the back of her hand.
“Hey, Josie, it’s me. Katie. I know you’re kind of out of it, but I wanted to come in and tell you how happy I am that you’re still with us. We were all scared, but now we know you’re going to make it.”
Her heart ached for her sister. Josie had been the tomboy-running and doing. She had only two speeds in life- fast and faster. She’d always competed in sports. She taught physical education in a high school, coached, had even entered a triathlon. How could this have happened to her?
“Now it’s my turn to get all the attention.”
Katie looked up in surprise and saw that her sister’s eyes were open. They were swollen and bloodshot, but still Fitzgerald blue.
“You’re awake.”
“Sorta. They give great drugs here. I always believed in working through the pain, but this time I couldn’t do it.”
Katie leaned close. “You’re going to be okay. They told you that, right? I mean there’s going to be a lot of recovery, but you’re strong, Josie. You’ve always been a fighter.”
The bandaged head moved slightly. “The doctor said they’re going to have to give me a new face and do a lot of work on my leg. I told her to make me taller.” Her voice was hoarse, probably from the breathing tube during surgery.
Katie gave a strangled laugh and realized she was crying. She brushed the tears from her face. “You’re already a couple of inches taller than me. What more do you want?”
“I want to be six feet so I can play professional volleyball.”
It was an old joke between the sisters.
Katie smiled. “I was thinking maybe I should come out to L.A. I’ll bet I could get a great job here. Then I’d be close so I could help.”
Josie slowly shook her head. “No way. You just moved back to Lone Star Canyon with Shane. Don’t move him again. I’ll be fine. It’s almost summer. Dallas won’t have any classes then and she’ll help. You need to get your life settled, Katie. Don’t worry about me.”
Katie wasn’t sure, but this wasn’t the time to argue. She thought of another topic. “What about Del? Did you want me to call him?”
Josie shook her head again. Her swollen eyes closed briefly. “Why bother? We’re divorced.”
“I know, but Dallas said you were calling for him when they brought you into the hospital.”
“I don’t want my ex-husband hanging around. We were done with each other a long time ago.”
Katie started to disagree, but didn’t. Josie didn’t need pressure right now. She glanced at her watch. “They’re going to kick me out in a couple of minutes. You rest and think about getting better. I love you.”
“Love you, too,” Josie murmured, her eyes fluttering closed.
Katie gave her fingers one last squeeze, then left the room. As she entered the hall, she saw a pay phone. She thought about calling Del. But what would she say? As Josie had pointed out, it had been a long time. She wouldn’t want anyone calling her ex-husband if something happened to her. He’d given up his right to know anything a long time ago.
She started toward the waiting room. She was going to stay another day, then return to Texas. Jack and Hattie were taking care of Shane for her. What a blessing, she thought. At least she didn’t have to worry about him.
“Did you see her?”
She glanced up and saw her father sitting in the corridor. Aaron looked old and tired. She hesitated. They hadn’t spoken since she’d arrived. With so many Fitzgerald kids around, it was easy to avoid each other.
“She seemed in good spirits. I think she’s asleep now.”
“Hell of a thing,” he said, leaning forward and staring at the floor. “All those bandages and machines. It’s like she’s not really Josie anymore.”
“She might look different, but inside she’s exactly the same, Dad. We have to remember that.”
“Maybe.” Aaron leaned back and gazed at her. “Some guy was by earlier. He represents the company that owns the truck that hit her car. They say they’re at fault and want to make things right.” He grimaced. “How are they going to do that?”
Money would help, Katie thought. Multiple surgeries and long-term physical therapy were expensive.
“We have to take it a day at a time,” she said. “That’s what Josie will do, too.”
Her father nodded, then sighed. His shoulders seemed to bow as if his burdens had grown too heavy. “Suzanne says…” He paused. “She says that I was wrong about you. That I shouldn’t have said those things. I can’t decide. I know I don’t want you messing with those Darbys and you’re still making mistakes with Shane, but-” He cleared his throat. “I guess I’m saying you’re always welcome at the ranch. Just don’t bring any of them with you.”
Katie didn’t know if she should laugh or run screaming. Her father wasn’t ever going to admit he’d been unnecessarily hard on his grandson. Nor would he believe anyone’s view but his own. Still, it was nice to know she hadn’t been banished from her home. This was as much of a concession as Aaron ever made.
“I appreciate that, Dad. Thanks. I love you, too.”
Katie arrived at the Darby ranch close to midnight. The flight from Los Angeles had been on time, and the drive from the airport had taken a little less than three hours. As she climbed out of her Explorer, she stretched, trying to ease the ache in her legs. She should be exhausted, but she was too keyed up to sleep.
Katie closed the car door quietly. She started for the house, then turned and walked toward the corrals. The night was clear, the stars hanging so low she could almost reach up and grab them. Maybe a short walk would ease her tension.
Her footsteps barely made any noise as she crossed the dirt path by the barns. A couple of the horses nickered as she moved past them. The familiar sound comforted her, as did the scent of hay and cattle. A slight breeze teased at her hair. She inhaled deeply, wanting to chase away the smells of the hospital. She hated the thought of her sister being confined there, but Josie wasn’t coming home for a long time.
She reached the end of the barn and saw a light on in a small house set away from the other buildings. The warm glow drew her steadily, almost as if she’d been lassoed. She told herself it was late-that she had no business intruding. Jack had moved into his own house years ago because he wanted privacy. She told herself to turn and walk away. But she couldn’t. She needed to talk, and he was the only one she could turn to.
She stepped onto the small front porch and knocked. There was no sound from inside, yet the door opened almost instantly. Jack stood in front of her, dressed in jeans and shirt, his feet bare, his hair rumpled.
“Did I wake you?” she asked.
“No. Mom told me you were coming back tonight. I was waiting up. I thought you might stop by.”
She wanted to ask him why. She wanted to ask him how he could know her so well and yet continually keep her at such an emotional distance. She had a thousand questions, but didn’t speak any of them. Instead she stood there until he opened his arms and she was able to step into his comforting embrace.
“Talk to me,” he said, drawing her into the house and closing the door behind her. “Tell me what happened.”
Words tumbled out without her being aware of all she was saying. She told him about the accident and what the doctor had said and how her sister had looked. Somehow she found herself on a sofa with a glass of brandy in her hand. Jack sat on the sturdy coffee table in front of her, leaning close, listening intently.
“I know she’s going to be okay,” she told him. “I spoke with the doctor myself. She was really lucky. No serious internal injuries to any of her vital organs. But her legs and face are a mess. The plastic surgeon said that she would look normal, but nothing like herself. I can’t even imagine what that would be like.”
“Will she walk again?”
Katie took a sip of brandy, then nodded. “It’s going to take a long time and several operations, but they’re pretty sure.” She cradled the glass. “I told her I could move to L.A. and help take care of her. She doesn’t want me to. Dallas is going to be out of school for the summer in a few weeks, so she can help Josie through the worst of it. I don’t know. Is that right? Should I go?”
His handsome face softened with compassion. “She’s your sister and you care about her, but you have other responsibilities. Do you want to move Shane to Los Angeles?”
She squeezed her eyes shut. “He’s barely settled here. Uprooting him would be difficult.”
“Would Josie ask for help if she needed it?”
“I don’t know.” Katie looked at him and shrugged. “I don’t know about anything.”
