to the health club each day to use some of the equipment that he doesn’t have at his house.”
“Then I don’t have to feel guilty about running you off?” Casey asked, gently teasing, but somewhat relieved at the knowledge her need for independence wouldn’t put Brad out of a job.
“Hardly, the eye-training machine Dr. Newton requisitioned from the therapy department will let us get started immediately on your eye coordination exercises. He thinks you can work alone with it in a couple of weeks. It’s mostly a matter of repetition after you learn the procedure.”
They consumed the delicious meal amid nonstop talk of things to be done to bring their lengthy sojourn at Spencer Mansion to a close.
Later, when Brad called Tres, he had already talked to Dr. Newton. Tres expressed his uneasiness about Casey’s being on her own, but reluctantly conceded she needed some space to come to terms with the changes in her life. As their conversation wound down, Tres said, “Mattie Lou’s back at the ranch. She’s been beside me listening and insists that you and Casey have your meals with us when you get back.”
“That will work out great for these last two weeks,” Brad said. “We can concentrate on the things to get Casey back into a normal life style rather than full days of therapy.”
“Let Mattie Lou know if you need anything. I’m gone from early until late most days. We’ve started the fall roundup in order to meet the contract’s shipping date. Things are a little hectic right now.”
“We’ll be fine,” Brad said. “It may be late before we get back to the ranch tomorrow. Casey wants to stop in Cielo Alto and do a few things.”
“Is she up to all this activity?”
“Dr. Newton said to let her try anything she wants to these two weeks and call him if there are any ill effects, so I guess he thinks she is.”
“Just watch so she doesn’t overdo.” Tres heard the protective tone in his voice. Well, he did feel protective of Casey.
After Tres hung up the phone, he frowned. Before the next two weeks passed, he needed to think of some good reason for Casey to stay at Spencer Mansion. He felt unsettled about how events were unfolding so fast.
Chapter 8
Casey turned down Brad’s offer to drive when they got ready to start back to the ranch the next morning. She loved the feel of her subconscious directing her body to do the right thing at the right time. Knowing she could do things she had not been able to do for so long gave her much-needed confidence. As she drove away with Brad in the passenger seat, they looked back at Vera standing on the balcony of Brad’s apartment waving goodbye.
Casey chuckled as she maneuvered her pickup into the traffic. “She can hardly wait for us to get out of the way so she can start getting things fixed for Ray’s return.”
“Yeah,” Brad said grinning. “I’m glad things worked out so they can have my apartment to themselves. Ray should have a thirty-day leave before going to his new assignment. She can probably go with him this next time.”
“What about you? Does going directly to a new patient feel okay for you?”
Brad cut his eyes around to her, seeming surprised at her concern for him. “I think it’s going to be great. Of course, I’ve spent over five years on the Spencer ranch, so I’ll have to adjust to living near a lake and being close to the city. I might even get used to socializing a little.” He grinned.
Casey sighed. “Looks like I’m the only one left who needs to get a life.”
Brad reached over and straightened the kink in her seatbelt. “No need to rush things. You know you’re lucky to have a life.”
“I know, but it seems like other people have either been organizing my life or taking care of me forever. I really would like to see if I can make decisions and get by on my own.”
Brad sat quietly for a time then said, “All the years I took care of J. D., I watched him and your dad plan your life. I can
“Then I don’t have to feel guilty about running you off?” Casey asked, gently teasing, but somewhat relieved at the knowledge her need for independence wouldn’t put Brad out of a job.
“Hardly, the eye-training machine Dr. Newton requisitioned from the therapy department will let us get started immediately on your eye coordination exercises. He thinks you can work alone with it in a couple of weeks. It’s mostly a matter of repetition after you learn the procedure.”
They consumed the delicious meal amid nonstop talk of things to be done to bring their lengthy sojourn at Spencer Mansion to a close.
Later, when Brad called Tres, he had already talked to Dr. Newton. Tres expressed his uneasiness about Casey’s being on her own, but reluctantly conceded she needed some space to come to terms with the changes in her life. As their conversation wound down, Tres said, “Mattie Lou’s back at the ranch. She’s been beside me listening and insists that you and Casey have your meals with us when you get back.”
“That will work out great for these last two weeks,” Brad said. “We can concentrate on the things to get Casey back into a normal life style rather than full days of therapy.”
“Let Mattie Lou know if you need anything. I’m gone from early until late most days. We’ve started the fall roundup in order to meet the contract’s shipping date. Things are a little hectic right now.”
“We’ll be fine,” Brad said. “It may be late before we get back to the ranch tomorrow. Casey wants to stop in Cielo Alto and do a few things.”
“Is she up to all this activity?”
“Dr. Newton said to let her try anything she wants to these two weeks and call him if there are any ill effects, so I guess he thinks she is.”
“Just watch so she doesn’t overdo.” Tres heard the protective tone in his voice. Well, he did feel protective of Casey.
After Tres hung up the phone, he frowned. Before the next two weeks passed, he needed to think of some good reason for Casey to stay at Spencer Mansion. He felt unsettled about how events were unfolding so fast.
Chapter 8
Casey turned down Brad’s offer to drive when they got ready to start back to the ranch the next morning. She loved the feel of her subconscious directing her body to do the right thing at the right time. Knowing she could do things she had not been able to do for so long gave her much-needed confidence. As she drove away with Brad in the passenger seat, they looked back at Vera standing on the balcony of Brad’s apartment waving goodbye.
Casey chuckled as she maneuvered her pickup into the traffic. “She can hardly wait for us to get out of the way so she can start getting things fixed for Ray’s return.”
“Yeah,” Brad said grinning. “I’m glad things worked out so they can have my apartment to themselves. Ray should have a thirty-day leave before going to his new assignment. She can probably go with him this next time.”
“What about you? Does going directly to a new patient feel okay for you?”
Brad cut his eyes around to her, seeming surprised at her concern for him. “I think it’s going to be great. Of course, I’ve spent over five years on the Spencer ranch, so I’ll have to adjust to living near a lake and being close to the city. I might even get used to socializing a little.” He grinned.
Casey sighed. “Looks like I’m the only one left who needs to get a life.”
Brad reached over and straightened the kink in her seatbelt. “No need to rush things. You know you’re lucky to have a life.”
“I know, but it seems like other people have either been organizing my life or taking care of me forever. I really would like to see if I can make decisions and get by on my own.”
Brad sat quietly for a time then said, “All the years I took care of J. D., I watched him and your dad plan your life. I can
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