by Susan Crosby
Oh, yeah. Win was enjoying this marriage business a whole lot.
* * *
“You understand there are six heirs,” Realtor Ellen Travis said to Win and Jenny late the next afternoon as they signed the offer documents. “Not only will it take a little time to get in touch with everyone, reaching accord with that many people can be very difficult. Some won’t accept less than the listing price. Some will be happy just to be done with it.”
“I think we offered a fair price,” Jenny said. “I did a lot of research on it.”
“I know you did. I’m just letting you know that it may take weeks before we have a final answer.”
“I’m prepared for that.” She looked at Win, who had let her take charge, since she’d done all the prep. “We know we won’t be able to get started until next spring, so if it drags on until then, that’s okay. No payments to make in the meantime.”
“Well, you don’t want it to drag on for too long. Right now you’ve got the loan lined up. If your financial situation changes in any way before the offer is accepted, you could lose the loan.” Ellen held up a hand. “Just saying.”
Which worried Win a little. Doc Wheeler had showed up before office hours, at Rose’s request, and they’d gotten into a row, with his father chasing off the doctor and telling him never to come back.
After that, his father refused to speak to Win, except to tell him to stay out of his life, then gave him orders through the foreman all day—unnecessary orders, since Win had been moving herd since he was a boy.
Rose had been humiliated by the scene with the doctor, and Win wondered if he would be fired, a threat he would now be living with as long as he worked for his father. If Win was let go, it would change their financial situation in a drastic way. They would lose the chance to own the property—and therefore Jenny’s dream. He would end up letting her down before their marriage got off the ground.
They were both quiet as they left the Realtor’s office, letting it all sink in.
“Nothing is easy, is it?” she said finally.
He shook his head. “How about dinner and a movie, wife?” he asked. “Take our minds off it all.” They’d never been on a date before, he realized, which seemed funny, considering everything.
“I think that sounds great.”
But as they got into his truck, his phone rang. “Hey, Rose. What’s up?”
“I just called 911. Dad fell. I think he broke his leg.”
Chapter Thirteen
“That was about as bad a break as I’ve seen. You shattered your femur,” the all-business orthopedic surgeon said to Shep as Win, Jenny and Rose stood by in the hospital room. “And you need a hip replacement. We’ll do it all at once. How long have you been in pain?”
Shep stared out the window, not answering.
“You have severe arthritis in your right hip, Mr. Morgan,” the doctor continued. “And your left hip will be a candidate for replacement within a few years, as well. Plus you have osteoporosis, which is why you were susceptible to this severe of a break at your age.”
Still nothing. Jenny could feel Win’s frustration at his father’s silence. Rose wrung her hands.
“When will the surgery be performed, Doctor?” Jenny asked.
“Tomorrow morning.” He moved closer to his patient. “We’ll have you up on your feet with a walker almost right away. You can probably go home on the third or fourth day, provided you have everything set up to care for you, including a physical therapist, whether you go to the rehab center or they come to you at your home. Barring that, you could be an inpatient at a rehab facility instead.”
“My sister is a PT,” Jenny said. “She won’t be available, but I’m sure she can help us find someone to come to the ranch. Do you want me to arrange that, Mr. Morgan?”
His silence continued.
The doctor met Jenny’s glance for a moment. “The patients who recover the fastest, Mr. Morgan, are the ones who do the therapy faithfully and thoroughly, and you strike me as a man who wants a quick recovery. On the other hand, if you try to do too much too soon, you can undo progress in a hurry. Probably for the first time in your life, you’re going to have to follow orders instead of give them.”
Shep’s frown deepened.
“Your short-term recovery should be four to six weeks. Long term is anyone’s guess. It depends on your involvement and desire to heal. So, any questions? No? Then I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Are you in pain now, Dad?” Rose asked, fussing with his pillows.
“No.”
“Would you admit it?” Win asked. “This isn’t the time for heroics. Keeping you out of pain helps with healing and recovery.”
“Leave me alone. All of you.” He closed his eyes.
“I’ll be taking over at the ranch, Dad,” Win said. “Anything in particular you want to tell me?”
He didn’t bother to open his eyes. “You wanted a chance to prove yourself. Apparently you got it.”
Win, Jenny and Rose walked out of the room and down the hall to the waiting room, where there was no chance Shep might overhear them.
“I need to get to the ranch,” Win said. “Probably have to hire another hand to help out for a while. Are you staying here, Rose?”
“For now, but I’ll need to figure out what to do about meals for the hands tomorrow. Maybe Carlos’s wife would pitch in.”
“Do you want to call her or should I?”
“You can, if you don’t mind.”
“How about you, Jen?” Win asked. “Stay or go?”
Jenny hesitated. She felt like she should keep Rose company, especially since Shep didn’t want anyone with him.
“I’m not hanging around more than an hour,” Rose said before Jenny could answer. “I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll be here with you all day tomorrow,” Jenny told her.
