Branding A Legacy (A Silver Star Ranch Novel) by HJ Bellus Page B

throat. “You guys need to go talk to your granddad and update him.”
    A somber tone overtakes the waiting room. Worry covers every face, as does a mixture of pain mingling in.
    “It’s too early.” Merek takes his hat from his head and begins to scratch it.
    “You have to.” Sterling’s voice is nothing to mess with. “He’ll need to be prepared in case he has to say goodbye to his youngest grandson. It’s a fact you have to face.”
    Ella turns from me to face the rest of the group. “He’s right, you guys. Granddad would want to know and be involved in every step. We wouldn’t want him to find out from someone else.”
    I watch as the group of Slatters begin to gather up their belongings and what should be a joyous time is not. They all look beat up and exhausted with what life has thrown at them. I prop my feet up on a stool in front of me and feel my heart sink for them with the only reassurance being the sound of Marvel’s steady heart beat when he was rushed up to the OR. He’ll have a long road with infection and possible other complications, not to mention the mental damage.
    Ella turns before leaving. “I’ll come find you tomorrow.”
    “Okay.” I wave and offer up a weak smile.
    Sterling plops down on the couch across from me as I re-tie my hair up on my head. My fingers glide through the greasy mess. It’s embarrassing how little I tend to my own needs when focused on my job, but it’s what makes me happy.
    “So, what’s your story?”
    “Excuse me?” I look up at Sterling to make sure he’s talking to me.
    “What’s your story?”
    I tilt my head sideways trying to process the question. I’m not sure if it’s a discussion starter or what to take it as. “I don’t have one.”
    “Sure you do. Everyone does.” He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I grew up here, went to school with Ella and Maverik, moved away to go to college, and just returned home a few weeks ago.”
    “Oh.” I flush with a bit of embarrassment realizing he’s just making small talk. “I was raised in LA by my mother who’s an attorney. That’s pretty much it.”
    “No dad?” He slowly leans back on the couch, taking his large black hat off and laying it on the couch. “Sorry, that was a bit pushy of me.”
    I wave him off as I let out a puff of air. “No, you’re fine. I lost my dad when I was younger.”
    “Damn, that’s terrible.”
    “Yeah, it was a fishing accident and he drowned.” I’m not sure what comes over me because I despise even talking about my dad, let alone that awful day. I hate the ocean and boats because of it. It was just supposed to be a nice family outing on his sailboat, but it turned tragic.
    “Your mom must really miss you being this far from home.”
    “Hell.” I dig around in my bag trying to find some kind of food. “She’s happy I’m out of her hair. See, I’m too much like my dad’s side of the family. Nothing like my barracuda mom.”
    Two smashed granola bars lay on the bottom of my purse. I grab them and offer one to Sterling. When he politely refuses, I internally scream because I’m starving at this point.
    “That’s too bad, Clover. From what the Slatter family has said about you, you’re quite the amazing person and a phenomenal nurse.”
    “Whoa, I just love doing my job. I don’t know about the rest of that.” Letting all my manners fly out the window, I stuff a piece of my crumbled granola bar in my mouth.
    “Stick around them, Clover, if you hang around this town. They’re good people.”
    I nod my head since my mouth is full and honestly have no idea how to respond.
    The three FBI agents from earlier walk up the narrow hallway and stop in the waiting room. I’m relieved when they don’t make eye contact with me.
    “Where did Maverik and Merek go?” the redheaded woman asks. Looking at her now out of the small office and without the threat of being interrogated, she’s simply gorgeous and much younger than I