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“And we’ll wash ours in it too. Because that’s what brothers do.”
“Hell yeah,” I agreed.
Chapter Nine.
Savage
Upset, I stood beside Earle’s bed, holding his hand. Grace sat in a chair in the corner of the room, and Harley had taken the girls for food.
It had been five hours since I got the call, and Lettie had called again to let me know Earle had suffered another stroke. Doc Gibbons had met us at the plane, Phoe calling in a marker. The man was mostly retired now, unless one of us needed him. Must be nice to retire at fifty. I was reassured seeing Doc; it meant Earle would be looked after and not subject to whatever substandard care the town’s prejudiced doctor handed out.
Harley’s presence surprised me, but it made sense when we arrived at the airport. We hit bikes while Grace, Doc, and the girls got in an SUV that Harley was driving. Assured they were in safe hands, we lit out of the airport and joined the I-64 E.
It was a two-hour ride to Layton, a tiny one-horse town set at the foot of the Appalachians. And it hadn’t changed.
I noted each familiarity as I rode down Main Street, ignoring those who stopped and stared. Which was nearly everyone. We stayed in formation around the SUV, ensuring its safety.
Lettie was outside waiting when we got to the care home. She was different from what I thought. She sounded young on the phone, but Lettie was at least forty and met us with a warm smile.
Without wasting time, she rushed us to Earle’s room, where he was asleep.
Doc Gibbons introduced himself and immediately began checking Earle and his chart. His lips pursed, Doc Gibbons noticed some unusual entries and then demanded to speak to the idiot treating Earle.
Doc Gibbons had informed me that several things were affecting Earle, but he would ensure he got the right meds. For instance, Earle’s blood pressure was dangerously high, and it could have been lowered with medication.
My eyes narrowed on the information, and Drake went outside when the town’s doctor, Doc Turner, someone I recognised, arrived. As I sat with Earle, I allowed Doc Gibbons to tear shreds off his counterpart and then threaten to report Turner for lack of care.
Apart from Lettie, the staff sent us dirty looks, making us unwelcome. But Lettie ignored her peer’s pressure, fetched refreshments, and kept me updated on what was happening. Anxiously, I tapped the bed, waiting for Earle to open his eyes. I refused to believe my forty-eight-year-old uncle would die from this.
“Earle was looking forward to your shopping trip,” Lettie announced as she brought a tray of drinks.
“Me too,” I admitted. “We’ll still get to do one.”
“Savage, did Doc Gibbons not—”
“Lettie, I know what Doc said. Earle’s chance of survival isn’t great. But Doc doesn’t know the man who crawled over twelve hours with serious injuries to fetch help for a stranger. Earle’s going to get through this,” I replied, shaking my head. I refused to consider anything else.
A hand touched my shoulder, and I went to shrug it off before I realised it was Grace. She’d moved from her chair and was now sliding her cute ass onto the arm of my seat.
“Savage, Earle will fight, I have no doubt, but his body might betray him. Just be prepared for the worst, and if the best happens, we can celebrate,” Grace suggested.
I wanted to scream and rail at her; Earle couldn’t and wouldn’t die. But I knew Grace made sense. I nodded and held Earle’s hand, watching his face for any signs of awareness.
My brothers came and went, and Grace stayed at my side until Earle opened his eyes three hours later.
He looked confused and dazed… until he saw me. Then, Earle’s mouth broke into a crooked smile, and his right fingers weakly clenched mine.
“Not well,” Earle slurred.
“You’re fine, old man,” I replied, and Earle offered up a half laugh.
It was a joke between us that Earle was my uncle, although there had been only an eight-year difference.
“Ol’. Yea, I ol’ now Jess,” Earle responded. He frowned as his words didn’t form how he expected them to.
“Uncle Earle, you’ve had two strokes. But I’ve brought the best doctor in the world with me, and he’s gonna help you get better,” I explained.
“Let go,” Earle ordered, and I shook my head.
