Roping A Cowboy (Blazing Eagle Ranch Book 2)

by Peyton Banks

  By the looks of his surroundings, he was in a private hospital room. The clothes he had worn to the festival were no longer on him. They had been replaced by a hospital gown. He was sure they weren’t wearable any longer. There had been blood, tears, and rips in them, along with a few questionable fluids.

  Wade held up his arm to find an intravenous tube running to a bag with a clear yellow solution.

  “Shit,” he muttered. This couldn’t be good.

  There were stickers on his chest connected to a box in the pocket of the gown. He glanced behind him and saw a television screen with squiggly lines and numbers, but didn’t know what they stood for. The only one he could make out was the number next to a flashing picture of a heart.

  The door opened, and Jonah walked in. His father stood tall, and didn’t appear to lean on the cane as much as usual. He shut the door and paused, staring at Wade.

  “It would seem the roles have reversed,” Jonah said.

  Wade snorted and tried to slide up higher. He winced from the pain in his ribs. He remembered Junior’s fist landing a body shot. Now that the alcohol had worn off, he felt every one of those hits. His entire body felt as if it had been ran over by a Mac truck.

  “How long have I been out?” Wade asked.

  “A little over twelve hours.” Jonah walked over to the chair that was placed beside the bed and took a seat. “You need something?”

  “Water or mouthwash? My mouth tastes like shit.”

  Jonah hit the call button on the side of the bed. He leaned back and observed Wade.

  “You had us worried,” Jonah started.

  Wade closed his eyes and rested against the pillows. The light was enhancing the elephants stomping around in his head.

  “I’m fine. I’m sure I just needed to sleep it off,” Wade muttered. Looked like he had got his wish of drinking himself numb to forget Joy.

  Before everything had gone black, he’d been sitting in the cell. He, Parker, and Carson had been held together in one cell, while Junior and his friends were in another. Carson and Parker had been joking about the last time the three of them had been locked up together. It had been a few years since they had, and their father had been pissed. Jonah had laid into all three of them, stating they were too old to be in bar brawls and getting arrested.

  Well, guess they could say they hadn’t learned their lesson.

  Wade had been perched on the bench, leaning back against the wall, a large wave of nausea overcoming him while his forehead broke out in sweat.

  The room had spun.

  The last thing he remembered was hearing his brothers hollering his name.

  “You were not fine. Your alcohol level was dangerously high. They had to pump your damn stomach, and the doctors were afraid you were going to seize or go into a coma,” Jonah snapped, banging his hand on the bed railing.

  “Whatever,” Wade mumbled.

  Well, now he knew why his mouth tasted the way it did. His body was sore. He was tired, and just wanted to rest. He brought the thin blanket up higher and tried to get comfortable, but it would be practically impossible in this small bed.

  “That’s why you were sent to the hospital. You started throwing up in the holding cell while unconscious. The damn cops didn’t want to have you dying on their watch.”

  “So it takes something like this to get you to worry about me?” Wade snarled. He opened his eyes and focused on his father. What a fine time for Jonah to start acting like a star parent.

  “Don’t take that tone of voice with me, boy. I’m still your father, and have always worried about you and your brothers.”

  “Really?” Wade narrowed his gaze on Jonah. “Where were you when Mom died? We needed you then, but you weren’t there. None of us took her death well. We were teenagers who needed our father to help us, and to tell us that everything was going to be all right. But you weren’t there, you selfish son of a—”

  Wade bit back the rest of what he was going to say when the door opened.

  A nurse poked her head inside the room. Her eyes widened, and a small smile fluttered across her face. She was dressed in white scrubs and hot-pink shoes. Her dark brown hair was held back from her face in a low ponytail.

  “Oh, you’re awake. I’ll let the doctors know. Can I get you something?” she asked.

  Wade used his free hand to run his fingers through his hair. He didn’t even want to know what he looked like. A shower would be great, but with the way his body felt, he would barely be able to stand.

