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“Good. You’ll be at work tomorrow, right?”

With Thea getting discharged, he needed to get back to the barn. Hadley was off work during the winter season, and she’d be able to help Thea with anything. Other than staying with her mom at the assisted living facility, she wandered around the ranch offering her help wherever it was needed.

“I’ll be there.” Maybe he could even get Thea to the barn soon. Being around the horses would be good for her.

Jess said a quick, “Bye, bro,” before ending the call.

Brett had just stuck his phone back in his pocket when Asa called.

“Hey, man. How’s Thea?”

Brett scrubbed a hand over his jaw. He needed a shave in the worst way. “Breaking out as we speak.”

“Good to hear. I know she’s still recovering, but we need to get that statement. Sooner, rather than later.”

Brett looked back at the door to Thea’s room. “I know. We’re heading to the ranch in just a minute. Let me run it by her, and you can meet us there.”

“Thanks, man.”

Gladys stepped out of the room and closed the door behind her. “She’s all ready. I gave her the discharge papers, but you’ll need to wait for an attendant to come by with a wheelchair.”

“Oh, she’s gonna love that,” Brett said. Thea was already complaining about the immobility and helplessness.

“They all do, but it’s standard procedure,” Gladys said. “I hope I don’t see you two here again.”

“Same. Thanks for all you’ve done.”

“You take care of that woman. She’s a good one.”

Brett smiled. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”

Gladys patted his shoulder as she stepped around him.

Brett crept back into the room to find Thea dressed and sitting on the side of the bed. She wore baggy sweatpants and a thick gray sweater, and she had a heavy-duty brace on one leg.

“You ready to run?” Brett asked.

She rolled her eyes. “Ha-ha. Very funny. I don’t know when I’ll be running, but it won’t be today.”

He sat on the chair beside the bed and propped his elbows on his knees. “You’ll be running again soon. I’ll help you.”

Thea looked away and swallowed hard. “You don’t have to do all this for me,” she whispered.

“I don’t have to. I want to.”

Brett’s heart had always been soft for women, children, and animals, and seeing Thea struggling and in pain had him searching for ways to help. Anything. He’d do anything to make Thea’s life just a little easier.

She looked at him then. There was skepticism in her raised brow, but she didn’t press him. “Do you need to go get the truck?” she asked.

“I’ll wait until your chariot arrives.” He didn’t want to leave her alone. It was ridiculous, since he’d have to leave her at some point once she got settled at the ranch, but he hadn’t gotten his fill of her yet. He’d been starving all this time, and a few days of her wasn’t enough.

“Knock, knock,” a man said at the door. He wheeled the chair in, and Brett helped Thea move from the bed to the chair.

When she was all settled, he jogged ahead to get the truck. The day was sunny, but the warmth didn’t reach his skin. The chill of winter still hung too thick in the air. He found the truck in the parking lot, pulled up to the curb at the hospital entrance, and got out.

Thea started to push up with her arms.

“Wait,” Brett said. He leaned down and tucked an arm behind her knees and the other behind her back. “Put your arm around my shoulders.”