years old.”
Tyler shrugged, trying not to show his anger in front of Eva. “I have no idea. But what surprises me more is that the thieves left Bullet behind. I don’t understand why they’d take an old horse like Applejack, but leave the younger gelding.”
He spoke calmly. After his father’s death he’d learned to be the man of the house, and that had taught him patience and self-control over his emotions. He had to be strong for his mother’s sake. Though Mom hadn’t said so, he knew she was dreading his return to Austin in four weeks. And Eva was worried enough about baby Cody. With their own problems to cope with, neither woman needed to see him act out right now.
“What would they want with Applejack?” Mom asked.
“I have no idea. She’s too old to make a good saddle horse anymore. The thieves couldn’t get much for her unless they sold her for slaughter,” he said.
Eva gave a small cry of anguish. “They still do that?”
Tyler nodded. “While they don’t use the horse meat here in the United States, they can definitely sell it to foreign countries.”
Veola cringed in horror and clasped a hand to her mouth. “Oh, Tyler. That sweet little mare. Jenny loved that horse so much. I promised her that Applejack would live out her days here on the ranch. You don’t think the thieves would sell your sister’s horse to a soap factory, do you?”
A sick feeling settled in his gut. He glanced at Eva. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes mirrored the outrage he was feeling inside. He thought about the horse thieves and wondered if they knew just how much they had hurt the people they’d stolen from. Applejack wasn’t just a saddle horse to Tyler and his mother. She was a beloved member of their family. A sweet reminder of a happier time when his sister had been alive and joyfully riding around this ranch.
“I sure hope not. I’ll go call the sheriff right now,” he said.
“I won’t keep you, then. I’m sorry about this. I hope you find your horse,” Eva said, her eyes filled with compassion and sincerity.
Again Tyler got the impression she was the real deal. Genuine and caring. The kind of woman a man could depend upon to the very end.
“Thanks, Eva.” He nodded, then turned to run inside the house.
He was determined to find Applejack before it was too late. Before the thieves sold her to someone who might do her harm. But as Tyler dialed the sheriff’s office he couldn’t stop thinking about Eva Brooks and her wide, gentle eyes.
Seven hours later, Eva pulled into the parking lot at the regional medical hospital in town. She killed the engine of Aunt Mamie’s car and withdrew the key.
“Thanks for bringing me here to see Ben,” Mamie said.
“You’re welcome.” Eva smiled and tossed a quick glance over her shoulder at the baby. He lay in his car seat in the back, sleeping soundly. His sweet little face warmed her heart.
“I can’t believe the difference in him. He’s so calm and happy lately. You’re good for Cody,” Mamie said as she opened her door.
Eva still wasn’t convinced. Everything she did for Cody was still so new. She wondered if she’d ever get the hang of it. And it gave her insight into what it felt like to be a new mother. But she felt betrayed by the flush of pleasure her great-aunt’s words caused her. She didn’t want to be a nanny, but for the first time in her life she thought she might actually be able to do this job. And she had Tyler to thank for that.
She climbed out and retrieved the baby carrier. As she closed the car door, she tried not to jar Cody too much and wake him up. She slipped the diaper bag over her shoulder. With the baby in tow, she took Aunt Mamie’s arm and led the woman up the sidewalk to the white brick building.
Little Horn was fortunate to have this nice, new facility. No doubt Tyler had some of his patients admitted here. While she understood his reasons for wanting to return to Austin, she also wished he would stay. This community needed a talented doctor. But Tyler was a bright, glittering star. He deserved the opportunity to shine. And he could do that in Austin with the new research grant he and his partners had received from the FDA.
The automatic double doors whooshed open and they stepped inside. They didn’t pause at the reception desk, but headed back to the intensive care unit. The wide, pristine hallway smelled of antiseptic, bacon and eggs. Not a nice combination. A cart stood off to one side, and an orderly was shuttling breakfast trays into the rooms of the patients.
“Good morning.” Grace Bingham greeted them at the nurses’ station. Wearing a green smock and white pants, she tucked a curl of wavy brown hair behind her ear.
“Hello, Grace. How is my grandson today?” Mamie asked.
The nurse released a short sigh. “The same, I’m afraid.”
“Has the doctor been in to see him this morning?” Eva asked.
“Yes, a couple of hours ago. He said there was no change,” Grace reiterated.
With her mouth pressed in a stoic smile, Mamie headed into Ben’s room. Eva stood by the nurses’ station and set the baby carrier on the floor at her feet. From the open doorway, she could see that her cousin Ben lay on the bed, his tall body still as stone. A white bandage had been wrapped around his head. When he’d been bucked off his horse, he’d struck his head on a rock. Now he was hooked up to a variety of tubes and IV drips, to monitor his heartbeat and oxygen level and keep him hydrated. In the dimly lit room, his handsome face looked as pale as the white blankets tucked beneath his arms. His eyes were closed as if he were in a very deep sleep. Mamie sat in a chair beside him and reached up to clasp his hand.
“Hi there, sweetheart. How are you doing today?” the woman said.
She received no response.
“It’s so sad,” Grace whispered. “He’s so blessed to have his family around him.”
Eva glanced at the nurse. They were old school friends, so Eva wasn’t surprised by the nurse’s blunt comment. “Yes, I hope he’ll wake up soon.”
Ben had always been so talkative and vibrant. Too wild for Eva to keep up with. Grady and Tyler had never approved of Ben’s partying. Ben had always been a hard worker, but he played hard, too. And now, seeing her cousin so quiet and unresponsive tore at Eva’s heart. She said a silent prayer, asking the Lord to help her cousin recover soon. And to keep Grady safe. She had to trust God to see them through. This situation was hard on Mamie. It was hard on all of them.
If only Grady were here. He’d know what to do. He was the stoic one. Dutiful and stalwart. They all depended on his wisdom and strength. He’d be able to reassure Aunt Mamie and help them feel better. He’d solve the mystery about baby Cody’s parentage, too. Surely he’d know if he’d fathered a child or if it was Ben’s baby. But Grady wasn’t here, and Eva felt the leaden weight of responsibility resting on her shoulders. She had to take care of Aunt Mamie and Cody with courage and compassion. No matter what her own fears might be, she mustn’t let them down.
“Hi, Eva.”
She looked up. Tyler stood beside the front desk. And in a fraction of an instant her senses went on high alert.
He’d changed his clothes from when she’d seen him out at his ranch earlier that morning. His blond hair had been slicked back, his face freshly shaved. He wore a white doctor’s coat over his blue Western shirt. A stethoscope dangled from around his neck. He must have been making his morning rounds at the hospital. And for some crazy reason she found his presence strangely comforting. He looked good today. Too good.
The sound of boot heels clicking against the tiled floor filled her ears. She looked up. Carson Thorn joined Tyler. Carson was the president of the Lone Star Cowboy