A few hours later, nature called and Austin finally got out of bed. He strapped on his booted cast, grabbed his walker, then made his way into the bathroom. After months flat on his back, being upright was a luxury he didn’t take for granted anymore. Since he’d gotten out of the private hospital outside Denver, he’d decided he had to work hard to get back to the man he once was. That was why he was going to do everything possible to move on to rehab.
His thoughts turned to Mrs. Carlton. She was pretty enough, but a little short with a fuller figure than he preferred. So it was definitely a good thing he wasn’t attracted to redheads. Besides, she had an attitude.
“Stop it, Brannigan. Even if you did find her appealing, you’re in no shape to be sidetracked.”
He needed to be focused only on his goal. Question was, would Erin Carlton push him hard enough? He wasn’t sure if she could, but he was intrigued when she hadn’t backed down from him.
He washed up and looked in the bathroom mirror. After running a brush through his hair, he brushed his teeth. He’d forgo a shave until his brother came by later to help him shower. He knew his limits.
After he managed to get on a fresh pair of workout shorts and a T-shirt, he made his way down the hall. His leg throbbed like the blazes, but going back to the bed was too depressing. Besides, the doctor said there would be pain. It could take a good year before it went away, and that when the weather changed his leg might alert him to that fact, too.
Hell, he knew about pain. He was a bull rider.
The twenty feet he walked from the bathroom was agony, but he didn’t stop. Finally he got to the sofa and sat down. Sweat broke out on his face as he pushed his walker to the side and gently lifted his leg to the coffee table. He eyed the long scar that peered out of the top of his cast.
Every day from now on, he’d be reminded how bad things were for him, and how lucky he was to be alive, even if he might have a slight limp for the rest of his days.
Exhausted, he collapsed back on the sofa and recalled how he’d begged the renowned surgeon to save his mangled leg. It had been touch and go for that first week, but the miracle surgery worked. Now the rest was up to him.
“Damn. I’m gonna fix this.”
He closed his eyes to rest a minute and the next thing he heard was a knock on the door. He jumped and opened his eyes to see his sister-in-law pop her head in the door.
Shelby smiled. “You decent?”
“Never,” he teased.
“Good.” The pretty blonde walked in carrying a foil-wrapped dish. Quickly a delicious aroma filled the room.
Following behind Shelby was his nephew, Ryan. The cute kid was five years old and had a head full of golden curls that seemed to run wild. He was dressed in a henley shirt, a pair of jeans and roper boots. A miniature cowboy. The boy was still a little shy around his uncle Austin.
“Hey, Ryan. How’s that horse of yours? What’s his name?”
The boy grinned. “Cloud. He’s great. I can ride all by myself.”
“High five.”
The boy smacked Austin’s hand and giggled.
“Pretty soon Uncle Trent will have you chasing down calves.”
The boy looked at his aunt. After the boy’s mother died, Shelby took over the role of his mom. Once Cullen married Shelby last summer, he took over as the boy’s father. “Can I go do that, Mom?”
“I think you need to ride around the corral a little longer before we let you go on a trail ride.”
The boy smiled. “Okay.”
Shelby looked back at Austin. “I’m glad to see you out of bed.”
“It took a while, but I managed to get down the hall.”
“Any progress is good,” she agreed. “Are you hungry? I brought you some meat loaf and cheesy potatoes.”
He groaned. “Sounds delicious. A person can only eat so much delivery pizza.”
“Well, from now on, you’ll be eating much better. I’ll be bringing you some meals.” She walked to the ancient kitchen that was open to the living space, with only a counter separating the rooms.
“You don’t need to take care of me, Shelby.”
She gave a bright smile. “I know, but I cook for Ryan and Cullen and there’s always plenty. In case you didn’t remember, I’m a chef. It’s what I do.”
His brother did good, finding this sweet lady with the twinge of a Southern accent in her voice. Originally from Kentucky, Shelby was to come here with her sister, Georgia, and nephew Ryan for a job. Before they left their small Southern town, Georgia’s cop boyfriend killed her. Despite the tragedy, Shelby still brought Ryan here, where Cullen found her in the ranch house.
Why couldn’t he also enjoy some of his brother’s good fortune? “Well, if you insist.”
Shelby went to the cupboard, got a plate and transferred the food onto it. “Should I bring the food out there, or do you think you can eat at the table?”
He needed to keep moving. “The table.” He lowered his leg to the floor.
“I’ll help you, Uncle Austin.” Ryan moved his walker within reach.
“Thanks, Ryan.” Austin managed to stand, then began his journey, the boy right beside him.
Shelby set down a place mat with flatware and a tall glass of milk. “Looks like you have a helper.”
Austin managed a smile. “Yep, sure do.” His strength was a little shaky, but he kept taking each step. Breathing labored, he reached the scarred maple table and sat down.
Looking worried, Shelby sat down across from him. “Are you sure you’re not doing too much?”
He shook his head. “After the six weeks on my back, then another two weeks of restricted rehab at the hospital, the doctor deemed me fit enough to discharge me. It’s about time I get on my feet.”
“Sorry, I’m just worried about you, being out here all alone.”
He dug into his food and savored the spicy taste of the meat. “I doubt with all of you around, I’ll be alone much.” He winked at Ryan. “I plan to be watching Ryan ride his horse soon.”
The boy smiled at him. “Do you have a horse, Uncle Austin?”
Austin swallowed his food. “No, Ryan, I don’t. I’ve been riding bulls for a long time. Now that I have a place to keep one, a horse or two might be a good idea.”
His stepmother, Leslie Landry Brannigan, had died last year and left her ranch to her biological son, Trent, and her stepsons, Cullen and Austin. She’d loved all her boys unconditionally. Unlike his father, whom he hadn’t been able to get along with since he’d been a kid.
“Pops can find you a horse. He brings lots of horses here.”
Austin tensed. He hadn’t had a chance to see his dad since he’d moved in here. Right now, he didn’t want to deal with the old man.
Shelby’s voice broke into his thoughts. “Those are for the riding center, honey.” She turned to him. “Seems people have a lot of horses that need a home.”
“That’s good they have a place to go.”
“Kinda like us,” Ryan said. “We didn’t have a place to go, but the sheriff let us stay here and he married us. Now you’re here, too.”
Shelby grinned. “And we’re lucky to have you home. I want to keep you here, so I’ll send some food that