  “Can I have something to drink? And a toothbrush?” he asked. The taste in his mouth had to go. His stomach was a little sour, and it wasn’t helped by the taste on his tongue.

  “Sure.” Her face brightened with her smile. “My name is Kat. Just holler if you need something else before I return.”

  She disappeared back through the door.

  Wade stared at the ceiling, not wanting to see his father. Having this conversation while he was in the hospital was not the place, nor the time. Thirty years, and now Jonah wanted to act like he cared or worried about him.

  Even when he’d had the heart attack, he’d just growled and barked, but never stopped to actually say thank you.

  Wade needed to get out of this damn hospital. He needed to go talk with Joy. He was going to make her see how much he cared for her.

  How much he loved her.

  He paused.

  His heart raced.

  Wade searched his heart and knew, without a doubt, that he was in love with Joy.

  Nothing was going to keep him from her.

  Where was Parker and Carson? Parker was probably seeing to Maddy and Tyler, but where was Carson?

  He was going to beat both their asses for leaving Pa with him.

  “Hell, I’m sixty years old, and still got to learn how to be a father to you boys,” Jonah’s voice broke through Wade’s thoughts.

  He lifted his head and eyed his father. The man sitting next to him looked like Jonah Brooks, sounded like him…

  Jonah raised a hand and ran it along his jaw. “If I can quit smoking, I can do better by you and your brothers.”

  Wade was officially convinced he had died.

  Was this an apology from his father for being a crappy parent?

  Wade cleared his throat. “Pa, I don’t know what to say.”

  “Well, we have a lot to talk about and clear up between us. It’s going to take more than a day, I reckon.” Jonah stared down at his hands before turning his attention to Wade.

  A knock sounded at the door. It opened, and the same nurse came in, carrying a water pitcher and a little bucket.

  “Here’s your water and toiletries. If you feel up to it, I can help you get into the bathroom.” She tilted the bucket, showing him a toothbrush, mouthwash, and a few things he could use to wash up.

  Wade glanced at her. She was a tiny thing. There was no way she’d be able to help him get to the bathroom.

  “Where is Parker and Carson?” he asked his father.

  “They’re down the hall. They’ve been waiting for you to wake up, Sleeping Beauty,” Jonah replied dryly.

  Wade turned back to Kat with a smile on his lips. “I’ll have my brothers help me up to go to the bathroom.”

  She nodded and smiled. “Oh, okay.”

  Another knock sounded at the door, and an older man with graying hair, dressed in a white lab coat, stood at the door. There were a few other people behind him in similar attire.

  “So, he has risen,” the doctor joked. Walking across the room, he stopped by Wade’s bed.

  Kat moved out of the way as the small crowd followed him.

  “I’m Dr. Brown. How are you feeling?”

  Wade took the physician’s hand in a solid grip. He bit back a grimace at the stinging from the cuts and bruises on his knuckles.

  “Feel like I’ve been overrun by a stampede of wild bison.”

  “You look like it too,” Dr. Brown chuckled. He glanced over at Jonah. “This is y
our father?”

  “He’s my middle boy,” Jonah informed him.

  “Lucky enough he’s as strong as he is. Someone else may not have made it with as much alcohol in his system,” Dr. Brown mentioned. He pulled a stethoscope from his jacket pocket and focused on Wade. “Mind if I listen to your lungs?”

  Wade shrugged while the doctor leaned over and placed the bell on his chest. Within a few minutes, the doctor finished his assessment.

  “Will I live, Doc?” Wade jested. He eyed the physician and the others hovering around his bed.

  “You will, as long as you don’t drink like that again.” Dr. Brown’s smiled disappeared. “You must have had one hell of a party last night.”

  “I might have had one too many,” Wade murmured. He ran a hand over his face and grimaced. Even doing that put a strain on his sore muscles. “When can I get out of here?”

  “I’d say later today, if you’re up to it. I want you to finish getting those IV fluids. When this bag is done, I want you to get one more. They have some electrolytes to help replace everything you’ve lost.” Dr. Brown folded his arms. “Promise me I won’t see you back here again, and I’ll make sure I sign your discharge papers so you can leave as soon as the fluids are done.”

