Page 197 of The Cowbears of Curvy Bear Ranch

“My mom might be an idiot then,”shesaid.

“No. She’s just sick.” He rubbedherback.

The nurse walked into the room. “Your mom’s in room fifteen. She’s very drowsy, but you can come see her ifyou’dlike.”

Carol stood on shaky legs. Hank quickly put his arm around her, giving her a place to lean until the dizziness passed. He navigated the confusing hallways and found her mom’s room. They stopped just outside thecloseddoor.

“I’m afraid I’ll say something wrong,”shesaid.

“I’ll be with you the whole time. If you need me to jump in,Iwill.”

Love flared up from her heart to fill her entire body. In that moment, she realized he’d do anything for her. He’d already proven that every day since she arrived at the ranch. She never expected to fall in love with a cowboy shifter, butshewas.

She looked up at Hank, who locked gazes with her. The expression of pure love in his eyes melted the pain in her heart. With his help, she knew she’d be able to take care of her mom. He brought out a strength in her that she never knew she had. She couldn’t wait to tell him, but now wasn’t the right time. She needed to deal with her momfirst.

After giving Hank a soft kiss, she pushed the door open. A single hospital bed sat in the center of the small room. Bags of clear fluid were connected to metal racks. Various lines and tubes connected to an IV in her mom’s arm. Dark bags hung under her eyes, making her look so much older than her fifty years. The hard life that she’d lived was etched into the lines onherface.

“Mom?” she askedtentatively.

Her mom opened her eyes into small slits, then closed them. Maybe she was too weak totalkyet.

“Go. I can’t let you see me like this,” her momwhispered.

“Mom,” Carol said as she gently touched her mom’s hand. “I’m here for you and I’m not leaving. I know about the drugs. I know about the abuse but I don’t care. I love you anyway and I’m going to take careofyou.”

“I’m a lost cause,” hermomsaid.

“No one’s ever a lost cause,”Hanksaid.

“I’ve got too manyproblems.”

“We can help you,” he said. “We want tohelpyou.”

“We, hmm? I thought you two were justfriends.”

“We’re…” Carol hesitated. She couldn’t describe her relationship to her mom because she didn’t know how to define it. As soon as she could get a minute alone with Hank, she’d talktohim.

“Well whatever you are, he’s a good man. Keep him. Don’t make the mistake I did of letting a good man go,” hermomsaid.

The doctor strolled into the room. “Hello Victoria. How are youfeeling?”

“Like I got into a fight with a bull and lost, which is actually about right,”shesaid.

“I’m going to have the nurse add some medicine into the IV in just a minute. You might be experiencing some withdrawal symptoms from the methamphetamines, but this will take care of that,”hesaid.

“Don’t bring that up in front of them,” shesnapped.

“They already know,” he said. “The nurse will be inshortly.”

After the doctor left, her mom tried to roll away from them, but the tangle of wires kept her from gettingtoofar.

“I know about the drugs mom, but we’re going to get you clean,”Carolsaid.

“You know how many times I tried to stop? More times than there are stars in the sky. It’s no use. I should have just OD’dyearsago.”

“You’ve never had medical assistance before,” Hank said. “This will make it a lot easier, at least on the physical side ofthings.”

“What do you mean? What other side is there?” her momasked.

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