Fragile Hearts (Poplar Falls #4) - Amber Kelly Page 0,60

to give him another round of fluids tonight and I want to see how he does eating in the morning before I release him. The good news is he is going to be okay. The bad news is that he may be blind in that right eye. I won’t know for sure until tomorrow when more of the swelling goes down, but I’m fairly certain.”

Sophie lets out another agonizing sob.

Braxton tucks her tight into his side.

“It’s okay, baby, he’s alive and that’s all that matters. He still has one eye, and even if he didn’t, we’d be his eyes for him if he needed us to be,” he tells her and she nods against his shoulder.

She takes a few shaky steps and leans down to rest her face against Hawk’s nose.

“I love you, Hawk. So much,” she whispers through her tears. He rouses briefly, opens his good eye and licks her nose.

Braxton chuckles softly, then reaches down and lays a hand on top of Hawk’s head. He bends down and whispers, “Thank you for protecting our girls while I was at work, buddy.”

He straightens and extends his hand to Brandt. “And thank you, Doc. I appreciate you taking care of my family today.”

Brandt shakes his hand and smiles.

“Just doing my job.”

Braxton inclines his head and leads Sophie out to get her home.

“It’s more than a job,” I say and he looks back to me.

“To them and to you too. I saw your face when they came in. You were hurting for her but you kept your shit together for them. You’re a hero, Doc.”

He starts to shake his head and protest.

“You are to me and to those two making their way home right now, you are.”

You are pretty special indeed, Brandt Haralson.

Brandt

The past two days have been a blur. Yesterday, I dealt with contractors. I was impressed enough with the kitchen install that I decided to hire the same crew to finish the work in the master suite. While they took measurements so they could plan the new plumbing route and the new tub and vanity, I started scraping and prepping the outside for painting.

Today, I’ve been on large-animal house calls all day, only popping into the clinic for supplies and paperwork. Both Bellamy and Mom are in the office, so Bells and I don’t really get time to talk.

Now, I’m holding a ladder at Walker’s home, so Payne can attach gutters to the three-story roof.

These men know how to work with their hands. Jefferson taught me how to use a table saw to cut lumber for framing. He was patient, and I tried to absorb and retain all the knowledge he was imparting. My dad was a businessman. He taught me the importance of a good education, how to dress for success, and the value of good customer service. However, he didn’t show me how to change the oil in my car, wire a new ceiling fan, or how to use a table saw. His hands were soft, and that was okay, but I wish I knew how to build things with my own two hands. I want to learn and am willing to work hard now that I have someone able to teach me.

“I’m coming down, Doc,” Payne calls, and I move from my position, holding the ladder steady to the side to let him descend.

“You want to try the next one?” he asks.

“I would, but I have no idea what I’m doing,” I admit.

“You just take a pocket of sheet metal screws up and hang this cordless drill on your tool belt. Take a section of the gutter and carry it up. Emmett, Jefferson’s best friend and Rustic Peak’s caretaker, already measured and divided them, notched the ends, and cut the outlet holes. All you have to do is take the end of your section and line it up with the notched end of the one I hung up. Click it together like this. Then, add a screw with your drill and attach it to the fascia every two feet to secure it. I’ll be your anchor, and I’ll make sure the ladder stays steady. That’s all there is to it.”

It sounds like something I could do without fucking it up.

“I’ll give it a shot,” I agree.

“Let’s get it done, then,” he says as he removes the tool belt from his waist and hands it off to me.

I go up the first time, and it’s awkward to try and hold the gutter in place and screw at