Texas Ranch Justice Read online

  “I’ve already had both of those.” Hal sighed. “Inconclusive. They won’t order another. Medicare won’t pay for it.”

  “Is it possible he might have confused his medicines?” The doctor, an older man with steel-gray hair and a no-nonsense manner, stepped into the room and peered at them through his glasses. “Maybe taken too many, or even someone else’s?”

  Scarlett and Travis exchanged looks. “That’s doubtful,” Travis answered. “We have an in-home aide who oversees all of that. Why?”

  “We’ve ordered several tests and a urinalysis. Some of these have to be sent off-site and we won’t have the results for a few days.”

  Arms crossed, Travis nodded. “No offense, but we’ve heard this before. His health has been steadily going downhill and not one single doctor or clinic has been able to tell us why.”

  “I’m sorry.” The doctor consulted his notes. “Do you know if Mr. Gardner has a history of drug or alcohol abuse?”

  “He does not.”

  Scarlett laid her hand on Travis’s shoulder. Judging from the tension in his jaw, his frustration levels were climbing. He glanced at her when she touched him, his gaze shuttered, but she swore she could feel him release some of his exasperation.

  “Does he use any supplements, herbal remedies, medicines that aren’t regulated by the FDA?”

  Again, Travis shook his head no.

  “I see. We’ve seen a few patients who ordered powdered caffeine over the internet. One of them had seizures.”

  “As far as I know, Hal doesn’t take anything unusual. He rarely even uses a computer, never mind order things online.”

  “Okay. Anyway, we’d like to keep him here under observation overnight,” the doctor continued.

  “No.” Hal protested loudly from in his room. Clearly, he’d been listening in. “I feel fine. I want to go home.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with his hearing,” Scarlett said, smiling.

  The doctor consulted his notes and didn’t smile back. “I’ll let you discuss this with him,” he said, and hurried off.

  When Scarlett and Travis entered the small ER room, Hal glared at them. “Find my clothes,” he ordered. “I want to go home.”

  “Maybe you should let them observe you,” Scarlett suggested gently. “That seizure seemed pretty rough.”

  Hal snorted. “Travis, tell her how many times they’ve kept me for observation. And while you’re at it, tell her what they’ve found.”

  “I think she knows.” Travis exhaled. “Let me get you dressed and I’ll take you home.”

  About to protest, Scarlett closed her mouth when Travis shook his head at her. “I’ll wait in the hall,” she said instead.

  As soon as Travis had gotten Hal ready, they sent Scarlett in search of a wheelchair, a nurse, or both. She located an empty wheelchair near the deserted nurses’ station, and commandeered it.

  Rushing with the chair toward Hal’s room, she felt a jolt of adrenaline. No one stopped her—the nurses were apparently all busy with other patients.

  As soon as she got the chair into the room, Travis lifted Hal up as if he weighed nothing, and carried him to the chair. Once he’d gotten the older man settled, he straightened and smiled at Scarlett. “Are you ready?”

  She glanced around. “Don’t we need to get discharge papers signed or something?”

  “Nope,” Hal answered. “We’re doing this against doctor’s orders. They’ll be mad, but they’ll get over it. Believe me, I know. This ain’t my first rodeo.”

  She shrugged. “Okay, then. Let’s go.”

  Travis commandeered the chair, leaving Scarlett to trail along behind them. Sure enough, they’d just made it past the nurse’s station when one of the nurses noticed them.

  Travis explained what they were doing. With a quick nod, she asked them to wait while she went to get the doctor. She hurried off. As soon as she’d disappeared around the corner, Travis pushed Hal toward the double doors that led to the triage area. When they were through, he asked Scarlett to wait with Hal and went to get his truck.

  Standing by Hal and the wheelchair, Scarlett kept glancing over her shoulder, certain at any moment several nurses and the doctor would descend on them.

  Instead, Travis pulled his truck up and parked. He got out, picked Hal up out of the chair and placed him in the back seat of his club cab. “While I make sure he’s buckled in, would you mind returning that wheelchair to the ER?” he asked.

