Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 40206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 201(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40206 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 201(@200wpm)___ 161(@250wpm)___ 134(@300wpm)
“I’ll do no such thing. They’ll live, and if they’re dying, well, we’ll call for an ambulance. You worry about getting yourself to feeling better.”
I concede. There’s no arguing with her, and honestly, I don’t have the energy to do much else besides sleep.
“Alright. Thank you, Catherine. I truly appreciate you allowing me to take today off.”
“Honey, you can take a whole week off and I wouldn’t so much as blink an eye. Off to bed with you. I’ll check in with you later,” she rounds out of conversation.
“Okay, but I’m not taking that much time off. Thank you, truly.” Tears are clouding my view because why wouldn’t I get emotional while I’m sick?
“You don’t have to thank me, honey. Now, take care of yourself, and like I said, I’ll check in with you after I get these boys out of my hair.” She chuckles, and we hang up. And as much as I’d love to crawl back into bed, my body isn’t going to allow me that luxury for the time being. My stomach chooses that time to riot again. A cold sweat breaks out over my body and my eyes water. Thankfully, I’m right in front of the porcelain throne. It’s probably where I’ll remain for eternity. There goes my dramatics again. It is what it is. If I were able to make it to the ranch clinic, I’d take some medicine for nausea. There’s only one problem with that idea: I’d have to get up from my spot and keep it down. I’ve already tried drinking water this morning and that didn’t work, so I think it’s safe to assume this stomach bug is just going to have to work its way through my system. All I have to say is it better work through my body fast, or I’m going to be madder than a wet hen.
“Oh god,” I groan and go back to losing whatever else is in my stomach, which honestly can’t be much more.
TWO
LAWSON
“What do you mean Juniper is sick and again?” I ask my mom after she announces she’ll be bringing Juni food after breakfast.
“Just what I said. She called out yesterday. Today, she’s feeling a little better, but I told her to keep her tail in bed until she was one hundred percent better. Darn girl wouldn’t admit defeat till I threatened her.” Mom is unconcerned. Meanwhile, my stomach drops damn near to my boots with worry. Used to be we’d bicker back and forth with one another, but ever since that night at the bar, she’s been avoiding me. It’d give me a complex except our relationship has never been on steady ground. The worst part of the situation is my memory. Trey told me Juniper gave me a ride home using my truck and I do recall having my arm slung over her shoulder as I guided her to where I was parked. It was the getting me home and in bed where memories got fuzzier. A damn shame, too, because I’m pretty sure that’s why Juniper has been avoiding me at all costs. I walk into a room, she walks out. I go to say something, she finds someone else to start a conversation with, closing down any type of talking. I’m a damn patient man, but now hearing Juniper is sick, that’s enough for me to drive my ass to her house, pick her up, and take her to the damn doctor.
“And no one thought she should see a physician?” I drop my plate on the counter, appetite gone, and pissed as hell. The room goes silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Mom, Dad, Ryland, his son, Case, Trey, Dean, Lane, and JW, I’m getting the look like I’ve sprouted a second head. “What?” No one says anything. I’m ready to walk out the door when Case chooses that moment to clear the air. Literally, the loudest fart a baby in a diaper can make echoes through the kitchen. Trey is holding him in his arms, attempting not to gag.
“He’s all yours. See ya later, bud,” Trey says before passing him off to Ry. Dad shakes his head, attempting to hide a chuckle under his fist he has pressed over his mouth.
“Well, talk about a moment killer. So, why are you so up in arms over Juniper?” Dad asks, a smirk tipping his lips as he now attempts to use his coffee mug to hide behind. This damn family. You can’t help but love them, except you can still find them annoying as hell.
“She’s fine, Lawson. A couple of days off work and she’ll be back to normal. Juniper has yet to take so much as a vacation day, and don’t get me started on her stubbornness. I told her to take the rest of the week off, but she wouldn’t hear of it.”