Authors: Stacey Coverstone
“Bring the stretcher over here,” a voice demanded. “Miss Mackenzie, can you feel this?” The man prodded both her legs with something sharp. She yelped. “That’s good,” he said. “I’m going to attempt to remove your boots now.” She felt a tug at each foot and the boots slipped off. Her stocking-feet were wet and very cold. “Can you feel this?” This time, the sharp instrument slid up the soles of her feet. Surprisingly, she could feel it and it tickled. Instinctively, she kicked. Someone chuckled. “That’s great. I don’t suspect a back injury,” the paramedic said. “Probably just bruised from the fall, but this one foot is swollen and black and blue. Could be broken. Miss Mackenzie, we’re going to put a neck brace on you as a precaution.”
She nodded and reached out for Wyatt. When he took her hand, she felt a squeeze. Two paramedics lifted her shoulders while another person on his knees behind her held her neck still.
“Don’t move,” the person said. “We’ll be as gentle as possible.” When the brace was in place, Jordan gave them a thumbs-up signal.
“We’re ready for the stretcher now. Miss Mackenzie, on the count of three, we’re going to put our hands under your body and lift you onto the stretcher. Do you understand?” She nodded. “All right. Here we go. One. Two. Three. Lift.”
Jordan felt several pairs of hands move under her back and legs. Pain ricocheted through her limbs as they placed her onto the stretcher. It hurt, but she resisted moaning or complaining.
One of the medics said, “Now we’re going to strap you down to the stretcher so we don’t jostle you too much getting out of this arroyo.”
Everything came back to her in a rush; searching for Houdini, falling into the arroyo, and feeling the goat lay on top of her. The animal had probably saved her life. Although it stung, she forced words between her swollen lips. “Brannigan?” she whispered.
“I’m here,” he replied, kneeling at her side. He touched her arm.
“Where’s Houdini?” Tears pricked her eyes. “Is…he…going to…make it?”
Wyatt inhaled deeply and bit his lower lip as if he was seething, but his tone remained composed. “I’ve taken care of him. Don’t worry about that rascal. He’s as tough as boot leather. Let’s get you taken care of and then we’ll talk about that critter.” He patted her hand assuredly.
Getting her out of the arroyo proved to be tricky, but the team worked well together and she was taken to the top without too much jiggling and bumping. She sighed when she felt warm rays of sun heat her skin.
“How long…was I…down there?” she whispered.
“I’m not sure,” Wyatt answered. “Try not to talk. Conserve your energy.” As the stretcher was slid into the ambulance, he climbed aboard.
“Are you a relative?” one of the paramedics asked.
“No, but I’m riding with her.” Perhaps it was his tone and the look in his eyes that challenged the medics to contradict him, because no one objected. He settled beside Jordan and placed his hand over hers. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to drift asleep, secure in the knowledge that she’d always be safe as long as he was in her life.
Chapter Nineteen
The young nurse finished taking Jordan’s blood pressure for the umpteenth time. Jordan narrowed her eyes playfully. “I know you’re just doing your job, Miss Massey, but you’re starting to get on my nerves.”
The brunette grinned. “No complaining allowed, Miss Mackenzie. And please, my name’s Rachel.”
“Okay. You can call me Jordan. Do you have any idea when the doctor is going to release me?”
Rachel removed the blood pressure cuff and scratched the reading into Jordan’s chart. “What? You don’t want to hang around a little longer? You only got here yesterday and you spent most of the day sleeping.”
“It’s nothing personal. I don’t like hospitals.”
“That’s what I hear all the time, but a person doesn’t bounce back from exposure in a day.”
Jordan readjusted her hospital gown. “I’m feeling great. Honestly, I don’t have time to lie around in a bed. I have animals to take care of and a house that’s being renovated. And I have to check on my goat and find my stolen horse.”
“I know. I’m familiar with your story. Everyone in town has heard what happened. But you need your rest. The doctor will probably release you tomorrow or the next day, depending on how you behave.” Rachel opened a tube of ointment and carefully applied cream to Jordan’s face and a different type of ointment to her lips. “You’re a very lucky woman, you know. You must be very strong to have survived in the arroyo during that thunderstorm. It was a bad one. How’s your back feeling today?”
Jordan moved and winced. “Sore.”
“You took a hard fall. Most of your body is bruised.”
