Counting on Love (Contemporary Cowboy Romance) (Carson Hill Ranch series: Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

leaving Emma to stare after her in silence.
     

Chapter Seven
    Joseph paced back and forth in the cool dark of the stable, his own horse, Brandy, standing saddled and bridled, waiting patiently for its rider to make up his mind. Every time he approached the eager horse, he stepped back, knowing that even climbing up in the saddle would be enough to send agonizing spasms running down his back. Worse was the feeling of failure that ate at him for being such a coward.
    He watched as his horse turned its massive head to look at him, and he swore he could see disappointment on the animal’s face. She had been just as frustrated, tied up, and cabin feverish as he had been through this whole time, and it showed in the impatient way she stomped and pawed at the dirt-covered floor of the stable. Even worse, she was saddled and ready to go, but now stood there confused while she waited for Joseph to make up his mind about riding.
    Here goes nothing, Joseph thought to himself, already certain that this was a really dumb idea. He placed his booted left foot in the stirrup, wincing at the feeling of his unused muscles stretching for the first time in weeks, then gripped the saddle horn and the rear of his saddle, ready to hoist himself up. But instead of gliding over the horse’s flank and positioning himself over the saddle, a sudden pain tearing through his shoulder blades made even his fingers lock, sending him falling to the ground where he landed flat on his back.
    His agonized screams brought his two youngest brothers running from their chore of mucking stalls on the other side of the barn. Seamus and Jacob came around the side of the stable at a full run, skidding to a stop at the sight of their brother on the ground beneath his horse. They rushed to his side and dropped to the ground next to him, afraid to touch him.
    Joseph’s breath came in rapid, short gasps as his face contorted in pain. He writhed briefly, but even that motion made it worse.
    “What do we do, Josey?” Seamus whispered, using the nickname the brothers had given each other years before when they would beat each other at wrestling games. It didn’t stop Jacob from slapping at his upper arm, a disgusted look on his face when Seamus called him by a girl’s name.
    Joseph didn’t answer right away, but finally stilled by forcing himself to take long, slow breaths. His eyes stayed tightly shut, though, alarming the twins. They exchanged worried looks while they waited for Joseph to be able to speak.
    “Joseph, can you tell us what happened yet?” Jacob asked. “Did you fall off the horse again?” He shook his head from side to side, finally moving his hand up to grab futilely at his shoulder. “Can you sit up?”
    Together, the twins helped Joseph sit up, waiting with their arms out in case he fell backward. “What were you trying to do?” Seamus asked, eyeing the horse as if it should be obvious, but not sure what it was about just getting on the animal that would have landed Joseph on the ground.
    When Joseph could stand, the twins helped him to his feet and out of the barn, Seamus calling to a nearby hand to unsaddle Joseph’s horse. They got him to the main house with great effort, and with even more energy and some small amount of screaming, got him up the stairs and into bed. They eyed each other warily when Joseph rooted in the drawer next to his bed for his small, brownish bottle of pills. It was no secret that their father was cutting him off but after what they’d just witnessed of Joseph’s pain, they weren’t going to say anything.
    Joseph lay quietly on the bed, his eyes wide as he stared at the ceiling, waiting for the pills to take effect. Seamus slipped out quietly but Jacob stayed behind, waiting with Joseph until he could finally fall asleep.
    “Joseph, you have to talk to Dad about this,” Jacob said softly. “You can’t keep going on like this.”
    Joseph only nodded before turning his face to the wall, closing his eyes as