Cowboy Six Pack

by Kari Lynn Dell

  “You don’t have to carry it. I’ll handle the set-up. No worries.” He checked his email on his phone, but there was nothing important. Junk ads from a couple of local stores and an auction flyer from one of their competitors. No word from his mother, father, or sister.

  London licked salad dressing from her finger. “Call Chrissy. She might know something.”

  “Hmm. Yeah. I’m going to step outside. It’s noisy in here.” It wasn’t like Darren to be late. Not without good cause.

  He selected Chrissy from his contacts, then put the phone up to his ear as it began ringing. It went straight to voicemail. “Dammit.” He squeezed the phone. “Where are you guys?”

  He went back inside to the table where London snacked on chips and the seven-layer salad. “Straight to voicemail. I think I’m going to have to—”

  The phone buzzed in his hand a second before the ringtone went off. His dad’s number popped up on the screen.

  “Dad?”

  “Where are you?” Darren’s voice came through the speaker unusually loud. “I’ve been trying to call you for an hour.”

  Fear pinched his stomach. “I’m at the stockyard. Were you calling my cell or the office? What’s going on?”

  “I was calling the damn office. I forgot my cellphone at home—couldn’t remember your number.” Exhaustion crept into Darren’s voice.

  “Mom has it. Where’s Mom?”

  “In the ER. She got lightheaded while she was getting ready for the party and she passed out. Hit her head on the bathtub. It knocked her cold and there was blood everywhere. Her head’s okay, but her heart is weaker than they thought. They’re sending her to Tulsa right now.”

  “Son of a—” Worry and anger surged through him. “Why didn’t Chrissy call me? Where the hell is she?”

  London rose from her seat, grabbed his arm. Her eyes widened. “What’s happening?”

  “She was with your mom while I tried to call you. It’s a pain in the ass getting in and out of the ER. I never thought to get her phone. We’re leaving in a few minutes. Are you coming?”

  “Yes. I’ll be right behind you guys. Meet you there. And for God’s sake, don’t forget your phone or the charger.” He ended the call. “I’ve got to go. They’re taking Mom to Tulsa.”

  “Oh my god.” London’s face paled. “You have to tell Patty.”

  “I don’t want to ruin the mood. I’ll call her from the road in a while. Let’s go.” He took her hand, tugged it as he headed for the door.

  London stayed rooted to the floor. “I’ll catch a ride home with Ryan.”

  His heart skipped a beat. “What? You’re not coming with me?”

  She shook her head. “It’s not my place. This is your family and you know how your dad feels about me. It’s bad enough his wife is sick. He doesn’t need someone he doesn’t like hanging around.”

  “The hell with him. My mom likes you and she would understand that I need you.”

  She took a step back. “You need me or you need the distraction, Dean? If your dad is busy fussing about me being there, neither of you has to worry about your mom as much.”

  Her words struck him like a punch to the gut. “That’s not fair. I want you with me. We’re dating. We care about one another. You care about Mom, don’t you?”

  “She’s a very nice lady and I would love to be her friend, but this is a time for family. I’m sorry. I’m not trying to hurt you, but it’s how I feel.”

  He adjusted his hat as he tried to curb his temper. “Fine. Stay here then. Enjoy the party.”

  “Don’t go away mad. Please think about what I’m saying.”

  “I get what you’re saying,” he snapped. “As long as times are good, you’re happy to hang around. Things go sideways and you’re out. Excuse me. I have a long drive.”

  She gasped. “How dare you?”

  “Leave me alone. I don’t have time for this bullshit.” He stomped to the door, past the blaring music, swearing under his breath as he went.

  Tulsa was two hours away. He could have used the companionship, the assurance that his mother would be all right, but clearly he wasn’t going to get it from London.

  * * * *

  It was after eight p.m. when he reached Tulsa General.

  Chrissy met him outside the hospital. She wrapped him in a hug. “Mom is stable. She’s on oxygen and fluid, of course, but her color is looking better. They gave her something for the pain in her head, so she’s a little bit loopy, but she’s awake and she’s been asking for you.”

