Page 47 of SEAL of Valor

Call mom. Deal with pain later.

I tap my mom’s contact information.

“Everything okay? Did you find them?” she asks after answering on the first ring.

“We got them all, but the pasture was flooded, so we had to re-route and come to Weston’s place. Horses are in his barn.”

“Whew. I am so glad. Once you get back here, I’ll have some decaf ready and waiting.”

“It will be a little bit before I can come that way.”

“What’s wrong?” All the relief that had been present in her tone seconds ago is gone.

“Buttercup spooked when a tree came down, and I fell. Hit my hip on something hard, so I’m currently icing it on Weston’s couch.”

“I’m coming right now.”

“No, Mom. The storm is nasty, and I’m safe.”

“You need a hospital.”

“Not yet. I promised Weston that, if the ice doesn’t help, I’ll go. But I really think I just bruised it.” More like I hope that’s all I did.

She’s silent for a few moments. “Honey, why don’t you let me come? I can make it up the road in the truck.”

“I know, but I’ll just worry about you. I promise that I’m okay.”

“I know you’re safe. I just don’t like the idea of you hurting and me not being there.”

“I’m right up the road.” I smile even though she can’t see it.

“Fine. But you keep me posted. I’ll be calling back, and if it’s not better, you’re going to the hospital whether you want to or not.”

“Deal. Love you, Mom.”

“Love you, too, Reese. So much.”

“Same.” I end the call, then check my text messages since there’s not much else I can do.

There’s one from Ash, so I open it up.

Ash: Any updates? How are things going?

How do I tell her that I’m lying on my ex-husband’s couch with no pants and ice on my hip?

Since I’m not quite ready to open that bucket of worms, I decide to keep it simple.

Me: Hurt my hip, but doing fine. We’re in the middle of a nasty storm right now. Talk tomorrow?

I toss my phone aside, then close my eyes and try to shift my body just a bit. Thankfully, the ice is helping, and the pain isn’t quite as excruciating as it was. As I relax into the couch, I listen to the sound of the storm outside as it rages.

Thunderstorms have always been my favorites. I can still remember sitting with my dad on the porch, in complete silence, as we listened to the rain. Even after what happened tonight, I still love them.

So I focus on the sound of the rain hitting the roof.

The thunder booming just outside.

And I let myself drift.