Page 69 of Roaring Fork Wrangler

I respondedthat I did.

“Do you recall what happened?”

Again, I gave an affirmative response.

The man pulled a chair closer to the bed, sat down, and leaned forward. “Your recovery is nothing short of a medical miracle. It will take time for your body to recover, but you’re already progressing much quicker than I anticipated.” He scrubbed his face with his hand, something I always did. “I’m glad you’re here, Cord.”

I blinked twice, and a tear ran down my cheek. Me too, I wished I could say.

21

JUNIPER

After Dr. Oldham left, Cord shut his eyes, and his breathing evened out. Hoping he’d remain asleep long enough for me to get my emotions in check, I left the room and made my way to one of the private spaces set aside for families of ICU patients.

“Juni?” The voice sounded so much like Cord’s that I jolted.

“Hey, Buck,” I said, spinning around to face him.

“I just spoke with the doctor. He said Cord’s making good progress. Do you have a minute to talk?”

“Of course.” He followed me into the room and shut the door behind him. “I’m not sure what all they’ve told you,” he began.

“Hardly anything,” I said, shutting my eyes against the tears that threatened to fall.

He sat beside me and put his hand on my arm. “If you have questions, I’ll do my best to answer them.”

“I wouldn’t know where to start.”

“How about if I tell you what I know so far?”

“I’d appreciate it, but…”

“Go on.”

“Cord and I…”

He studied me but didn’t speak.

“I’m not sure how to put this, but we don’t know each other that well. I guess what I’m trying to say is he might not want me to know. You know?”

His smile was sweet when he reached for my hand. “Sam told me the only thing he’s said so far is your name. At least as much of it as he could get out. I also saw the way his eyes tracked you when you walked in yesterday. You may say you don’t know each other well, but I know my brother. Whatever is between you, you’re important to him.”

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, blinking away tears that seemed to fall like clockwork. “Okay.”

Buck told me some of the things I already knew about Cord’s general condition, then outlined the milestones the doctor had gone over with him. His ability to speak as well as move his extremities wouldbe two major steps in his recovery. From there, they could better assess the amount of brain damage he may have suffered.

“The thing is, there’s no precedent for a case like this. Certain tests can be conducted, but they won’t tell us anywhere near as much as what Cord will himself as he continues to recover.”

My eyes scrunched. “The doctor asked him if he recalled what happened, and he blinked twice, which meant he did. It seemed like an odd question, given he’d just asked Cord if he remembered being out in the snow.” I shook my head. “I’m probably making more of it than it was,” I mumbled.

Buck leaned against the chair and rubbed the back of his neck. “You’re not.” He took a deep breath, like I had, and exhaled slowly. “Cord has an injury inconsistent with what we can piece together. There’s more to this than him being stuck out in a snowstorm and losing consciousness.”

I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand.

“Your uncle can tell you more, but there’s an investigation taking place as we speak.”

“Do you think someone…?” I couldn’t get the rest of the words out, but Buck understood what I was asking.

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