  “What are they going to do with her?”

  “The surgery is planned for tomorrow. Her doctor’s driving over tonight. We already talked to her back in Swells. She seems pretty positive about the outcome. Mom just gave us a heck of a scare.” Chrissy’s hands shook. “Did you come alone?”

  “Yeah.” He swallowed the knot in his throat. The two-hour drive had been filled with churning thoughts about his mom’s health and London’s attitude. “I want to see Mom.”

  “I hope they’ll let you. Visiting hours ended at eight. Dad’s with her, but they might make us stay in the waiting room.”

  “We’re sneaky. We can get in there.” If he had to dress in scrubs and pretend to be an orderly, he was seeing his mother. Exhausted from his jittery nerves, he followed his sister blindly into the hospital.

  They rode the elevator up to the heart patient floor and got out in a too-quiet hallway. His bootheels tapped loudly against the white tiles.

  Chrissy waved at the nurse sitting at the station.

  The woman merely nodded as they passed.

  “We’re in the clear. C’mon.” Chrissy took his hand and pulled him down the hall.

  His mother occupied the bed nearest the window—the other was mercifully empty. Clara seemed small and fragile against the white pillow where her head rested. A cannula delivered oxygen to her, and saline dripped into her veins through the needle stuck in the back of her hand.

  He’d never seen his mother look so poorly.

  Darren met Dean’s gaze. He had his hand wrapped around Clara’s. “You made it.”

  Clara’s eyelids fluttered. A smile crossed her face. “There’s my boy.”

  “Hey, Mama. I like the nasal piercing. Looks good on you.” His voice cracked. He approached the opposite side of the bed from his dad. “Dad told me you whapped your head pretty good.”

  “It’s fine. They got the bleeding stopped right away. No stitches. Not like that time when your pony threw you off and you had to get stitches in your chin. Remember that? One for every year you were alive.” She wrapped her cold fingers around his. “That scared the tarnation out of me.”

  “I was five. It was no big deal. I got right back on that pony when we got home, too, didn’t I?” He laughed. “What are you in for? Getting some Botox? A little nip and tuck?”

  “I might as well while I’m here.”

  She might appear weak and tired, but her spirit hadn’t faded any. He laughed, even though the worry for her threatened to bring him to tears. “Did these two talk you into it? You’d better come home with me. You’re beautiful the way you are.”

  “That’s why I needed you by my side. Your daddy is as sullen as a mule. You got my sense of humor.” She sighed. The mascara she’d applied before her fall was smudged beneath her eyes. One cheek had the glow of blush, the other was stark white. Her short hair stood up in riotous curls—she must have forced someone to pull her curlers out, though no one had a brush to tame the curls. “We moved the surgery up a few days. No worries. I’ll be good as new tomorrow. Wipe that frown off your face. All of you. I’m not having a bunch of sourpusses hang around my bed like buzzards.”

  “That’s a fine thing to say to your loving son who drove like a NASCAR winner to be at your side. I passed Jimmy Johnson on the interstate like he was sitting on blocks.”

  “You better not have.” She squeezed his hand. “Don’t put yourself in danger because of me. Lord, you didn’t have Londo
n in the truck, did you? She’s expecting. You have to be careful with her.”

  He swallowed the knot in his throat. “London didn’t come with me.”

  “Oh. Well, that’s for the best. A hospital is no place for her. She might get a cold or something. It’s no fun to be pregnant and sick.”

  “She told me to tell you to get well soon.” He pressed a kiss to his mother’s forehead. “Maybe when you’re feeling better, she’ll give you a call.”

  “That would be nice.” Clara’s eyes drifted shut. “I’m about give out, but I’m so glad you got here all right. I worried.”

  “Don’t worry about me. Worry about you.” He let go of her hand. “You need to get some sleep. Tomorrow morning is going to come quick.”

  “I will. You and Chrissy go find yourselves a nice hotel room. Daddy will pay for it. I want you kids in bed by ten. No arguing.” Clara wagged her finger at them. “You’ve both got to be worn out.”

