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“Yeah, well, had the hell trampled out of me by a bull.”

“You didn’t think to call?” Shane managed to croak. Clearly Boone would have had to have been in the hospital with those injuries, and they hadn’t known. He hadn’t contacted them, hadn’t wanted their help or support.

“Nah. A few broken bones and bruises. Healed up okay.” Boone limped forward again. “So, what’s the meeting about?”

“Mom’s getting married. Which you’d know if you ever answered your phone or called.” Lindsay moved like she was going to slap him across the arm, but she stopped herself.

“Married, huh?” Boone flicked a glance toward Shane. They stared at each other for a few palpable, silent moments.

It burned. The physical evidence of a failure he’d never be able to fix, most especially when this thing with Mom and Donahue felt like an uphill battle, when, stupid as it might be, he felt that same burning desire to somehow help Cora . . . except she wouldn’t even tell him why they were so different.

It was almost as if the universe was trying to tell him something, except what could it be telling him? He was the head of this family, and he had to work on the things he could fix, even if it was hard. Even if it was a challenge.

He owed it to all of them.

Boone was home, and that was a step in the right direction. Surely, Boone of all people would be on their side when it came to Mom’s marrying a shady man.

“You’re home. Are youhome?” Molly asked, her voice a little scratchy.

“For a bit, I guess. If Mom doesn’t kick me out.”

“She won’t. You know she won’t.” Lindsay and Molly were flanking Boone, leading him toward Lindsay’s chair.

Boone’s gaze returned to Shane. Shane had truly never understood his youngest brother. He’d tried, he really had, but Shane believed in right and wrong, and that you always did what was right. Boone believed in raising hell and pissing everyone off.

“What about you, Shane? Going to welcome me home?”

“Of course,” Shane said stiffly.

Boone’s mouth quirked, and Shane noticed there was a split in the bottom lip. He was more than a little banged and bruised. “How long were you in the hospital?”

“So, tell me about this guy Mom’s marrying. Some crusty old rancher type?”

“Oh, no. He’s a ranch hand,” Molly piped up, clearly hoping to keep Shane from interrogating Boone further.

“And handsome,” Lindsay added. When all three of her brothers glared at her, she rolled her eyes. “Well, heis.”

“He’s old enough to be your father.”

“Fathers can be hot,” Lindsay returned.

Christ, they were all going to kill him. Spontaneous brain explosion. And yet, they were all here. Together. In their old thinking spot. If the universe gave signs, thenthiswas his sign.

His family was all home. Together. If anything would get through to Mom, it would have to be that.

Chapter Nine

Cora didn’t know why she was nervous. There was nothing to be nervous about. She was going to drop Micah off with the Tyler brothers, who were kind, responsible,goodmen, and they were going to give him chores while she and Deb went to visit the florist.

Micah who had grumbled and groaned and yawned and groaned some more as she’d forced him into the car this morning was now bright and alert as they passed through the Tyler ranch archway.

“I need you to tell me why you got kicked out of basketball camp,” Cora blurted. Because she needed to know why there was this difference. When he’d loved basketball so much.

“You know why.”

“I want to know why youdidit. Throwing something at someone isn’t like you, Micah. I know that in my soul. Something happened. Something prompted this, and I need to know.”

“It’s nothing. I was bored. It was lame.”