Page 40 of When The Dust Settles

Her and Button-down’s eyes got huge.

“I’m his teeny half brother,” I added with a cackle, watching with great satisfaction as they both turned a lovely shade of white.

“Ohmygod, you’re bleeding,” Stef croaked.

The towel was getting a bit damp, it was true. But more importantly, I had just thought of myself first as Rand’s brother instead of his cousin. Amazing how many things had changed so quickly.

Stef moved into me then, into my space, just closed the distance between us and put his head on my good shoulder as Wyatt wiggled and complained because he was getting crushed between us. “Thank you for saving me and my son.”

“You could’ve,” I assured him, because I knew the man well. “We both know you’re scary as hell.”

“I will be,” he said icily, turning to look at Button-down and Daisy Dukes. “I’ll put Wyatt on the counter and you watch him while I go get my baseball bat upstairs.”

Thank God all the guns Rand owned were on his saddle with him, very far away from home. I was guessing that the two people in front of me would have been in trouble if Stef could have gotten his hands on a firearm. To say he did not look happy was the understatement of the year.

“Is the sheriff coming?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“That’s good,” I told him. “’Cause I think I’m gonna pass out.”

The last thing I heard was Wyatt calling my name.

Chapter 7

WAKING UP in the hospital was never fun. Waking up with a stressed-out Stefan Joss was just odd.

“What’s wrong with you?” I asked. It came out all croaky because my voice was weird. I needed some water.

“Oh thank God, you’re awake,” he whispered, deflating with relief, leaning forward in his chair to take hold of my hand and wrist and give me a brave smile.

“For crissakes, Stef, I just lost some blood,” I groused. “I’m not dyin’.”

He stood then, leaned over, and hugged me tight. I let him clutch at me for a second before I told him to get the hell off.

“You fainted,” he barely got out, eyes swimming with tears.

“Shit,” I grumbled. “I’m sorry I scared you.”

He sucked in a breath. “I’ve never seen anyone pass out from blood loss before.”

“It sneaks up on ya.”

His mouth fell open. “It’s happened to you before?”

“I grew up on a ranch, Stef; of course it’s happened before.”

“Oh God,” he moaned. “I really don’t know if I even want Wyatt to learn to ride a horse.”

I snickered. “I reckon that decision’s been made already, huh?”

He shrugged, like, perhaps.

“Speaking of horses,” I began.

“Juju’s in the stable at the Red,” Stef told me. “She’s fine. I had Elliot, one of the new grooms, make sure she was all settled in.”

“I’ll get her moved as soon as I get outta here.”