  Though mildly uncomfortable, she did exactly that, pushing the chair up to the triage nurse and letting her know it was there. The busy nurse nodded but didn’t ask any questions.

  Relieved, Scarlett hurried outside and got in the truck.

  When they arrived back at the main house, Vivian and Amber rushed out and waited on the front porch. After he parked, Travis asked his sister to bring out Hal’s wheelchair. Even though Hal rarely went outside, Travis had built a ramp on one side of the house. Amber pushed the chair down this and over to them.

  Travis got Hal settled once again. Though the constant jostling seemed to bother the older man, he didn’t complain.

  Inside the house, Will sat on the couch, engrossed in a game on a tablet. He looked up and brightened when he saw Travis and Hal, but continued to play.

  “Well?” Vivian demanded. “Delilah told us what happened. What did the doctors have to say?”

  Instead of answering, Hal sagged back in his chair and closed his eyes. Travis sighed and filled everyone in.

  “I can’t believe that,” Vivian protested. “Why on earth can’t anyone figure out what’s going on with him?”

  “I’d like to go to bed,” Hal interjected, loudly. “Y’all feel free to talk about me once I’m gone. Travis, I’m going to need some help.”

  Hearing this, Delilah’s brown eyes filled with tears. She waited until Travis had wheeled Hal into his room before speaking. “I’ve always felt as long as he could still lift himself in and out of that chair, he was going to be okay. Now, it seems as if he’s taken a turn for the worst.”

  Vivian narrowed her eyes. “No. Don’t even say such a thing. He might still get better. We don’t need negativity if we’re going to win this battle.”

  Though Delilah nodded, when she turned away Scarlett saw the tears flowing down her cheeks.

  Feeling a bit weepy herself, Scarlett thought of the doctor’s questions and began rummaging through the cabinets to see if there were any strange supplements. Hal kept his medications in a plastic tray tucked inside the pantry, so she started there.

  Most of the medication appeared to be prescription. She did find some vitamin E, some D3 and B12. All from reputable manufacturers.

  “What are you doing?” Amber asked, coming over to stand next to Scarlett.

  After repeating the doctor’s query about unsafe supplements, especially from overseas, Scarlett continued looking. The oddest thing she found was a box of Matcha tea bags that were Lipton brand.

  “Nothing here,” she muttered. Amber, who’d gotten to work digging through another cupboard, shook her head. “Not here either. I don’t really think Hal’s the type to take supplements.”

  “He’s not,” Vivian drawled. “Believe me, I know. I’ve been trying for years to get him to try some of my herbal remedies.”

  “Mom’s really big into all that,” Amber explained. “Holistic medicine, alternative treatments, you name it.”

  Suddenly Scarlett couldn’t help but regard Vivian with suspicion, though she tried not to let her thoughts show. “Have you given him anything, anything at all, that might have caused the seizure today?”

  Vivian drew herself up tall, her lips pursed. “Certainly not. The only thing he gets from me are his green smoothies, which I drink as well.”

  “What’s in them?” Scarlett persisted.

  “Kale, spinach, banan
a, protein powder, Greek yogurt and some vitamin powder. He’s been drinking them for years. So have I. Even Amber’s tried them.”

  “True,” Amber said, making a face. “I’m not fond of them, but they do seem to provide a pick-me-up when I need one.”

  Vivian went to the refrigerator and opened the door. “He has some left if you want to try it,” she said. “I can pour you just a small bit so you can get a taste.”

  Unsure, Scarlett swallowed hard. “To be honest, it sounds pretty nasty to me.”

  “It is,” Amber laughed. “But you should at least try it, just this once.”

  “Maybe only a sip,” Scarlett allowed, bracing herself as Vivian located a juice glass and poured a few fingers of what looked like green sludge into it.

  “Here you go.” Grinning broadly, Vivian handed her the glass. “I promise you, you’re going to be surprised. It’s very healthy, as well as delicious.”