“Call if you need anything,” Win said to his sister, giving her a hug. “He’s tough. He’ll be fine.”
“Will he ride again?” Her eyes were wet with tears.
“I don’t know.”
“He wouldn’t want to live, Win.”
He nodded, then he took Jenny’s hand, holding tight as they walked away. “I never thought I’d see my father helpless.”
“Do you think he’ll follow the doctor’s orders?”
“Your guess is as good as mine. I don’t envy the PT who ends up working with him.”
They climbed into the truck and headed out. “You can leave me at the homestead,” she said. “That way if you end up working so late you need to stay overnight, you know I’ll be fine.”
“Thanks.” He glanced at her. “This isn’t the way I wanted him to involve me more.”
“He’ll be home issuing orders in a few days, so you really won’t have a chance to make any changes,” she said. “He’ll be burning up your walkie-talkies all day long.”
Win smiled. “Yeah, you’re right about that.” He put a hand on her thigh. “How’re you doing?”
Earlier she’d readied a huge order that’d been picked up that afternoon for the San Francisco market, then they’d met the Realtor, then Shep... “It’s been a long day, but at least I get to be fawned over by my mother. You’ve got the tough job.”
“I’m up to it.”
“I have no doubt about that, Win. Do you and the foreman get along? Will there be a power struggle with him?”
“Good question. Guess I’ll find out. Regardless, as you pointed out, Dad will be home and on his dictator’s throne soon.”
They turned onto the road leading to Ryder Ranch, then the long driveway. As soon as they pulled up, her mother and father came out to the porch, Adam and Brody behind them.
Win filled them all in. Her mother packed dinner for him to t
ake. As she handed him the plastic container, Adam said, “You know, Win, I could come help you finish moving the herd tomorrow. We’re not moving ours until next week.”
“Me, too,” Brody said.
Win looked startled, then a little overwhelmed. Jenny slipped her hand into his.
“I appreciate the offer. I do. But if my father knew...”
“Why would he?” Brody said. “He won’t be there. We’ll be gone before he gets out of surgery, probably. It’s what family does, Win. You’d do the same for us.”
“Thanks. Can I let you know later? I need to talk to the foreman first.”
“I can go over and fix the meals for your hands,” her mother said. “I’d just need to talk to Rose and get a plan figured out.”
He swallowed hard and nodded, touching the brim of his hat.
Jenny walked him to the truck. The fact he couldn’t say anything told her all she needed to know. He simply kissed her goodbye and left.
She thanked every one of her family with hugs. “I need to call Haley.”
Her mother pointed as her sister’s car came up the driveway. “She said she had something to talk to us about. I’m not sure how many more surprises we can take this month.” Dori winked. “I’d love to hear she’s met the one.”
Give it a day or two, Jenny thought, and you might.
The Ryder family shared a meal of enchiladas, chile rellenos, beans and rice. Haley told them about the two job offers.
“Sacramento,” Dori said, her voice hushed.
“Sweetheart,” Jim said. “It’s her life. Her decision. She wouldn’t be moving to Maine, after all.”
“I think I can fly to Maine faster than I can drive to Sacramento.”
“Mom, really,” Haley said. “I promise I won’t miss an important occasion. We can meet halfway for lunch sometimes.”
“Well, I vote for this Clint Boone person.”
“Careful what you wish for, Mom,” Adam said. “I remember Clint from high school. I’m not sure you’d want one of your baby girls to live with the guy.”
“Live with? You didn’t say anything about that, Haley.”
“He wants live-in help. If I decide to do it, I’ll take a leave of absence from my job, not quit. It would only be for a couple of months.”
The conversation shifted to another topic. It wasn’t until after dinner that Haley and Jenny were able to catch a few minutes alone. They sat on a glider in the garden.
“Correct me if I’m wrong,” Jenny said. “But reading between the lines of what you said, it sounds to me like you’ve made up your mind about which job. That job being Clint.”
“I hadn’t until tonight. Being here with everyone, even with part of our group missing? I would miss you all too much.” She shrugged. “I won’t decide until I see him, of course, but I figure other jobs like the Sacramento one will come up again.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” Jenny said.
“Now, as to a PT for your father-in-law. Since he wouldn’t want a Ryder as his PT, I’ve got someone in mind. She retired last year, but if we can talk her into it, she’d be perfect. She wouldn’t let Shep run roughshod over her for a second.”
“Someone I would know?”
“Frannie Upton. She moved here while you were away at college. Should I call her?”
“Please.”
Haley nodded. “Is Win shell-shocked?”
“Yes. Not surprisingly.”
“My guess is that he’s most stunned at the support he’s getting here. I don’t know him very well yet, and I’ve only seen him a few times, but it’s obvious he loves you.”
Obvious? Really? Jenny didn’t see it. Yes, he took good care of her. Yes, he was kind and considerate. They were bound to each other. But love? Wouldn’t he have said so by now?
You haven’t told him, either.