“But my foot’s not broken,” Jordan said.
“The doctor said that was the biggest surprise of all. You have only a hairline fracture. Amazing.”
“What can I say?” Jordan shrugged. “I must have an angel sitting on my shoulder.”
“You must. Do you still feel tired?”
She shook her head. “Nope. I could run a race, if the doctor would release me.”
Rachel chuckled. “I don’t think that’s a good idea yet. When you go home, you’re still going to have to take it easy for a while.” She placed her hand behind Jordan’s head and fluffed her pillow. “What has Mr. Brannigan done to find your horse?”
“Nothing, so far. I know who took her. I saw the men. But he can’t just go barging onto the guy’s property and accuse him of stealing my horse, or so he tells me.” Jordan rolled her eyes. “He tried something like that once already and it didn’t turn out so good.”
Rachel filled Jordan’s drinking glass with fresh water and placed it on the swinging table beside the bed. “What about your goat. Houdini, is it?”
“Yep. He’s still at the vet’s, but Brannigan tells me he’s come through the worst of it. He’s a little fighter, just like me, I guess. I can’t wait to see him.”
What she hadn’t known at the arroyo was that Wyatt hadn’t been lying. Houdini had been taken care of, though no one had known if he’d survive. She’d later learn that it just so happened Wyatt knew one of the paramedics who had arrived on the scene—Bill Smith. Bill’s younger brother, Ted, had been visiting at the fire station when the emergency call came in and he’d decided to tag along. So while Bill and his team worked on Jordan, Ted transported Houdini out of the arroyo and into Wyatt’s truck. He’d then volunteered to drive the sick goat to the vet, with Wyatt immediately accepting the offer and tossing him his truck keys. The boy had promised to drop the truck off at the hospital later.
“Houdini saved my life, you know,” Jordan stated proudly.
“The whole county knows. It’s been all over the news. Maybe the town officials will give him a medal,” Rachel joked. Sinking into the visitor’s chair, she kicked off a shoe and rubbed her foot. “Do you mind if I sit a minute? My dogs are killing me.”
“Be my guest.” Jordan enjoyed talking to the nurse. She was genuinely friendly and kept her from going stir crazy with boredom. All she could think about was getting back to her ranch. She was never one to sit still for long.
“I know how you feel about your animals,” Rachel said, wiggling her toes. “I have horses, too.”
That captured Jordan’s attention. “You do? What kind have you got?”
“My dad owns mostly quarter horses. I’m a barrel racer. Have been since I was a little girl. I’m going to compete in the rodeo this weekend.”
“Wow! Now that’s brave. How long have you been competing?”
“I ran my first race when I was four years old, right here at the Otero County fair.”
Jordan nodded her head, impressed. “I’ve got to come watch you this weekend.”
“I hope you will. You strike me as the kind of woman no one can keep down. I imagine you’ll be hobbling on that foot well enough to get to the rodeo, especially if Mr. Brannigan helps you.” She gave Jordan a knowing wink.
Jordan grinned. “My hero. It’s a miracle the way he found me.”
“From what I heard, he was a man on a mission. When they brought you in, I was on duty, and I swear all the blood had drained from his face. He was so worried about you.”
“Hmmm. How does someone pay back a man who has saved her life?”
Rachel stuffed her foot back into her shoe, stood up and gave Jordan a sly smile. “I’m sure you’ll think of something. A man in love is easy to please.”
Jordan’s eyes enlarged. “In love? What makes you say that?”
“Shoot! A blind man could see Mr. Brannigan is crazy about you.”
Jordan grinned and snuggled into her pillow. Brannigan was in love with her?
A knock sounded on the door. Both women turned to see Cole standing in the doorframe holding a vase of flowers and a bouquet of colorful balloons.
“Cole! Come in,” Jordan cried. He entered and set the flowers on the bedside table. She noticed Rachel’s eyes light up.
“Let me tie those balloons over here,” Rachel offered, taking them out of Cole’s hand.
“Cole, this is Rachel Massey, my nurse. Rachel, this is Cole Roberts, my friend and the contractor fixing up my house.” The two of them shook hands.
Cole eyed Rachel with intrigue. “Are you related to Don Massey out on La Luz Road, by any chance?”
“Yes. He’s my dad.”
He scratched his head. “No way. You’re little Rachel Massey?”
“Well, I’m not so little anymore. I wondered if you’d remember me.”