  “I wouldn’t go so far as to say delicious,” Amber teased. “Drink up, Scarlett.”

  Gamely raising the glass to her mouth, Scarlett decided to drink it the way one did a shot of strong alcohol. All at once, thus minimizing the taste.

  Somehow, she managed to do this, trying not to gag as the taste lingered on her tongue. “Not bad,” she managed, lying through her teeth.

  “See?” Vivian crowed. “I told you so. I can make extra if you want to start drinking it every day.”

  Trying to think of a suitably polite way to refuse, Scarlett decided to simply be honest. “No thank you,” she said.

  Wide-eyed, Amber laughed. Wiping at her eyes with the back of her hand, Delilah did too. Eventually, Vivian joined in. Even Scarlett found her lips curling in amusement.

  By the time Travis walked into the room, all four of the women were doubled over in laughter.

  * * *

  Not sure what to think, Travis simply stood in the doorway to the kitchen, wondering if they’d all lost their minds. While he understood that everyone dealt with stress in different ways, Scarlett, Vivian, Amber and Delilah all appeared to be on the verge of hysteria.

  Heck, Delilah leaned back against the counter, arms wrapped around her middle, laughing while tears streamed down her face.

  He caught sight of Scarlett holding a small glass with some of Vivian’s nasty green smoothie still in it and grimaced. “Did y’all really make Scarlett drink that stuff?”

  Vivian stopped laughing. “We didn’t force it down her, if that’s what you’re implying,” she managed, still chuckling.

  He shuddered. “What did you think?” he asked Scarlett. “New favorite smoothie?”

  “I’m sure it’s healthy,” she managed. “But not my thing. How’s Hal?”

  At her question, everyone went quiet, their merriment instantly silenced.

  “Exhausted. He could barely keep his eyes open.”

  Delilah grabbed a paper towel and wiped at her still-streaming eyes. “This is ridiculous. There has to be a way to find out what’s wrong with him.”

  “I agree,” Travis replied. “The hospital did a lot of blood work today. Since the doctor didn’t comment on it, I’m assuming he thought it was normal. But I’m going to have Hal call tomorrow with me listening in, so I can get the results.”

  “That sounds like a plan.” Vivian made a show out of checking her watch. “I’d better skedaddle. Are you coming, Amber?”

  Amber nodded. “I suppose so. Let me pry Will away from the tablet.” She left the kitchen. A moment later, they heard Will protesting.

  “I’d better get going too.” Delilah dabbed once more at her eyes with the paper towel. “If Hal wakes up hungry, there’s some cold fried chicken in the fridge. You two help yourself as well.”

  Once everyone had gone, Travis knew he should also take himself off for home, but Scarlett looked so lost and vulnerable, he didn’t want to leave her just yet.

  Though he didn’t want to touch her either, he gave in to the urge to pull her in for a hug. Clearly, she needed comfort and to be honest, so did he.

  They stood still for a moment. It felt right, her nestled in his arms. He wondered if she could feel his heartbeat, steady against her ear. She smelled good, like vanilla, he thought, slightly dazed. The softness of her curves pressed against him made him ache to caress them with his hands. Damned if he knew how she managed to affect him so strongly, without even trying. He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted a woman.

  But this wasn’t about him, or the way he craved her. Not lust or desire, just simple human kindness. As long as he told himself this and made himself believe it, he stood a prayer of not doing anything stupid.

  When he finally released her, he instantly turned to the refrigerator and busied himself removing the meal Delilah had made for them. In addition to the fried chicken, she’d made a potato salad and a broccoli salad.

  “That looks wonderful,” Scarlett exclaimed, her color high. If she realized he was using the food as a distraction, she apparently didn’t care.

  “Let’s eat.”

  “I’m not sure I’m hungry,” she replied, though he caught her eyeing the chicken.

  “Well then, just have a small piece. One of these wings, or a leg. Just something to tide you over until breakfast.”

  “Maybe,” she allowed, rummaging in the cabinet and returning with two plates. “It’d be wrong to let all this food go to waste.”

