Cowboy Take Me Away (Rough Riders 16)

They’d all rallied around their mother during his surgery a few months back.

But Caro didn’t bar them from contact with you. Not even after you coded on the table for two minutes.

But it wasn’t the same.

The nurses left him alone—not that he expected them to entertain him. He’d never been much of a TV watcher, and having the boob tube on, even low volume, grated on his nerves. But he was so…bored he’d turned the damn thing on just for the company.

“Uncle Carson?”

He turned to see his nephew Quinn struggling with three bags. He crossed the small space. “Here, lemme help you.”

“Thanks. The nurses already checked them.”

Carson peered inside. The two heavy canvas bags contained stacks of magazines and the third bag food.

“Libby raided the retired periodical stacks at the public library, lookin’ for men’s magazines. But don’t be hopin’ for Playboy,” he said dryly.

“I’m afraid I was the blush and stammer type if I ever came across those, even in my youth.”

“Me too.”

“Tell Libby thanks. The distraction will be good. Not a helluva lot to do in here.”

“Ma made you a couple of sandwiches and other stuff. To ‘tide you over’, she said.”

“Vi’s gone above and beyond. Tell her thanks too.”

“Sure thing.” Then Quinn plopped down. “Go ahead and eat if you’re hungry.”

Carson remembered he hadn’t eaten today. “You’re sure? Looks like there’s plenty to share.”

“I just ate breakfast with Ben and Gavin. They wanted me to let you know that you’re in their thoughts.”

He nodded and removed the first sandwich—roast beef on rye—from the sandwich baggie and took a big bite.

Quinn rambled on about the ranch, not delving into anything too serious. Carson was grateful for the chatter while he polished off a sandwich and a slice of rhubarb pie. Vi’s pies had the tastiest crust—not that he’d ever tell his wife that.

“I probably shoulda told you first thing that Adam and Amelia are both one hundred percent healthy. I heard the docs are concerned about even a simple infection somehow getting to her.”

“That’s good, especially for you and Libby. In our house it seemed like one of the kids always had some kinda crap.”

Quinn grinned. “That’s because you had three times as many kids as we do, three times as many germ carriers.”

“My brothers reminded us of that when we were lookin’ for babysitters.”

“You’ll never catch me complaining about my kids. Me’n Lib waited a long damn time for those blessings. For a while there…I wasn’t sure we’d make it, especially not after I realized she was serious about kickin’ my ass out.” Quinn adjusted his hat. “Sorry to be babbling on. I forget all that past stuff with me’n Lib has passed through the McKay gossip channels and you know all about it.”

“Only because we’re aware that every couple has problems and we were glad to see you two worked it out.”

“No McKay couple that I know of hit the skids as hard as we did,” Quinn said.

Carson uncapped his second Dr. Pepper of the morning and drank. “That’s because you weren’t around when me’n Carolyn hit the skids.”

Arms crossed over his chest, Quinn looked as if he wanted to call bullshit on that statement. “Oh yeah? You and Aunt Carolyn?”

“Yep. The first year we were married was pretty rough, dealing with all the West/McKay family bullshit, and her mother bein’ so sick and dyin’. But we pulled through. Then we had Cord. Things were okay for a while after Colby was born, Round about years five and six, she threatened to kick my ass out on numerous occasions—every one justified, but I sweet-talked my way back into her good graces. Don’t get me wrong; I worked hard, but then I partied hard, leavin’ her alone with two kids. Real f**kin’ peach of a man I was during that time. I’d straighten up for a while, then go back to my same drinkin’ and fightin’ ways. Until she’d had enough. By that time we’d been married…about seven years.”

“Jesus, Uncle Carson, I had no idea.”

“No one does. Well, Cal and Kimi did because they lived close by and Cal had to deal with my drunken ass and Kimi with her sister’s tears. That was right before your mom came back and married your dad, so poor Charlie got sucked into bein’ my partner in crime sometimes.”

“You never told your kids?”

“Just Colt, and not the particulars, only to let him know I’d headed down that destructive path he’d been on. I’ve been of the mindset that problems between a husband and wife should be dealt with in private.” Then again, he hadn’t that luxury with Carolyn. Her blow-up had been very public.

“While normally I’d agree, in this case me’n Libby bein’ separated and then getting back together forced my mom to do some soul searching. Like you said, I wasn’t privy to my folks’ intimate relationship before that, I just know it affected their marriage for the better afterward.”

“And I’m glad of that too.”

Silence stretched between them for the first time since Quinn had sat down. When Carson glanced at the clock, he realized thirty minutes had passed. In ten minutes he could sit with Carolyn.

Quinn chuckled and rolled to his feet. “Guess I get the award for bringing the least amount of cheer into the waitin’ room, huh?”

“Nah. It’s good to reflect. And trust me; I’ve had plenty of time to think. No surprise that memory ain’t one I’m lookin’ to revisit.”

“Take care, Uncle C. Tell Aunt Carolyn we’re pullin’ for her. And if you need anything, call.”

He wouldn’t call, but he appreciated the offer. “Thanks Quinn. Give my best to Libby and tell her thanks.”

“Will do.”

Carson used the bathroom and returned to staring out the window, counting the minutes.

It seemed forever before he heard, “Okay, Mr. McKay. Let’s get you suited up.”

This time when he entered the room he loomed over her, studying her beautiful face, rather than just plopping down by her bedside.

“Hey, sugar. I’m here beside you. I know you can hear me. I need you to hear me. Come back to me. I need you to know that I’m right here, I ain’t goin’ anywhere.