No, she hadn’t. Decisions had been made for them lately, choices made without options for either of them because they’d needed to do what was right. At least she wanted to hear him say the words first. He’d had that privilege from her years ago. It was her turn.
“He’s a good man,” Jenny said just as Win phoned her. “How’s it going?”
“Not bad. Carlos and I are figuring things out. His wife is willing to do the cooking when Rose can’t, so please tell your mom thanks for the offer. If Adam and Brody want to help move the herd, I’d be grateful. With Dad gone and me at the hospital tomorrow, we’re short two.”
“I’ll tell them. Are you staying there tonight?”
“Do you mind? I want to go over the books while I’ve got the chance, see where he stands. Good thing he hasn’t figured out the computer yet, so I won’t need a password.”
With a wave and smile, Haley went into the house, leaving Jenny alone. “I keep thinking about last night,” she said into the phone.
“Me, too.” His tone of voice was everything she wanted it to be—sexy, full of promise of another night of pleasure. “Bed’s gonna be lonely tonight.”
“I’ve kind of gotten used to you being next to me,” she said. Tell me you love me, then I know everything will be okay.
“It wasn’t much of an adjustment for me, either. Except for the way you take up most of the bed.”
She smiled at the exaggeration. “I’m two people in one package.”
“Why do I have a feeling you’re gonna use that excuse for just about everything for the next seven months?”
“Because you know me that well.”
Silence fell between them. She held her breath, waiting, but all he said was, “Call me when you’re going to bed to say good-night.”
“Sure.” She almost hung up but Haley came out the back door and held up a hand.
“Tell Win that Frannie begrudgingly said okay, as a favor to me. One item ticked off your list.”
When Jenny hung up a couple of minutes later, it was with a light heart. She liked that her husband had come to depend on her some, that he turned to her during a crisis, that he allowed her family—now his family, too—to help. A lot of men wouldn’t do that.
Maybe he had something to prove to his father and knew he didn’t have time to do it alone. Actually, that was probably the most likely reason.
But it also proved what a smart man she’d married.
She could live with that.
* * *
“Everything went well,” the surgeon said the next morning after a long time in the operating room. “He’ll be out of recovery and back in his room in a couple of hours. Go get something to eat. Relax. He’s going to be cranky when he wakes up. I’ve ordered his pain meds on the pump, that way he doesn’t have to let anyone know when he’s hurting. I figured out yesterday that he needs to be in control.”
Rose laughed shakily. Jenny hugged her.
Win stood paralyzed for a few seconds. He loved his father. He’d thought that emotion had died years ago, but it had only gone into protective custody. Whether his father lived or died mattered to Win.
He held out a hand to the surgeon before he left, and said thank you.
And meant it even more than he’d expected.
A couple of hours later, they went into the hospital room. His father’s eyes were closed. He looked frail, a word Win never would’ve applied to Shep Morgan. Win and Rose hung back, but Jenny, whom Win was coming to admire more than anyone on earth, went right up to her father-in-law and kissed his cheek.
“Welcome back, Dad Morgan,” she said.
His eyes fluttered open. His usually clean-shaven face was dusted with gray stubble. He looked hard at Jenny, who smiled back.
“We’re all here,” she said. “Your son and daughter. And me. And your grandchild-to-be.” She rested a hand on her abdomen and smiled at Win, who felt like he’d b
een punched in the gut, the emotional impact was so enormous.
Rose came forward and kissed her father’s cheek as well.
Then Win forced himself to his bedside. “Everything’s good at the ranch,” he said, figuring his father would want that information first, although one of the first discussions they would have would be about the finances. Win had been shocked by the numbers.
His father didn’t say anything, but he held Win’s gaze for a long time, as if trying to figure out who he was, then his eyes closed and he went to sleep without a word of acknowledgment.
Some things never changed. Maybe Win should take comfort in that.
Chapter Fourteen
“That’s it, Mr. Morgan. I quit.”
Win stopped just inside the front door and listened to what had become an almost daily threat from the physical therapist, Frannie Upton, since she’d started coming eleven days ago.
“Fine by me, woman.”
“I told you not to call me that. I am Ms. Upton.”
“You are Ms. Uppity.”
Win laughed. A moment later he encountered Rose with her hand over her mouth, too, her eyes twinkling.
Ms. Upton rushed out of the den/therapy room and past Win and Rose, her tote bag in hand, muttering, “He’s impossible. I won’t be back.”
“See you tomorrow,” Win said as the front door slammed shut. She was a small, wiry woman with steely eyes and a just-as-steely constitution. It probably wasn’t the best time to have a talk with his father, but Win had put it off long enough.
The ranch had been running smoothly without his father’s help, a fact that angered and annoyed the man. Win was going to give him something else to irritate him.
He moved quietly into the den and caught his father with his head down, looking exhausted. One of the fights he and Ms. Upton always had was about him working too hard when she wasn’t there, which was probably why she’d quit again.
“Dad?”
His head came up. “What now?”
