Unexpected Inheritance

6

Miranda had been inside reviewing patient files when she heard the unmistakable thud of a body hitting the ground, followed by a sharp yelp of pain. Her heart leapt into her throat. She bolted for the door, nearly knocking over a chair in her rush outside.

The sight before her sent a surge of panic through her veins—Tuck on the ground, wincing, blood seeping into his jeans. Ben stood a few feet away, gripping the reins of a nervous, stomping horse, his voice low and steady as he worked to calm the animal.

"What the hell happened?"

"Mom, I'm okay—" Tuck started, but Miranda wasn't listening.

She was already kneeling beside him "You're bleeding," she muttered. "Can you move your leg? Does anything feel broken?"

Tuck winced as he flexed his knee. "It just stings."

Ben took a step forward. "It ain't that bad, just a scrape—"

Miranda shot him a glare so sharp it nearly knocked him back. "Don't you dare tell me how bad it is when my child is bleeding."

Ben pressed his lips together, taking a slow breath

"I thought you were supposed to be teaching him, not letting him get trampled"

"He wasn't trampled," Ben said, his voice level but firm. "He lost his balance, that's all. It happens."

"Clearly, since he's bleeding," she shot back. "Come on, Tuck, let's get you inside."

Tuck groaned but didn't protest as she looped an arm around him and helped him up. He limped beside her toward the house, his face twisted in discomfort.

Ben walked into the house, still dusting the dirt off his jeans, but Miranda barely spared him a glance. She was too focused on Tuck, kneeling in front of him as she cleaned the gash on his leg.

"I can't believe you thought it was a good idea to put him on a horse without telling me" she snapped, dabbing at the wound a little rougher than necessary.

"It's not that bad, Mom," Tuck muttered, wincing as she pressed a gauze pad to the wound.

"Not that bad is still too damn bad," she snapped "This was supposed to be a lesson, not a trip to the ER."

Ben crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe. "And that's exactly what it was. Kid did good. Just lost his footing."

"Clearly, he didn't do good enough if he's sitting here bleeding," she shot back, frustrated.

Tuck groaned. "Mom, please don't make a big deal out of this."

Miranda exhaled through her nose, trying to rein in her temper as she cleaned and dressed the wound.

"Look, Miranda, I get that you're upset. But falling off is part of learning. Every rider hits the dirt at some point. Hell, I can't even count how many times I busted my ass as a kid."

She shot him a look. "I don't care how many times you busted your ass. That's my son."

Ben ran a hand over his beard, exhaling slowly. He knew better than to argue when Miranda was this fired up. "I wouldn't have let him get hurt," he said, voice calm. "I was right there."

"Well, you weren't right there enough, were you?" she snapped.

Tuck groaned. "Mom, it's really not that serious."

Ben took a step closer,"You're scared," he said quietly. "I get it. But you can't wrap him in bubble wrap, Miranda."

She didn't even look at Ben as she worked, her voice sharp as she continued, "You're supposed to be looking out for him, Ben. What if he'd hit his head? What if it had been worse?"