Read McKettricks of Texas: Garrett for Free Online Page B

He’s ill. We still have five children at home. I’m not about to turn my back on him now.”
    â€œMrs. Cox—”
    â€œNan,” she broke in. “Your mother and I were like sisters.”
    â€œNan,” Garrett corrected himself, his tone grave. “Surely you understand that your husband’s career can’t be saved. He won’t get the presidential nomination. In fact, he will probably be asked to relinquish his seat in the Senate.”
    â€œI don’t give a damn about his career,” Nan said fiercely, and Garrett knew she was fighting back tears. “I just want Morgan back. I want him examined by his doctor. He’s not in his right mind, Garrett. He needs my help. He needs our help.”
    Although the senator was probably going through some kind of delayed midlife crisis, Garrett wasn’t convinced that his boss was out of his mind. Morgan Cox wouldn’t be the first politician to throw over his wife, family and career in some fit of eroticized egotism, nor, unfortunately, would he be the last.
    â€œLook,” Garrett said quietly, “I’ve given this whole situation some thought, and from where I stand, resignation is looking pretty good.”
    â€œMorgan’s?”
    â€œMine,” Garrett replied, after unclamping his jaw.
    â€œYou would resign? ” Nan asked, sounding only slightly more horrified than stunned. “Morgan has been your mentor, Garrett. He’s shown you the ropes, introduced you to all the right people in Washington, prepared the way for you to run for office when the time comes….”
    Her voice fell away.
    Garrett thrust out a sigh. Would he resign?
    He wasn’t sure. All he knew for certain right then was that he needed more of what his dad would have called range time—hours and hours on the back of a horse—in order to figure out what to do next.
    In the meanwhile, though, Morgan and the barracuda were pinned down in a hotel suite in Austin, two hours away. The senator was obviously a loose cannon, and if he got desperate enough, he might make things even worse with some off-the-wall statement meant to appease the reporters lying in wait for him in the corridor.
    â€œGarrett?” Nan prompted, when he didn’t speak.
    â€œI’m here,” he said.
    â€œYou’ve got to do something.”
    Like what? Garrett wondered. But it wasn’t the sort of thing you said to Nan Cox, especially not when she was in her take-on-the-world mode. “I’ll call his cell,” he told her.
    â€œGood,” Nan said, and hung up hard.
    Garrett winced slightly, then speed-dialed his boss.
    â€œMcKettrick?” Cox snapped. “Is that you?”
    â€œYes,” Garrett said.
    â€œWhere the hell are you?”
    Garrett let the question pass. The senator wasn’t asking for his actual whereabouts, after all. He was letting Garrett know he was pissed.
    â€œYou haven’t spoken to the press, have you?” Garrett asked.
    â€œNo,” Cox said. “But they’re all over the hotel—in the hallway outside our suite, and probably downstairs in the lobby—”
    â€œProbably,” Garrett agreed quietly. “First thing, Senator. It is very important that you don’t issue any statements or answer any questions before we have a chance to make plans. None at all. I’ll get back to Austin as soon as I can, but in the meantime, you’ve got to stay put and speak to no one.” A pause. “Do you understand me, Senator?”
    Cox’s temper flared. “What do you mean, you’ll get back to Austin as soon as you can? Dammit, Garrett, where are you?”
    This time, Garrett figured, the man really wanted to know. Of course, that didn’t mean he had to be told.
    â€œThat doesn’t matter,” Garrett replied, his tone measured.
    â€œIf I didn’t need your help so badly,” the senator shot back, “I’d fire