Branding A Legacy (A Silver Star Ranch Novel) Read Free Page B

others. I’m now learning that the ER and trauma is not for me at all.
    “Walk,” Merek growls in my face.
    “Merek Slatter, I’ll whip your ass just like I did when I used to babysit you.” Paisley pulls him by the arm and heads for the swinging doors. “I know you’re hurting, worried, and upset, but keep your damn head on your shoulders.”
    “Thanks, Miss P.” Maverik hugs her quickly before following me.
    “Elevators or stairs?” My tongue feels ginormous in my mouth, making my words sound weak, feeble, and most of all pathetic.
    “Quickest fucking way,” Merek says.
    The elevator dings and the doors slide open to an empty elevator. “Elevator.” I nod to them.
    “Ma’am, I’m sorry, it’s not a good time.”
    “It’s fine. I understand.” I press the button to the third floor for the ICU. “Your granddad’s heart had to be shocked, but it’s keeping a steady rhythm now.”
    “Why would Challis say…” I hear Merek start but he doesn’t finish his question before Maverik sucker punches him in the gut.
    “Enough, Merek, your temper won’t help shit right now.”
    The elevator crawls at a snail’s pace. I feel the sweat beads begin to form on my forehead as each second ticks by.
    “Where is he at, Merek?”
    “That bastard has him and is fucking toying with us,” Merek answers.
    “You go to Challis and confirm Granddad’s condition. I’m calling the sheriff,” Maverik states.
    “Okay.” Merek leans back on the elevator wall scrubbing his hand over his face. “Where are Ella and lil’ Mav?”
    “They’re downstairs in the lobby. She just texted me. I told her to stay there until I came down to get them.”
    The elevator dings, the door slowly separates, and the men exit without another word. The pain coating their voices was amazingly intense. My heart hurts for all involved and I don’t even have a clue who they are.
    A brunette, who I assume is Challis, goes flying into Merek’s arms crying and trying to talk all at once. Not one of her words is coherent until he sits on a couch and places her in his lap. He begins to tenderly brush back her hair and talk to her in a soothing voice. I had no clue he had it in him.
    “Calm down, Verde.”
    “He’s not dead. My phone died,” she whispers.
    He tucks her face into his chest and begins to rock her. He sends Maverik a nod before I turn my back and fight like hell to remember what I should be doing. Then I remember seeing Maverik’s arm was bleeding through some bandages.
    “Sir, you should really go back to the ER and get that checked out.”
    He stares at me blankly, so I point to his arm.
    “Clover?”
    “Yes.” He catches me off guard as I peer down to my name badge that’s flipped the wrong way only showing the back of it. The elevator then dings loudly and we all turn to see a very pregnant blonde beauty step off of it, and that’s when all the pieces fall into place.
    I remember it like yesterday. It was the first job I had here in town when I moved here to be with my uncle and cousins. I worked at an OB doctor’s office and it only took me a few short weeks to realize it wasn’t my cup of tea at all.
    I was there when Dr. Philips told Maverik and his wife, whose name escapes me at the moment, they’d be having a boy and a girl. It was the one moment at that job that was really special and life altering. Just to see the joy covering their happy faces and the excitement that filled the room was electrifying.
    My vision then goes back to Maverik’s bloody arm. It looks like it could be a deep wound from all the blood still oozing through.
    “Maverik.” His wife is in his arms before I have a chance to convince him to get his injury taken care of immediately.
    “Clover.” I turn to see the charge nurse with her hands on her hips standing outside one of my patient’s rooms. She hasn’t been the friendliest, but I love working on the ICU floor and am determined to win her over.
    “Coming.” I turn back to