Page 38 of Back in the Saddle

Mary inhaled and exhaled, like she was struggling to breathe. She straightened her arms and stood taller, as if she hoped it would give her extra strength. ‘His latest results came back. She said she shouldn’t really tell us outside the office but … Well, your daddy asked, and she didn’t want to evade the question.’

‘What did she say?’

Mary turned away from him and faced the window. She clutched her hands on the edge of the stainless-steel sink.

‘Mo—’

‘They were bad, Hunter. He isn’t improving. He isn’t improving and they hoped he would. And, oh, God. There isn’t much else they can do.’ She closed her eyes. ‘They’re going to wait until the next round of tests and see. But if there is no improvement, she said she’d like to discuss palliative options with us.’

Numbness crept all over his body for the second time today. Although this time it was a completely different feeling compared to merely half an hour ago.Thatnumbness was akin to butterflies in his stomach. Full of electric hope and desire. Now, he felt like he had been thrown into the depths of a black hole.

‘When will they run the next set of tests?’ he asked, her words still ringing in his ears.

‘Early November.’

He nodded, although his neck was so tense that the gesture was barely noticeable. Wordlessly, he walked up to his mother and engulfed her in a hug. The moment her head touched his chest, she broke down in tears. He held her tighter, feeling her whole body shake.

‘I’ll show you something but keep it to yourself, OK? Under no circumstance can you tell Eve.’

‘OK,’ Hunter said slowly, eyeing Mitch suspiciously.

They were sitting in the small living room of Hunter’s rented two-bedroom house in Purcell. They were set to watch the game, which was starting in less than an hour. Mitch had invited himself. Hunter suspected that he felt bad they hadn’tspent more time together lately and wanted to be there for him. And after what happened earlier at the ranch he could use some distraction.

‘Promise you won’t tell Eve.’

‘Fuck, Mitch. Why would I tell Eve?’

Mitch didn’t respond. He reached for his denim jacket and looked at Hunter, grinning, as he pulled out a small blue box.

‘I wanted to share this with someone and you’re the only one I trust,’ he said as he opened it.

Hunter’s eyes widened at the sight of the shiny ring. ‘It’s an engagement ring,’ he said slowly.

‘I know we’ve only lived together for a few months, but I just know she’s the one.’ Mitch looked at the ring with a dreamlike expression, smiling softly. ‘I was walking past the jewellery store the other day and noticed it in the window.’ He looked at Hunter, his smile faltering. ‘Do you think Eve’s going to like it?’

‘She’ll love it.’ Hunter’s voice was thick. He looked away from the ring and felt like something was stuck in his throat.Don’t go there. Nothing good ever comes out of it, an insistent whisper hissed inside his head.

Mitch closed the box and started turning it in his fingers. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t think—’

‘It’s fine, don’t worry about it.’ Hunter cleared his throat and met Mitch’s eyes. ‘I’m really happy for you, man.’

‘Thanks. I don’t know when I’m going to do it. Can I leave it at your place, until I figure it out? Don’t want Eve to accidentally see it.’

‘No problem. I’ll keep it safe for you.’ Hunter opened his hand.

Mitch nodded and carefully put the box in Hunter’s palm.

Hunter stood, walked across the room to a console table in the corner, and put the box inside the drawer.

‘So, how are things with you?’ Mitch asked, leaning back on the couch.

‘I don’t think my dad’s going to make it.’ It wasn’t the first time Hunter had said those words out loud, but it was the first time that he’d believed them.

Mitch looked up at him, startled. ‘What happened?’

‘His oncologist came to the ranch earlier today and spoke to my parents. It seems that he isn’t improving. He isn’t getting any worse, not really, but the results aren’t what they’d be hoping to see right now.’

‘But didn’t you say he’s in a clinical trial? They can’t really know what the results should be in that case, can they?’