Read Online Stripped Down by Lorelei James - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lorelei James
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to the Grant Ranch, and she wouldn’t arrive until late tomorrow afternoon. Normally, he didn’t like people in his house when he wasn’t there, but she didn’t feel like a stranger. He might’ve obsessed on that if he hadn’t been obsessing on coordinating family and vehicles as they caravanned to Denver.
Before the orderlies loaded “Big” Jim Grant in the ambulance, the doctor allowed Wyn and his brothers to see their dad for a short visit. The old man looked better than he had the previous night. Sometimes Wyn forgot that his dad was in his late sixties. He didn’t look his age, nor did he act it—having a heart attack while dancing to “La Bamba” pretty much summed that sentiment up perfectly.
Now they watched the ambulance pull away and Wyn felt a pang of worry again.
“Mom seemed more relaxed about all of this,” Cres commented.
“She puts on a good front in front of Dad.”
Wyn looked at Sutton. “I suspect you’re right.”
“I ain’t a doctor, but if Dad’s condition was a life or death matter, they would’ve airlifted him last night. Hospitals don’t fuck around with that stuff,” Sutton said.
“You would know.”
London nestled her head on Sutton’s chest. “We are all staying in the same place tonight?”
“Sounds like. It’s within walking distance to the hospital.”
Cres looked up at the grayish cast to the sky. “I’d better get. Sure hope it doesn’t snow.”
“I hate that you’re goin’ home to check cattle by yourself.” This time of year and this close to shipping, the cattle couldn’t be unattended for even a day. Wyn had stayed behind yesterday morning when everyone else had gone to Gradsky’s to get ready for the wedding. Today, one of them had to go home and take care of the herd, and Cres had volunteered. So it’d be at least eight hours before he got to Denver.
“Mick has offered to help me, if that’s all right.”
Wyn looked at the deep red flush on his brother’s face. This was the first time since Cres had come out that he’d shown an interest in a guy around his family. Normally, Wyn would give him a rash of shit, but this was new territory for all of them.
“That’s great,” Sutton answered. “Mick mentioned when we were workin’ at the range that he grew up on a ranch in Montana before he joined the service.”
“Yeah, so he ain’t just a pretty gate opener.”
Both Wyn and Sutton’s jaws dropped. They said nothing. What the hell could they say?
London laughed. She dug out ten bucks, crumpled it into a ball, and tossed it at Cres. “Remind me never to bet against you.” She nudged Sutton. “Cres bet me he could say something that’d leave both of you tongue-tied.”
“Bettin’ against me on the second day we’re married, Mrs. Grant, is gonna get you in a whole passel of trouble,” Sutton warned.
She murmured something to him that made him grin.
“Jesus. Can we just go already?” Wyn complained.
“Yep. See you guys later. Without bein’ a dick, I hope I don’t hear from you at all until I walk into the hospital in Denver,” Cres said.
“Amen, brother. Drive safe.”
* * * *
Late the next afternoon, Berlin Gradsky asked Mel, “Are you sure you’ll be all right?”
Berlin mothered Mel way more than her own mother did. “I’ll be fine. I’m actually really excited to put Plato through his paces.”
“London was right about one thing. This is what Plato was trained for.”
After Mel climbed in her truck, Berlin rested her forearms on the window jamb. “Nosy question.”
“Hit me.”
“Is there a reason why you’re staying at Wyn Grant’s house and not house sitting for London and Sutton while they’re on their honeymoon?”
Yes, because I plan on riding Wynton Grant as hard as Plato for the next three weeks. “Sutton said something about liability issues because of his indoor gun range. I didn’t question it. And given my...condition, it’s probably smart.”
Berlin squeezed
Before the orderlies loaded “Big” Jim Grant in the ambulance, the doctor allowed Wyn and his brothers to see their dad for a short visit. The old man looked better than he had the previous night. Sometimes Wyn forgot that his dad was in his late sixties. He didn’t look his age, nor did he act it—having a heart attack while dancing to “La Bamba” pretty much summed that sentiment up perfectly.
Now they watched the ambulance pull away and Wyn felt a pang of worry again.
“Mom seemed more relaxed about all of this,” Cres commented.
“She puts on a good front in front of Dad.”
Wyn looked at Sutton. “I suspect you’re right.”
“I ain’t a doctor, but if Dad’s condition was a life or death matter, they would’ve airlifted him last night. Hospitals don’t fuck around with that stuff,” Sutton said.
“You would know.”
London nestled her head on Sutton’s chest. “We are all staying in the same place tonight?”
“Sounds like. It’s within walking distance to the hospital.”
Cres looked up at the grayish cast to the sky. “I’d better get. Sure hope it doesn’t snow.”
“I hate that you’re goin’ home to check cattle by yourself.” This time of year and this close to shipping, the cattle couldn’t be unattended for even a day. Wyn had stayed behind yesterday morning when everyone else had gone to Gradsky’s to get ready for the wedding. Today, one of them had to go home and take care of the herd, and Cres had volunteered. So it’d be at least eight hours before he got to Denver.
“Mick has offered to help me, if that’s all right.”
Wyn looked at the deep red flush on his brother’s face. This was the first time since Cres had come out that he’d shown an interest in a guy around his family. Normally, Wyn would give him a rash of shit, but this was new territory for all of them.
“That’s great,” Sutton answered. “Mick mentioned when we were workin’ at the range that he grew up on a ranch in Montana before he joined the service.”
“Yeah, so he ain’t just a pretty gate opener.”
Both Wyn and Sutton’s jaws dropped. They said nothing. What the hell could they say?
London laughed. She dug out ten bucks, crumpled it into a ball, and tossed it at Cres. “Remind me never to bet against you.” She nudged Sutton. “Cres bet me he could say something that’d leave both of you tongue-tied.”
“Bettin’ against me on the second day we’re married, Mrs. Grant, is gonna get you in a whole passel of trouble,” Sutton warned.
She murmured something to him that made him grin.
“Jesus. Can we just go already?” Wyn complained.
“Yep. See you guys later. Without bein’ a dick, I hope I don’t hear from you at all until I walk into the hospital in Denver,” Cres said.
“Amen, brother. Drive safe.”
* * * *
Late the next afternoon, Berlin Gradsky asked Mel, “Are you sure you’ll be all right?”
Berlin mothered Mel way more than her own mother did. “I’ll be fine. I’m actually really excited to put Plato through his paces.”
“London was right about one thing. This is what Plato was trained for.”
After Mel climbed in her truck, Berlin rested her forearms on the window jamb. “Nosy question.”
“Hit me.”
“Is there a reason why you’re staying at Wyn Grant’s house and not house sitting for London and Sutton while they’re on their honeymoon?”
Yes, because I plan on riding Wynton Grant as hard as Plato for the next three weeks. “Sutton said something about liability issues because of his indoor gun range. I didn’t question it. And given my...condition, it’s probably smart.”
Berlin squeezed
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