Cowboy Above The Law. Delores Fossen

      Egan was right there to greet them.

      One look at the sheriff’s face, and Rayna knew something was wrong. She prayed that Warren hadn’t had complications from the surgery. Or worse, that he’d died. She wasn’t a fan of his, but she didn’t want him dead. And that was partly because she knew how much Egan, Court and their sister, Rachel, loved him.

      “What happened?” Court asked.

      But Egan didn’t respond. He made an uneasy glance around the waiting room, where there were several patients as well as some medical staff, and he motioned for Court and her to follow him. They did, and Egan went in the direction of the patients’ ward, but he stopped in the hall. However, Rayna could see Rachel, Griff and Court’s mother, Helen, just outside the door. It was no doubt Warren’s room.

      Egan looked at her as if trying to decide what to do with her. Clearly, he wanted to have a private conversation with his brother, but there was no way they could leave her alone.

      “Dad didn’t stay awake for long before he lapsed back into unconsciousness. But he did manage to say something,” Egan said after he dragged in a long breath. He paused. “It’s bad, Court.”

      And that was when Rayna heard something just up the hall. Something she didn’t want to hear. Rachel and Helen were crying.