Page 50 of Lone Star Country Protector
Before Dalton could issue another response, he saw Grandpa Lor being wheeled toward him after the elevator doors closed.
Seeing his grandfather alert and alive filled him with emotion. Dalton’s heart was so full it could burst open.
Blakely followed his gaze and turned around, and he could see a warm smile spread across what had been a serious face only a few seconds ago. “The family resemblance is strong.”
“That’s my grandfather, all right.” Dalton had barely finished his sentence when his feet started moving of what felt like their own volition toward his grandfather, not stopping until he was bent over the wheelchair in a warm embrace. This was almost too good to be true after fearing too much time had passed with his grandfather in a coma for him to make a meaningful recovery.
There was something about seeing his grandfather thatseemed to wash away all his anger and frustration from a few moments ago.
Blakely had taken a huge risk in coming to the hospital. The small but annoying voice in the back of his head reminded him that she’d taken that riskto be with himandto make sure he was okay. There was no way he could stay angry at her for risking her own life to see him.
He wasn’t ready to assign a meaning to it either, like she was in love with him and unable to see it or cop to the fact.
“Welcome back, Grandpa Lor. Welcome back.” Dalton whispered those words on repeat in his grandfather’s ear.
“It’s good to be back,” Grandpa Lor admitted.
Sizing him up, Dalton could tell he’d lost a few pounds, but it wasn’t anything Mama Bea’s country-fried steak couldn’t fatten up.
“Grandpa, I’d like you to meet my friend Blakely.”
Blakely stepped forward and extended a hand. “It’s my pleasure to have the honor of meeting you.”
Grandpa Lor’s gaze shifted from Blakely to Dalton and back. He said, “I’d be proud to shake your hand. However, we’re huggers in the Remington family.”
That was all he had to say for Blakely to close the distance between them and offer a warm hug.
A dozen campfires lit inside Dalton’s chest at seeing two of the most important people in his life hugging.
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Blakely said.
“Don’t believe any of it. I’m not nearly so wild as the rumors would have you believe.” Grandpa Lor winked. His usual lightness and sense of humor was intact. His mind was sharp. For the first time since this whole ordeal began, Dalton had real hope life might return to some semblance of normal. Grandma Lacey had to pull through. Life wouldn’t be the same without her.
Blakely’s wide smile as she practically beamed at his grandfather sent another jolt of electricity straight to Dalton’s heart.
The nurse behind the wheelchair, gripping the handles, cleared her throat. “I hate to be the one to break up this family reunion, but we are in the hallway, and I’d like to get Mr. Remington back into his room so I can get him more comfortable in his bed.”
Dalton and Blakely stepped aside at the exact same moment, parting like the Red Sea to allow the nurse to wheel Grandpa back inside the room.
As Grandpa passed Dalton, he reached for his hand and asked, “Has there been any change with my girl since I was gone?” If Dalton was ever going to commit his life to anyone, he would want to have the kind of love story his grandparents had. High school sweethearts turned life partners who’d built a small business from the ground up together. Ranching was hard work, and yet he never once heard his grandparents complain. Then again, complaining wasn’t in their nature.
“No, sir,” Dalton said, the nurse agreeing a moment later.
She added, “But just like you, Mrs. Remington’s condition could change at any minute now. You hang on to that. You hear?” Dalton heard the hopefulness in the nurse’s voice and wished he felt the same way when it came to his grandmother. Having Grandpa Lor back was nothing short of a miracle. Did he dare hope for a second?
Dalton instinctively reached for Blakely’s hand and linked their fingers as they followed the wheelchair inside his grandmother’s room. He told himself the physical connection with Blakely made him breathe easier because he didn’t want to let her out of his sight and not because her touch comforted him in ways he knew better than to allow.He wanted to know that she was always near so he could keep an eye on her. She needed to be within arm’s reach at all times should anything serious go down.
They’d barely walked into the room when Dalton’s cell buzzed. He fished it out of his pocket and checked the screen. “It’s from Jules.”
“Is everything okay?” Blakely asked.
“Yes, she’s fine,” he said. “She’s asking for help to bring up all the food from the parking lot.”
The thought of leaving his grandfather even for a few minutes docked a boulder on the center of his chest. What if he left and his grandpa Lor fell back into a coma? He’d just gotten him back.
Blakely, who was standing right next to him, nudged him with her elbow. Then she whispered, “I’ll go down. You stay here with your grandfather.”
Dalton bit back the urge to say no. Because this was Jules they were talking about. She was also a highly trained and damn good US marshal. And his sister wouldn’t let anything happen to Blakely any more than he would.
