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I stared at my dad as confusion flooded my body. “Cash can handle it,” I mumbled quietly.
My dad glanced over my shoulder as gentle bare feet sounded against the floorboards behind me. “He’s headed to the hospital already, Cassidy,” my father answered slowly.
What was he saying? What was going on? This was my brother who might lose both his wife and baby, yet I was supposed to just stay here?
“Then Drake or—”
“No, Cassidy. No more arguments. Now, chores. I’ll call with any updates,” my father commanded, and then he turned and hustled toward the Razor idling by my house. I tracked him as he squealed away from my house, no doubt heading toward his own truck to take him and my mom to the hospital. Though I wondered if she might already be there, along with Tenley’s mom and Remington, his wife, Pearl, everyone. Probably even Rooney since he’d been attached to Rosemary from the moment he arrived here.
Everyone except for me.
“Is everything alright?” a gentle voice asked behind me.
I didn’t turn to face Briar, ashamed of my reaction to the news. It was definitely a selfish feeling because my father was right, chores needed to be done, and it was my job to take over whenever Weston was gone. But family was supposed to come first. Meaning Weston’s situation with Tenley was supposed to be top priority, even over work. That was how it had always been. Even Cash was going to the hospital instead of staying here like I was relegated to.
Was this really Weston’s decision? Honestly, with the fact that Tenley and his baby were in trouble, I doubted anything else was on his mind. So, no. It probably wasn’t. And I shouldn’t be upset that my father had most likely made this decision for him. Someone needed to take care of the ranch while everyone else was gone.
Besides, my own truck was totaled, out of commission, although I could take a work truck. But that wouldn’t be fair to Weston. He was my boss; if he’d asked me to stay, then that was what I would do. No more pity party even if I wanted to be at that hospital more than stuck here waiting for someone to think about calling me with an update. It was immature of me to be upset and angry that I’d been left behind. There was probably a lot more going on in this situation than what was conveyed by my dad’s quick words.
There had to be.
“Cassidy?” Briar hesitantly asked again, and warm fingers brushed against my bare arm.
I clenched my jaw, taking a deep breath, and let her touch fill me with whatever little strength that I might still possess.
“I’ve got some work to do,” I answered and turned around.
Her sleep-filled eyes widened, concern tightening her soft features. “What? But your concussion? You’re supposed to take it easy and rest, not go out and work.”
“Weston is at the hospital with everyone else, so it’s just me and a few hands still here. It won’t take long, most of the herd is up in summer pasture anyway, remember?” I gently pushed past her and plodded back to my room, ignoring the swirling world around me and the headache that was pounding behind my eyes.
“Why is he at the hospital?” she asked, following along.
“Tenley’s in labor, and there have apparently been some complications. My dad didn’t say much else,” I mumbled, pushing open my door.
“Shouldn’t you be going with your dad then?”
I spun around and stopped walking. Closing my eyes, the room tilted from the sudden movement, and nausea curdled in my stomach. “What help would…” I paused, swallowing stiffly to settle the churning, and glanced at her through slitted lids. “What help would I be there, pacing in the waiting room with everyone else?”
Her shock morphed into a tenderness I’d not seen on her before. “But you’d rather be there,” she whispered.
Yes.
“I’m needed here, Goldie,” I answered and slowly turned back around. She didn’t respond, most likely knowing that there was a lie behind my statement. She didn’t follow me as I grabbed the first pair of sweatpants that were stuffed into my drawer, but I could feel her eyes track me to my closet where I tugged a button-up down from a hanger.
“Yes, I’d rather be there,” I finally confessed as I slipped past her and out into the hallway. “But there’s work to be done here. I was asked to stay.” And I closed the bathroom door behind me.
Such a petty thing to be upset about, considering that there really wasn’t any help I could provide at the hospital. But that was where my entire family was right now, where my brother was. A brother to whom I owed my life, one who might lose his family in one fell swoop. And here I was, waiting.
Waiting for an update on Tenley, on her baby, and on Briar’s feelings.
Everything in me wanted to curse and scream, but I merely splashed some water on my face and dressed for chores.
Chapter 22
BRIAR
More than three hours had passed since Cassidy left without saying much. I could see how broken he felt being told to stay behind. Needing to tell him what I’d wanted to say right before we were hit no longer mattered. Not right now. While I agreed that there wasn’t much to do if he were to go to the hospital, everyone else was there. Even Rooney—I had sent him a quick text and found out he’d apparently been staying with Rosemary, and they went to the hospital together.
