The Emerald Horseshoes

by Jane Josephs

  Ginny stopped to talk with Nick. “I’ll just go up and see what her room number is. See if there’s anything else I can do. Are you coming?”

  “No, I’ll just be in the way. I’ll wait down here,” Nick said. “In the main lobby.”

  Ginny patted his arm. “I’m sorry, honey. We’ll come back tomorrow. She’ll be fine tonight now that her folks are here.” With a final glance, she followed Susan, Alan and Alison through the double doors to the elevator. But her heart was heavy with worry for Nick. Alison hadn’t so much as glanced his way when she was wheeled out of the room.

  ~ ~ ~

  Alison moaned silently, feelings of helplessness washing over her. How long was she going to be laid up like this? How could she possibly take care of herself? Her mind whirled with uncertainty and fear. She glanced at her mother talking with Ginny. No help there. Where was her dad? Not that she’d ask him to help her get to the bathroom. But she had to go. Soon. She cleared her throat. “Excuse me, I have to go to the bathroom, so I need all of you to clear out while I get someone to come help me. And if you see Daddy, tell him to stay away for a little while, too.” She found the call button, pushed it and leaned back against the pillow, her eyes closed tight. Tears threatened. The pain meds had helped her headache drop to a five on the pain chart, but the ache in her shoulder was a six or seven. She glanced at her swollen ankle and shook her head. How long before she could walk again?

  Ginny came to one side of the bed and her mother crossed to the other. “I’m sure someone will be here to help you in a minute,” her mother said, patting Alison’s hand. “But we need to talk about where you’re going to go from here to recuperate, and who’s going to help you. Don’t you think?”

  “Since you’re abandoning me tomorrow, you mean?” Alison choked out.

  “Honey, no, I’ll cancel the trip. I told you I would. You’re my first concern.”

  Alison dropped her head in her hand. “No, no, I shouldn’t have said that. I want you to go. You’ve had this planned for months.” Where is that nurse? “I’ll be fine on my own.”

  “Israel isn’t going anywhere. Your dad and I can always go the next time the church offers a trip. We need . . .”

  Alison started, interrupting her mother’s announcement. “Dad’s going, too? With you?”

  “Yes, yes, he is, although, well, we’ve got separate rooms. We’re still divorced. That hasn’t changed.” She looked away, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. “But I might as well tell you, we’ve been going for counseling for a while now. We’re trying to change some of the old destructive ways of dealing with each other.” She shrugged, a self-conscious grin lighting her face. “Your dad’s even come to church with me a couple of times.”

  Alison’s jaw dropped. She darted a look at Ginny before returning to stare at her mother, her heart pounding. “Dad told me a while back that he’s still in love with you. I thought, well, I guess I just thought he was reminiscing or something.”

  The nurse walked into the room. She glanced at the two women on either side of Alison’s bed. “How can I help you?” she asked Alison.

  “We’ll just be out in the hall,” Ginny said, turning to go to the door with Susan.

  Alison sucked in a deep breath, determined to take care of business. “I need to use the bathroom.”

  “How are you feeling? Any dizziness?” the nurse asked.

  “A little.”

  “Well, how do you feel about using a bed pan?” The nurse stepped closer. “I really don’t want to risk you falling.”

  “No!” Alison swallowed hard. “There’s got to be another way. Maybe someone could carry me in there.” She pointed to the bathroom, a picture of Nick flashing through her mind. A hysterical giggle threatened. Another idea popped in her head. “Or, how about a wheelchair? I’m sure I could get in and out of it okay. With a little help.” Her shoulders sagged. “Please. I really have to go.”

  “A wheelchair’s not a good idea, but I can bring a commode chair to sit beside your bed.”

  Alison blushed, embarrassed. What choice did she have, really? “Okay. But you’ll empty it right away, right?”

  “First I want to make sure you’re not going to fall. Then we’ll deal with the other.” She left the room.

