Forever Santa by Leeanna Morgan Read Free Book Online Page A

place. Somewhere to sleep is about the only thing I need at the moment.”
    Gracie held his arm. “You can use one of the bedrooms down here. If dad calls you before I wake up, our room is at the top of the stairs.”
    “I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything.”
    Trent gave Jacob a hug as he passed him. “If you need anything, just let me know.”
    “Thanks.”
    Gracie took Jacob to the room with the biggest bed. She might only be five-foot-one, but Jacob was well over six foot tall. She grabbed an extra pillow and blanket out of the closet and left them on the end of the bed. “Next door on the left is the bathroom. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen.”
    She looked around the room, hoping he had everything he’d need.
    “I’ll be fine, Gracie. Try and get a good night’s sleep.”
    She gave Jacob another hug before leaving. Trent was waiting for her in the living room.
    “Alex will be okay, Gracie. He’s in the best possible hands.”
    “What if he can’t ride again? He lives and breathes the rodeo.”
    Trent held her hand as they walked upstairs. “The surgeons will do everything they can. He’s alive. Anything after that is a bonus.”
    Gracie knew Trent was right, but that didn’t stop the worry. Alex could be left with a permanent injury. Choosing to retire from the rodeo was one thing. Leaving because you couldn’t ride was a whole different story.
     
    ***
    Gracie rubbed her eyes and stared at the alarm clock. It was six o’clock in the morning. Too early to have heard from her dad, too early to give her dad a call. She rolled over and buried her head against her pillow, saying a silent prayer for Alex.
    A soft knock sounded on their bedroom door and Gracie bolted out of bed. Jacob stood on the landing, looking as though he’d had even less sleep than her.
    “Did I wake you up?” He whispered.
    “I’ve been awake for ages. Have you heard from dad?”
    “He texted me. Alex’s surgery went well and they’ve transferred him to a ward.”
    “What did the surgeon do?”
    “He’s got a titanium rod in his thigh, a reconstructed knee, and torn ligaments in his pelvis. It’s going to take a few months to get him back on his feet.”
    Gracie leaned against the door frame and closed her eyes.
    Trent propped himself up on his elbow and watched Gracie and Jacob. “He’s okay?”
    Jacob nodded. “As soon as he’s able to be transferred, mom and dad will bring him home. They’ll be in Vegas for Christmas. Dad said to give him a call when we wake up.”
    Trent hauled himself out of bed and grabbed his sweatshirt. “Let’s call your dad from the kitchen. I’ll start the coffeepot.”
    Gracie picked up her robe and pulled on her fluffy green socks. “Wait for me.”
    “We aren’t going anywhere without you, short stuff. Take your time.” Trent waited on the landing with Jacob.
    Gracie could hear their voices, low and steady, talking about what had happened in Las Vegas. They looked up when she joined them. “Have mom and dad talked to Alex since the accident?”
    “Not yet,” Jacob said as they walked downstairs. “He’s doped up to his eyeballs with Morphine. He should be more with it by this afternoon.”
    “He’s going to be upset.”
    “You can say that again.” Jacob pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and called his dad. “He won’t know what to do with himself.”
    Jim Green answered the call after three rings. “Jacob? Have you got Gracie with you?”
    “She’s right here with Trent. We’re on speaker-phone.”
    “Are you okay, dad?” Gracie asked.
    “We’ve had better days.” Gracie could hear the exhaustion in her dad’s voice. “They took Alex to the orthopedic ward a few hours ago.”
    “How’s mom?” Jacob asked.
    “Sleeping. It’s been a long night. I’m just glad we decided to come to Vegas to see Alex compete. God knows how we would have got here otherwise. I’m sorry we won’t be home for Christmas.”
    Gracie sat on a kitchen