Back Country (The Country Duet #2)(32)

“How are things with you and Teale?”

I finally filled her in on the turn of events, and to say she’s excited would be an understatement.

“Excellent. I’m still in shock that I have her in my life again.”

“From the day you brought her home, I knew she was going to be your wife one day.”

“Planning the wedding already, Mom?” I joke.

“Maybe? Teale and I may have joint access to a secret board on Pinterest.” She giggles. “Her blog is doing so well.”

There’s so much going on in our lives, that I haven’t even told her that I know about Teale’s blog. I have no idea how she does it all, keeping up with her full-time job and Baker. The woman is amazing. A hand lands on the top of my shoulder and I look up. It’s like my thinking of her summoned her to me. Teale leans down and kisses my forehead, before taking a seat next to me.

“Hunter, are you there?”

“Yeah, Mom.”

“Okay, so the girls and I are still planning on coming up in two weeks to visit you.”

“Awesome. I’ll be ready for the crazy train.”

“Shit, Abby, are you serious? Okay, I gotta run, the little shit just dumped an entire batch of hot candle wax all over the kitchen floor.”

I can picture the scene to perfection. Abby begged Mom to make a new craft, so Mom went to town and bought all the shit. Abby didn’t wait for Mom’s help and just made a huge mess.

“Bye, Mom. I love you.”

“Love you, Bubba.”

I end the call and tuck my phone back into my pocket.

“Want to know the sexiest thing a man can do?” Teale leans her head on my shoulder.

“What’s that?” I lay back in the chair, pulling her closer to me.

“Telling his momma that he loves her no matter who is listening.”

I quirk my eyebrow and peer down at her. “Oh really.”

“Yep. Sexier than you covered in gummy bears.”

We both a share a great laugh.

“Babe, what are you doing here?” I ask her, pulling my fingers through her thick red hair.

“I want to be with you.”

A simple and truthful answer that warms me from head to toe.

“Where’s the boss at?”

“Spending the day with her Pappy.”

I groan throwing my head back. “Dammit. I was hoping we could spend that day in bed reacquainting.”

“She’s having a sleepover with Pappy. He’s convinced he must start teaching her how to change a flat tire.”

“Really?”

“Yep, and I plan to teach her to play dumb about knowing how to change a tire when the right man comes along.”

“Thank you.” I lean down and kiss her forehead.

I hold her for hours, sitting in silence. My gut aches with strikes of pain, but I’m able to ignore it with Teale in my arms.

“Hunter Yates.” A nurse in scrubs calls out my name.

I stand slowly, keeping Teale pressed to my side.

“Mr. Hendricks is being transferred up to ICU. He’s been in recovery for an hour or so now, and has been asking for you.”

“Go,” Teale whispers to me, then slaps my ass.

I follow the nurse down a new set of corridors, with my heart pounding out of fear. I have no idea what to expect and keeping running three letters through my mind, ICU.

Dave comes into view, with more wires and tubes coming from his body. His eyes are wide open, and he smiles when he sees me.

“Your nephew is here, so we are going to transport you up to ICU.”

Dave turns his head and begins to growl. “He ain’t my goddamn nephew, he’s my son.”

The nurse blushes a bit then apologizes. Dave’s rude words make me grin from ear to ear. It’s a sliver of hope that he will be just fine after all. He doesn’t stay awake long after they have him settled in ICU. The doctor comes by and informs me they had to amputate his toes and the majority of the side of his foot. They cleaned out clogged veins in his other leg, and also took bits of that foot. His last words left me unsettled.

“You need to prepare yourself for the worst possible outcome. His body is dying from the inside out.”





17





Teale





“Are you gonna pull those pistols or whistle Dixie?” –Josey Wales





Hunter snores on the way home. He spent a few hours with Dave up in the ICU. When he walked back down to the waiting room, the man was exhausted. The stress of dealing with Dave, playing out on every single one of his features. He thinks he’s fooling me, but I know better. Hunter is sick, and if I had to guess it’s his gallbladder.

I’ve overheard him throwing up a few times now, and he’s careful about what he eats. I don’t miss the times he winces in pain, nearly doubling over. I plan to chat with his mom about it when she visits, and keep a close eye on him until then. He is so damn selfless, giving everyone his all. Hunter’s heart is one of a kind, that only could have been born in wild country of Idaho.

I lean over the center console of his car and pepper kisses all over his face until he begins to move around. I had one of my Dad’s employees drive me down to Lewiston, knowing damn well Hunter would be too exhausted to drive, but also too stubborn to ask for help.