LITMIR.BIZ

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      When the ambulance pulled to a stop, he blinked the fog from his mind and tried to focus. They’d given him something for the pain and he felt groggy. Tonya’s worried face kept going in and out of focus.

      They wheeled him into the emergency department and he lost his grip on her hand. “Tonya?”

      “I’m here.” She slipped her hand back in his.

      “Ma’am? You’re going to have to wait in the waiting room.”

      “No.” He didn’t want her to leave, and while that shocked him, right now he didn’t care. He tightened his grip. At least, he thought he did. “Stay. Let her stay.”

      They must have decided to listen to him. Tonya followed them back into the room.

      * * *

      She paced the floor, her gaze constantly going from a now-sleeping Seth to the small window in the door to check the hall. They’d rolled him to X-ray about thirty minutes after they’d been shown to the room and she’d been a nervous wreck until they’d returned. She slipped up to his side and covered his hand with hers. Even though he was pale and still, his strength was evident. She wanted to trace his square jaw and full lips. He had cheekbones a lot of women paid good money for. She allowed a faint smile to cross her lips. He had a good reputation in the bronc-busting world, and she had to admit every time he turned those smiling blue eyes in her direction, her knees went a little weak. She pushed a dark curl from his forehead and sighed when he didn’t stir.

      The nurse had explained Seth was on some powerful painkillers. “He’ll be a bit loopy, dear,” she’d said and checked his vitals one more time.

      Tonya had nodded as she tried to decide what to do. She’d thought about slipping out of the hospital and disappearing, but where would she go? Home wasn’t an option. Hank knew where she lived. He’d threatened her family once four years ago and she wouldn’t give him the opportunity to do it again. She shuddered. It hadn’t been proved, but she knew he’d been the one to run her youngest brother, Jacob, off the road and fire shots at his car. Jacob hadn’t been hit, but Hank’s point had been well made. No, she couldn’t go home. She crossed her arms and moved to the small window once again.

      Hank hadn’t shown up at the hospital yet—as far as she knew—but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t. There were several possible hospitals in the city, but Vanderbilt was the best. He’d come here first. But surely he wouldn’t get past security. Right? He might come in the same entrance as she and Seth, but that was as far as he would be able to get.

      Unless he faked an illness or injury.

      But he’d have to wait in the waiting room. They wouldn’t bring him back immediately. She closed her eyes and dragged in a deep breath. She had to calm down. Stop her spinning thoughts.

      “Tonya?”

      She turned to find Seth watching her. “Hey. You’re awake.”

      “You’re still here.”

      She blinked. “I’m sorry... I can leave.” But being in his room felt relatively safe. More safe than the outside world right now. And she realized she wasn’t ready to leave, to give up the small measure of security she’d unexpectedly found in the hospital room.

      “Leave? No, that’s not what I meant. I’m just surprised you stayed.”

      “You asked me to.”

      “Oh. I did?”

      She laughed. “Yes.” Her laughter faded as quickly as it had bubbled up. She checked the window one more time.

      “You should do that more often,” he said gruffly.

      “What?”

      “Laugh.”

      Was he flirting? He’d just fallen off a bull and was laid up in the hospital—and he was flirting? She studied him with a small, uncertain smile. No. He was serious. She was almost disappointed.

      She shook her head and, for the first time since entering the hospital, considered how she must look.

      Clown paint on her face. Her hair tied up in a loose ponytail underneath the wig she still had on. Her cowboy hat dangled down her back. She had on a shirt that would rival one of Hawaii’s brightest tucked into jeans that were covered with pink chaps. Cowboy boots finished the ensemble.

      And the hospital staff hadn’t blinked.

      She started to respond to Seth, then saw his eyes were closed again and his chest rose and fell in a steady pattern. She sighed, pulled the bright red wig from her hair and dropped it on the chair. She went to the sink and grabbed several paper towels from the bin on the wall. She soaked them, added soap and did her best to get rid of the makeup.

      When the door opened ten minutes later, Tonya felt halfway human again. The doctor entered. Tonya touched Seth’s hand and gave him a gentle shake. “Seth?”

      He stirred and opened his eyes. The doctor approached and Tonya moved toward the door. “I’ll just wait outside.”

      “No,” he murmured. “Stay. I might not remember a word he says.”

      Tonya caught the doctor’s eye and he nodded. “All right.”

      She shut the door with one more glimpse out the window. She caught her breath and stared harder.

      Was that Hank?

      “Tonya?” She jerked and spun to find Seth’s eyelids fluttering, his struggle against the desire to close them looking like a losing battle. “You okay?”

      “Um...yes. I’m sorry. Someone caught my attention. I thought I might know him.” She snapped her lips closed to quit jabbering.

      The doctor held out a hand. “Dr. Jackson Mobley.”

      “Hi.” Tonya shook his hand, her mind on the man she’d seen walk past the door. At Seth’s curious look, she cleared her throat and tried to pay attention.

      Dr. Mobley shook Seth’s hand, then pushed the X-ray slides onto the machine and flipped the switch. Seth’s leg popped up in black and white. The orthopedist pointed to an area with his pen. “Here’s the former break. Nicely healed. The good news is that you didn’t reinjure that. Nothing broken, just a bad bruise. I think you should pick back up on the physical therapy just to play it safe and you should be fine.”

      Seth leaned back, the relief on his face evident. “So I can ride tomorrow.”

      The doctor lifted his brow. “I don’t recommend it. The muscles, tendons and ligaments are all bruised. You’re very fortunate—I really expected to see you heading into surgery for something a lot more serious than this.”

      Seth sighed and rubbed a hand down his face. “I need to finish this rodeo. I had a good ride right before I fell off earlier. I’m in the running for the finals in December.”

      Dr. Mobley shrugged and gave a small smile. “I understand. I’ve followed your career and am a fan. I’d love to see you go to the National Finals Rodeo. We missed you last year after that bad break.”

      “But?” Seth nearly growled the word.

      “But like I said, you can stay off of your leg for a couple of weeks and let it heal...or you can risk further injury.”

      Tonya eased toward the door one more time and glanced out. The workstation for the doctors and nurses was directly opposite. Everyone seemed busy. She glanced left, then right. No sign of Hank.

      Wait. Was that him? She looked closer. The man talking to the nurse turned and she sucked in a deep breath. No doubt about it—that was definitely him. The shaggy hair and goatee couldn’t hide his chillingly familiar features.

      The doctor tapped her on the shoulder and she jumped with a high-pitched squeak. The man raised a brow and settled his hands on her upper arms. “Are you okay?”

      Tonya

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