The nurse was helping Roxy back into the wheelchair after having taken her bath when Ryan popped up in the bathroom's doorframe.
She had been home for a little over a week and even if she was still in her chair, he finally felt alive again with her by his side.
"You look beautiful," he said as he leaned against the wall.
She looked at herself from head to toe and smiled. "Thank you."
She had picked out a pair of white jeans, a royal blue blouse, and similar colored sneakers. Wearing sneakers was a bit of a change. Generally, when she was on the ranch, she wore boots to be able to roam around the property with ease and not worry about getting them dirty but for the time being, boots were not needed, and sneakers were more comfortable for physical therapy.
Amelia hugged Roxy and wished her a nice day before walking past Ryan and disappear inside the cabin.
"I just got off the phone with Kayce, he needs me in town for work. You want me to bring you up to the lodge? I shouldn't be more than a couple of hours."
Roxy leaned her head to the side. "I have a better idea."
"Oh, you do, huh?"
"Yeah, take me with you."
"Babe there is hardly enough room to fit people in your brother's office, let alone a wheelchair."
"Then I'll go have some lemonade while you tend to business."
He offered a bemused smile. "You're not going to let this go, are you?"
She gave him a half-shrug. "That's why you love me."
"It is one of the many reasons why I love you."
A heartbroken look appeared on her face, and he watched as she looked down at her hands pressing her lips together.
He took a concerned step in her direction and squatted in front of her so that his eyes and hers were leveled.
"What is it?"
"Right now, I feel like it's the only reason out there for you to love me."
"What!? Where is this coming from?" he asked even more concerned than he had initially been.
She flayed her arms around her and the wheelchair. "I can't do anything Ryan!"
He raised his hands and managed to gently grab hers in them, pulling them down near her lap.
"Hey, I'm not worried about what you can't do right now. It's just a question of time, before you know it, you'll be walking, working, and riding again."
He took in a deep breath as he looked out into the void, then back at her with insistence in his eyes. "A few weeks ago, I thought you would never wake up and even though I never gave up hope, it almost seemed impossible, and here you are right awake and alive. If you've managed to do that, you can and you will overcome this too."
He noticed the corner of her lips inch their way up before she let out a chuckle. He blinked incredulous as to her reaction as to what he had just said.
"You want to tell me what is so funny?"
"I don't need my legs to ride, and I'm not immediately concerned about walking."
He narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "Then what were you talking about?"
She bit her lower lip and raised one of her brows.
It was his turn to giggle as the puzzle pieces suddenly fit into place. "Oh… yeah not at all what you were alluding to."
"Nope."
"Keith said that you shouldn't exert yourself for a while and I assumed since you hadn't brought it up that we were still on pause."
"Don't ever put Keith's name and our sex life in the same sentence, ever again," she said as she grimaced.
Ryan shook his head. "No, you're right. But still, I don't want you to think that I don't want you, because baby, I do. Not a day goes by when I don't have to refrain my desire to make love to you. I just didn't want to rush you."
She put her hand out and caressed the side of his face. "You're not, I want you too." She rolled her eyes. "I always want you, you set my body on fire and you know I relish in it."
He cocked his brow and felt his heartrate increase just at her words and the thoughts that were going through reached his mind.
He stood and tugged at his shirt collar, and she noticed.
"Steady there, cowboy, you've got to get to work."
He lifted his hands in protest. "Hey, you're pushing all the right buttons."
"You think you'll be OK, or should I wait for you to take a cold shower?"
"Woman, you drive me nuts," he replied mischievously as he circled behind her to roll her out of the bathroom. "Now come one, unless you want to tell your brother what topic of conversation got me late."
"Nah, besides we agreed we don't talk about each other's sex life, best if we refrain."
"Thank heavens," said Ryan as he grabbed her purse, his badge and gun, on their way to the front door.
When Ryan pulled the door of the café open, Jessie smiled as she greeted them.
"Hey Doc, it's good to see you. How are you feeling?"
"It's good to see you too and I'm slowly getting there. You think you have a spot for me?"
"Are you kidding? For you, I'd kick anybody out. It's still early so I won't need to."
Jessie looked around trying to find the best spot for Roxy, but she was disappointed to notice that her café was not really wheelchair friendly.
"Why don't you set me over there at the booth by the window? Ryan can help me get on the bench and we can fold the wheelchair."
"Are you sure, Doc?" asked Jessie obviously uncomfortable.
"Absolutely. It'll be more comfortable than this carriage."
"Alright, if you say so. Why don't you get settled. Lemonade?"
"Yes, sweetened please."
"Coming right up."
Ryan had just finished settling Roxy on the bench and had folded the wheelchair when his phone rang.
"Yeah, I'll be there in two minutes."
He hung up, put the wheelchair in a corner and returned by Roxy's side.
"You can tell Kayce it's my fault."
"It's what I was planning on doing."
She playfully punched him in the shoulder. "Jerk."
"I don't think we'll need to leave the office, but if we do, I'll let you know. If you want to head home, no cab, no Uber, you call someone at the ranch."
"Stop worrying, will you? I'll be fine, I've got my laptop, reading material," she pointed out the window, "it's a lovely day and I'm more than happy to do some people watching."
He leaned in and kissed her lips softly.
"See you later, beautiful."
"Bye handsome," she answered turning her head back as he walked away.
Kayce was sitting on the edge of his desk, arms folded against his chest, when Ryan walked in.
"I know," said Ryan apologetically, "I'm sorry. I was making sure Roxy was settled in ok."
Instantly Kayce's body language changed, and he stood, lowering his arms along his sides. "Roxy's in town?"
"She insisted I bring her into town, and you know how stubborn your sister can be. Frankly, I think it'll do her some good to see something else than the cabin, ranch, or hospital."
"How is she?"
"Beating herself up for not healing fast enough. At least not fast enough based on her standards."
Kayce went around the desk and took place in his chair as Ryan mimicked him and sat in the one across from Kayce.
"I'm not surprised. Roxy has never been one to depend on others or stay idle. It must be hard on her and on you."
"I wish I could do more, but between the ranch and livestock association work, there is only so much I can do."
Kayce shook his head. "I'm just as guilty as you are. I've been so focused on trying to find the sons of bitches that did this to us, that I'm not at the ranch enough either."
"Where are we with that?"
"Nowhere. But's that's not why I called you in."
"What do you have?"
"Multiple cattle deliveries have been intercepted between the auction halls and their new owners. I would appreciate help analyzing the information and data and see if there is any link."
"Sure," replied Ryan as he took the file Kayce handed him.