Counting on Love (Contemporary Cowboy Romance) (Carson Hill Ranch series: Book 3) by Amelia Rose
Authors: Amelia Rose
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give her a thumbs up sign. His eyes closed as he lowered his arm and before long, he began to breathe in a soft, rhythmic pattern, telling her he’d fallen asleep.
Emma slipped out of the room, returning to the waiting room to share the news that Joseph had come out of surgery. She found the same doctor speaking to the family, the worry on their faces increasing as he continued.
“…he’ll need daily physical therapy and monitored pain management. We just opened his neck and the layers of muscles underneath, so just the surgical site is going to take time and supervision to heal.”
“Um, Doctor, how do we get him a physical therapist in the middle of a ranch? He can’t just pop into town every day, considering that Hale is the closest town and probably doesn’t have its own specialist,” Carey asked, his mind already at work on how the impossible would have to be made possible.
“Then your brother will need to stay here in Dallas for the duration of his treatment, which can easily run for the next eight to twelve weeks,” he explained matter-of-factly, ignoring the looks of disbelief in front of him.
“Stay here? You expect us to leave him here for three months?” Casey asked, jumping up suddenly. “We’re not going to leave him here without his family!”
Emma watched the discussion among the family members and the baffled doctor growing louder and louder, then stepped closer and caught Miranda’s eye. A wordless conversation passed between them as they regarded each other, finalized when Emma nodded. Miranda spoke. “I have a solution. We’ll get a small extended stay apartment for as long as Joseph needs it, and Emma can stay with him to help care for him and get him to his appointments.”
Bernard was the one to break the stunned silence. “Emma? I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude, but don’t you think Joseph would be better off with his family, not some stranger?”
“Excuse me, sir, pardon me for saying so, but you didn’t have a problem with me being a stranger when you invited me along. I’m happy to stay if it’s what Joseph needs, or what he wants.” She stood her ground, ready for the judgmental words she knew would be coming next; they always did. But she wasn’t going to turn her back and run away this time. Joseph needed her to be strong and stand up for him but even more importantly, she needed to stand up for herself.
Bernard looked at her appraisingly before he spoke, nodding his head. “Of course, you’re right. I’m the one who should apologize to you. We would be grateful to you if you could help him. I’ll go make the arrangements.” He gestured to Casey to join him and together, they walked down the hallway, leaving to plan a place for Joseph and Emma to stay and arrange their transportation.
Miranda crossed the small waiting room and took Emma’s hands. “I can’t even find the right words to thank you. You don’t know how much it means to us that Joseph won’t be here all alone. I know he’d never agree to stay in the city on his own, and having you to keep him company will be exactly what he needs to get well, I just know it.”
“Thank you, Miranda, that means a lot coming from you,” Emma answered, before finding herself pulled into the warmth of Miranda’s tight hug. Gracie came over and piled on, too, the three of them giddy with relief at knowing Joseph would be okay and would be well taken care.
****
“Come on, pretty boy, you have six more reps,” a deep voice called out from the end of the padded platform. “You’re not getting any younger and I’m not getting any better looking, so hustle!” Joseph pulled on the stretchy length of rubber tubing with his bad arm, wincing as he angled it across his body, feeling the nerve endings and muscles scream from lack of use. He knocked out the last six pulls, then flopped backward onto the wide platform, letting his eyes close in exhaustion. “Emma, girl, make him sit up and quit being a
Emma slipped out of the room, returning to the waiting room to share the news that Joseph had come out of surgery. She found the same doctor speaking to the family, the worry on their faces increasing as he continued.
“…he’ll need daily physical therapy and monitored pain management. We just opened his neck and the layers of muscles underneath, so just the surgical site is going to take time and supervision to heal.”
“Um, Doctor, how do we get him a physical therapist in the middle of a ranch? He can’t just pop into town every day, considering that Hale is the closest town and probably doesn’t have its own specialist,” Carey asked, his mind already at work on how the impossible would have to be made possible.
“Then your brother will need to stay here in Dallas for the duration of his treatment, which can easily run for the next eight to twelve weeks,” he explained matter-of-factly, ignoring the looks of disbelief in front of him.
“Stay here? You expect us to leave him here for three months?” Casey asked, jumping up suddenly. “We’re not going to leave him here without his family!”
Emma watched the discussion among the family members and the baffled doctor growing louder and louder, then stepped closer and caught Miranda’s eye. A wordless conversation passed between them as they regarded each other, finalized when Emma nodded. Miranda spoke. “I have a solution. We’ll get a small extended stay apartment for as long as Joseph needs it, and Emma can stay with him to help care for him and get him to his appointments.”
Bernard was the one to break the stunned silence. “Emma? I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude, but don’t you think Joseph would be better off with his family, not some stranger?”
“Excuse me, sir, pardon me for saying so, but you didn’t have a problem with me being a stranger when you invited me along. I’m happy to stay if it’s what Joseph needs, or what he wants.” She stood her ground, ready for the judgmental words she knew would be coming next; they always did. But she wasn’t going to turn her back and run away this time. Joseph needed her to be strong and stand up for him but even more importantly, she needed to stand up for herself.
Bernard looked at her appraisingly before he spoke, nodding his head. “Of course, you’re right. I’m the one who should apologize to you. We would be grateful to you if you could help him. I’ll go make the arrangements.” He gestured to Casey to join him and together, they walked down the hallway, leaving to plan a place for Joseph and Emma to stay and arrange their transportation.
Miranda crossed the small waiting room and took Emma’s hands. “I can’t even find the right words to thank you. You don’t know how much it means to us that Joseph won’t be here all alone. I know he’d never agree to stay in the city on his own, and having you to keep him company will be exactly what he needs to get well, I just know it.”
“Thank you, Miranda, that means a lot coming from you,” Emma answered, before finding herself pulled into the warmth of Miranda’s tight hug. Gracie came over and piled on, too, the three of them giddy with relief at knowing Joseph would be okay and would be well taken care.
****
“Come on, pretty boy, you have six more reps,” a deep voice called out from the end of the padded platform. “You’re not getting any younger and I’m not getting any better looking, so hustle!” Joseph pulled on the stretchy length of rubber tubing with his bad arm, wincing as he angled it across his body, feeling the nerve endings and muscles scream from lack of use. He knocked out the last six pulls, then flopped backward onto the wide platform, letting his eyes close in exhaustion. “Emma, girl, make him sit up and quit being a
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