“What the fuck?” I mumbled, shaking my head at this asshole.
Scarlett’s gaze looked past him at me, and I was positive I saw anger before she focused back on Eric. I just wasn’t sure if she was pissed at me or him.
“I’m not a child who needs protecting, Eric, and Trevor won’t upset me again.”
Eric scoffed. “That’s all he’s ever done to you, love.”
“Love?” I asked.
Scarlett looked at me again. This time, something else was in her eyes. Something that scared the piss out of me, but I couldn’t place what it was.
“What’s going on with you two?” I demanded. Eric shot me a shit-eating grin.
Scarlett, on the other hand, gave me a look of pleading. “Nothing is going on between us!”
Before I could ask anything else, my phone rang with my mother’s ringtone. Pulling it out of my pocket, I answered it.
“Mom, now is not a good time to—”
“Trevor! Your father… Something’s happened to your father!”
My heart dropped. “What do you mean something’s happened to Dad?”
“He called me from his cell. I couldn’t understand him. I thought he said he couldn’t breathe! I don’t know where he is on the ranch. He took Wild Bill out for a ride after breakfast.”
“I’m on my way. Call Steed, Mitchell, and Wade. Have them start looking.”
“I already did. I saw you leaving earlier, so I knew you weren’t on the ranch, but Steed’s worried. He’s going up in the plane to look from above.”
My heart was racing. Scarlett stood by my side, her hand on my arm, worry in her eyes.
“Call me if anyone finds him. I’m leaving Lilly’s now.”
I hit End and looked at Scarlett. “I’m sorry, angel, I need to go. Something’s happened to my dad.”
She nodded. “Okay. Go! Please let me know if he’s okay?”
Without even thinking, I leaned down and kissed her on the lips. “I will.”
Running back to my truck, I pulled out my phone and called Cord.
“Cord!”
“I’m already on my way, just left my place.”
“Fuck, what do you think happened?”
There was silence on the other end. “Cord!”
“I don’t know, Trevor. Mitchell just called and said he was almost to the house. Just be careful driving and get there in one piece, all right?”
The phone went dead. Dropping my cell on the seat, I gripped the wheel and pushed down on the gas.
“Don’t fucking do this to us, Dad. Don’t.”
By the time I got to the house, Steed had spotted Dad from the plane in the east pasture, leaning up against a tree. Wade and Mitchell had gotten to him within minutes after Steed called in the location. The ambulance was already at the house, and by the time I got out of my truck and over to it, they were getting Dad out of the Jeep.
“I broke something and got the wind and my pride knocked out of me. I’m fine. This isn’t necessary,” he said.
I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.
“What happened?” my mother cried out, kissing my father on the lips and hugging him, making him moan.
“I fell off the horse. Damn thing reared up at a bob cat. I wasn’t expecting it, and I hit the ground. When I called you…well, I still hadn’t been able to catch my breath from the damn wind getting knocked out of me.”
My mother sagged in relief and held her hand over her chest.
“John Parker, you gave me a fright! I thought you had a heart attack, you asshole!”
There was no way I could hold back the laugh, and neither could everyone else around us, including the two EMS folks who tried to assess Dad.
Steed jogged up, taking in the situation. “He’s okay, sort of. He got thrown from Wild Bill and thinks he broke something. Said the wind was knocked out of him,” Mitch said.
About that time, Waylynn and Jonathon came running over. Jonathon was holding Liberty.
“Daddy! Are you okay? We were heading to San Antonio and turned around when Momma called.”
“I’m fine, Waylynn. Just need to nurse my pride and maybe a rib or two.”
She let out a sigh of relief. “Someone call Amelia!”
“I did already, and Corina.” Paxton stood close by with a very scared Chloe next to her, along with a sleeping Gage in her arms. I walked up and took Gage, while Steed picked up Chloe and told her Granddaddy was okay.
“I’ll take Gage inside. Dad, you need me to go find Wild Bill?” I asked.
My father glanced to Wade, who shook his head, and said, “I’ll get him. Don’t worry.”
“Mr. Parker, we need to get you into the ambulance and to the hospital,” one of the EMS workers said.
“I’m not getting in no damn ambulance!” My father stated as Waylynn and Mom started helping my father toward the back of the ambulance.
“Yes, you are, John Parker,” Mom said with a firm voice.