Page 48 of Sheltered by the Lawman

“Ma, how do they treat it?” Zander asked. “There is a treatment, right?”

“It’s treatable with prescriptions and a daily aspirin,” Beatrice said.

“And rest. Don’t forget that, Bea,” Bo said pointedly. “Doc said you needed rest.”

“Pfft. I’ll rest when I’m dead.” Beatrice waved a hand through the air as if she could wipe away her husband’s words.

“If you keep going the way you do, that’ll be sooner than you think.” Bo shook his head, pushed back his chair and stomped from the room.

Beatrice frowned. “Don’t mind him. He’s worried, and you know how he gets when he’s concerned.” She patted Nix’s hand who was sitting next to her. “None of you worry, you hear? I’m not in any pain and the worst thing will be giving up those lemon cookies I sneak each day.” She laughed.

Although his mother put up a brave front, Cull understood how detrimental heart disease could be, especially for someone his mother’s age.

Kiersten stood, went to Beatrice and hugged her tightly.

“We’ll help out more around here,” Melly said.

“That’s right,” Ria chimed in.

“Don’t be ridiculous. You have your own families to worry about, and my grandbabies that are on the way. This old woman will be just fine. God has granted me a good life,” Beatrice said proudly. “Each of you make me so proud.”

Cull rubbed the bridge of his nose, keeping his emotions in order. He was never one to show a break in the link of control, although he worried about his mother…and his father. No child wants to think that a parent would not be around forever. Needing to gather himself, he snuck away from the table while everyone was discussing what they could do to help.

****

Dusk colored the landscape hues of pink, purple and orange as Monica made her way toward the stables where she hoped she would find Cull. Although he’d made a quiet escape from the table, she’d seen him go and wondered if he needed a friend after hearing the news about his mother. After helping with the dishes, she snuck off too.

Just as she’d suspected, he was standing in the arena with Mr. Big. He didn’t hear her come up to the rail and she stood watching him for a few minutes. He had the horse’s reins and was leading him around the enclosure. Mr. Big seemed willing, but his ears were drawn back and his tail was stiff. After a few minutes, Cull removed the reins and headed for the fence. His broad shoulders were slumped some.

“You okay?” she asked.

He lifted his chin and met her gaze. “I’m okay.”

“I thought maybe you could use some company.” She leaned her arms on the top rail.

“I just needed some time,” he said.

He climbed over the fence and joined her. “Mr. Big doing any better?” In such a short time she’d come to love the horse.

“He has a stubborn streak a mile long, but we’ll get where we need to be.”

“I know you’re worried about your mom. She is a strong and amazing woman. She’ll get through this.”

He laid his cheek on his clasped hands, his eyes were on her in such a way that she felt his stare all the way into the center of her bones. Although she knew he could do this to her, she hadn’t quite gotten used to how he still affected her.

“True, she is, but I guess we all believe our parents are superhuman and will always be around,” he admitted.

“She has her family. That makes her a very lucky woman.”

He chuckled. “I think of all the hell we’ve put her through. She says every gray hair she owns is one day of worry over us kids.”

“It’s a parent’s job to worry whether they have one child or a dozen.”

“I’m sure she often wished she’d had girls instead of boys.”

“You heard her. Each of you make her proud. You’ve all made me understand how wonderful it would be to have a large family. To live on a ranch like this, have children, watch them grow and have babies of their own.” She inhaled deeply. “Wow. That’s a mouthful.”

“Are you being serious?”

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