  “We’re fine, Mama. We’ll be close by.” Chrissy put her hand on Dean’s shoulder. “We couldn’t leave you.”

  “Darren, tell your stubborn children to get out of here. I want some alone time with my husband.”

  “You kids go on. No sense in all of us being uncomfortable tonight.” He lifted his gaze away from Clara to narrow his eyes at them. “Get something to eat and go to bed. Listen to your mama, now.”

  “Oh, I can tell when we’re not wanted. Fine. We’ll just wander off into the big city on our own. You’ll miss us, and next week, you’ll have to put our faces on milk cartons, but it’ll be too late. We’ll be kidnapped and tossed down into a hole somewhere never to be seen again.” He steered Chrissy away from the bed.

  Clara chuckled. “Honey, I love you, but you’re a brat. I’ll see you in the morning. You kids be good. Love you.”

  He closed the door behind them as they left.

  Chrissy threw her arms around him. “What are we going to do if she doesn’t make it, Dean?”

  “She’s gonna make it. I don’t believe in any other outcome.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  “I’m sorry about your party. It doesn’t seem fair that it was cut so short, but I felt like you’d rather know about Clara.” London licked her fingertips, then turned the newspaper page.

  “I’m glad you told me. I wasn’t in much mood to party after I found out.” Patty lifted her cellphone and glared at the screen. “I wish someone would call with an update.”

  “Soon.” Maybe. Hopefully. London’s heart ached. She wanted to call Dean, but didn’t want to interrupt his family time. And what if he was still mad at her? She ran her finger down the Help Wanted ads. What if she had to get a new job because he was disgusted by her?

  “What are you doing?” Patty leaned over the table to look at the paper.

  “Just looking.”

  “At the help section? Why? I thought you were happy at the stockyard. You’re doing so well.”

  “It’s a good job. A dream come true,” she murmured. “I’m keeping an eye out though. You know Darren doesn’t like me.” Maybe Dean didn’t anymore either.

  Patty frowned. “Darren doesn’t like you because you let him walk all over you. He’s never had a use for spineless creatures. All you’ve got to do is elbow your way into a conversation, make sure you keep eye contact with him, and tell it like it is.”

  “Easier said than done.” Two restaurants had taken out ads for waitresses. Hard work. Nothing she hadn’t done before, but being on her feet all day would stink. “It’s better since he’s not there all the time, but he literally walked out of the house when he found out I was coming for supper. It’s not fair to me or him that one of us doesn’t show up to family functions. Better me than him.”

  “Clara raved about you when I talked to her last time. She likes you a lot.”

  “Clara gets her way about a lot of things, but even she can’t force Darren to like me. It’s probably better if we go ahead and call it quits now. I’m not afraid of working. I’ve done it practically every day since I turned fifteen.”

  A doctor’s office required a receptionist. Maybe she could do that one. Plus, it might offer health insurance. That would be helpful once the baby came if it took a chunk off her already hefty bill.

  “Wait a minute. Call what quits? You’re not talking about Dean?” Patty slapped her hand over the newspaper. “London, you’re not serious.”

  She raised her gaze. “We had a fight. He’s probably really pissed at me.”

  Patty rolled her eyes. “Golly, one fight and you’re through? Have you even been paying attention to the man you’re seeing? You think Dean will walk away and forget about you over some little fight?”

  “It wasn’t that little. I told him I couldn’t go with him to Tulsa because I’m not family. It would make his dad mad.” She folded the corner of the paper. “And because I would be a distraction from what his mom is going through.”

  “London!”

  “It was the wrong thing to say.” Obviously. “I felt bad about it right away, but it was too late. Really, though, you think they need me hanging around during a family moment? I mean, you’ve known them your whole life and here you are, sitting in your kitchen, waiting for a phone call.”

  “Honey, I’m not dating Dean.” Patty gave her a long look. “He has Chrissy there to keep him busy, and I’m sure Mark will take the boys over this afternoon, but Darren’s as stoic as a wall. Dean could use a little moral support from his girlfriend.”

