by Debra Holt
The road grader was cumbersome, and the snow drifts made it slow going. What normally would take only ten minutes to travel to the main highway took them almost thirty. Josie thought she would lose her mind, even though she knew Tom and the hands were doing their best to get her to the hospital. She and Tom transferred to the snowcat with the deputy behind the wheel. Only then did Josie ask the questions swarming in her mind. Tom did his best to answer. Josie sensed he was giving her the abbreviated version on a lot of it.
“What happened when you reached the bridge?”
“Chance was afraid the car would slide on over the edge in the high wind. The others were trying to get to the spot, but they had to clear the roads as they went. So we set about trying to get some rope and lines on its bumpers and around the back. Chance had us tie a rope around him, and he made it to the back door of the car and busted out the window.
“He managed to get the two kids out and pass them along to us. The woman was fairly hysterical, and it took a bit to get her calm enough to leave the car. Just as she cleared the window, the car slipped a bit, and she panicked and jumped, knocking Chance off balance. He managed to spin around and push her toward us before he slipped and went over the side of the bridge. The rope kept him from falling to the creek. We figure his head hit the bumper of the car and he got knocked out. It took a bit to get to him and haul him up. Luckily, the rope held tight. The rest of the men arrived and managed to get the father out of the car and get him moving to the hospital.”
Josie squeezed her eyes shut, her mind playing the scene out in vivid color. She felt as if she would be physically sick at any moment. Damn Chance for having to be the hero…the guy who rescues others. She felt anger at him and at the people who got themselves into such a mess and had to have others risk their lives to save them. She wasn’t able to be very charitable in the moment.
“You said he was knocked out. How bad is it?”
“The paramedics couldn’t say, but they looked really concerned. They wasted no time getting him in the ambulance and hitting the highway as fast as they safely could.”
Josie had no idea what waited for her at the hospital. It seemed to take days to get there when it was a little more than an hour. As soon as the vehicle came to a stop under the covered arrival area, she was out and running toward the doors of the emergency room. It was a sick feeling of déjà vu all over again…first her dad, then her mom, and now…Chance. Tom tried to keep up. News had traveled fast, and there were more than a few concerned faces waiting for her arrival. She had no time for any of them. Her eyes sought out Dr. Winters. He seemed to sense her arrival and came through the double doors just as she approached.
“I don’t need another patient on my hands right now. Take a deep breath, Josie.” His hand covered hers, and his fingers felt her pulse. “You’re whiter than a sheet right now.”
“I’m fine,” she said, only the word fine came out with a tremble in it. “Where’s Chance?”
“Sit down over here,” he said, leading her to a chair and waiting while she obeyed him.
Josie wanted to scream the question again, but she also knew that the sooner she followed his orders, the sooner he would answer her questions. She bit her bottom lip to keep control.
“We’ve got his body temp warming up nicely now. He has a nasty lump on his forehead; however, the scans are clear. We’ll be monitoring him during the night and see where we are in the morning. The best thing for him right now is to be quiet and let his body rest.”
“When can I see him?” Josie knew she wouldn’t be able to begin to have any peace of mind until she could actually see him for herself and touch him.
“There really isn’t anything for you to do here this evening…” he began but didn’t get very far.
“With the weather like it is, it wouldn’t make sense for me to leave not knowing if I could return in the morning or not. Besides,” she pointed out, “I’m not going without making certain he’s okay. I won’t be sleeping much until I can be assured of that, so I’ll stay here.”
The doctor gave her an understanding smile. “You’re a determined young lady, Josie. I’ll have the nurse take you to his room, and we’ll see about a cot for you.”
“How’s the family doing that was stranded?” she asked before he walked away.
“Some bumps and bruises and a scare they aren’t likely to forget for a long time to come. The dad had an epileptic seizure and lost control of the car and it went into a skid on the bridge. One thing is for certain; they aren’t likely to forget the man who saved their lives.”
Josie didn’t trust her voice not to break in reply, so she simply nodded her head and smiled her thanks. She did manage to clear the knot in her throat after a few moments, at least enough to speak with Tom.
“I can stay here, Josie. The boys can handle things at the ranch.”
“No, you need to get home and get some rest, so that Mary can rest also. I’m sure she’s worried about her husband, also. There isn’t anything to be done here tonight. At first light, if the storm has died out, you and the boys will be busy checking fence lines and the pumps and troughs. There will need to be a crew out looking for stock in trouble. I’ll be in touch when I know something definitive.”
She accepted the well wishes and hugs of concern from the others who had waited for word on Chance. Josie was anxious to see Chance, so she didn’t linger. The nurse led the way first down one corridor and then another. She pushed open a door in the middle of the third hallway and stepped aside for Josie to enter.
“I’ll check on the cot for you and be back shortly,” she spoke in lowered tones before leaving Josie alone.
Josie nodded her head, her eyes glued to the form lying so quietly under a white blanket pulled up to just beneath his chin. Chance’s face, which had a swath of bandage over the left side of his forehead, was pale as the pillowcase under his head. Josie stepped forward and stopped beside the bed, her eyes drinking in every feature of the man before her. There were monitors and wires familiar to her from her mother’s stay not that long ago. She did her best to ignore them.
