Colters' Lady (Colters' Legacy #2)(46)

She smiled. “If you’re sure she won’t mind, I’d love to go out to the house and maybe ride with Callie again. I’ll even let you check my arm so you can reassure yourself that it’s not about to rot off.”

He smacked her lightly on the bottom. “Smartass. And don’t think I’m not checking on that wound before you go. I’m also going to make sure Dr. Burton gives it a thorough exam when he sees you this afternoon.”

“Make the call so I can talk to Mom and let her know what’s going on,” Dillon prompted. “Lily, bacon and eggs okay?”

She sniffed and licked her lips. “It’s perfect. I love bacon. Bacon makes everything better.”

“Girl after my own heart,” Seth said with a grin.

Michael dug out his cell and punched in the private number for Dr. Burton. He never asked for favors, and Michael had treated Dr. Burton’s kids’ animals on short notice on more than one occasion, so Michael hoped he’d return the favor now.

As he spoke to the doctor, he watched Lily laugh and interact with Dillon and Seth and marveled at how natural it all played out. Maybe it was because he had so many memories of his own parents laughing and loving in such a way, but it felt right.

After gaining Dr. Burton’s assurance that he’d see Lily that afternoon, Michael rang off. “Two-thirty,” he told Dillon.

Dillon picked up the phone and dialed their parents’ number as the others continued to eat.

“Hey, Mom,” Dillon said. “How are you?” He grinned as he listened to whatever she was saying and then he said, “Hey, can you do us a favor? Seth thought he’d run Lily over to the house so she could hang out there, maybe go riding with Callie again. We all have a pretty full day and Lily has a doctor’s appointment with Dr. Burton this afternoon. Do you think you could take her?”

Dillon smiled and after a moment said, “Thanks, Mom. We really appreciate this. I’ll be sure to tell her. I’ll see you later. Love you.”

He hung up and laid the phone down. “Mom said to tell you she’d be thrilled if you came over to visit and that she’d love to go to the doctor with you.”

“She’s so nice,” Lily murmured.

“Yeah, she’s pretty great,” Seth agreed. “There aren’t many people who don’t think the world of her.”

Lily snuck a piece of bacon from Dillon’s plate, and Michael stifled his laughter at the look of sheer innocence on her face when Dillon noticed that his last piece was gone.

“Who the hell took my bacon?” he demanded. He scowled at Seth who was the closest and then his gaze settled on Lily who looked decidedly guilty. “You little thief,” he said with a laugh. “Bacon stealing is a crime punishable by death in these parts.”

Lily glanced over at Michael and then down to his plate. “Are you going to eat that last piece?”

Her tone was so hopeful, he couldn’t possibly tell her yes. He picked it up and held it to her mouth. She grinned just before taking a big bite of the strip.

She sighed as she chewed. “Heaven. Just heaven.”

Dillon chuckled. “Well, I know how to keep her happy. Just make her bacon every day.”

Lily nodded vigorously.

Michael checked his watch and then pushed away from the bar. “I have to go, baby. I wish I didn’t, but the patients await. Come into the living room so I can take a look at your arm before I go.”

He urged her into the other room and onto the couch. He unbuttoned the shirt enough that he could slide it down her shoulder. He frowned when he saw the bandage had either fallen off or she’d taken it off since the night before.

But when he examined it, it was only slightly pink. The wound had closed. He palpated the area around it, watching her closely for signs of discomfort, but she didn’t so much as flinch.

“Okay,” he conceded. “It looks like you’re all better. I’ll back off and quit worrying so much now.”

She smiled but threw her arms around his neck and hugged him fiercely. “I love that you worry about me. It’s kind of nice.” Then she pulled away and raised her mouth to his.

He kissed her and soaked in her gentle sweetness.

“I’ll see you this afternoon,” she said.

“You betcha. Have a good day with Mom, okay?”

Michael said his goodbyes to his brothers and then headed for his Jeep. The morning air was chilly and the sky was overcast. It looked like snow. He frowned, realizing that they’d never taken Lily to buy clothes. Things had gone awry the minute Dillon had entered the picture.

She needed everything, including a coat and things that would keep her warm and comfortable. She couldn’t continue to wear Callie’s old stuff.

As he got into his Jeep, he picked up his cell to call his mom. She’d take care of the matter, and if he knew his mom, Lily would be outfitted head to toe in just a few hours’ time.

Chapter Twenty-One

When Seth and Lily pulled up to his parents’ house, Lily saw Callie standing in the distance overlooking the expanse of land below the cabin.

Seth cut the engine but sat in the truck watching his sister for a long moment.

“She looks sad,” Lily observed.

Seth sighed. “I’m not sure what’s going on with her. Something happened on her last trip overseas, but she’s not talking. I hate to see her down. She’s always the cheerful, upbeat one in the family.”