It looked to Jordan like Rachel’s cheeks were turning ten shades of pink.
“I sure do. Your dad gave me my first real job. I worked on your horse farm when I was sixteen years old. Do you remember?”
“Yes,” she smiled. “I was eleven and had the biggest crush on you.”
“You’re kidding!” Cole flashed that hundred-watt grin.
“I’m not. My best friend and I used to hide in the hayloft and watch you pitch hay and muck the stalls. She had a crush on you, too. We were always spying on you. I guess you never caught us.”
Cole thought back. “I do recall catching you a couple of times. I’d feel eyes on me and turn around, and there you two would be, giggling and running away.”
Rachel laughed at the old memory. “We were silly kids.”
“Yep. You were little girls having fun. You’re all grown up now, aren’t you? Quite nicely, I might add.”
Jordan’s gaze ping-ponged between them. She smiled and cleared her throat loudly. “I hate to break up old home week, but Cole, you did come to visit
me
, didn’t you?” she teased.
“Yes, ma’am, I did.” He leaned over and gave her a peck on the head, the one spot that wasn’t sore.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” Rachel said. “I’ve got more rounds to make.”
“It was nice to see you after all these years,” Cole said.
“Same here. Maybe I’ll see you again sometime.”
“Sure. Why don’t we have lunch one day and catch up?”
“That would be great.” She smiled and left the room.
Jordan noticed Cole’s gaze subtly follow the sway of the woman’s hips as she went. She arched an eyebrow at him and motioned for him to sit. He scooted a chair up to her bed. “It’s good to see you,” she said. “Thanks for coming.”
“How are you feeling? Be honest.”
“Sore, but I’m ready to bust out of this joint.”
“Don’t push it, Jordan. You’ve been through quite an ordeal.”
“I know. That’s what everyone keeps telling me.”
“You should listen to them.”
“I’m trying, but sometimes I can be stubborn.”
Cole laughed. “Really?” He grew quiet and his gaze dropped to his lap.
She sensed there was something bothered him. “What’s wrong? I can tell you have something on your mind.”
He shook his head. “You wouldn’t be in the hospital right now if I’d followed my hunch the other day.”
“What are you talking about?”
“When I left your house Saturday afternoon, I saw Joe Campbell and Cimarron Cruz on your road. I didn’t think anything about it at the time. They weren’t near the Lucky Seven when I saw them, but thinking back, I believe they were staking out your place, waiting for you to come home.”
She sighed, remembering how frightened she’d been when Cruz had chased after her in the rain. She didn’t know what would have happened if the two men had captured her. “Do you know they stole Buttercup?”
“Yes. I feel real bad about that. I should have called the sheriff’s office, or at least warned you somehow that they were lurking around.”
She waved him off. “Forget it, Cole. It’s not your responsibility to keep an eye on me. I’m a big girl. We each have our own lives to live.”
“I know, but friends watch out for each other. I knew those two have been hassling you. They ran you off the road and could have killed you. We all should have kept a closer eye on them.”
She had no intention of letting him accept the blame for anything. “Do you know they shot at Brannigan and me when we were at Bent? There was no sick horse. It was a trick.”
Cole nodded. “I heard.”
“When I get out of here,” she vowed, “I’m going to see that Addison Stillwell, Joe Campbell and Cimarron Cruz pay for what they’ve done.”
“I’ll help however I can to see that happens.”
“Thanks.” She patted his arm. “Can we please change the subject now? I don’t want to waste another breath talking about them. Have Tony and Bobby started on my courtyard wall?”
Cole chuckled. “You’re sitting in the hospital sore and bruised and chapped, and you’re thinking about your courtyard wall?”
“Of course! I’m very excited. Tell me.”
“They’ve started. I have some more good news, if you’re up for it. Your appliances from Lowe’s were delivered this morning. They’re installed and they look beautiful.”
Jordan clapped her hands like a child.
“Wyatt locked the house after you were brought here,” Cole continued. “Of course, you’d already given me a key, so I didn’t think you’d mind if we continued with the planned work.”
“I was hoping you would.”
Cole covered her hand with his and switched subjects again. “I’m sure glad Wyatt is a psychic.”
“What do you mean?”
“Didn’t he tell you? He had a premonition. He went searching for you because he felt something was wrong. He sensed it in his gut.”