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“Dr. Brock told us that Dad’s personality may have changed with the stroke.

It affects each patient differently. He’s always been such a go-getter.

The bigger the challenge, the harder he would push.

This is different, though. I know everyday tasks are difficult for him now.

I’ve watched him try to wrap his fingers around a pen and sign his name.

I’ll admit that it hurt to witness it, Dad slowly and painstakingly forming each letter.

It took about three minutes for him to write his compete signature. ”

“That’s a fine motor skill,” West said. “Those may take longer for him to reclaim. How is he doing on other things, like combing his hair or getting dressed?”

She shook her head. “Not good. The right side of his body is paralyzed. Dr. Brock had thought he might regain feeling and motion, but that hasn’t happened. And since it hasn’t, it probably won’t return this late in the game.”

“That’s rough,” Sawyer said sympathetically. “Big Jim has always been bigger than life. He must really be down.”

“Once he leaves rehab, we’ll need to hire fulltime help,” Chance said. “While Kelby has been doing so much for him, he is a big guy and hard to handle.”

The thought of a nurse always being present the rest of her dad’s life disheartened her, yet she couldn’t see any other outcome.

During his time in the hospital, Kelby had to ask for help from the nursing staff when she bathed or dressed him.

With him in rehab now, they were handling those tasks.

So much would need to be done at the ranch before he came home.

She couldn’t believe she hadn’t thought of it until just now.

A ramp leading up to the front steps would need to be erected so that they could push his wheelchair up it.

Some doorways would need to be enlarged.

The downstairs full bath would need to be totally reconfigured so that he could be rolled into the shower.

His upstairs bedroom would need to shift to a room on the first floor.

All this seemed overwhelming, and Kelby couldn’t believe she hadn’t already begun planning for Dad’s return home. She’d always been so organized, but seeing her dad weak as a kitten had affected her, as well.

West’s hand slipped around hers under the table, as if he sensed her distress.

She looked at him, but he merely nodded, looking straight ahead.

The server returned and took their orders, and Chance changed the subject, turning the conversation to West’s new job.

Still, his hand covered hers, bringing her warmth and reassurance that everything was going to be all right.

West detailed his interview with Coach Markham, speaking about his great respect for his former coach.

“Coach Markham knows X’s and O’s better than any other coach I’ve ever had,” he explained.

“I had some great coaches in both college and the NFL, and sometimes a suggestion I would make, they jumped all over. And you know what? It would usually be something I learned from Coach Markham. He’s an offensive genius.

He taught me the skills every quarterback needs to have.

How to read a defense. Everything about throwing mechanics.

The importance of studying game film. But beyond that, he taught me how to be a leader. ”

He grinned. “It also didn’t hurt that he was my Sunday School teacher back in middle school. I got my share of life lessons on that front, too. I look at him as a second dad.”

Their food arrived, typical sports bar fare, and she dug into her fajita nachos. West stole one, a typical move on his part, but she slipped a few fries off his plate in retaliation. She found herself relaxing in his presence.

And missing his hand holding hers.

Kelby listened as the three men began talking specifics about plays.

Having grown up around them and loving sports, she was able to contribute to the conversation with ease.

She recalled other cheerleaders wouldn’t have a clue what was going on during a play.

They would look to Darby or her for their reactions and take their cues accordingly.

Talk turned to Sawyer’s move to Hawthorne when Sonny Smith stopped by their table to say hi. He had quarterbacked the Hawks a decade before West had played on the varsity and broke all the records Sonny had held, from number of touchdowns thrown to number of completions in a season.

“Dad told me you’ve taken over his office,” Sonny said to Sawyer. “My advice to you? Don’t let him back in the door.”

Sawyer laughed. “He’s already threatened to stop by once a week and give me his sage advice.

I appreciate Isaiah selling the practice to me.

The office space, as well. Of course, I don’t own it outright just yet.

I’ll be paying Isaiah monthly until I own the space.

” He cut his eyes to West and said an emphatic, “No.”

Kelby wondered what that was about when West merely chuckled.

