Take the Reins (A Cowboy's Promise #2) - Megan Squires Page 0,70

in his hands. “Who was that?”

“Josie!” Donna’s voice trembled. “They’ve taken Josie. Mitch, go get some clothes on and then get the truck warmed up. Anna, you take the boys back to the main house and phone us if the fire spreads any further. Tanner—are you okay to drive Seth down to the hospital? Your father and I will be right behind you as soon as we’re changed.”

It was apparent that Seth was in no condition to drive himself. He could feel all awareness drain from his face, just a vapid expression coating his despondent features.

“Sure, I can take him.” Tanner nodded. He looked over at his boys. “Colby, I’ll need you to take my horse and put him in the small pasture behind Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Sally and Scout are already over there. If, for any reason, the fire heads that direction, I’ll need you to open the gate and let them free. You understand?”

“Yes, sir,” Colby answered. “I understand.”

“Come on, Seth.” Tanner took his brother by the shoulders. “Let’s get you to your wife.”

24

Josie

“There’s someone here to see you, Miss Josie.” The nurse adjusted the nasal cannula, fluffed the pillow behind Josie’s head, and gave her a sly grin, complete with a wink. “Is that man out there really your husband?”

Josie didn’t know how to answer that and when she opened her mouth, she had to strain her vocal chords to even create a whisper of sound.

“Don’t waste your energy answering, girl. All I’m saying is that he is mighty fine and you two make a beautiful couple. Your chart said you weren’t married, but he’s saying otherwise. You good with him coming in for a visit?”

Josie nodded. Her nurse squeezed her hand and then gave her a pat on her shoulder before gathering the thin sheet to tuck it under Josie’s chin. “Alright. I’ll send him right in. And if you need anything, you know which button to push. I’ll be just down the hall.”

Josie mouthed the words thank you.

The room was a sterile, cold, white box. Monitors beeped on a machine next to her and tubes snaked into a bruised patch of skin on the back of her hand. There was a window with the shades drawn shut, but she could see strips of light slip between each blind, casting long shadows on the tile floor that made it look like a grid.

It was morning. Maybe afternoon.

How long had she been here?

“Knock, knock? Can I come in?” Seth’s hushed voice filtered through the cracked open door. “I brought a few friends.”

“Friends?” Josie asked. Her throat felt raw like she had swallowed a handful of sand.

“Just Tiffany, Tammy, and Tawnya.” He toed open the door and stood in the threshold, three half-dead potted plants in his arms. “I thought you could use a little something from home to spruce up the place.”

Josie laughed but the effort hurt her lungs. They felt stretched thin like an overfilled balloon.

“I’ll just put these right here.” Seth lowered each pot to an empty side table next to the hospital bed and then wiped his palms on the thighs of his jeans. He gave Josie the most helpless look. “Oh, Josie.”

“I’m okay,” she said quickly, but the cough at the end didn’t do anything to add truth to her words.

“Smoke inhalation is no joke.” He sat in the chair at the side of the bed and rolled it closer so he was near her head. “I’m so sorry this happened to you. You must’ve been so scared.”

The memory of the night came back, not all at once, but bits and pieces, like slipping the correct puzzle parts where they belonged inside the whole picture.

“I was just really worried about the horses,” she said. “Are they okay?”

“We haven’t seen them yet today, but I think that’s a good sign. If they were injured, they’d be hanging close by,” Seth said. “Tanner and I got most of the cattle accounted for this morning, too. We lost a couple pastures to the fire, but we’re looking into our options to rent from our neighbors. Either that, or sell off some of the cow and calf pairs. That’s another possibility.”

“But what would that do to the business?”

“Not sure there’s much of a business to run right now, but that’s not something you need to worry about. I talked to your nurse and she said they’re just keeping you here today as a precaution, but you should still get your rest.” He clasped his hands together