“I don’t have the whole story.” She grimaced in an apologetic way. “You’ll have to ask Wade for the particulars, but Rhett said they were worried about the baby’s heart.” Violet held up a hand in a don’t-freak-out way. “He also said that hospital has one of the best heart centers in the nation.” She pointed behind him. “There’s Wade now. I’ll hang on to Hailey and Piper if you want to talk to him.”
“Thank you.” Boone spun in the direction she had pointed in and started to walk away.
“And Boone,” Violet called from behind him, causing him to look over his shoulder. “Hailey has missed you. She’s missed you so much. Two months is a long time for a kid to be away from a parent.”
Her words bit with the sting of a riding whip. Boone swallowed past the burning sensation in his throat. “I know. I’ve missed her, too.” Then he turned back around and headed toward Wade.
Boone had greeted Wade with a tight embrace and then they had launched right into talking about baby Silas and everything that was going on. Their brother’s newborn needed a new heart. Dilated cardiomyopathy, Wade had said. The condition meant the main chamber of the baby’s heart was enlarged and weakened, which was preventing his heart from pumping like it was meant to.
If Silas didn’t get a heart transplant in time, the condition would kill him.
Boone tried to make sense of it all as Wade plowed ahead, trying to catch him up.
“I’m going to need your help,” Wade said.
“Anything.” Of course Boone would help his family. Besides, keeping busy was his favorite way to avoid dwelling on things like loss and worry.
Wade explained Rhett had also started training service dogs and his first dog, a black Lab named Ryker, was fully trained and would be picked up the next day. “Rhett’s obviously not here and I have a cattle auction tomorrow so I’m not available,” Wade said. “I texted Patrick—he’s the dad of Ryker’s boy—and he knows to find you to pick up the dog.”
“I can do that,” Boone said. He glanced back toward the barn.
Wade clasped his shoulder. “Don’t worry about our daughters. They love spending time with Violet and she’s great with them.”
Violet’s charged words and accusation about Boone not being around rattled through him. Boone scrubbed at the back of his neck. “She’s really made herself at home here in a short amount of time. She knew about Silas before anyone thought to call me.”
Wade shook his head. “It’s not like that at all. Rhett told us to wait to tell you in person. He didn’t want to worry you while you were driving and you were set to arrive today anyway. Violet happened to be nearby when I got the call. She offered to take the girls off my hands so Cassidy and I could take care of things for Rhett.”
Boone released a shaky sigh. “Then I guess it’s a good thing she’s here.” Especially since their sister, Shannon, had eloped a few weeks ago and headed with her new husband on a three-month-long veterinary mission trip to South America. Not exactly what Boone would have chosen to do for a honeymoon; then again, he and June had been too young and too poor to afford a trip at all when they got married.
For so many years the family had always counted on Shannon to pitch in wherever they needed help at the ranch and she had always been happy to provide childcare for her nieces. Boone had to admit, it was kind of Violet to step into that role while their sister was gone.
“Hailey has really taken a liking to Violet,” Wade said. He looped his fingers around his belt. “They spend a lot of time together and Violet has a way of connecting with her.” He jutted his chin toward the barn. “Honestly, Violet’s been a Godsend. Cassidy hasn’t been feeling well and I’m determined to be there for her and do whatever she needs every step of this pregnancy. Violet is always willing to take the girls when we ask or when Cassidy needs to rest.”
Boone understood Wade’s meaning. Wade hadn’t been around for Cassidy when she was pregnant with their first child, Piper. In fact, at the time the whole family had thought Wade was dead. Five years after he disappeared, Wade had shown up at the ranch, alive and well, only to learn he had a daughter. Boone knew supporting Cassidy during her second pregnancy meant everything to Wade.
Boone glanced toward the barn and groaned. “I’m afraid Violet and I may not have gotten off on the right foot.”
Wade frowned. “What did you do?”
Boone rolled his shoulders. “I only told her I didn’t want Hailey learning how to ride a horse.”
“Well, it’s too late for that.” The smile on his brother’s face held a note of pride. “Hailey’s gotten pretty good at it already. She’s catching up to Piper and that’s saying a lot. My little lady’s been riding since she could walk.”
“It’s dangerous.” Boone was aware of the low grumble in his voice, but couldn’t rein it in. He had just lost his wife. He didn’t want anything happening to his daughter. Why couldn’t anyone understand that?
Wade shrugged. “No more dangerous than driving a car.”
“Good thing I’m not letting Hailey do that, either,” Boone deadpanned.
Wade rolled his eyes in an annoyingly exaggerated way only a younger sibling could. “You know, if you really did get off on the wrong foot with Violet, you’re going to have to extend an olive branch to her.”
“I know, I know,” Boone said. “She lives here right now and we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”
“Not just that,” Wade said. “I need you to run the ranch together.”
If Wade had told him that he wanted Boone to build an elaborate float and drive it in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, he wouldn’t have been
