“Yes. It’s me.”
“Oh, my goodness.” She covered her cheeks with her gloved hands and burst into tears, leaving him feeling more helpless than he had in years. “You’re home.”
Home. Yes, he guessed he was.
Later he would not remember what had happened between the time Tori had thrown herself into his arms, almost knocking his crutches out from under him, and when he found himself sitting in the library, surrounded by family.
Everyone was talking at once. Uncle Jesse and Tori’s kids were grown now, having been mere babies when he’d left. Seventeen-year-old Paul was the spitting image of Uncle Jesse. Twins Priscilla and Henry at fifteen were taller than Tori. Benjamin, who’d been a babe in Tori’s arms the last time he’d seen him, was a gangly thirteen-year-old, with spectacles and a serious demeanor.
He shuddered at the memories of his own thirteenth year. Then pushed them from his mind.
And Uncle Jesse. Hunter watched him as he teased and joked with his family. This was the man who’d kept them all together when they’d arrived in Oklahoma and he married Tori. Their rock. But as much as he loved and respected his uncle, Hunter had never confided in him the burden he carried around like an albatross. Perhaps if he’d stuck around . . . but he’d been itching to leave, start his quest. Prove to himself he wasn’t as worthless as he thought. Something that still eluded him.
“I see you have crutches there with you. Care to tell us what happened?” Uncle Jesse’s grin was familiar and welcoming.
Hunter grew serious. “About two months ago, I was on an assignment for the Rangers when I was shot three times in my right leg.” He paused when Tori and Priscilla gasped. “The bone shattered and the doctor put me back together as best he could, but he advised me to find another line of work.”
Uncle Jesse shook his head. “Sorry about that, son. I know the Rangers meant everything to you.”
Just those few words of comfort almost undid Hunter even more than the doctor’s painful announcement. It wouldn’t do to unman himself further by allowing the tears burning at the back of his eyes to make an appearance. He shrugged, indicating indifference, when he was breaking up inside. “I’ll get by.”
“May I hope you’re home for good?” Tori touched his hand in sympathy, something else he wasn’t prepared to accept.
“Let’s just say right now I have nowhere to go.”
“Nonsense.” Jesse waved his hand. “You always have somewhere to go. This will always be your home.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it, but I do need to find some type of work. I just don’t know what else I could do.”
Uncle Jesse slapped his thighs and stood. “That’s not something we need to worry about now. Just get yourself healed first.” He reached for Hunter’s satchel. “Right now I think we should get you settled in your room.”
“Can he sleep with me? I want to hear all about the Texas Rangers,” Henry asked.
“Are you forgetting you share a room with Benjamin? And Hunter doesn’t need to be inundated with questions.” He turned his attention to Tori. “We can put Paul in the boys’ room, and give that bedroom to Hunter.”
Hunter rose and shifted his weight onto his crutches. “No need to worry about shuffling anyone around. I can get a room at a boardinghouse.”
“Nonsense. You’re not going to any boardinghouse when your home is here.” Tori tapped her finger on her lips. “I know. We have that empty room at the back.” She looked at Hunter. “It’s for a live-in housekeeper, but we’ve always had someone who just comes in a few times a week. You can use that room.”
Feeling better about not causing too much disruption to the family, he nodded. He winced as he took a step forward, his injury still so new he forgot about it most times. Except like now when the pain shot up from where the bullets hit him, all the way to his hip.
“Do you have pain medication?” Always astute, Tori touched his arm.
“No. The doc offered me some, but I don’t want to get started on that stuff. I’ve seen too many otherwise smart men become dependent on it.” Including his close friend, Jeremy.
“I’ll send Paul into town. Michael has his own pharmacy. He can give you something for the pain that isn’t addictive. Probably not as powerful, but it will take the edge off.” Uncle
Jesse spoke over his shoulder as he led the parade to Hunter’s new room.
His uncle flung open the door and ushered him in. The room had obviously not been used for some time, if at all. Faded green and white wallpaper covered the top half of the room, with wainscoting on the bottom. A bed stood against one wall, with an old dresser across from it.
“I’m sorry about the state the room is in. We can re-decorate and get some new furniture in here.”
Hunter smiled at Tori. “Don’t worry about it. It’s the cleanest, nicest place I’ve slept in years. Since I’m not real sure what my next step is, I don’t want you to go to any trouble.”
“You’re family. Not trouble.” Tori’s eyes filled with tears and she gave him an awkward hug, the crutches in her way. “And I am so glad to see you. You have no idea.”
He had maybe a slight idea. His aunt and uncle had always been about family. Uncle Jesse’s start in life had been rough, born to a prostitute and raised in a brothel. Tori had lived most of her life as an only child with a cantankerous older aunt. After a rocky start together, these two heads of the family had created a warm, loving home for him and his brother and sisters. And soon filled the place with four children of their own.