She sank onto the stool beside the bed, and her hand reached under the warming blanket, finding Chance’s right hand. It felt cool to the touch but so very good. Something inside of her relaxed for a moment. The physical connection with him worked like a balm on her frayed nerves. Her eyes fell to his chest and watched the slow rise and fall of it.
All of a sudden, the tears began to fall. Josie tried to smother the sobs that threatened to break from her throat. It was as if the dam that had been threatening to crack all day finally burst. She laid her head on the side of the bed and tried to stifle the sniffles. She felt the tense muscles of her body begin to loosen after the hours of being stretched taut with worry. In the silence, holding on to Chance’s hand, she had another conversation with God.
Josie only stirred from the position when the orderly came in with the “cot” which turned out to be a “sleeping chair” for her. He added two blankets and a pillow to it and pushed it into the corner. Josie thanked him as he left. She eyed the chair and knew she wouldn’t be sleeping in it. She was content to stay where she was…in a stool as close as possible to Chance.
The only interruptions in the quiet of the room came when a nurse would pop in to take vitals, adjust a wire or a tube, and record notes on the laptop on the small shelf next to the bed. When the door opened just before midnight, Josie recognized the woman who stepped into the room.
“Hi there, Josie. I’m so sorry that Chance got hurt today. Everyone in town is talking about it and so many have called the desk to check on him. You have to be very proud of your husband and what he did.” Dee McNamara had been a grade ahead of her in school and was always friendly and had a warm smile for everyone. Josie wasn’t a bit surprised when she heard she had become a nurse.
“Yes, that’s Chance. Always going to someone’s aid,” Josie offered with a tired smile in return. “How’s he doing? He h
asn’t moved since I arrived. Is that a good thing or a bad one?”
Dee placed the temperature in the record and then gave Josie an understanding smile. “His vitals are improving with each check. It’s good that he’s sleeping, although the doctor did give him a little something for pain, and that is probably helping him to relax. When he does wake up, he’ll have a sore head.” She came around the bed and laid a calming hand on Josie’s shoulder. “I know that no matter what we say to you, you won’t be completely eased until he opens his eyes and speaks to you. I seem to recall those gorgeous blue eyes of his, too. I had such a crush on him in the tenth grade.” She chuckled at Josie’s surprised expression. “But it was pretty plain from the get-go there was only one girl he ever had any interest in…and he married her. I didn’t get a chance to tell you before now, but I hope you two will be very happy.”
Josie decided this was her chance to ask the question that had come to her before. “You said it was pretty plain he only had interest in me. What makes you say that?”
If Dee thought her question strange, she just smiled and replied with a slight shake of her head. “It was clear to anyone who saw the look on his face whenever you would walk by or come into a room. And he was always so protective of you…and not in a big brother sort of way, either. Guys looked in your direction, but if Chance saw them, they got the message. I wondered how long it would take you to wise up and see it for yourself.”
“I guess it did take me awhile to do that.” She smiled softly as she looked at the man as he slept.
“You should get some sleep while you can. I’ll be back later, but just press the button if you need me before then.” The door whispered shut behind her. The room was in shadows except for the soft lights of the monitors and the night light over the bed.
Josie stood and changed out the stool for the chair. She looked upon the face of the man she had known for most of her life but realized she had never really seen him until a few months ago. Except, she had the oddest feeling that, while her mind had been on other things, her heart had known all along who Chance was and where it belonged…with him. If what so many others had said was indeed true, then Chance’s heart might not be out of her reach. That possibility brought a smile to her face and hope to her heart. However, if he would just wake up and be okay, then her prayers would be answered, and she couldn’t ask for more. Rising, she bent down and placed her lips softly against the side of his forehead that wasn’t bandaged.
“Get better soon, Chance. I really need you to do that.” She paused and then lowered her mouth beside his ear and whispered, “I love you, Chance Braxton.”
Resuming her seat, she found his hand again, and laid her head beside it. Josie closed her eyes and, before long, she fell into an exhausted sleep.
Chapter Twenty-Two
There was an elephant sitting on his head. That had to be it. Chance had use of one hand and with effort, he managed to raise it, and his fingers felt a soft lump of cotton material above his left brow. Slowly, he fought to open first one and then the other eyelid, taking in the strange surroundings. Sifting through his brain, the last thing he remembered was the biting cold wind and falling through space, a quick flash of Josie’s face, and then it all disappeared as a blinding pain turned everything dark.
Josie. Where was Josie? There was a sudden need within him to find her. There were things he needed to say. He just needed to remember what they were. Chance’s eyes focused more, and he realized the room he was in could only be in a hospital. How long he had been there, he had no idea. Something kept his right hand from moving. Had he injured it?
There had been a bridge and a fall. The details began to come back, along with an awareness of a growing dull ache in his head. His gaze slid downward, and he saw a familiar sight. Josie’s head lay with her cheek on top of his hand, her lashes resting on pale cheeks, and she was asleep. More pieces of the puzzle came back to him. Among them was the conversation he had with her before Tom’s arrival. There had been questions he needed answers to, but then he had to leave her before they could finish.