  Alison blew out a shaky breath, threw back the sheet, and draped her legs over the side of the bed. Grabbing the bedrail, she eased her feet onto the floor, careful not to put any weight on her injured foot. “Hurry up, nurse,” she murmured under her breath. “Next time, I’ll be sure to call fifteen minutes before I need to go.”

  ~ ~ ~

  In the hallway outside Alison’s room, Alan Dockerty put away his phone. His gut twisted at the thought of his daughter’s injuries and what they would mean in terms of time, money, and psychological damage. Money wasn’t an issue; Alison was wealthy in her own right, and he had always made sure she lacked for nothing that money could buy. But the time it would take Alison to recover was significant: physical therapy for her shoulder after surgery, and six weeks without bearing any weight on her ankle, the doctor had estimated. And then there was the trauma of being thrown from a horse. Alan grimaced. Nick Reid had a lot to answer for, putting his daughter on a horse that bucked.

  “What’s the matter?” Alan asked, crossing the hall to his wife and Ginny Reid.

  Susan patted his arm. “Alison just needed some privacy, so she could go to the bathroom. We need a chance to talk anyway. If we’re still going to Israel with the group tomorrow night, we have to get some plans in place. There’s no way Alison can stay on her own.”

  “We can hire someone to stay . . .”

  Ginny interrupted. “Susan, Alan, I just want you to know that I’ve asked Alison to consider staying in our home while she recovers. I have a walk-in shower in my bathroom and she can use my bedroom if she wants. The house is a ranch style so there are no steps for her to deal with, and I’m able to be with her 24/7. Her dog Rufus is already out at our place; he’s more than welcome to stay with us, too.”

  Susan’s jaw dropped. “Alison has a dog? When did this happen? I had no idea!”

  “Don’t look at me,” Alan said. “I don’t know anything about a dog.” He leaned in and nodded at Ginny. “But yes, we would be very grateful if you kept the dog. I’m not sure about Alison staying with you, though. One accident’s enough.”

  “Alan! That’s uncalled for,” Susan sputtered.

  Ginny placed her hand on Susan’s arm, but she met Alan’s stare with one of her own. “It’s fine. I understand that you blame us for the accident. But I assure you, we take the safety of everyone who rides one of our horses very seriously. And we deeply regret that Alison got hurt. Even though I’ve only known your daughter for a short time, she’s very dear to me. And to my son.”

  Alan sucked in a deep breath, his mind in overdrive. He didn’t want to cancel their trip, not because he couldn’t afford to lose the money. But because he needed to go. Needed a chance to reconnect with his wife. His former wife, he corrected himself. At their counselor’s suggestion, Susan had booked a trip they could take together. He’d been surprised when she chose Israel. But she knew and liked the people they’d be going with, she’d told him. Even if Alan didn’t—yet. The trip, he hoped, was going to be a new beginning for them. Alan didn’t want to give up the possibility.

  But his daughter came first.

  Susan touched his arm again, her eyes pleading, “I think it’s a good solution, Al, if Alison’s is okay with it. Ginny’s not going to let our daughter get anywhere near the horses, are you, Ginny?”

  “Sorry, I can’t force her to stay away from the barn or the horses. But I will strongly suggest that she stays away from riding until she’s completely healed.” She smiled. “I have to be honest here. Nick told me that he and Alison had an argument right before the acc
ident. So, I’m not sure she’ll want to stay with us. But I’m praying she will. I think she’s in love with Nick. And I know he loves her.”

  “Oh!” Susan’s hand shot to her mouth. “Oh, my. More new information about our daughter.” Her eyes teared and she leaned into Alan. His arm came around her shoulder and he hugged her against his side.

  Alan nodded at Ginny. “It seems like you know a lot more about our daughter than we do. And Nick’s okay with her staying with you?”

  “Yes, it was his idea, in fact.”

  Susan nodded. “So, okay, there’s nothing to do until we know what she thinks about the idea.”

