“Pathetic, just pathetic.”
* * * *
The ER was quite wild at the start of Danielle’s shift the next day. In a matter of two hours, she had seen one shooting victim, two concussions from fender benders, a chainsaw accident, and one stabbing.
“Ma’am, you’ll be just fine,” Danielle said as she signed the discharge paperwork for her latest patient. “Remember to drink lots of fluids in order to stay hydrated and quit jogging when it’s ninety degrees out. That will help.”
Add heat exhaustion patient to the list. The woman had been lucky. It could have turned out much worse. At least she had enough sense to feel the signs when they happened. Many didn’t until it was too late. Ah, another day of patching people up. She wished she knew how to patch the hole in her heart that was gaping wide open.
“Danielle, someone is here requesting to see you,” James, the charge nurse, said as he opened the curtain.
“Oh, okay,” Danielle said and handed the clipboard to the woman she was discharging. “Take care, and remember what I said.”
“Thank you so much.” The woman signed her name and gathered her belongings.
Danielle opened the curtain and started walking toward the waiting room. Maybe Stacy had decided to come up and see her after all. Yeah, right, Stacy was off on the road with Will and J.C. When she walked around the corner, she stopped and froze. This was unexpected.
“Hi, Mrs. Evans,” Danielle said.
“I think we’re past the formalities, aren’t we?” Evelyn smiled.
“Yes, sorry, Evelyn.”
“Do you have a moment?” Evelyn asked.
“Sure, let me inform the front desk I’m taking a break. I’ll be right back.”
Danielle headed toward to front desk, sure she was seeing things, or rather people. Why would Evelyn drive so far to see her? She was, after all, a weekend fling for her son.
When she arrived back in the waiting room, Evelyn smiled and motioned for her to come outside.
Danielle followed in her light-green scrubs and white shoes with her stethoscope still around her neck. “Okay, you have my attention, not that I’m not thrilled to see you,” Danielle said.
“Danielle, I’m going to cut the crap here so to speak. You are a fabulous person, a person that I care for and my son loves with all his heart.” Evelyn paused.
Danielle stood stunned. Evelyn had driven all this way to say she cared for her? J.C. loved her with all his heart. Zinger.
“Here’s the thing. I know you had words with Rebecca, and let me tell you something…If you allow that manipulative pain in my ass to get in your way and my son’s way of happiness, then you’re not the woman I thought you were. In fact, I’d call you a coward,” Evelyn stated flatly.
Danielle was rendered speechless. What could she say? “I, uh…”
Evelyn waved a dismissive hand. “I know all about it, all of it. Funny thing happened yesterday. A large check bounced at our bank. Now I’m sure I don’t need to spell out who it was from, but it seems Rebecca has been wreaking a lot of havoc. J.C. was the target. When I called her parents about the bounced check, they of course had no idea what I was talking about. We weren’t the only ranch either. Rebecca has been scheming for quite some time to ruin J.C. and our ranch. Her position gave her access to family funds, and her love of shopping caught up with her. Too bad she has managed to hurt her parents’ business as well. We supplied a lot of cattle to them over the years. It was profitable for all of us. But now, we have decided to not do business with them anymore. I can’t trust something like this won’t happen again.”
Danielle stopped breathing then gasped to catch her breath. What was she saying?
“I’ll be the first to admit that, a couple of years back, J.C. had…relations with her, but I’ll also add he hasn’t been with anyone for the past year, except you of course.”
Danielle couldn’t help but smile. She knew Evelyn was no dummy. “So, I’m the real idiot here, aren’t I?”
Evelyn smiled lovingly. “Only if you want to be.”
“Can you tell me how you found out? About Rebecca I mean.”
“Honey, I’m a very resourceful businesswoman,” Evelyn stated.
Tears welled up in Danielle’s eyes. “Oh, I…I’m sorry, God, I’m such an ass. I jumped to conclusions when I should have let J.C. know, but I had overheard them talking, and she said she would ensure her dad’s contract was pulled and that it would ruin y’alls’ ranch financially.”
