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that
looked so uncomfortable and too small for his large frame. John immediately sat
next to him and put his arms around Holden. Holden cradled John’s head against
his shoulder.
    “Is he going to be all right?” Luke whispered.
    Holden nodded absently. “They haven’t come out to
talk to me yet.”
    Luke nodded and sat down next to John.
    Her heart broke for all of them. The worry in their
eyes and the frowns on their faces made her ache for them.
    Mark sighed heavily. “Holden, it’s my fault. I should
have made sure that no one messed with Yukon. I was cleaning out Yukon’s stall
and I should have kept a better eye out.” His voice broke and faded.
    Holden flashed her a hard look and she wondered if
she should leave. This was a place for the family to be together and she wasn’t
part of the family. The blame lay on her shoulders and she had to wrap her arms
around her middle to keep from coming undone.
    The aging doctor walked into the dour room, toward
Holden, and smiled. “A broken ankle but from the x-rays it appears as though
Matt has had broken bones before. Goes with the territory I guess.” He winked
at John. “Cowboys are tough. Your brother will be fine. He’ll probably drive
you nuts before he’s completely healed but I want him off that foot.”
    John let go of Holden. “I’ll keep an eye on him.”
    The doctor smiled again. “That’s what I thought.
He’s asking to see Summer.”
    Her face warmed as she locked eyes with Holden. His
anger was visibly smoldering. “No, Holden should be the one to see him. Tell
him I’ll see him at home.” Clutching her purse, she walked out of the hospital,
wondering if she would still have a job. Getting into the truck, she wondered
if she should have gone to see Matt. Damned if she did. Damned if she didn’t.
She started the truck and was surprised when Holden came running out.
    “Wait. We have no way to get home if you take the
truck.”
    “I’m sorry. I’m so upset about Matt. I wasn’t
thinking.”
    “Mark is in with Matt now. He’ll be right out to go
with you and then drive the truck back here.” He left before she had a chance
to say anything else.
    If he had wanted her to stay he would have said so.
Guilt racked her and doubt filled her. It wasn’t just her job she worried
about, it was the boys. She got out of the truck and switched to the passenger
side.
    Mark came out and jumped into the truck. They didn’t
say a thing the whole ride. He stopped in front of the house and sat staring
straight ahead until she got out.
    A tear spilled over as she watched him drive away
and she quickly dashed it away. The only way for her to get through this was to
keep herself busy. There were beds to make and things to clean. They’d want
something warm to eat when they got home too.
    As she got closer to the house she spotted Yukon. He
was roaming around free outside the fence. Now what? Horses didn’t frighten her
since she’d grown up on a small ranch. But Yukon had the look of the devil in
his eyes. He ran and turned and ran and turned. There was no way she was going
to catch him.
    Yukon put himself between her and the front door.
Damn why couldn’t anything go right? Her heart beat faster as she tried to gauge
her next move. One glance toward the clothes lines had her abruptly sputtering
with anger. Every sheet lay on the ground “You mangy horse, I guess you don’t
care that we need those sheets tonight!”
    Yukon stopped and stared at her. He appeared to be sizing
her up. He stood perfectly still, watching her.
    If she made a run for it, would he come after her?
What was he doing? She stared back. Perspiration formed on her brow and she
wiped it away with her sleeve. Damn, damn, damn.
    “Okay, come and get me. I have too much to do today
and it’s too damn hot out here for me to play games with you.”
    Yukon just stared. She had to admit the bay was
beautiful. She could sense the power he held. He knew it too.
    “Listen, Yukon, I need to