Page 70 of Roaring Fork Wrangler

“Yes, Juni, we do.”

My eyes opened wide when I remembered something Cord told me about the stipulations in the trust that had brought him here. “Buck, Cord said he couldn’t be away from the Lilacs for more than forty-eight hours. He’s been in the hospital longer than that already, and I doubt he’ll be released anytime soon.”

Buck cocked his head. “He told you about that?”

I nodded.

“I’m surprised,” he mumbled, stroking his beard.

“Does this mean your family will lose everything?”

His eyes met mine. “Sorry. Cord sharing that with you stunned me for a minute. Not that there’s anything wrong with him doing so. But don’t worry. I contacted the attorney we deal with and told him what had happened.”

He looked away, and his eyes scrunched.

“What?” I asked.

“I guess there’s no point in not telling you since you know the rest, but he already knew.”

“Did he say who told him?”

“He didn’t.” Buck shook his head. “Anyway, what he did say was that he was aware of Cord’s condition and the resulting circumstances. He assured me an exception would be made, including allowing him to be moved to a hospital or rehab facility out of state, should it be medically recommended.”

“Can you trust him?”

Buck grinned, but the smile quickly left his face. “Hell, no, which is why I asked him to prepare a legal document stating all that and to forward it to my attorney. By the time the plane Decker and I were on landed in Buffalo, he’d received it.”

He looked away a second time. “I hate to say it, but it included what would happen should Cord not make it.” His eyes filled with tears, and he looked up at the ceiling. “I fucking hate that, instead of being able to focus on the fact that my brother’s life hung in the balance, I was worried about our goddamn inheritance.”

I put my hand on his. “It wasn’t just you. You had to look out for your brothers and sister too.”

He studied me. “Here’s what I don’t get. You said you and Cord didn’t know each other that well. Yet, he told you about the messed-up shit my father did and that it affects our siblings. All I can say is Cord isn’t one to open up to someone the way he did to you. He trusts you.” He shifted our hands and squeezed my fingers. “I’m damn glad he met you. He needs someone like you in his corner to help him get through this.”

Could I, though? Yeah, he’d confided in me, but that didn’t mean we had enough history for him to allow me to help him. And even if he did, would I know how to go about it? I had no experience with traumatic injury other than my own, and Cord’s prognosis was so much worse. What if he refused my involvement? Worse, what if I failed him?

“I should get in there,” he said, standing. “Are you headed home?”

I hadn’t planned to leave, but since Buck was here, I decided I should give the brothers some time on their own. “I’ll just go in and say good night.”

When we got to the room, a nurse was coming out the door. “Thank goodness you’re back. He’s agitated.”

I stepped around her and rushed over to the bed. “I’m here, Cord.” I took his hand in mine and stared into his wide eyes. “I just left for a few minutes.” I glanced over at the monitors, watching as his heart rate and blood pressure slowly came down. Without letting go, I sat in the chair I’d been in earlier.

“Hey, little brother,” Buck said, standing behind me. Cord’s eyes didn’t move. “What do you say we let Juni go home and get some rest?”

He blinked three times, and I looked up at his brother.

“He said no,” I told him.

When I turned back to Cord and smiled, I swore he did too.

“I guess that settles it, then,” said Buck, chuckling. “How about if I bring you some dinner?”

“Thanks, but I’m not hungry.”

Cord’s eyes bored into mine.

“It’s okay,” I said. “I’ll get something later.”

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