Ryan's Hand Read Online Free PDF Page A

heritage, disavowing my Langston blood, not to mention leaving Jeth alone to run the ranch at a time when he really needed me. The only people left that he could count on were Fiona and Leon. They’re our housekeeper and ranch cook, who have been at La Tierra since before Jeth was born.
    “Jeth handed me a small wrapped box. ‘If Dad were here,’ he said, ‘he would have given this to you.’ I unwrapped it and removed the lid. Inside the box was Jeth’s gold watch.”
    Cara remained silent, too moved by the simple story of brotherly love to comment. She watched him stroke the face of the gold watch encircling his arm, his expression slack in the firelight.
    “It was a fine moment between us,” he continued. “Jeth couldn’t have given his blessing more eloquently—or magnanimously. He stood awfully tall to me in that moment.”
    She said softly, “You love him very much, don’t you?”
    “Yep,” Ryan said, rising to his lanky height. “He’s still the tallest man I’ll ever know. I’ll get us some more wine.”
    He had been gone for a while before her thoughtful state was penetrated by the sound of retching from the bathroom. She sat up, alarmed. “Ryan!” she exclaimed, getting up. “Ryan!” She found him doubled over the basin, holding a wet cloth to his mouth. His face was ghostly gray. “My God, Ryan, what is it?”
    “It’s nothing to worry about,” Ryan gasped between heaves. “Just this stomach virus.”
    “Let me call your doctor!”
    “No, there’s nothing he can do. I’ll be all right in a few minutes. Just get me a glass of cold water, will you?”
    She did as he asked and watched as he took a couple of pills. “Get ready for bed,” she ordered. “Right now.”
    Ryan didn’t argue. While he was in the bathroom, Cara turned down the covers and switched on the electric blanket. She filled a glass with fresh water and placed it on his nightstand. Ryan came out of the bathroom a few minutes later wearing pajamas. “These pj’s are for your benefit, I want you to know.”
    “Come on,” she said, holding the covers for him to slip under. His sick pallor frightened her.
    “You won’t get any argument from me.” He attempted a grin, and Cara tried to smile back.
    “Do I sound bossy?” she asked.
    “Yes, but I like it,” Ryan murmured as she pulled the covers up to his chin.
    “Is there anything I can do for you before I leave?”
    Ryan’s sandy lashes fluttered sleepily. The pills had been sedatives. “If you’ll just open the blinds to let the moonlight in. Thanks for a great day, Puritan.”
    “Thank you , Ryan.” She stooped to kiss his forehead. “Sleep well.”
    “No fear of that,” he mumbled drowsily as his face closed in sleep.
    Cara looked down at the ashen face and wished suddenly, inexplicably, for this man’s brother. The strange desire persisted when she went downstairs into the cold February night to her Volkswagen, parked beside the red Ferrari. “If you two aren’t a classic example of Lady and the Tramp!” she observed in wry amusement.
    She drove out of the parking lot into the evening flow of traffic toward Boston, hardly aware of the other motorists. Images of the day, scraps of remembered conversation floated like random leaves in her mind. The chill around her heart would not go away. The familiar taste of loss was in her mouth. Ryan’s response to her query about his trip came back to her. “One to last forever,” he had said—almost as if he had no plans to go again. Other phrases floated disjointedly, lazily, teasing at her memory like a haunting concerto whose name eluded her. “I’ll get all the rest I need soon…” “Let’s go before the light begins to fade…”
    Suddenly her foot slammed down on the brake pedal. The small tires squealed in protest at the suddenness of the illegal U-turn in the middle of the street. Cara barely heard them. The sound of her own cry had filled her ears.
    Under the covered parking ramp the