  “Scout’s honor.” Wade held up his hand.

  Dr. Brown nodded, apparently satisfied with what he saw. He stepped forward and held out his hand to Wade again.

  “Nice meeting you folks,” Dr. Brown said. He gave a nod and motioned for his team to leave.

  “I’ll keep an eye out for your discharge papers,” Kat offered. She waved and disappeared out the door.

  Wade reached for the water and took a long sip. It didn’t help the taste in his mouth, but his throat was soothed by it.

  Jonah stood and walked toward the door.

  “Where are you going?” Wade asked.

  “Well, I’m sure that girl is going crazy out there in the waiting room.”

  Wade’s heart jumped.

  Joy was here?

  He didn’t know what he looked like, but if he appeared half as bad as he felt, then he was a mess. The skin around his right eye was swollen. It didn’t open completely, leaving him with only a thin slit to see through. His lip was split, and his knuckles were double their normal size.

  Jonah paused at the door and glanced over his shoulder. “You do want to see the Whitaker girl, right?”

  Wade hesitated and eyed his hands.

  “Yeah, you look like shit, but I don’t think she is going to care, the way she’s been pacing the waiting area.”

  “Pa, send her in,” Wade snapped.

  Jonah’s eyebrows rose sharply.

  “Please.” Wade softened his tone.

  Jonah nodded and stepped out of the room.

  Wade blew out a deep breath and leaned back against the pillows. He closed his eyes and tried to focus on what he would say to Joy when he saw her.

  His heart raced just thinking of her.

  Right now, all he wanted was to hold her again.

  He needed her at his side.

  This time, he wasn’t letting go.

  26

  Joy paced the room. She couldn’t sit still while waiting on word of Wade. She was going to go crazy if there wasn’t some change. She hadn’t been permitted to visit him when he was down in the emergency room.

  Jonah had been granted permission to go in there with him. They were only letting in the next of kin, because Wade hadn’t been the most cooperative patient.

  Even unconscious, the man was being too stubborn for his own good.

  According to Jonah, Wade had been fighting the staff while they were trying to work on him, forcing them to restrain him.

  They had finally gotten him stable, and he was resting comfortably to where they were able to move him to a regular hospital nursing unit.

  Joy wrapped her arms around her waist, lost in her thoughts. She ignored Parker and Carson, who sat quietly in their chairs.

  Jonah had left them to check in on Wade. Joy glanced down at her watch. This time, he had been gone too long. Fear and worry consumed her.

  Was something else wrong with Wade?

  Footsteps caught her attention. She swung around to see Jonah enter the room. Her legs automatically grew weak. Joy reached out and snagged the handle of a chair and sat. Her breaths came fast as she waited for him to update them.

  She found Carson’s and Parker’s eyes locked on their father. Both of their faces were bruised, and their clothes were torn and tattered. They had the look of two brothers who had been in a bar brawl.

  If they appeared this bad, she imagined Wade wasn’t too far off.

  Jonah blew out a sigh and sat in a chair. He propped the cane next to him and looked around.

  “He’s awake,” he announced.

  Tears welled up in Joy’s eyes. She blinked them back and swiped the few that had escaped, running down her cheeks.

  Parker and Carson instantly relaxed.

  The room had been tense the last few hours while everyone waited for Wade to open his eyes.

  “It’s about time,” Carson muttered. “Or I was going to go in there and beat his ass until he woke up.”

  “I think there was enough fighting for one night,” Jonah snapped.

  “Well, we weren’t just going to—”

  Jonah held up his hand, shutting Parker up. His face hardened when he faced his boys. Joy sat back, not daring to say one word. She already knew what Parker was insinuating.

  It was her brother’s fault.

  She already knew that.

  “It doesn’t matter what went down. You boys are getting too old to be in barroom brawls,” Jonah said. “What message are you teaching Tyler?”

  Parker sat back, his jaw tight. He stood and walked over to the window.

