Kacey’s POV:
Staying in one place, listening to beeping machines, and smelling sterile air was beginning to make me a little crazy. Especially since I now knew that my dad hadn't been the only one attacked a few days ago. It was bad enough that he had been attacked, but to find out that Beth had been blown up, Rip’s house had been burned down, and that someone had thought it was a good idea to attack the ranch -my son included- well, that was complete and utter hell. In fact, the only Dutton that hadn't been attacked was Jamie. While I wasn't a man typical of jumping to conclusions, I couldn’t quiet that little voice in the back of my mind telling me that it was Possible that Jamie had something to do with all of this. I didn't want to believe it, but after all the shit that's been going on between him and dad, and all that crap between him and Beth, I knew that it was possible that he’d finally had enough and had snapped. But if that was the case, he had been planning this for some time. This wasn't something that someone just planned on the fly. Bombing my sister’s office, hiring gunmen to attack me and dad? All of that would have taken some careful planning to make sure that those involved would have known how to keep their mouths shut. Not to mention all the money it would have taken. Not that I knew what the going rate was for hire hitmen but I had enough sense to know that they were paid well for this expertise.  

But even with all of that telling that Jamie had to be the one behind all of this, there was one thing keeping me from listening to the voice in my head and that was the fact that Jamie and I have been on good terms for years. He had no reason to come after me or my son in all of this. 

“If you keep thinking that hard, your head is going to explode.” said a voice, with a slight southern accent from my doorway. I had been so lost in my thoughts that I hadn't even heard anyone open the door. My assistant Oakley was a welcome reprieve from my wandering thoughts. With blonde hair, blue eyes, and the cutest little button nose, she was the stuff that dreams were made of. That included mine most days, not that I would ever admit that to anyone. As a matter of fact, I didn't want to admit to myself that she had been in the starring role of all my naughty dreams since the day I started as Ag Commissioner. But that's exactly what she had been. Just thinking about some of the scenes that have played out in my dreams had my heart rate starting to pick up and the brainless wonder currently covered by a thin blanket and a hospital gown twitching with interest. Not the best place to be thinking erotic thoughts, Kayce…

“How are you feeling today?” said Oakley, pulling me from my thoughts. 

“Ready to get the hell out of here.” I said, shifting on the bed in an effort to hide the semi-hard on I was sporting. As I shifted, the stitches in my side and shoulder pulled, causing me to hiss in pain. Oakley was by my side almost instantly. 

“Are you okay?” Said Oakley, her small hands shifting the shoulder of the hospital gown so that she could check my wound. I was going to lose my mind if she moved that gown to check my side. 

“I’m fine.” I said, moving so that her tiny hands fell away from me. Instantly, I missed her touch.

“Are you sure? I can call the nurse. Have them have a look.” said Oakley. 

“I’m fine. Just moved too fast.” I said. “On a different subject, have you talked to Tate today? I called the bunk house earlier since he was supposed to be with Lloyd today but I didn't get an answer. Have you heard anything about what's going on at the ranch?”

“Tate just walked with Rip to check on Beth and you dad. He wanted to come in here and see you first, but I told him that I needed to make sure that you were awake first.” said Oakley. 

“How’s he doing?” I asked, worried about my only son. Even at such a young age, my son has already been through more than most people have been through in their lives. From losing his mom in a meth lab explosion, to being kidnapped, and now having killed someone in an effort to help protect the ranch, I knew that my son had to be struggling mentally. I just wish I knew how to take it all away. If I could take away all the bad shit that he has been through and put it on myself, I would in a fucking New York minute.

“This morning was a little rough according to Rip. He said Tate didn't sleep much last night. Said he kept waking up with nightmares. He's scared Kacey.” said Oakley.

“I know he is.” I replied. 

“I need to ask you something Kacey.” said Oakley. “But I need you to be honest with me on this. Okay?”

“What do you need to ask me, Oakley?” I said, curious as to what had Oakley so nervous.

“Well, I was thinking. After everything that happened at the ranch, and with you still in the hospital as well as the rest of your family, I was thinking that it might do Tate some good to get away from there for a little while. At least until you get out of the hospital and are able to be with him.” said Oakley, shifting her weight from foot to foot, not looking me in the eyes. 

“Oakley, look at me.” I said softly. Like the good girl I knew she was, I watched as she lifted her head and locked eyes with me. “I appreciate the offer -I really do- but the ranch is Tate’s home. It's all of our homes. We can't just run from it because some bad shit happened.”

“I’m not saying run from it Kacey. I was just simply suggesting that Tate stay with me until you got back on your feet. From what Rip said, Beth will be in here for a while recovering from burns. And I don't know if you know this or not, but they are giving your dad a very slim chance of even waking up. I just thought that getting Tate away from it all, from the memories of it all, would help him come to terms with all that happened that day.” said Oakley. “But if you don't want my help, I totally understand. He's your child and you know what's best for him.”

