The Cowboy's Healing Ways (Cooper Creek) by Brenda Minton

Jesse a smirky grin. “But I wouldn’t want to make Jesse mad. He acts all cool, but I’ve seen him knock a guy to the ground before.”
    “Whatever.” Jesse walked a little faster and Gage had to hop to keep up.
    “Hey, slow down. I’m serious about the knee.”
    “The faster we walk, the sooner I can take a look.”
    “Or kill me.” Gage stopped. “Seriously, Jesse, you took some kind of ‘do no harm’ oath, so give me a break.”
    Jesse dragged out a sigh for Gage’s benefit and eased him to the gate and then out to the nearby bench. “Sit down and let me take a look.”
    He glanced back at Laura. “There are crutches and elastic bandages in the tack room. Do you think you could find them?”
    “Prepared for accidents, are we?” She smiled an easy smile that took him by surprise.
    “With this crew, always.”
    He watched her walk away and then he turned his attention back to Gage, pushing his jeans up to the knee to get a look at the injured leg. Travis and Jackson had taken care of the bulls and sent the neighbor kids home. The brothers were next to him now and both whistled when they saw Gage’s knee.
    “Gage, this didn’t just happen today.” Jesse touched his brother’s normally knobby knee that was now red and swollen. “Have you had this checked?”
    “Yeah, right now, by you.” Gage leaned back, his eyes closed and his mouth tight with pain.
    “You need to get yourself to the hospital. You know you can’t keep riding like this.”
    “I don’t have time for surgery, Jesse.”
    “Do you have time to blow out your knee?”
    Laura reappeared, handing him the elastic bandage that wouldn’t do much good. She leaned the crutches against the wall. Jesse smiled his thanks and quickly wrapped his brother’s knee.
    “Go to the doctor, Gage.” Jesse knew the warning would be ignored until it was too late.
    Gage reached for the crutches. “I’m outta here.”
    With an angry glare over his shoulder, Gage left the arena, faster than any of them could have managed. He was an old pro on crutches. Jackson shook his head and went after him, probably to pound some sense into their little brother.
    Jesse turned to Travis. “What’s up with him?”
    “He’s been like that for months. No one knows why.”
    “Someone better find out or he’s going to end up in worse shape than this.”
    Travis swiped an arm across his brow. “We’ve all tried. Dad had a long talk with him the last time he was in town. The problem is, he takes off when we confront him. He won’t even talk to Reese.”
    Gage and their brother Reese had always been close.
    “Have you all noticed that this started about the time Reese got hurt?” Jesse asked.
    “Yeah, why?” Travis pushed his hat down on his head and picked up the Kevlar vest Gage had yanked off and left on the ground.
    “Just something to think about.” Jesse turned, looking for Laura.
    Travis nodded in the direction of the door leading out of the arena. “She headed that way when we started talking. She’s the housekeeper, huh?”
    “I’m not sure what you all are implying with that tone.”
    Travis laughed, flashing white teeth and dimples. “I’m not implying, and I think you know you’re done for.”
    “I’m not done for anything. I’ve hired a housekeeper because my place is a mess and I need someone living there if I go to South America.”
    “Still going through with that?”
    “I think so. I have to give Isaac an answer in the next couple of months.” Jesse took off his hat and brushed a hand through his hair. “I’m going to teach Laura to ride. What horse should I use?”
    “What’s wrong with those fancy Arabs of yours?”
    “Well, we’re here for supper and I didn’t want to drive out to the house.”
    “And you don’t have one that’s broke well enough for a beginner.”
    “Nope.” He followed Travis back into the main part of the stable. “So, what horse do you recommend?”
    He spotted Laura in front of a stall. She