Love All Out - Part 1 (A Stepbrother Romance) by Alice Ward Page B

circumstances.”
    “Is my son going to be okay?” Renee asked, her hands twisting in anxiety. “When can I see him?”
    “James is upstairs getting a few scans,” the doctor explained. “I’m not going to lie to you, he’s torn up pretty badly. He has several lacerations on his face and chest, as well as several broken ribs. I’m certain that he has a concussion, but we won’t know the severity of it until his scans come back. I’m also concerned that he may have some internal bleeding in his abdomen. Worst case scenario, we’ll have to open him up and repair the damage.”
    “Oh my God,” Renee cried, wavering on her feet. Daddy and I each grabbed her by an arm and lowered her onto the bench. Dr. Matthews drug a folding chair over and sat down directly in front of her.
    “Mrs. Parker, I understand that this is a stressful time. The good news is that James’s lungs are both fine and none of his arms or legs are broken. Given what happened to him, I’d say he’s lucky that his injuries aren’t more extensive.”
    “Dr. Matthews, please don’t take this as in insult, but should we look in to having James transferred to a larger hospital?” Daddy asked.
    “I don’t think that will be necessary,” the doctor assured him. “If we weren’t equipped to treat him, I’d have already called for a helicopter transport to Grand Junction.”
    “So it’s a good sign… that you’re keeping him here?” Renee asked.
    “Absolutely,” Dr. Matthews answered. “James’s pupils are reactive, which leads me to believe that there are no significant bleeds in his brain. He also has normal cognitive function and appropriate responses to pain. His injuries will take time to heal, but I expect him to make a full recovery. I am going to admit him. As soon as he’s assigned a room, I’ll take you there to wait while we run the rest of the tests.”
    “Thank you, Dr. Matthews,” Daddy said.
    “You’re more than welcome. I’m going to go fill out the appropriate paperwork and I’ll be back shortly.”
    The doctor left us and Daddy breathed a sigh of relief. “See Renee? James may have a long recovery ahead of him, but he’s going to be just fine.”
    Renee twisted her hands together and rocked back and forth in her seat. “I don’t think I’ll feel better until I see him for myself. He said James has lacerations all over his face,” she sobbed. “His beautiful, handsome face…”
    “Renee, is there anything I can do for you?” I asked, trying to draw her mind away from that train of thought. “I could go get some coffee, or make some phone calls?”
    Renee shook her head. “Thank you, dear, but I’m afraid coffee would just make me more jumpy. And there’s really no one to call… no one that needs notified immediately.”
    Daddy cleared his throat. “Willow, why don’t you take the truck and head back to the ranch? I want to stay here with Renee and James tonight. I need you to let everyone at home know what’s going on. Cancel the meetings I have scheduled for tomorrow and the trail ride scheduled for this weekend. I also need you to ask Mary to put clean linens in the vacant staff cabin.” He turned to Renee. “When James is discharged, I’d like for both of you to stay at the ranch during his recovery. You shouldn’t have to deal with all of this on your own.”
    “Thank you, Cole,” Renee said with a meek smile as she wiped tears from her eyes.
    “I don’t want to leave,” I argued. Like Renee, I was anxious to see the extent of James’s injuries. The idea of his beautiful face covered in cuts and bruises was almost too much to bear. I needed to see it for myself, to be reassured that the reality wasn’t as bad as the images in my head.
    “Pumpkin, I know that you’re worried about James. But there’s nothing you can do for him right now. The best way you can help him is to hold things down at home so Renee and I can be here.”
    I wanted to argue, but his firm tone told me it