“Your dad will find things to fill his time,” Sawyer continued. “Fishing alone should keep him occupied.”

Sonny nodded. “Dad has always loved to fish. He’s going to volunteer at one of the elementary schools.

Reading to kids. And he’s working on some kind of mentoring program with a teacher at the high school.

He’s also got his weekly poker game. Says he wants to travel some.

I’m hoping he’ll be able to stay busy and active. ”

The owner wished them a good night and left. West handed the server his credit card, instructing him to use it to pay the entire bill.

“I was going to pay for Sawyer’s dinner,” Kelby protested. “As part of my payment due for him helping me with my separation from Wyndham & Warren.”

“Another time,” West said. “I’d like to go see Big Jim. Could I tag along tomorrow?”

“Go at lunch with Kelby,” Chance suggested. “She’s said Dad is a little bit perkier than he is at the end of his day.” He laughed. “Kind of like us after two-a-days. Wiped out.”

West looked to her, and she saw the uncertainty in those turquoise blue eyes. “Would that be okay? I could pick you up.”

“How can I resist riding in a sports car worth more than I make in a year?” she teased playfully.

Kelby told him what time to be at the ranch, and they left the sports bar. West passed along his address to Chance and her, telling them that he and Sawyer wanted to have a little party soon in order to let others know they were back in Hawthorne.

“We do?” Sawyer asked. “Oh, I guess we do.”

They all laughed, and West asked Kelby for her number.

“I’ll text you when I’m on my way tomorrow,” he told her.

She and Chance returned to his truck, and her brother did not hide his enthusiasm.

“West is the same as always,” he said. “I’ve only seen him a handful of times over the years, but he hasn’t gotten the big head. He’s just as down-to-earth as always. I hope he’s going to be happy living in Hawthorne again. I know I’m glad to have my best friend here again.”

“It’s also nice to have Sawyer back in town,” she said. “Now, if I could only talk his sister into coming here, that would be ideal.”

Chance glanced at her. “Are you thinking about staying, Kel?”

She shrugged. “Maybe. Dad is going to need a lot of help, and I?—”

He shook his head. “Don’t think about Dad. Think about yourself. I don’t want you tied to Dad and the ranch, trying to be his full-time caregiver. I don’t want that for you, and neither would he. What I do want to know is what you’re thinking about doing, work-wise.”

“The settlement Sawyer negotiated allows me to take my time,” she began. “But I’ve begun toying with the idea of maybe starting my own business.”

“Doing what?”

“The same as I’ve been doing. Social branding. Handling social media accounts for others, be they individuals or businesses. In fact, it was West who gave me the idea that I should start my own business. If I do, I could work from anywhere. Including the ranch.”

“Huh.”

They rode in silence a few minutes, and then he asked, “Would you truly want to live in Hawthorne again? I mean, you’ve lived in a lot of big cities. I know you were happy in Dallas.”

“I was happy there. The happiest I’d been since my college days.

I enjoyed my job, and I got to see some good friends.

I could still drive into Dallas and stay a couple of days each month.

Maybe meet with clients, as well as friends.

What I need to do is really think things through.

Come up with a business plan and a way to attract people. ”

“Maybe West could help you with that,” Chance said.

Her hackles went up. “I don’t need West Sutherland drumming up business for me.”

“I didn’t mean that. It’s just that he’s got a lot of connections in a lot of different places. We’ve chatted briefly over the years, and West has invested in all kinds of things. He might be able to point you in the right direction.”

“Then I might talk with him about it,” she mused.

“I think it’s nice he wants to go see Dad.”

“West and Dad always got along. Dad treated West like another son.”

They arrived at the ranch, and Kelby went to her room.

She picked up her tablet and began jotting down random ideas, from the services she might offer to names she could use for her company.

The more she thought about it, the more excited she became.

So many people worked remotely these days.

If she could build a clientele, working from the ranch while helping to care for Dad, that would be ideal.

It would also allow her to stay in Hawthorne.

And see if anything still might be between West and her.