“Oh, yeah,” he answered. “They took Dad right in for an MRI, so I had a few minutes. Are you at the ranch house?”

“No, I’m in the barn. I’ve got a call out this afternoon,” she answered, and then told him about Fifi’s puppies.

“Those ought to be some weird-looking little dogs,” Cody laughed.

“I’m wondering if Gracie will make Eva pay puppy support because her corgi is the father,” Stevie said with half a giggle.

“Looks like it’s going to be a long day for both of us. Will you text me when you get back to the ranch?” Cody asked. “I still worry about you driving on that leg. Maybe Mia should go with you.”

“Yes, I will,” she answered. “But I can do this on my own, and Mia is helping Jesse today. You just worry about Sonny.”

“He’ll be ready for the hotel room by the end of the day. I’m glad there’s a restaurant attached to the hotel, so he won’t have to get in and out of the truck so much,” Cody said.

“That’s great.” Stevie frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“Why would you think something is wrong?” Cody asked.

“I hear it in your voice,” she answered.

“Nothing is wrong, but on the way down here, I got to thinking about that old saying ‘Out of sight, out of mind,’” he told her.

“Am I about to lose my Sonic hamburger on the fourth date?” she teased, but tears welled up behind her eyelashes.

“Not at all. I know it sounds crazy, but I miss you,” Cody answered. “We don’t see each other for hours most days, but knowing we are this far apart…” He paused so long that she checked her phone screen to be sure she hadn’t lost service. “Well, that saying is bogus, Stevie. You are certainly not out of my mind.”

“I’m glad,” she said, and finally smiled.

“Here they are, bringing Dad out in a wheelchair,” Cody said. “Now we go across town for the next appointment. Talk to you later.”

“Be looking forward to it.” Stevie ended the call.

She went to the van, tossed her crutches across the back seats, and slid the side door open. Things were in such a jumble that it took her all morning to get everything back into order. When she was done, she got out, eased the door shut, hobbled over to the big barn door, and pushed it open.

A limp was to be expected, but she wasn’t doing too bad, so when she got back to the van, she put the crutches behind the seats and drove out of the barn. That done, she ignored the crutches and went back to close the door.

“The horse, Buttercup, didn’t get crutches,” she muttered, “and I’m as strong as she is.”