Page 37 of The Cowbears of Curvy Bear Ranch

“If you want me to watch him while you go check on Brady, I can. I’ll do whatever you need metodo.”

“Thankyou,Mom.”

June smiled. “I’ll watch over him while you’re gone. There’s a group of nurses a shout away. If anything happens, we’ll find youimmediately.”

“I hate to leave him, but I need to know how Brady’sdoing.”

“Iunderstand.”

She whispered in Jimmy’s ear. “I’ll be back soon,honey.”

It killed her to have to leave his side, but she needed to check on Brady. Dr. Landry hadn’t been back yet with anupdate.

Rachel walked to the nurses’ station. “Do you know what room Brady Grantisin?”

The nurse checked the computer. “ICU twoforty-five.”

“Thankyou.”

Rachel picked up the pace as she strode down the long, white hall and into the main lobby. She spotted Mack bent over with his head in his hands. She didn’t want to have to deal with him right now, so she hurried through the room. She was just two steps from the elevator when she heard Mack’svoice.

“Howishe?”

She turned to find a very worried look on his face. “I don’t know yet. I’m going to check onhimnow.”

“I don’t mean Brady, I mean your son. Technically, I guess I’m hisuncle.”

She nodded. “He was awake for a few minutes. He looks like he’s doing okay so far. We won’t know if the operation worked or not for a few months. But so far, itlooksgood.”

“Are you headed up to seeBrady?”

She bracedherself. “Yes.”

Mack sighed. “I’m sorry that I came at you earlier. I wasn’t mad at you… well, okay, I was. I was pissed off. I just don’t want to see my brothergethurt.”

“I wasn’t trying to hurt him,” she saiddefensively.

“You walked away from him and took his son with you. You never even told him that he had a son. How can you say you weren’t trying tohurthim?”

“It’s complicated. I was young and I didn’t make the best choice. But you don’t know everything about our relationship, so you have no right tojudgeme.”

He held up his hands. “I’m not trying to pick a fight. If Brady’s putting the past aside, I can too. But I can’t believe no one called to tell me he was having surgery today. I’m listed as his emergency contact, so I got a call from a nurse telling me to come right away. Why didn’t youtellme?”

“Everything happened so fast. We didn’thavetime.”

Mack started at her as if trying to assess whether or not she was lying. He finally gave her a curt nod. “Ibelieveyou.”

“You could start giving me the benefit of thedoubt.”

“I could. But you could also look at things from my perspective. Our parents are both dead. I’m the oldest, so it’s my job to protect Brady and our brothers. I can’t do that if I don’t know what’sgoingon.”

She could see his point. “Okay. I doubt we’re going to have to do emergency surgery again any time soon. But if we do, I’ll call you as soon as we get to thehospital.”

He visibly relaxed. “Good. That’s allIask.”

“Do you want to come with me toseehim?”

“Yeah.”