The Lonesome Rancher by Patricia Thayer

Author:Patricia Thayer [Thayer, Patricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises
Published: 2011-09-01T00:00:00+00:00

An hour later Jade sat in the waiting room of the Kerry Springs Medical Center. The one-story structure was buzzing with activity, but the staff seemed to handle all crises in an efficient manner.

“This is a nice place,” she said.

Louisa nodded. “It’s state of the art. They only completed it last year and it was badly needed in this area. We used to have to go all the way to San Antonio. Clay helped get some of the funding. I’m happy that it was here for me when I needed immediate care. And now, for my son.” She frowned. “Do I have anything to worry about?”

Jade knew the question was about Sloan. “As far as I can tell, no, but let’s wait for the results of the X-rays.”

Just then the doctor walked into the room and smiled when he saw Louisa. “Louisa, you look wonderful.”

They all stood, and Louisa spoke. “Tom, any other day I’d love your charming ways, but all I care about is Sloan.”

The handsome middle-aged doctor smiled at Alisa, too. “He’s fine. Outside of a slight concussion and some bruises on his backside, he’s going to live.”

“And his back?” Jade asked.

The doctor looked at her as Louisa made the introductions. “Sorry, Tom. This is Jade Hamilton, my nurse. Jade, this is Dr. Tom Gray.”

They shook hands. “Nice to meet you, Doctor.”

“And it’s a pleasure to meet you, too.” He smiled. “I hope you don’t mind pulling double duty for the next twenty-four hours with a second patient. Of course, I’d ask for hazard pay, because I doubt Sloan will be an ideal one.”

“I think I can handle it,” Jade said, but knew she had no business being anywhere near Sloan Merrick.

“We all can handle him,” Louisa said and nodded to her daughter. “Can we see him now?”

“Sure. Just down the hall, cubicle four.”

Alisa walked slowly alongside Louisa and Jade followed close behind. She was relieved to know Sloan was okay, but she didn’t need to be his nurse, either.

Inside she found Sloan sitting on the edge of the bed, shirtless. Okay, she’d seen a lot of men’s bare chests, but this guy took her breath away.

“How’s your headache?” she asked, trying to hide her reaction.

“How do you think? Pounds like he—heck.” He glanced at his mother. “I need to get back to the ranch.”

“Slow down, son. You need to do what the doctor says. And that calls for you to rest.”

“I’m not supposed to sleep.”

“The one thing you can do is stop being a pain,” Alisa chimed in. “The doctor’s going to come back and give you instructions on what to do. I hope he gives you a shot to improve your disposition.”

“If you had the headache I do, you wouldn’t be real cheerful, either.”

Jade watched the sparring between the siblings. Even arguing, it was evident they loved each other, making her realize again that maybe coming here wasn’t a good idea.

She didn’t want to be the one to hurt this family.

Dr. Gray came in. “You know the routine, Sloan.

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