The most important thing he remembered was the fact that Josie had said she had chosen to not go away with Dev. Not now, not ever. And she had not helped Dev because she was in love with him. She had helped him in order to protect him…not Dev. Were his prayers being heard?
There had also been an incredible dream somewhere in the dark hours. He dreamed he heard Josie’s voice telling him she loved him. Of course, it could have been the trick played on his head by a good hit. Her cheek stirred against his hand, and he watched Josie’s head raise and her eyes flew to his face.
A broad smile of relief spread across her features, chasing sleep and worry away. Josie stood, a quick hand brushing loose tendrils of hair away from her face. She looked tired and most of her makeup was gone but she had never looked better to him.
“It’s about time you woke up.”
“How long have I been out?” His mouth felt stuffed with cotton as he tried to speak.
“Since yesterday afternoon, right after you decided to see which was tougher…your head or the bumper of a car.”
“Not one of my better ideas.”
“No, it certainly wasn’t. You can never talk about my getting into trouble after this. And it has been verified…your head is definitely very hard.” Josie’s voice caught on some strange note of emotion. She reached for the call button for the nurse. He tried to move, but pain stopped him.
“Just take it easy. You should stay still until the doctor gets here.”
“I’ve had falls before on the ranch. I’m fine. Or I will be once I get out of this place.”
“Is that your educated, medical opinion?” Dr. Winters came through the door and caught Chance’s words. The nurse followed close behind him.
“It’s my years of experience having been stomped on by cows and other assorted ranch mishaps. This is nothing but a bump on the head. Do you concur?”
It had to be a good sign Chance was still trying to add a bit of humor in the situation, Josie thought. She would certainly take anything positive at the moment. She would have stepped back from the bed at the doctor’s approach, but her hand was caught inside Chance’s, and he was making no move to relinquish it. He probably didn’t even realize he had claimed it when she stood earlier. Whatever the reason, she wasn’t going to make a scene and take it back.
The doctor waited until after he had shined his penlight into Chance’s eyes and did some movements of his neck and injured head and an eye exam in his examination before he stood back and returned the cowboy’s regard. “You appear to be one very lucky man. Someone was looking out for you, and for that family.”
“I can get out of here now. Just as soon as someone gets me my clothes.” He moved a bit quicker than he should have, and he instantly halted, his mouth thinning when a painful reminder hit him.
“That’s why you aren’t going anywhere. Another night here won’t do you any harm. If you went home, you wouldn’t listen to my instructions and stay put for very long. Keeping you here, I can at least ensure you will listen for twenty-four hours.”
Chance leaned back against his pillows, no sign of a smile at the moment. “I promise that I will follow your instructions. If I stay in this place, I won’t get any rest. There will be someone poking, prodding, or generally keeping me on guard against being stuck by the next needle and that doesn’t allow for resting.”
Josie wanted Chance out of the hospital almost as much as he wanted to be out. She looked at the doctor, who wasn’t moved by what Chance had just said. She spoke up. “I think you can give this place one more night. The food isn’t all that bad, and you can have cute nurses at your beck and call. What else could you ask for?” She fixed a smile on her face and hoped he would agree.
Chance shifted his head ever so slightly on the pillow to look at her. “I could tell you what else, but it might make you blush in front of these nice folks.” He was in rare form even in his injure
d state. He brought the blush to her cheeks as easy as ever…darn him!
“He’ll stay, and he’ll behave,” Josie spoke up, drawing her eyes away from his. “Or you can just give him a huge shot and put him out of all our miseries for a few hours.”
Doc Winters chuckled. “The boss concurs with me, it seems. You’re staying put for another twenty-four hours…just settle in for a spell. I’ll be back this afternoon to check on you.” He turned toward the doorway but gave a pointed look at Josie before he departed. “Take a break, young lady…get out of this room and get some food…some sleep in something besides a chair. You’ll need your strength to keep him in line once he does get out of here.”
Josie returned his grin and nodded. Once the door closed behind him, the nurse took over.
“We’ll be freshening your husband up a bit and getting some vitals checked. Then he needs to get some more rest. This would be good time for you to do the same and then return later in the afternoon.”
Josie hesitated, not wanting to leave. Chance squeezed her hand.
“Go on, Josie. I’m not going to run off. I doubt I could get very far, even if I tried.”
A few minutes later, Josie walked down the hall, retracing her steps of the evening before, until she was standing on the front steps of the hospital. Her eyes took a moment to adjust from the inside light of the hospital to the bright sunshine that glared off the blanket of snow that covered everything outside. Any other time, she would have taken time to enjoy the natural beauty.
Her mind was too numb to take in much except the fact she needed to get to the ranch, shower and change, and get things in place for Chance’s return home…hopefully tomorrow…and get back to the hospital before nightfall. Tom arrived a few minutes later to pick her up. He gave her a report on the conditions at the ranch, which had come through the snowstorm with loss of only two cows, and a partial collapse of a roof of one of the hay sheds. It all could have been far worse.
