Star Spangled Cowboy Read Online Free PDF Page B

then, but he wasn’t sure how. It wasn’t that Tyson didn’t have experience when it came to women, but he hadn’t had a serious girlfriend in his entire life, and he was very serious about Dacey. When he looked into her eyes, he saw forever.
    “Let’s get you home. You can shower for as long as you want, and then get dressed in something comfortable. We can relax in the living room and watch some movies, or you can go to bed if you’re tired. The doctor said you’d still need to rest, but you need to make sure you get up and move around some too, to help the healing process.”
    She nodded.
    “If you’re hungry, we can pick up something on the way home. I set aside the fixings for meatloaf and mashed potatoes with sweet carrots for supper. Picked up some of those Hawaiian rolls to go with it. And I have three different types of sandwich meat for lunch with your favorite chips.”
    “Anything but hospital food sounds good right now. I’d kill for a cheeseburger and some fries.”
    He smiled a little. “With a strawberry shake?”
    Dacey moaned.
    “One cheeseburger with fries and a shake coming up. We’ll hit the drive-thru on the way home and pick up some lunch. After you’ve eaten, I’ll help you get situated in whatever room you choose.”
    Dacey was quiet and watched the passing scenery. Tyson worried that she was having second thoughts about moving in with him. She technically had her place, even if it wasn’t much of one. Between his statement, her statement, and the residents in the trailer park, he hoped that Carlos would be off the streets by nightfall, which would mean she wouldn’t need his protection. Didn’t stop him from wanting to offer it, though.
    Tyson pulled through the drive-thru and placed their order. After he had paid, he set the sack in the backseat and the drinks in the cup holders. Dacey had her head pressed against the window, and her eyes were closed, her face drawn and pale. He knew she had to be hurting, and thankfully her prescription had been filled at the hospital. She’d have to take a pain pill with lunch. He knew she didn’t like the way they made her feel, but there was no point in her suffering if she didn’t have to.
    He made the rest of the drive to the ranch in silence and tried to get out of the truck without disturbing her. He carried their lunch inside before returning for Dacey. Tyson eased open the truck door, careful to catch her before she fell, then lifted her into his arms. Later, he would pay the price for carrying her around so much, but it would be worth a little pain to take care of her.
    Tyson carried her into the house and back to the bedroom, pains shooting through his leg with every step. He nearly fell in the kitchen but managed to keep himself upright and slowed his steps until he reached the bed. Laying her down gently, he removed her shoes and pulled a blanket over her. The heat of summer was upon them, which meant his thermostat was set at sixty-five degrees. Polar bears would have been comfortable in his home. Tyson had always been hot-natured, and he found he loved air conditioning even more after having survived Afghanistan. It wasn’t so much that the heat bothered him, not after the sweltering temperatures over there, but he didn’t see a reason to be uncomfortable if he didn’t have to be.
    Tyson put their food away and stored the milkshakes in the fridge. He sprawled in his favorite recliner and put the foot up to ease the tension in his leg. The only thing that would truly help was getting his prosthetic off and soaking in a hot bath, and even that didn’t always do much. They called it phantom leg syndrome, when he felt pain where his leg should have been. There wasn’t a magic pill to make it all better, so he suffered through it as best he could, and waited for the day that things would get easier.
    Picking up the remote, he clicked on the TV and found ESPN. It didn’t matter what sport was on TV. He seemed to like them all.