Back Country (The Country Duet #2)(40)

“Explains his irregular heartbeat,” I say more to myself.

The nurse nods. “Go. He needs you, Hunter. My nursing degree is based on the science of medicine, but I also know for a fact that man is living for you.”

The sound of her clogs echoing down the hallway soothe my soul for a tick, until I hear Dave holler out for his boy again. There’s no doubt of the fear in his voice. I wipe away the remaining tears, take a deep gulp of oxygen, and then step into his room.

He’s still leaning, unable to remain upright with trembles wracking his whole body. I go to him without thinking and wrap my arms around him until he’s sitting upright. My biceps do their best to contain his shivering body.

“I’m here, Dave. I’m here.”

“Hunter.” His trembling hand reaches up grabbing my arm. “I just want to die. Take it all away.”

“No.” I shake my head then rest it on top of his. “I have so much more to learn from you.”

“I’m tired, and if it’s not one thing, it’s the next. I’m going crazy in this body and want to die.”

“Dave, stop saying that.” The tears come once again. I feel droplets of water land on my arm and know he’s crying too.

“It will just be another procedure prolonging all of this.”

“You will do it and fight.”

We remain this way until the doctor comes back in and explains that Dave needs two stents put in his kidney. Dave argues and becomes belligerent with him, then he looks up at me. I nod my head, hoping he will continue to take my advice. After he finally gives the go ahead, Dave’s wheeled back to the OR.

I flop down in a waiting room chair and know I have to cancel my spot on the field trip, even though it was the one thing I was looking forward to. It was an extra credit activity, so won’t affect my grades. Connor’s emailing me his notes from my missed classes today, and I’m forced to call the assistant manager at the feedlot.

My phone rings a couple of hours in with my girl’s beautiful face smiling back at me.

“Hey.”

“Baby, I missed your call when I was picking up Baker. What’s up?”

“Teale.” The one word comes out tortured mirroring my current mood.

“What’s wrong?”

“Dave.”

“Hunter.” Her voice grows panicked, but I can’t get out the words. “What is going on?”

Dropping my head, I clutch it in one hand and fight to inhale air and talk. “Kidney failure. They’re putting two stents in.”

A sharp intake of breath comes from the other end of the line. “Let me get Baker situated with Dad, and then I’ll be there.”

“He can’t die on me, Teale. I have so many plans for the farm…”

“Baby, sit tight. I’ll be right there.”

I nod even though she can’t see it. “I need you, Teale.”

“Give me an hour.”

“Okay.”

“I love you.”

“Love you, too.” I hit the end button and drop my phone in my lap.

My head bounces off the wall behind me with not even an ounce of pain registering in my body. The world spins out of control and freezes at the same moment, with my flesh being eaten alive one millisecond at a time.





22





Hunter





“Never regret something that once made you smile.” –Keith Urban





I avoid the stare of the cashier when I check out with over seventy-five dollars of black licorice. I stocked Dave’s drawer at the nursing home, but he was a bit nervous about running out when I leave for home in a month. His stay at the hospital was only a couple days long, and we’re still battling his potassium levels.

My phone rings while walking out to my truck. Dave’s name pops up on the screen.

“Hello.”

“Hunter, just letting you know they took me to the hospital today.”

“What?” It comes out as a shout.

“They had to take some more toes.”

“Fuck.” I pound the side of my truck. “Where are you now?”

“I’m back at the hospital.”

“Okay, I have some shit to do then I’ll be up there in a couple of hours.”

“What are you doing?” Dave asks.

He’s bored and wanting to chat.

“Buying a grumpy old ass another shit load of black licorice.”

“Heard he’s a sexy son of a bitch.” I can see the smile in his voice, but toward the end of the sentence, his words slur together.

“Are you in pain? Feeling dizzy?”

“No, some bitch just put an IV in with pain meds.”

“Okay, go to sleep, and I’ll be there in a bit.”

“Bye, son.”

“See ya.”

I open the door and slide into the truck.

“You okay, Daddy?”

I peer back to Baker in her booster seat, all dolled up for her dance recital. She was insistent on taking my truck because her little heart is set on being a ranch girl. Makes my heart damn proud, that’s for sure. Teale reaches over and grabs my hand; the woman can read me like an open book.