Page 92 of The Breakdown

“Not good enough.”

“You’re allowed your opinion.”

Allen groaned. “Listen, you fucking moron of a giant, I’m going to do things from here on out, you got me? I’m not happy with you or the job you’re doing.”

“Fine.”

“Fine?” He continued to yell at him and cuss him. Tito pulled the phone away from his ear and ended the call. He tossed the phone into the passenger seat as it rang again, announcing Allen as the caller. He ignored it.

He brought the binoculars back up to his face and found Natalie once again. Now she was walking with one of the owners, Vaughn Ruger. Vaughn appeared to be in great pain, struggling to walk as she held her back. Natalie helped her, guiding her to a nearby truck as the other ranch owner emerged, June Ruger. The two of them helped Vaughn into the truck. Then June climbed behind the wheel as another woman, one he didn’t recognize, also climbed into the vehicle.

He shifted in his seat as the truck began to drive away, leaving the ranch behind. He set down his binoculars and started his engine. It was time to move.

He turned the vehicle around and drove to the back side of the ranch, intent on getting some more work done with Vaughn and June now gone, whether Allen Beaufort liked it or not.

Chapter Thirty-nine

The ride to the doctor’s office was awful and Vaughn was grateful when they finally arrived and she could stand, freeing herself from the uncomfortable seat of the truck. Her legs were wobbly as she carefully emerged and stood on the pavement. Her mother was instantly at her side, gripping her arm as Gram locked up the vehicle.

“I can do it,” she managed to say as the two of them tried to lead her inside the doctor’s office. She was tired and cranky and in horrible pain. And she was sick of all the fuss everyone was making over her. But more than that, she was worried about the two idiots who were targeting her and the ranch. What would they do next? Hurt someone? Steal another horse? Her ranch, her employees, and her loved ones were in danger, and the cops were doing jack shit about it. She didn’t know what she was going to do, but she knew she needed to do something. The police just weren’t cutting it.

She made it into the medical building and all the way up to the elevator before Gram started talking about going to get her a wheelchair. “Absolutely not,” Vaughn said. “I can make it.”

“Vaughn, you can hardly move,” Gram said.

“It will hurt worse to sit in a wheelchair.” It was true, she knew that from sitting on the car ride over. But it was more than that and she knew it. She pushed her pride from her mind and left it at that. It would just be too uncomfortable, and thankfully, her mother and Gram seemed to accept it. So she forged on, rode the elevator up to the second floor, and staggered all the way down the long hallway to her doctor’s office.

Unfortunately, she had to sit in the waiting area after checking in, but it soon became too painful so she vacillated between sitting and standing as she waited. When she finally went back and saw the doctor, she didn’t receive great news. Her doctor referred her to a neuro-spinal center for a consultation and told her to rest. She argued with her, telling her about the ranch and all that needed to be done, but her doctor held firm. Vaughn walked out with her paperwork, too upset to talk. So her mother and Gram helped her back to the truck in silence. They made it halfway home before they couldn’t contain themselves any longer.

“Well, you gonna tell us what’s going on?” Gram asked as she drove.

Vaughn stared out the window, feeling trapped by pain and overzealous fussing from her mother and Gram. She wanted to jump out of the truck.

“I have to see another doctor. A neurosurgeon.”

“A neurosurgeon?” Vivian asked.

“Yes. She said I should consult a neurosurgeon because it involves my nerves. So she referred me to the Barrow Brain and Spine Center.”

“She thinks it’s that bad?” Gram asked, looking over at her.

“She suspects. And no, I don’t know anything else.”

Her mother placed her hand on her leg. “I know you’re in pain, Vaughn, and you’re upset, but you’re going to have to talk to us. We need to know what’s going on.”

Vaughn sighed and rubbed her forehead. Her mother was right. “I’m sorry, I’m just…”

“You don’t have to apologize for feeling crummy,” Gram said. “Just fill us in.”

“Well, I can’t work,” Vaughn said, her voice cracking with emotion. She’d never said those words before and they nearly tore her throat as they fought their way out. “She said I have to rest.” Even if she tried to work she knew she wouldn’t be able to. She was hurting too damn bad now.

“I’m sorry,” her mother said. “I know this is hard on you.”

“I’ve never not worked.”

“I know. But it’s only temporary. And I’m here, I’ll help.”

“It won’t be enough,” Vaughn said. “I mean, it’s appreciated, but it won’t be enough. Not with all the new business.”

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