  “Right.” Grinning at her, he went and got silverware and a couple of paper towels. “Though Delilah made enough to feed a small army. This will be lunch tomorrow too.”

  She pulled out a chair and sat. He did the same. Odd how comfortable he felt around her, passing bowls back and forth. If not for the ever-present simmering attraction, he might have thought they’d become friends. But he knew even he didn’t have that much self-control.

  After they’d eaten, she put up the leftovers and he rinsed off the dishes and put them in the dishwasher. She turned to him, almost shyly, and asked him if he wanted to stay and watch a movie or something.

  He did. Feeling surprisingly relieved that he didn’t have to leave her just yet, he told her to go ahead and choose something.

  Once she’d selected a movie, she took the couch, leaving him Hal’s old recliner. He didn’t mind. Ever since Hal had gotten confined to a wheelchair, Travis often sat there.

  Though the movie she’d picked appeared to be a romantic comedy, aka chick flick, he actually enjoyed it. As the ending credit rolled across the screen, he turned to look at Scarlett. “That was pretty good. I don’t usually watch that kind of thing, but I’m glad I did.”

  She smiled back. “Maybe you just need to broaden your horizons.”

  He felt the impact of that smile all the way to his bones.

  The evening news came on and neither one moved. About halfway through it, Travis caught himself sneaking glances at Scarlett, snuggled under a throw blanket. He couldn’t help but wish he could join her.

  Reluctantly, he knew he needed to get up and take himself home. But he could have stayed all night there with Scarlett.

  “My mother always watched the evening news,” she commented, her expression pensive. “I miss her.”

  “What was she like?” he asked, genuinely curious. “I remember Hal said you look just like her.”

  “I do.” His words had coaxed another smile from her, making him glad. “But I don’t have her energy. Gosh, that woman seemed to have an unlimited supply of it. She was a dynamo,” Scarlett said. “One of those people who made others happy just to breathe the same air. She could be loud—which embarrassed me no end when I was a teenager—but she had such a good heart, no one minded. Everyone who met her loved her.”

  Her misty smile moved him, but he forced himself to remain in his chair even though he wanted to touch her with every fiber of his being.

  “She taught me so much
. To laugh, to see beauty in everyone and everything, and that the best way to deal with people who don’t like you is to hug them and smile. When I think Southern belle, my mom comes to mind.” She looked down, evidently gathering up her memories and emotions. “I miss her so much.”

  “I wonder why she never told you about your father,” he commented. While he still wasn’t 100 percent sure he truly believed she was Hal’s daughter, Scarlett clearly did and right now, that was all that mattered.

  “I don’t know.” Scarlett shrugged. “I found her diaries, you know. She called them journals. She made a habit of writing in them every single morning, until she became too ill to hold a pen. I was forbidden to read them, and I honored that until after she was gone.”

  “The cancer—” He would have given anything if he could erase the stark pain in her emerald eyes.

  She nodded. “She fought a hard battle, but in the end, the disease won. I helped her as much as I could, because I couldn’t have asked for a better mother.” Her voice broke and she looked down, valiantly struggling to regain emotional control.

  Travis could no more have remained in his chair than he could have stopped breathing. He took a few steps and dropped down beside her, gathering her in his arms and holding her.

  Like before, his body instantly responded to her softness. And like before, he kept his desire under control. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, allowing himself the pleasure of caressing her back and shoulders. “I can only imagine how much that hurts.”

  “And now I’m facing losing Hal before I even get to know him,” she continued. “Worse, we have no idea what we’re battling, so it’s difficult to get together a cohesive defense.”

  He managed something that he hoped sounded like assent. She wiggled slightly, nestling closer to him. Desire zinged through his veins, and he had to shift his body so she wouldn’t recognize his growing arousal.

  How could this tiny woman make him desire her without even trying?

  “Travis?” She tilted her face to look up at him, her lips parted. “Would you do me a favor?”

  At that moment, he would have promised her the moon. “I’ll try,” he answered. “What is it?”