Asking for Trouble Read Online Free PDF Page A

isn’t as deep as I feared. He’s bled quite a bit, but it seems to be stopping.” She let out a long sigh. “A dishcloth and twine, seriously, Cole?”
    “I couldn’t find any bandages, and I didn’t want him to bleed to death while I looked.”
    “I guess you get points for ingenuity. How’s that, sweetheart?”
    His heart leapt—until he realized she was talking to Jackson.
    Rubbing his aching head, Cole gazed out across the flat prairie where fresh, spring grass sprouted amongst the withered remains left over from the previous season. All along the highway, huge, white windmills barely moved in the late afternoon air.
    Finally, his racing pulse began to calm. It had been like one of those slow motion TV sequences—Jackson, rising on shaking legs, arms flapping as he tumbled down the porch steps, knowing he’d never reach his nephew in time despite a full out sprint. The sickening thunk when his head struck the sharp corner of the stair. He shuddered. Tucker had been the hero, scrambling to his feet when the baby squealed and toppled toward him, breaking his fall in the process.
    Cole had only stepped away from the porch for a moment. Something about the moose’s hindquarters had looked a little off… He let out a shaking breath. The outcome of his inattention could have been tragic.
    Anger simmered in his gut. Davis should never have put him in this position.
    “You’re awfully quiet.”
    He cast a quick glance over his shoulder. “Jackson could have died or been brain damaged, and it’s all my brother’s fault.”
    “How do you figure?”
    The stench of stockyards assaulted his senses. Almost to Amarillo. He stepped a little harder on the gas pedal.
    “Because he’s the idiot who left me in charge. I’ve half a mind to call him and demand they return home. Vacation be damned.”
    Miranda snorted with laughter. “You’re right, you do have half a mind. Accidents happen. And while I’m certain you could have been more attentive, even the best parent or caregiver in the world lets their guard down once in a while.”
    “Andee never let her son fall down the porch steps.”
    “Is that what happened?”
    “I only turned away for a minute.” He sighed again, long and loud. “We were actually having a pretty good day. The kid is entertaining at times.”
    “They do have their charm.”
    The heavy sarcasm in her voice didn’t irritate him—much. He exited the highway and tapped the steering wheel while he waited for a light to turn green. “I suppose if babies didn’t have a few redeeming qualities, the human race would have died out eons ago.”
    He could almost hear her teeth grinding.
    “Pull up in front of the ER doors. I’ll take him inside while you find a parking spot.”
    “Sounds like a plan. Do you want the insurance information?” He braked to a stop in front of the big glass doors and waved the packet of papers. “It should be in here somewhere.”
    She opened the rear door, squeezed past the car seat then turned to unstrap Jackson. When she glanced his way, her brows lowered. “You won’t be that far behind us, so I’ll let you handle the paperwork.”
    “Fine.” The baby looked like the victim of a massacre with blood streaking his face and staining his white T-shirt an ugly shade of red. Cole’s pulse picked up speed as the poor little guy stared at him with sober eyes from the comfort of protective arms. “Got it.”
    Without another word, Miranda hurried toward the glass doors. They slid open, and she disappeared inside. With shaking hands, he put the truck in gear and cruised through the parking lot until he found an empty slot. Once he turned off the engine, he rested his head on the steering wheel. The earlier rush of adrenaline had vanished, leaving him ready to drop. Too bad the evening was just getting started.
    ****
    One look at Jackson and an intern—at least Miranda assumed he was an intern based on the fact the man-boy looked barely old enough to