“Hey,” I said softly as I reached for her hand. Wrapping my long fingers around her tiny hands, I squeezed with just the right amount of pressure to get her attention. But try as I might, I couldn't ignore the shock that came from her hand in mine. It was a shock that I’d felt numerous times over the past few months from just little touches, but for some reason, seeing her standing here in my hospital room, offering up her home to my son, that simple little touch felt like so much more. I couldn't help but wonder if she felt it too. If she did, there was no indication of it on her beautiful face. Knowing I needed to say something to take the sting out of my refusal of her help, I gazed up into her blue eyes and said “I do appreciate it, Oakley. More than I even know how to express. But with everything that has happened over the past few days with all of us, I feel like the ranch is the safest place for Tate right now.” Then I heard myself saying something that could be taken as extremely out of line if she read into it. “In fact, I think given the attack on the AG office and your being caught in the crossfire, I think you should stay at the ranch until we figure out who was behind this and if you were a target or just a potential causality.” The only two women who had stayed in the lodge aside from my grandmother years and years ago were my mother and Monica, both of whom were long gone. 

“Kacey-” started Oakley, but the door opening effectively interrupted whatever she was going to say. Her hand flew from my hold, leaving me missing that simple connection.    

“The kid couldn't wait any longer.” Rip’s gravelly voice said as he stuck his head into the room. “How are you feeling Kacey?” he asked as I watched Tate rush into the room.

“Careful Tate,” said Oakley, a warning in her tone. Surprisingly, Tate -never one to really listen to adults- heeded her words, stopping just beside the bed and laying his head against mine. 

“Hey buddy.” I said as I lifted a hand to his head and fussed with his hair. 

“I heard the guys in the bunkhouse saying that you got shot when they thought I was asleep the other night. Rip says it's true.” said Tate, his brown eyes -so much like his mothers- gazed back at me. Sometimes it was a punch to the gut with how much Tate reminded me of my late wife. Even though she and I had our differences and she was extremely overprotective of Tate, she had loved him. Which is more than I can say for some parents. 

“Yeah buddy. I was shot. But I’m okay.” I said, downplaying my injuries for the sake of my son. Truth was, the shot to my chest had just barely missed my heart, and the one in my side had passed through my liver. Both of which were reasons as to why I was still in the hospital nearly a week after that hellacious day. 

“When are you going to come home?” asked Tate. 

“I’m not sure buddy. Shouldn't be too much longer though.” I said. 

“Oh.” said Tate, dropping his head in sadness.

“Hey, what’s all this about?” I asked. 

“I’m just ready for you, Beth, and Grandpa to come home,” said Tate. I didn't miss the tears in his eyes that he tried to hide. 

“We’ll all be home before you know it.” I said as I gingerly scooted to one side of the bed so that he could climb onto it with me. “How about you and I watch a movie for a little while?”

“Really?” said Tate excitedly.

“Of course.” I replied, patting the bed for him to climb up.

Oakley’s POV:
Watching Kacey and Tate together, I was struck once again by the bond those two shared. Over the past few months since Kaey had taken over as AG Commissioner, I’d gotten to know the two of them pretty well. I mean, I’d gotten to know them as much as was professionally possible. That doesn't mean that I didn't have questions about my boss that were extremely unprofessional.  

“I’m glad he pulled though.” said Rip softly from beside me, pulling me from my thoughts. “I don't how the kid would have taken losing his father.” 

“From what the doctors say, it's a miracle he's still alive.” I said, turning and walking out of the room to give Tate and Kacey some alone time. The intimidating cowboy followed behind me.

“It's a miracle they’re all alive.” said Rip, as he leaned against the wall with his hands shoved in his pockets. “You included.”

“I know. If it hadn't been for Kacey pushing me under his desk….” I said, my mouth not letting me finish that sentence. Tate wasn't the only one that had been having nightmares since that day. Every night since it happened, I’d woken up screaming, drenched in sweat and scared to death. “Anyways, I think Kacey feels some sort of remorse for what happened. He told me just before you and Tate came in that he thought I would be much safer at the ranch than at my apartment. He said that until the family knew who was behind this, it was hard to tell if I had been a target or merely a potential causality.”

“He’s right.” said Rip, never a man to beat around the bush.   

“I don't know if that's a good idea. I mean I’m his assistant, not family.” I said, looking up at the intimidating cowboy who would soon be Kacey’s brother in law. “I’d be the talk of the town once people found out I was staying at his family home. It's unprofessional, unethical, and… and…”

“And a very logical solution,” said Rip, cutting me off when I couldn't think of another excuse as to why I shouldn't stay at the ranch. “Look, I’m going to tell you something about Kacey. And if you breathe a word of it to anybody, I’ll deny every single word.” I nodded in response. “That man in there has more heart than anyone I have ever met. If he suggested that you stay at the ranch until this all calms down, then it's because you are more than his assistant. You're his friend; someone that's important to him. You might think that going to the ranch is unprofessional and unethical, but for Kacey, it's more about making sure that you are okay. You were almost killed simply because you worked for him. It's only natural that he would want to do whatever he could to make sure that you don't end up dying because of him.”

“I hadn't thought about it like that.” I said softly. 

“Maam, if Kacey thinks you should be at the ranch, then that's where you need to be. All of the wranglers have been taking turns doing night watch. I promise you that you will be safe there. Much safer than you would be in your little apartment in town.” said Rip as he stood to his full height. “Just think about it.” he added. And then he was gone, leaving me standing there wondering just what the hell I was going to do.