  Ginny held up both hands when they moved toward the door to Alison’s room. “I think it’s best if you handle this alone. If that’s alright with you. Can you give me your mobile number and I’ll check with you later?” Alan fished in his wallet for a business card and handed it to Ginny. She took it and smiled. “If she agrees, we can make a quick trip a little later or tomorrow while she’s in surgery to her condo to get some of her things.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Alison leaned back against her pillow and closed her eyes, relieved to finally be alone. She loved her parents, but sometimes they could be overbearing. Especially when it came to her health. Why were they being so insistent that she stay with Ginny? Tears gathered in her eyes. Nick’s words at the campfire replayed over and over in her head. You’re not welcome at the ranch anymore. How could she tell her parents that Ginny might want her to stay with them, but Nick wouldn’t? He had made his feelings about her very clear.

  Alison hung her head and breathed out a shaky sigh. She had reciprocated by rejecting Nick when he tried to stay with her in the ER. By telling him to leave her alone and get out of her sight. Alison’s jaw quivered, and tears spilled down her cheeks. A sob burst out of her. Why had she let her pride get in the way?

  A noise in the hallway startled her. She hastily pulled herself together, swiped at her wet cheeks and sniffed several times. A woman in pink scrubs walked into the room with a tray of food. “Your dinner’s here. I hope you’re hungry.” She glanced at Alison as she put the tray on the side table and rolled it into place.

  “Thank you,” Alison murmured. As soon as the woman went out of the room, she pushed the table away, not the least bit hungry. She flipped through the magazine her mother had brought her from the gift shop, not really seeing anything. Finally, finding the button, she lowered the bed, leaned back and closed her eyes. At least the pain meds were finally working on the ache in her shoulder and head. Maybe if she could sleep, she could blot out the pain that no meds could relieve.

  ~ ~ ~

  Her door stood open. Nick knocked softly, hoping Alison would let him come in. His heart lodged in his throat when there was no answer. Had she gone for more tests? Been moved to another room? He stepped silently into the room, relieved to see Alison in bed, her eyes closed, her head tilted to one side. Was she asleep?

  He couldn’t take his eyes off her, as if by staring at her he could take back the words he’d spoken in anger and erase the pain he’d caused her. Her hair cascaded in waves around her face, and onto her shoulders. Nick’s hand burned, he wanted so badly to touch it, to touch her, to tell her how sorry he was. Instead, he stepped back.

  Her dinner tray sat on the rolling table, untouched from the look of it. Nick sat the budvase of roses he had bought for her next to the tray and took a step back to sit down and wait.

  Alison’s eyes opened.

  For several long seconds she said nothing, just stared at him. Nick stood silent, content to wait. He was here to apologize, if she’d let him. And to convince her that she needed to stay with them at the ranch while she got well. But he also hoped that in time they could be friends, if the ache in his heart didn’t kill him first.

  “Nick.”

  Hearing her say his name nearly undid him. He stepped to the side of the bed, close enough to touch her, if only he dared.

  “Why are you here?”

  Her husky whisper sent his nerves jumping. A flashback of the day she had chased him at the archery range raced through his head. He had captured her hands and issued an invitation to go to church with him that day. Would she accept a second invitation? This one to stay with them? Or, would she demand that he get out of her life?

  “I don’t blame you for not wanting to stay with us . . .” He swallowed hard. “ . . . me. While you get back on your feet. But I promise to keep out of your way. If that’s what you want. It would mean a lot to my family . . . to care for you.” He looked down, then back at her, and finally smiled. “Rufus misses you.”

  Alison’s lips twitched, answering his smile with a tiny one of her own. She shifted her gaze to the budvase on her rolling table. A soft gleam filled her eyes. “Did you bring the roses?”

  “Yes.” Nick shoved his hands in his pockets, heat surging to his face. The last time he’d brought her flowers, the bouquet barely fit through her door.

  “You know, pink is my favorite color,” she said, reaching out to caress a flower petal gently. She shifted her attention back to him. “Okay, Nick, I’ll stay with your family.” Her chin came up. “And I’ll hold you to your word to keep out of my way.”

