find Erma’s room?”
Mack looked shaken by her hasty withdrawal. “Her room is where it’s always been.” He jerked his thumb toward the hall. J.J. did remember, now that she thought about it.
“Erma?” she called softly into the dark, silent room.
“Thank goodness,” Erma said, sounding groggy. “I told Mackenzie to wheel me in here and go on about his business. But I desperately need to use the facilities. I tried to stand up but I got dizzy and fell back. Hurts even more now.”
J.J.’s heart went out to the injured woman who’d always made her feel welcome here. Mack’s father, too, had welcomed her. Jacob Bannerman had opened up to J.J., made her feel part of the family. He once admitted that his heart had broken permanently when his wife died. Another time he confided in her that the Bannermans were one-woman men. It was just as well that he didn’t live to see his son make a liar out of him.
After she rolled Erma’s wheelchair into the bathroom, J.J. slipped an arm around her and slowly lifted her. “Slide your left foot across the tile. Then if you can balance against the sink a moment, we’ll get your jeans off.”
“It’s those danged pills making my whole body feel like limp spaghetti.”
Indeed, J.J. felt as though she was grappling with wet noodles. It was a minor miracle that the two of them finally succeeded in getting the housekeeper out of her clothes. “Yikes, Erma! Your right side from your waist to your knee is a rainbow.”
Erma barely nodded, but tensed as J.J. eased a nightgown over her head. Pain was etched on her face.
Giving Erma time alone, J.J. went out and fluffed the pillows. A few minutes later she helped her into bed.
“It’s a good thing I sleep on my left side.” Yawning, Erma sighed and her eyes drifted shut.
“Erma, I’m going to town to get my suitcases and check out of the motel. I won’t be more than half an hour. Don’t attempt to get out of bed on your own. Zoey can stay nearby and find her father if you need anything.”
“I’ll be up to fix supper,” Erma managed to say sleepily. “Mack and the men come in at six-thirty and expect to eat as soon as they sit down.”
“So, what time do we have to start preparations?” J.J. asked, trying to read her watch in the darkened room. Silence greeted her query—Erma was already asleep. J.J. tiptoed out of the room.
Zoey was still at the kitchen counter brushing eggs and placing them in a covered container. “You were gone a long time. Is Erma okay?”
J.J. massaged a crick in her neck. “Her medicine really wiped her out. It was a challenge getting her into a nightgown.” Then J.J. explained that Zoey had to listen in case Erma called out for help.
“What bedroom do you want, J.J.? My dad said to open it up and air it out. He said to check the bathroom for towels. We don’t have many guests. The room next to mine upstairs is empty,” Zoey offered.
Zoey clearly wanted J.J. to choose that one, but she said, “Is there a bedroom down here? Close enough so I’d hear if Erma needs help during the night?”
“There’s one straight across the patio from her room. If you both left your doors open, I guess you could hear her through the screens.”
“That’s probably a better idea. I’ll try to make it to town and back in half an hour. Erma fell asleep before I could find out what time we need to start supper. Poor Erma. Her side is so bruised I figure she’ll need a lot of rest and help from us.”
“I’ve never cooked anything,” Zoey said. “Have you?” She sounded seriously concerned.
“We’ll figure it out. We’re capable of cooking, right, Zoey?”
“Oh, good. I heard my dad tell Benny there’s no way someone who spends half her life hanging out with skinny models has the first idea of how to cook for a ranch crew.”
That stung, but Mack hadn’t been far off. Collecting her purse, she dug out her car keys. “There’s some truth to your dad’s statement, Zoey. I
Mack looked shaken by her hasty withdrawal. “Her room is where it’s always been.” He jerked his thumb toward the hall. J.J. did remember, now that she thought about it.
“Erma?” she called softly into the dark, silent room.
“Thank goodness,” Erma said, sounding groggy. “I told Mackenzie to wheel me in here and go on about his business. But I desperately need to use the facilities. I tried to stand up but I got dizzy and fell back. Hurts even more now.”
J.J.’s heart went out to the injured woman who’d always made her feel welcome here. Mack’s father, too, had welcomed her. Jacob Bannerman had opened up to J.J., made her feel part of the family. He once admitted that his heart had broken permanently when his wife died. Another time he confided in her that the Bannermans were one-woman men. It was just as well that he didn’t live to see his son make a liar out of him.
After she rolled Erma’s wheelchair into the bathroom, J.J. slipped an arm around her and slowly lifted her. “Slide your left foot across the tile. Then if you can balance against the sink a moment, we’ll get your jeans off.”
“It’s those danged pills making my whole body feel like limp spaghetti.”
Indeed, J.J. felt as though she was grappling with wet noodles. It was a minor miracle that the two of them finally succeeded in getting the housekeeper out of her clothes. “Yikes, Erma! Your right side from your waist to your knee is a rainbow.”
Erma barely nodded, but tensed as J.J. eased a nightgown over her head. Pain was etched on her face.
Giving Erma time alone, J.J. went out and fluffed the pillows. A few minutes later she helped her into bed.
“It’s a good thing I sleep on my left side.” Yawning, Erma sighed and her eyes drifted shut.
“Erma, I’m going to town to get my suitcases and check out of the motel. I won’t be more than half an hour. Don’t attempt to get out of bed on your own. Zoey can stay nearby and find her father if you need anything.”
“I’ll be up to fix supper,” Erma managed to say sleepily. “Mack and the men come in at six-thirty and expect to eat as soon as they sit down.”
“So, what time do we have to start preparations?” J.J. asked, trying to read her watch in the darkened room. Silence greeted her query—Erma was already asleep. J.J. tiptoed out of the room.
Zoey was still at the kitchen counter brushing eggs and placing them in a covered container. “You were gone a long time. Is Erma okay?”
J.J. massaged a crick in her neck. “Her medicine really wiped her out. It was a challenge getting her into a nightgown.” Then J.J. explained that Zoey had to listen in case Erma called out for help.
“What bedroom do you want, J.J.? My dad said to open it up and air it out. He said to check the bathroom for towels. We don’t have many guests. The room next to mine upstairs is empty,” Zoey offered.
Zoey clearly wanted J.J. to choose that one, but she said, “Is there a bedroom down here? Close enough so I’d hear if Erma needs help during the night?”
“There’s one straight across the patio from her room. If you both left your doors open, I guess you could hear her through the screens.”
“That’s probably a better idea. I’ll try to make it to town and back in half an hour. Erma fell asleep before I could find out what time we need to start supper. Poor Erma. Her side is so bruised I figure she’ll need a lot of rest and help from us.”
“I’ve never cooked anything,” Zoey said. “Have you?” She sounded seriously concerned.
“We’ll figure it out. We’re capable of cooking, right, Zoey?”
“Oh, good. I heard my dad tell Benny there’s no way someone who spends half her life hanging out with skinny models has the first idea of how to cook for a ranch crew.”
That stung, but Mack hadn’t been far off. Collecting her purse, she dug out her car keys. “There’s some truth to your dad’s statement, Zoey. I
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