Page 103 of Doing Life

“It’s not life-threatening, man. Boone first.”

“Boone first, but I need to check it, after. No reason to lose it.”

“Yeah. You’re right. I don’t want to lose more than I have.”

For the first time, Lance could hear how young Chris was, how scared.

He found a grin, and he managed to hold it. “I’m not letting you lose anything. Just hang on with me here, fair?”

“Yeah. Yeah, Cap. You got my word.”

“Good deal.”

Chris called out things. “Cut on his left wrist, but it’s shallow. Here, feel.” And they worked their way through Boone’s injuries, and he was glad to note that, aside from the head injury, nothing else was worrisome. Cuts and bruises and maybe sprains.

“Okay, now your ankle, Chris.” He dragged his hands down the still, loose-muscled calf. The ankle was swollen and warm, but there was no blood, no extreme heat. “They’ll have to take it to the hospital, probably, but you’re going to be fine.”

“Will I walkagain, Cap?”

“You got a better chance than I do to see, so let’s deal, sailor.”

Chris snorted, but let it go.

He covered Boone up, sighing as the sounds of rain turned sharper, louder.

Hail.

Just what they needed.

Fucking perfect.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Sloan’s phone rang, which was odd, because dispatch would go through his radio. He grabbed it to look, then keyed answer, because it was Dan, and the guy never called him. He was only in Sloan’s phone because he’d been Lance’s house monitor and driver for so long.

“Dan. You okay, man? What’s up?”

“How far are you from the Rocking W?”

“I’m about a mile and a half out. Is something wrong?” Shit. What was it? Lance would freak out if his friends were hurt.

“The guys went out on a ride. The horses came back empty with Brick’s arm.”

“What?”

“Brick’s arm. No Brick. No Lance or Chris. No Boone. Just the horses.”

“Holy shit.” He made a U-turn, heading for the ranch, glad the road was pretty damn clear so he could put on the speed and the siren. “It’s hailing, man. You’re telling me they’re stranded out there?”

“They were on a trail ride.”

“Uh-huh. Do you have Abby?”

“Yes. She’s pacing like crazy.”

He imagined so. “I need to talk to Luke or Matt. Now.”

“Luke! Sloan for you! Matt is already out on the four-wheeler.”

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