn’t know what was happening. Then it dawned on me: the fire, getting the horses out, watching the beam fall above me, a woman crying over me, threatening my life, telling me she was in love with me.

“Elle,” I rasped, shifting in the bed and trying to sit up.

“I’m here. Shh, I’m right here, but please, Griff, you have to keep still.” Her words were coming from above me now rather than beside me.

A hazy, tired, smiling face stared back at me as I fought to open my eyes. Her blonde hair piled messily on her head, just like it had been the first time she’d marched onto my ranch.

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