  The tension grew. Joy’s nerves were getting the best of her. Her leg bounced.

  “Your brother is as stubborn as ever. Don’t know where he got it from,” Jonah snorted.

  All eyes in the room landed on Jonah.

  He eyed all of them. “What?”

  “I knew I should have cut him off,” Carson huffed, resting his head in his hands.

  Parker walked back over to him and rested a hand on his shoulder. “It’s not your fault. He’s a grown man trying to drown his pain.”

  Joy bit her lip and looked away.

  Guilt filled her.

  Had he been drinking because of her?

  Eliana entered with coffees for all the men.

  “Here you go,” she announced. The older woman walked around and handed out the white cups before taking a seat next to Jonah.

  “You sure you didn’t want anything?” Eliana asked Joy.

  “I’m sure. I’m good, thanks.” Joy smiled at her. She wouldn’t have been able to drink anything. She was afraid that if she did, she was just going to vomit it up.

  She had been so worried about Wade, that her nerves weren’t allowing her to eat or drink.

  “Joy, I reckon you better go see him first.”

  Joy’s head flew up toward Jonah in shock. She glanced at Carson and Parker, who both nodded in agreement.

  “He’s not going to want to see us first if he knows you’re here,” Parker said.

  “Are you sure? I mean, I know your family is close.” She paused, and three sets of gray eyes landed on her.

  Eliana chuckled. “You better go in there, dear.”

  “Our brother will know we’re here. It’s you he’ll want to see.” Caron jerked his head toward the door.

  “Okay,” she whispered. Joy stood from her chair and nervously brushed her hair from her face as she made her way out of the room. It had been a long night, and she was bone tired.

  “He’s in room two twenty-four,” Jonah said.

  She had ridden to the hospital with Jonah and Eliana. Lexi had stayed at the police station to wait for Junior and his friends, as the deputies refused to release them all at the same time. Jonah had pai
d for his sons, then they’d left to follow the ambulance to the hospital.

  The ride had been awkward, but all she kept thinking of was Wade.

  Her feet carried her down to the hallway. The hospital unit was busy, with nurses running from room to room. Phones ringing filled the air, while the secretary was busy trying to answer all the calls.

  Joy walked past the nurses’ station, and continued down the hall until she came upon the room Jonah said was Wade’s.

  She stood there staring at the door, not knowing what to say.

  No time like the present.

  Joy knocked gently on the door before pushing it open. She stepped inside to find it was a private room.

  Wade laid in the bed with the stark white blankets covering him. There was tubing flowing from his arm to a machine next to the bed. A monitor above had numbers flashing across it.

  Fear and emotions she couldn’t even describe slammed into her.

  What if she had lost him?

  A hiccup caught in her throat.

  His face was marred with dark-purple bruising. His eyes flew open. The right one barely opened, but his gaze was on her.

  “Joy.” He cleared his throat and paused. He shifted and grimaced as he pushed himself higher up against the pillows.

  She closed the door behind her. Tears blurred her vision. She bit her lip, not sure what to do now that they were staring at each other.

  “Wade.” Her voice shook. She clenched her hands together, needing to do something with them.

  “Come here, baby.” Wade opened his arms for her.

  Joy flew across the room in a heartbeat.

  Wade wrapped his arms around her as the tears flowed freely. Her body was racked with sobs. He just held her, and at the moment, she didn’t want to leave his side.

  “Why are you crying?” His deep voice rumbled in his chest as he stroked her back.

  The scent of him, along with the steady beat of his heart comforted her. Somehow, he had moved over enough to allow her to squeeze in on the small, twin-sized mattress. She was nestled into his side, molding them together perfectly.

  Wade used his finger to tip her chin up so he could stare down into her eyes.

  “I thought I might have lost you,” she whispered. She blinked against the tears that were blurring her vision. Even though his face was covered with bruises, cuts, and was swollen, he was still the sexiest man she had ever seen. Just being this close to him reminded her of everything she felt whenever she was around him.