Read Midnight Thunder(INCR) for Free Online Page A

walked in, he might have believed Herb wasn’t concerned. But the little speech was pure bravado.
    Cade wasn’t going to call him on it, though. “I realize that. We’re all just looking for a good excuse to pester you guys.”
    â€œCade?” Rosie’s voice caused them both to turn toward the open door. “Is that you out there?”
    â€œYes, ma’am.”
    Rosie made an impatient noise and addressed the nurses who were still in the room. “Hey, you two, I’d surely appreciate it if you could put me back to rights and open the curtains. I need to hug my son.”
    Both of them laughed. “Rosie, are you going to be a difficult patient?” one asked.
    â€œOnly if this blood-pressure business takes all blessed morning, Sally.”
    More laughter and teasing followed. Cade should have anticipated that Rosie would be on a first-name basis with the hospital staff. She’d had a long career in social services and knew nearly everyone in town.
    Eventually the curtain was pulled back, and both nurses headed for the door. The short, stocky one smiled at Cade as she came out of the room. “She’s all yours, cowboy.”
    â€œAnd tell her to stop scaring us like that,” said the taller one.
    â€œYes, ma’am.” Cade polished off his coffee and looked around for a trash can.
    â€œCade?” Rosie sounded pretty strong for a sick woman. “Get a move on, son!”
    â€œGive me that.” Herb lifted the empty cup from his hand. “You go on in.”
    Cade took off his hat and made sure he had a smile on his face as he walked into the room. “You’ve been instructed to—”
    â€œYeah, yeah, I heard.” Rosie looked a little pale, and her hair, which she’d started coloring a light blond, wasn’t styled the way she normally did it. But her blue eyes were bright and filled with love. “Come over here, you big galoot.”
    His breathing stalled. She was so important to him. Herb was right that guilt didn’t do anyone any good, so he’d work on eliminating that. But he might not be able to erase the regret over staying away so long.
    Being careful of the IV, he leaned down and gave her a cautious hug. He breathed in the antiseptic smell that reminded him of bad times, but Rosie’s signature floral scent was there, too, which he associated with good times. “I love you, Mom.”
    â€œI love you, too, but I hope you didn’t jeopardize your job to come see me.”
    â€œNope.” He kissed her cheek and moved back. “Your timing was perfect.”
    â€œGlad to be so accommodating, but why was it perfect?”
    â€œHe quit last night,” Herb said as he walked into the room. “I think there’s a story there considering that he brought a horse with him.”
    â€œAnd a cat. I hadn’t planned on the cat.”
    Rosie smiled. “It’s like old times when you boys used to haul home every stray for miles around. So where are these animals now?”
    â€œAt the ranch. Lexi’s watching them for me.”
    Speculation filled Rosie’s gaze. “So you’ve talked to her, then.”
    â€œYes, ma’am.” He wondered if she could tell by his expression that he’d also kissed Lexi. Whenever he wasn’t worrying about Rosie and what might be wrong with her, he was thinking about Lexi. He’d forgotten how good her mouth felt, and now he wanted to kiss her some more.
    â€œHow’d that go?”
    â€œFine.” This wasn’t the conversational direction he favored. “But enough about that. I want to know about you.”
    â€œYou wouldn’t be trying to change the subject, would you?” She gave him a knowing smile.
    â€œMaybe. But seriously, what do the doctors think is going on?”
    â€œThey aren’t sure yet, although I’ll bet it’s just a bad case of indigestion.” Rosie’s jaw firmed