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“True, but Ty figures four weeks is long enough We’ll see if he es to convince the doctor of that”

Sturinned “He’s probably hopin’ he’ll persuade Doc to split the difference and let him take it off in another week”

“Probably”

“That re of the post “I ran into Amy Trumbo at noon She tells me that O’Rourke’s bein’ released from the hospital today Is that true?”

“Yeah, Cat went to get him She should have him home before dark”

Chase remembered much too vividly that moment when he realized one of the kidnappers had shot his son He saw again, in his gle to stop the bleeding and the gut-tearing e and fear he’d felt

But his son Ty hadn’t been the only one to suffer at the hands of the kidnapping duo; Culley O’Rourke, his late wife’s brother, had also been shot—in his case, multiple times

Stued his head in amazement “I still don’t kno in hell O’Rourke survived”

“He’s got more lives than a barn cat” Chase couldn’t honestly say whether he was happy about it or not There had never been any love lost between the two men At the same tihter and O’Rourke’s niece Maybe it was Cat’s uncanny reseie And maybe it was just plain love Whatever the case, O’Rourke was devoted to her And like it or not, Chase had O’Rourke to thank for his part in getting young Quint back, unharmed

“I guess O’Rourke will be stayin’ at the Circle Six with Cat and Logan” Stumpy scooped dirt around the post with his boot and tamped it down

“That’s Cat’s plan anyway But you knohat a lone wolf O’Rourke is,” Chase said “My guess is that it’ll only be a matter of days before he’s back on the Shamrock”

“Is he strong enough to look after himself?”

“Probably not, but thatbetween Circle Six and Shaht and has plenty of food on hand” Noting that Stumpy had the job well in hand, Chase took his leave “I’d better getbefore Ty and Jessy wonder what happened to me”

As he took a step away, Stumpy called him back, “Say, I’ve beenbull Ty sold to Parker fro last year? The one he wanted for his kid’s 4-H project”

“What about it?”