  “He probably could have if she’d kept her mouth shut.” He’d been nothing but supportive with her. He didn’t have to help her pick up the crib and certainly didn’t have to refinish it. “Should I call him? Or maybe I should wait until Monday. He’ll be back by then, don’t you think? Darren will freak if no one’s taking care of the stockyard.”

  “What’s your heart say?”

  London groaned. “That I’d better mind my own business.”

  “I think that’s more along the lines of those little voices in your head that told you you’re not worth the trouble. Your heart, London. Not every mean-spirited person who ever bad mouthed you.”

  London sighed. “I want to be with Dean.”

  Patty nodded. “That sounds more like it. So go. You know how to get to Tulsa.”

  “But what if—”

  “The heck with the what-ifs. He’ll be happy to see you. Trust me.” Patty rose. “Go on. You can give him a call on your way out the door. Let him know you’ll be there soon.”

  “Maybe a surprise would be more fun.”

  “Oh, no. Because if you don’t call him, you’re liable to get in your car and go home. If he’s expecting you, you have to go.”

  “You are a hard bargainer, Miss Patty.” She stood. “All right, I’ll call him. Only to find out if he even wants me there.”

  “I guess it’s a start.” Patty rolled her eyes. “Go on. I want to witness this.”

  “My feelings are hurt that you’d think I would tell you a fib about going to find him.” London pulled Dean’s number up on the phone. “I thought you thought better of me.”

  The phone started ringing.

  “London?” Dean’s voice came over the speaker. “Hello?”

  “Uh, hi, Dean. It’s me.” Please don’t hang up.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. I’m calling to see how you are. Patty’s been watching the phone, waiting for any kind of news. So, um…is there news?” I’m sorry about last night. I’m a dummy.

  “Not yet. She didn’t go back till seven. We’re hoping any time now.”

  He sounded tired.

  “How was she when you got there?” She met Patty’s gaze.

  Patty nodded encouragingly.

  “In good spirits, but worn out. She was the same this morning. Cheerful, upbeat. Ready to have it done, I think.”

  “I’m glad she was herself.”

  Noise came through the speaker. Excited squeals and laughter.

  “Wh
at’s that?”

  “Hang on.” Dean’s line went quiet for a moment. “Had to step into the hall. Mark just got here with the kids. They’re tickled to see Chrissy.”

  “Oh. I’m glad they made it all right. I should let you go. You’ll be busy juggling them.”

  “Wait a minute. I’m glad you called. I spent the night tossing and turning. Not only because of Mom. I snapped at you and I’m sorry for it. I was planning to call you, but it’s early and I thought you might be taking advantage of not having a cowboy in your hair.”

  Relief coursed through her. “That’s sweet. I’m sorry too. For saying you only thought of me as a distraction.”

  “Forget it. It was a bad moment for both of us.” He drew in a breath. “I miss you.”

  “I miss you too. Would it be okay if I drove over there? I wouldn’t be in the way?”

  “You could never be in the way, London. Not in a hundred million years.”

  Her heart skipped a beat. She closed her eyes. “Okay, I’m on my way.”

  “Keep your phone on. I’ll call if I hear anything. Be careful, all right?”

  “I will. See you soon.” Not soon enough.

  “There, that wasn’t so hard. Get going, but drive carefully. No rushing.” Patty enfolded London in a hug. “Send me a text when you get there so I know you’re safe.”

  “Will do. Thanks, Patty.” With lunch hour traffic, her drive might take a little longer, but she wouldn’t drive too fast. Not with so much on the line. Getting to Dean’s side safely was more important than anything.

  * * * *

  London stepped inside the air-conditioned hospital lobby. As promised, Dean stood near a window, drenched in sunlight, and looking for all the world like a bull had dragged him. His clothes were wrinkled and his jaw was dark with stubble. He looked like hell…and like a million dollars. He smiled when he saw her and held out his arms for a hug.

  London melted into his embrace. “Tell me the news.”

  “Two stents, but she came through real well. The doctor was optimistic about recovery. She says Mom should be able to go home tomorrow.”