Page 27 of Savage Heart

I kneel beside her, my hands shaking, touching her arm, her face. She groans, eyes fluttering and her gown riding up her legs.

“Okay,” I whisper, even though I don’t know if it is. “Okay, okay.”

She opens her eyes, but then they close again.

“Mom, should I call an ambulance?”

Her eyes fly open. “Don’t . . . you . . . dare.”

I called the ambulance once before and got a hard spanking for it.

My chest feels like I can’t get air in. If Otis was home, I’d run over there, but he’s at the junkyard right now. I could call Evelyn because she told me I always could, but I’d rather her not see my mom like this. And then I remember that Maverick just got a phone. I grab Mom’s phone and dial his number.

He answers on the second ring. “Hello?”

“It’s Iris.” My voice breaks. “I-I need help.”

I try to pull her gown down, but it’s still too high. I run to her bedroom to get her panties and struggle to put them on with her so out of it. I don’t know how long it takes, but suddenly there’s a knock. Then the door opens, and Maverick and Lincoln stand there, breathless, hair wild, eyes huge.

“We told our moms we needed to bring something back to you. We were across the street at the grocery store and ran over here really fast,” Lincoln says, bending over to catch his breath.

Maverick is already kneeling beside my mom, careful, serious. He checks her hands and her feet, even lifts her legs slightly. Lincoln stands next to me, his hand slipping into mine.

It’s weird seeing them here. I’ve been to the ranch many times now, but they’ve never been inside my house.

“Nothing’s broken,” Maverick says. “Dad has taught me how to tell. But she might have a concussion. Has she said anything or opened her eyes?”

“Yes, she opened her eyes a couple of times and told me not to call the ambulance.”

He nods.

“I don’t want to leave her on the floor,” I say quietly.

“We can carry her into her room,” Maverick says.

“You really think so?” I ask, not certain.

“Yes. I’ve helped carry a calf, and sometimes they weigh a lot. Lincoln, take her feet, and I’ll get this end. Iris, tell us where to go.”

Together, they lift her. It’s awkward, but they get her to the bed. She mumbles something I can’t understand and stinks like alcohol.

Her eyes open for a second. “Iris?” she whispers.

“I’m here,” I say quickly. “Are you okay, Mom?”

“Had too much to drink.” She blinks, then drifts off again.

My cheeks flame. I hoped maybe they wouldn’t notice all the bottles, but they probably could tell she’s been drinking by the way our house smells.

Maverick looks at me. “She’ll be okay. She needs sleep.”

I nod, even though my eyes burn.

She’s been like this more and more, but I thought a fall like that would wake her up more.

“My uncle gets this way a lot,” he whispers. “It’s okay, Iris.”

“You mean your Uncle Clive?” I ask.