The doctor came out after about an hour and told me Mark was waking up. He said they’d put some hardware in his wrist and set the bones. It would be casted once the swelling went down and the surgical wounds healed. He should be able to leave in a couple of hours.
“Hey, how did it go?” I asked when I finally got to see him.
“I slept through it,” he said with a grin. “But I’m told it went pretty good.”
“Yeah, that’s what they told me, too. The doc said you can be out of here in a couple of hours.”
“Good, I’m ready. What have you been up to while they were putting new hardware in me?”
“I was learning all about the PRCA,” I told him, proudly.
“Really? Why?”
“Because it means a lot to someone I care an awful lot about. I think you still have a chance to do this finals thing…if you behave and let that wrist heal the way you’re supposed to.”
His eyes brightened. “I’m not sure my scores are all good enough to make it through on alone the rest of the season.”
“No, but there are a lot of rodeos in September and October. You just have to be willing to do a lot of traveling.”
He grinned again. “Traveling I can do.” He became serious then and said, “I’d love to have a companion…at least for some of it. As much of it as she’d like.”
“We’ll talk about that later,” I told him. There would be a lot to that conversation. “My main motivation is for you to accept that you need to heal. I knew the only way you’d be willing to do that was if you knew there was still a chance.”
The look in his eyes was so grateful that I got a lump in my throat. “Thank you.”
I grinned to keep from tearing up. “What are stepsisters for?” He shook his head and rolled his eyes. God help me, I was crazy about this man.
They discharged him with instructions on icing the injured limb and keeping it clean and elevated and not using it at all. Mark looked bored with the whole thing. I think he just really wanted to get home. I checked with Mom and told him Sarge was on his way home with Bob and that made him feel better. The rest of the ride home was mostly quiet. He had a lot on his mind, as well as the pain medicine in his system that dulled him slightly. That was okay with me. I had a lot on my mind, as well.
CHAPTER FOUR
MARK
As I sat next to Lexi on the ride home, I still couldn’t believe she had showed up. It had been surreal to look up and see her come through the door. It was the last thing I was expecting, for sure. The only thing that would have shocked me more would have been if my dad had shown up. I was so grateful to her for staying with me the whole time, and I really couldn’t believe she had even tried to figure out how I could still make the finals. She was amazing, that was a fact. What she’d learned wasn’t exactly all there was to it, though. I didn’t tell her, but unless I got perfect scores on all of my rides during the fall, I still would never make it. Summer is a huge time for rodeo and if I missed the rest of the summer, that would be it. She had worked so hard trying to figure it out for me; I didn’t have the heart to tell her. I was really just so happy that she cared so much.
I was trying myself to figure out how I could get the doctors to clear me at least for the next one which was in about three weeks. It was only a one day event and it was driving distance from home, so not such a big deal…except for that tricky part about holding onto the bull with a broken wrist. It’s doubtful that any of the doctors at the hospital would sign off on it, but I thought one of the rodeo docs might if I could reach him in time. I hate this. I hate feeling like my whole year was for naught. I feel so frustrated that I want to break something or hit something. I wanted to have a tantrum, but I knew that wouldn’t help. So instead, I let all of the possibilities roll around in my head and unfortunately by the time we got home, I hadn’t come up with anything new.
Lydia met us on the front porch when we got there. She had that worry line between her brows that I was beginning to recognize as I got to know her better. I felt bad that I’d caused her to worry, but it was nice that she cared all the same. It had been a long time since I’d had a mother figure to worry about me.
“Oh, Mark! I was so worried about you. That bull could have killed you!” She hugged me and then held me back and looked at me again.
“I’m okay, Lydia. Just a little sprained wrist.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Sprained my left butt cheek! Lexi told me it was broken and fractured in three places. They had to use four pins and half a metal plate to fix it.”
I laughed. “Were you there?”
“Oh stop it! Lexi kept me up to date. Come in. I fixed you a spot in the parlor. I’ll get you something to eat.”
I followed her in and saw that she had rearranged furniture to create me a comfortable spot with pillows stacked around it, cowboy magazines, and the remote control. Laughing, I said, “Really, Lydia, you didn’t have to go to all of this trouble. You don’t have to wait on me hand and foot.”
“I don’t mind. I want you to heal up well.”
“Thank you.” I wasn’t used to being fussed over. It was really nice, but hard at the same time to accept so much help.
“Sit down; I’ll go get your dinner,” she told me.
I suddenly realized that Lexi hadn’t followed us in. “Where did Lexi go?”
“She’s unloading your things out of the car.”
I shook my head. These women were too much. “Thanks, Lydia.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart. Get some rest.”
She scurried out and as I sat down in the comfy spot, I smiled. I picked up the remote just as my dad walked into the room. “Oh, you’re back.” He barely glanced at me. It sucked to be despised by your own father.
