Kade nodded. Hat in hand, he walked into the room, and Ellie followed. She hadn’t been hired to investigate the shooting, but she was involved in it now. She wanted answers as much as Kade did.

The room was sunny and cheerful, with a dark green quilt on the big, king-size log bed and framed petit-point pictures on the yellow pine walls. Alejandro rested comfortably, a pillow behind his back propping him up a little. His face looked pale, his black hair was mussed, and a scruff of dark beard lined his jaw. It only made him more handsome.

The sheet was pulled up to his waist, and a bandage was wrapped around his chest and shoulder, the white making his olive skin look even darker.

“I didn’t figure they’d let you out for at least another few days,” Kade said.

“I hate hospitals,” Alejandro grumbled as if that explained everything. “Maria told them she’d look after me at the ranch, so they let me go.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Like a cattle truck ran over me.”

Kade moved closer to the bed. “You ready to talk about what happened?”

Alejandro sighed. “There isn’t much to say. I was working with the men on that downed tree in the east pasture. I heard a gunshot and felt a punch in my back that slammed through my chest like a cannon ball. I went down hard. I don’t remember much after that. I saw Wyatt running toward me, then Slate was there. I remember Wyatt tearing open my shirt. Then I must have passed out. That’s all I remember.”

“Doc said the boys did a good job patching you up. Stopped the bleeding and got you back to the house. Ellie and I went after the shooter, but we couldn’t find him.”

“I wish I could tell you more.”

“Don’t worry about it. We’ll find him. In the meantime, you just get well.”

“Is there anything special you want?” Ellie asked. “Maybe some cookies or something?”

“No, Ms. Ellie.” All the guys called her that now. She thought it was kind of cute. “I don’t need anything. By the time I think of something, Maria already has it for me.” His black eyes wandered toward the door, where the girl stood watching, anxious for her patient’s welfare. A look passed between them, and Maria’s cheeks went pink.

Maria was as beautiful as Alejandro was handsome. The attraction between them shouldn’t have been a surprise.

“Alejandro needs to rest,” Ellie said, picking up the vibes. “We should go.”

Maria looked at Ellie. “I’ll get Alejandro settled, then be over to help with supper.”

“The important thing is for your patient to get well,” Ellie said. “You don’t need to worry. Turtle’s been helping me in the kitchen. Between the two of us, we’ve got it under control.”