  Nick’s gut twisted tight. “If that’s what you want.” He stepped back. “I’d best be going. I’ll tell Ma.” He turned to go.

  “Wait,” Alison said. “Will you do me a favor?”

  “Anything.”

  “I have Emma’s phone in my purse. Would you take it back to her? Please.”

  Nick looked down a second before meeting Alison’s eyes. “I already have it.”

  Alison bristled, the softness in her expression a moment ago replaced with uncertainty. “You went through my purse?”

  “No! I didn’t go through your purse. Your phone rang while we were waiting to see what the doctor would do, and I opened your purse to get it. I saw it was your mother calling, so I answered and explained about your accident. Emma’s phone was there, too, and I figured you’d want her to have it back.”

  Alison shook her head, her voice barely a whisper. “Liar! You took it because you want to talk Emma out of having an abortion, don’t you? Whether that’s what’s best for her or not.” Sucking in a shaky breath, she turned away. “We’re done here, Nick.”

  Chapter 23

  Nick locked his truck and walked briskly toward Emma’s apartment building, his thoughts still on Alison. We’re done here, Nick. Did she hate him now? She had been right about why he’d taken Emma’s phone out of her purse. He wanted to hear for himself that Emma wanted an abortion. But mostly he wanted a chance to save the baby she was carrying, if he could. Maybe then he could finally move on. Forgive Carrie once and for all.

  He stuffed his hands in his front pants pockets, finding the emerald horseshoe necklace. His breath caught. Had it only been this morning that he planned to lay his heart open to Alison? To tell her he loved her? Nick sucked in a deep breath and checked out the street, forcing aside his feelings to concentrate on the mission at hand. A group of people loitered in front of Emma’s building. He clenched his teeth, determined to have his say in the matter. Then he was going to butt out of Alison’s life, just as she wanted. Let Ma deal with helping her.

  Right. Sure. What’s wrong with you? He couldn’t get a picture of Alison laying in her hospital bed out of his head. She had called him a liar. But not in jest this time.

  Another, gentler voice whispered an admonishment. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

  “Nick!” Emma ran toward him. “Is Alison with you? She took my phone and...” Emma stopped a few feet from him, her eyes opening wide. “What’s wrong? Why are you here?”

  Before Nick could answer, a young man in a shabby hooded sweatshirt came alongside Emma. Nick glanced at
him, recognition dawning. The guy could only be Travis, the kid responsible for getting Emma pregnant. “Alison’s in the hospital. Mae bucked for some reason this morning, and she got thrown.”

  Emma’s hands came up and covered her mouth, her breathing ragged with shock. “No. Oh, no.”

  “She’s going to be okay. I’ll take you to see her, but first we have some things to talk about. Alison told me your news this morning.” Nick nodded at Travis. “Does he know?”

  Emma’s head bobbed, and she shot a glance at Travis. “I told him a couple of hours ago.”

  Travis glared at Nick. He put his arm around Emma in a protective gesture. “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

  Nick took a deep breath, tamping down his temper. “Yeah, right.” He turned back to Emma. “How far along do you think you are?”

  Emma sniffed, her chin quivering. “Well, we, I mean I . . . well, I think a couple of weeks, maybe three or four at the most?”

  “But you don’t know. Not for sure.” He pierced her with cold eyes. “So, here are a couple of things you should know. The day that baby was conceived, life began. All the chromosomes are already present. At twenty-two days your baby’s heart begins to beat. Around the same time, his or her nervous system is forming. Organs like the liver, kidneys, and intestines begin to take shape.” Nick leaned in. “You want to tell me, with that much going on inside you, that you still want to have an abortion?”

  Tears filled Emma’s eyes and spilled down her cheeks. Nick glanced at Travis, somewhat appeased to see him looking as if wanted to strangle Nick.

  Good. At least he cares about her. He stared at Emma, waiting for her answer.