“Yep, I’m back.”
“Broke your wrist, did you?” At least he was paying attention.
“Yeah, they did surgery on it today. I’m the bionic man now.” I was trying to lighten things up,
but I’m not sure why I try. He didn’t even crack a smile. He picked up his paper that he had come in for. Normally he’d sit in here and read it, but I guess he didn’t care for the company. He started to leave the room.
“Dad.” He stopped. With his back to me still, I said, “I wish you would talk to me.” I really wanted to just ask him why he hated me so much.
He turned on me then and as he was talking I realized that I should have been careful what I asked for. “You want me to talk to you? Maybe you want me to fawn all over you like Lydia and Lexi are doing? Fat chance since you did this to yourself.” I couldn’t help it; I felt a sarcasm coming on.
“Technically, a bull did it to me…”
“You want to be smart about it now? You go around choosing to play in these rodeos like a child and when you finally have some consequences to deal with, you don’t even realize the trouble you’re putting on everyone else in the process. Doctors who could have been treating real sick people…people who were hurt or sick through no fault of their own, had to take time out of their busy lives to take care of you. Lexi had to leave her visit with her mother and drive all day to get there and spend another day waiting to drive you home. Now you have Lydia waiting on you like she’s your personal nurse…I don’t know where you got the idea that you were something special, boy, but I’m here to tell you there ain’t nothing more to you than any of the rest of us. You don’t deserve special treatment. You don’t even work for a living or pay your own damned rent.”
I was in a mild state of shock. It wasn’t that I didn’t know he felt that way about me, but to hear him say all of that out loud…there was no way that couldn’t hurt. I certainly knew he didn’t see me as anything special. He’d made that blaringly obvious throughout my life. I had no idea what to say back to him, either – what do you say to your only parent when they tell you that you’re nobody special? That’s not the way it’s supposed to be, so I’ve got no idea. I tried staying calm and I said,
&nb
sp; “I do have a job, Dad. Rodeo is my job. What I do isn’t playing. It’s a serious job that I make serious money at. It’s not a job in the traditional sense, but really when you think about it, neither is ranching. I love the rodeo, Dad. Don’t you think people should earn a living doing what they love?”
“People should earn a living doing something that will give back in the long run, like the land. All rodeo does is take from you. It will take everything you have to give and then some. You sit there with that ruined wrist still not being able to see that. In the end, all the money in the world won’t be worth the cost you pay for it.”
“I don’t want to die regretting that I lived my life for someone else.” I don’t want to be a miserable, unhappy man like him.
“Then you might just die very young and very alone.” He turned and walked out. Some people might think this is crazy, but I let myself wonder if maybe it was his worry for me that made him so angry. It made me feel a little better to believe that, anyways. It was easier than believing I just disgusted him.
Over the next week, Lexi or Lydia was at my side practically every minute. I tried to tell them that I wasn’t an invalid, but they wouldn’t let me do anything for myself…except for use the bathroom, thank goodness. Lexi kept surprising me. She was actually coming around to the idea that I might get well in time to ride in the rodeo that was now in two weeks. I cautiously mentioned it one day and was very surprised at her response.
“My wrist feels so much better I hardly even need the pain meds any longer. That’s a good sign, right?” I was being more optimistic about it than I was, but it was feeling better.
“Yeah, it is. I read up on the surgery you had online a few days ago. They say that people heal differently, the younger and healthier you are, the faster you’ll heal. I think you have a great chance of healing faster than eight weeks. You’re healthy and you eat right and take care of yourself.”
“Fast enough to ride in the rodeo in two weeks, you think?”
She raised an eyebrow, but she smiled. “I guess you never know. I’m learning to never say never.” I took that as encouragement for more than the rodeo.
She took me to my follow-up appointment with the surgeon on Wednesday and even went in the back with me to see the doctor. I told her that it wasn’t necessary, but she insisted. When he came in and asked how I was doing, Lexi said,
“He’s doing well doctor, but he’s stubborn. Can you give him something for that?”
The doctor laughed and replied, “If I could invent that, I’d be a very wealthy man. So how’s it feel, Mark?”
He was looking at the arm when I answered, “It’s practically healed, Doc. It doesn’t even hurt anymore.”
“It looks good. The surgical site is clean and the swelling has gone down. I think we’re ready to cast it.”
“Can’t we just splint it or something?” I asked him. I didn’t want to be stuck with a cast. For one thing, it would be a lot longer before I could actually see or feel if it was healing if it was all casted up. I think the doctor had my number.
“You wouldn’t be thinking about using that wrist if I don’t put a cast on it would you?” he asked with a raised bushy gray eyebrow.
“Of course not,” I lied.
