until I’m in better shape, the house can wait. The outside’s weather-tight. It’ll be fine.”
“That would be a huge help,” Will said. “Are you sure it’s all right with Lauren?”
“We already talked about it. In fact, lending you the workers was her idea.” Sky glanced around as the bathroom door opened and Lauren stepped out.
“Should my ears be burning?” She was making an effort to smile, but she looked totally wrung-out, as if she’d spent the night awake, sitting up in her clothes and worrying, which she probably had.
“Take this woman home, Will,” Sky said. “She hasn’t stopped fussing over me since she got here, and she was terrorizing the poor nurses all night. She needs to get some sleep and come back later—if they’ll let her in.”
“I was just making sure you got the attention you needed. Like now—for heaven’s sake, you’re out of ice.” Lauren refilled his water glass from a pitcher on the tray. Sky managed a comic eye-roll.
Will chuckled. “Don’t worry, I won’t leave here without her. And thanks for looking after him, Lauren. I was worried about leaving him, myself, but I knew he was in good hands.”
“I’ll be fine,” Sky said. “The worst part of all this is having to be here when you need me, Will.”
Will knew the words carried double meaning. Whatever happened at the trial, Sky’s help would be sorely missed—especially since, until his burnt hands healed, he’d be unable to ride or even drive.
Which brought Will to the news he was dreading to deliver. Sky might not take it well, but it had to be said. Will hardened his resolve. “We’re going to have to sell off most of your colts,” he said. “We’re asking best offer. That’ll mean taking a loss on them, but with the money situation being what it is, we can’t afford to feed them over the winter. Beau’s already sending out sale notices, not just to the Texas ranches but all over the country.”
Sky’s mouth tightened. Will knew how much work and care he’d put into selecting, breaking, and training the colts. The green young horses had been brought in to shore up the ranch’s finances, in case the drought forced a sell-off of the cattle. Most of the cattle were already gone, at a loss. And with other Texas ranches in similar straits, nobody in the state was paying big money for horses.
“Damn.” Sky exhaled, wincing with pain. “Some lucky folks are going to get a bargain on some great cow ponies. I know you wouldn’t do this if we weren’t scraping bottom. But I’d like to ask a favor. There are a couple of those colts I wouldn’t mind keeping for myself. Would you let me buy them from the ranch at the going price?”
Will knew Sky must be thinking of Quicksilver, the sharp gray gelding that had become his favorite. And he’d likely want a good filly to breed with one of the Rimrock stallions so he could start his own herd on his land. But with the expenses of his new house, Sky wasn’t exactly swimming in money, either. “Tell you what,” Will said. “They’re yours. Call it a wedding present.”
“Not on your life,” Sky said. “I know you’re going to need every cent to keep the ranch afloat.”
“We can talk about that when you’re on your feet,” Will said. “Meanwhile, let me know your choices. I’ll make sure Beau doesn’t put them up for sale.”
Sky was about to answer when two hospital aides, dressed in scrubs and carrying a stack of folded linens, walked in. “Looks like it’s cleanup time,” Sky said, clearly trying to sound cheerful. “Get my woman out of here, Will. Take good care of her. See that she eats and rests.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll all look after her,” Will said.
Lauren took time to kiss her fingertip and touch it to his lips. “You rest, too,” she said. “I’ll see you later. Will, I left my car and my purse at the ranch. You can just take me there.”
She let Will usher her out the door and down the network of hallways to the parking lot. As they walked to his truck, with his hand resting lightly under her elbow, he could feel her falling apart. She was rigid but shaky, her features braced against the emotion that was threatening to crush her. By the time they reached the truck, and she settled into the seat, her jagged breaths had become dry, racking sobs.