Quinn Read Online Free PDF Page B

own advocate. Don’t put this on Phoebe’s shoulders, or on Ela’s. You know what’s good for you, and it’s up to you to do the right thing.”
    Cole glowered at his youngest. “I don’t need you to tell me—”
    “That’s right. You don’t.” Jake turned to Phoebe. “Just so you know, it’s not your responsibility to be Pa’s nursemaid. He doesn’t need to be coddled right now. What he needs is to step up to his responsibilities and do the right thing.”
    Phoebe couldn’t hide the impish grin that tugged at the corners of her lips. “Thanks, Dr. Jake. I’ll keep that in mind.”
    Quinn and Josh shared a smile before Quinn decided to change the subject. It was obvious that their father was getting close to his boiling point.
    Quinn turned to his grandfather. “Josh tells me one of the herds is snowbound up in the hills.”
    Big Jim nodded. “They may be there until spring thaw. I’ll be heading back up there at first light with a truck full of feed.”
    Quinn glanced out the window, where snow fell like a thick, hazy curtain. “That’s a mountain of feed to disperse. Do you have wranglers to lend a hand?”
    “I do, boyo.” Big Jim smiled. “And don’t think aboutvolunteering. You look like you need about a week of sleep to catch up.”
    Quinn touched a hand to his freshly shaved face. “At least I don’t look like a grizzly.”
    “Or smell like one,” Jake added.
    Around the table, everyone joined in the laughter.
    Cole looked over at his oldest son. “You thinking about leaving again soon?”
    Quinn shot a glance at his brothers. The three of them had come up with a strategy of sorts. They would try to see that one of them was always around to handle the toughest chores without letting their father know what they were doing. If he had even a hint of what they were planning, he’d have their hides.
    “Not for a few weeks.”
    Cole fixed his middle son with a look. “What about you, Josh?”
    Josh shrugged. “My job is done for now. I found the lost hiker I was searching for, and the rangers have assured me he’s doing fine in the hospital. So I have plenty of time to lend a hand.”
    Cole visibly relaxed. “Good.” He swiveled his head. “What about you, Jacob? Got time for your old man? Or are you heading out, too?”
    The use of his full name was a signal to his family that Cole was battling his emotions. One look at his face told him that they’d guessed correctly that Cole was craving sympathy and attention from his long-absent family.
    “We’ll be in finals all next week. But I have my laptop and can study everything I need right here. I won’t have to fly out until the weekend.”
    Now Cole smiled broadly, and the last of his tensionseemed to melt away. “That’s good news.” He looked down the table. “Right, Big Jim?”
    The older man nodded. “Great news, boyo.” He tucked into his dessert, which Ela had topped off with a mound of vanilla ice cream.
    Seeing it, Cole’s eyes narrowed for a moment. Then, seeing his family watching him, he pushed aside his own dessert and drained his glass of milk.
    He’d be damned if he’d whine about having to give up desserts. For now, for tonight, he had his family around him. That was sweet enough for him.
    “What do you think?” Josh settled himself into a chair pulled close to the fireplace in the great room, where a roaring fire blazed.
    Quinn shrugged. “His color’s good. He seems tired, but that’s to be expected, I’d say.”
    Both men turned toward Jake, who walked in carrying a tray of longnecks.
    After passing them around, he set aside the tray and took a long pull on his drink before dropping down on one of the hearth cushions.
    Having overheard them, Jake picked up on the thread of their conversation. “I think this heart attack has rocked Pa’s world. He never saw it coming.”
    “Neither did I.” Quinn leaned a hip against the arm of a sofa. “He’s the strongest man I know.”
    “Next to Big Jim,”