“I won’t let him use it.” That was Lexi – my own personal Nurse Ratchet. She was a lot prettier than I would have expected Nurse Ratchett to be.
“Yeah,” I said with a forced smile. “She won’t let me use it. Her and her mother barely let me pee on my own.”
He chuckled. “Well, there could be worse things than having this beautiful young lady and her mother, who I am assuming is beautiful, as well, at your beck and call.” I looked at Lexi. He was right and I knew it. There were a lot of worse things. He let me out of there with a bandage and a splint and strict orders not to use that hand at all. Lexi made notes…she’s so cute. It warmed my heart that she cared so much. At that moment, anyways. When we got home, I was put back on the couch with my arm elevated and told to stay there while she and Lydia made dinner.
“Maybe I could go out and help Bob and the guys feed tonight. Some fresh air and exercise might do me some good.”
She laughed. “Um…let me think…no!”
“Aw come on! Sitting on this couch is killing me. I would totally use my left hand. You can watch and make sure.”
“You need to keep the arm elevated to prevent swelling. You can’t be out there moving it and swinging it around.”
“You should be a nurse…or a terrorist.”
She laughed again. “A terrorist, really?”
“Yeah, you’re very good at kidnapping and the art of torture already.”
“You think you’re a captive here?”
“Feels like it.”
She smiled. “You’re a captive of two women who care very much about you. I’d say that you’re a lucky man.”
“Hmph!” I couldn’t help it; I had to smile back at her. God, she’s beautiful. “You know that I appreciate all of this, in spite of my complaining, right?”
“I do,” she said. “I’m glad we were here to help.”
“Me, too. You can bet my father wouldn’t be doing any of this. By the way, did he move out?”
She looked like maybe she missed something. “Move out? No, why?”
“I haven’t seen him in a week. I guess he’s just getting better at avoiding me.”
She sat down and put her hand on my leg. My cock jumped in my pants at that simple touch. God, I wanted her. “I’m sorry.”
I covered her hand with mine. I was sorely tempted to slide it over about four inches and just see what she did. “Don’t be. It’s not your fault.” We heard Lydia’s footfalls in the hall then and she jerked her hand away and stood up. I wish the hell that everything didn’t have to be so damned complicated.
“Mark, how’s it feeling?” Lydia asked when she came in the room.
“Good, honestly, really good. I haven’t needed a pain pill in days.”
“I’m so glad. It’s good that you were young and strong and healthy to begin with, you’re healing fast.”
“He wants to go out and help the guys feed.” I gave Lexi a “traitor” look. She smiled.
“Oh no you don’t! Your father and I were going to go out to dinner tonight, but I’m not leaving if you’re not going to behave yourself.” Now Lydia was resorting to threats.
They’re going out? I tried not to look at Lexi. I was afraid the lustful, hopeful thoughts were all over my face. I physically ached for her. “I’ll be good, I promise. The Commandant has already told me no.”
Lydia laughed. “I raised her right. Okay then, do you two want us to bring you something back?”
“I’m good with the leftover spaghetti,” Lexi said.
I’m good with the hot stepsister, I thought like the pervert that I am. “Leftover spaghetti is good for me, too,” I said.
“Okay, we’ll see you both later then.” She said “we’ll” see you. What she meant was, “I’ll see you, and your father will avoid you.” She was too sweet to say so.
CHAPTER FIVE
LEXI
I sat with Mark after Mom and Rob left, and we had our dinner together. He asked me about my night out with Samantha, and I told him about the club.
“I’m not good in places like that, but I would go tonight given half the chance, just to get out of here.”
“You’re not enjoying all of this good company and attention?” I asked him.
“I’d have to be crazy not to enjoy your company, of course I am. I’m just going crazy sitting around here all the time. I’m not used to it.”
“It won’t be forever, just until you heal.”
“I can’t stand it anymore,” he whined. “My muscles are going to atrophy.”
“I doubt that,” I said with a laugh. I think his muscles would last for a long time to come – he has plenty of then to spare. “You’ll be well soon enough and you’ll have plenty of time to get out and
do things.”
“I want to do things tonight, right now.”
I rolled my eyes and said, “You’re like a child, a bratty one.”
“Stop treating me like a child and let me do things for myself.”
I laughed again. “I’m not arguing that point with you any longer. You don’t need to do things for yourself right now. You need to heal. If you need anything at all, all you have to do is let me know.” His face changed suddenly. I recognized it instantly. His blue eyes had that sexy, seductive look to them that he gets when he’s trying to take me to bed.
“Anything I need? You mean that? Anything?”
I felt my blood go hot. This man made my panties melt off with a look. I decided to play along with his flirtations. Raking my eyes over his body I said, “Anything at all. You just let me know.”
Ride Me Cowboy #4 (The Cowboy Romance Series - Book #4) Page 3