Evelyn smiled. “Oh, honey, do you really think we have acquired all we have by making poor decisions?”
“I…uh, shit, I don’t know what to say,” Danielle said, and wiped the tears that began to stream down her face.
“Besides, I’d give it all up for my son’s happiness,” Evelyn pointed out, and hugged Danielle. “His happiness depends on you. I’ve never seen him the way he is with you, nor have I ever seen him as depressed as he is now.”
Danielle hugged Evelyn tightly. Just the comfort of another person was a welcome event. Living in a hotel and spending all her time alone was, well, lonely.
“I don’t know what to do now, Evelyn. What if he never wants to see me again? I couldn’t blame him.” Danielle looked to Evelyn for advice.
Evelyn opened her purse and pulled out an airline ticket. “He purchased this for you and left in on the counter for me in case you called or came by. I’m sure he’ll talk to you. In fact, I know he will.”
Danielle took the ticket from Evelyn with shaky hands. “I can’t thank you enough.”
“You can thank me by making that plane.”
“What?” Danielle asked as she flipped through the ticket looking for boarding times. “Are you kidding me? I have less than an hour.”
“I suppose you’d better get moving. Do you need a ride?” Evelyn smiled.
“Yes, how fast can you drive anyway?” Danielle questioned with a raised brow.
“Fast. I’m a country girl. Now go tell the front desk you will be leaving.” Evelyn smiled.
Danielle gathered up her purse and lunch box, but on second thought, she threw the lunch in the trash and hurried through the hall to the front door. “Get me there, woman.”
Evelyn laughed. “Now that’s the spirit.”
On the way to the airport, Danielle fought her emotions. She had been a fool. She’d allowed one cupcake and her idiotic emotions to almost ruin her chance at love, her first and only love.
“Quit beating yourself up,” Evelyn said as she switched lanes. “Not worth it. J.C. doesn’t blame you anyway.”
Danielle looked at Evelyn. “Do you?”
Evelyn laughed, and she pushed down the gas pedal. “Of course not. Now if you’d asked me whether I thought you were thinking with your heart or your brain, I’d have said brain. But really, Danielle, that’s the most admirable quality I’ve seen in a very long time. Not many people would torture themselves thinking they were doing so for the benefit of others.”
Danielle smiled. “So, basically, I’m an idiot?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Evelyn laughed and swerved around a slow-moving car.
Thank goodness Tulsa afforded quick commutes with its layouts. They were actually not far from the airport.
While the drive continued, Evelyn enlightened Danielle about J.C.’s dream to open the ranch up to wayward boys and possibly a rodeo training camp. She also enlightened her about his plan to retire from the rodeo circuit.
All of this from a guy she’d thought was more worried about his fan club and rodeo career than anything else in the world. But she had learned in their short time together that J.C. held more inside than he was willing to tell, and she yearned to know more.
Evelyn laid rubber taking the turns through Tulsa International Airport in her haste to get Danielle to the gate in time. Danielle felt her stomach lurch as she was jostled back and forth in Evelyn’s truck.
“So, uh, when was this ticket purchased?” Danielle was dying to know.
Danielle smiled. “Thank you so much.”
“My pleasure…tick tock.” Evelyn tapped her watch.
Danielle jumped out of the truck and raced toward the doors. Once checked in, and with several strange looks, she sat nervously at the gate and waited to board.
Funny, no one gave other people strange looks for not carrying luggage, but put her in scrubs, a name tag, and wrap a stethoscope around her neck and people all but stared.
The call to board came immediately, and Danielle stood. That Evelyn had been right. She could drive fast. Thank goodness.
The flight was long, and Danielle wished she would have picked up a magazine or a book on her way through the terminal. She had never flown anywhere before, and although it had been tolerable thus far, the “What to do in case of a crash landing” pamphlet had seen better days.
Danielle already knew where the exits were, how to open the doors, how to put on her oxygen mask, and even how to use her seat as a flotation device. She peered out the window. She wouldn’t need the flotation device. Maybe a helmet and a prayer would be of more help.
She tried to take a nap, but her jittery nerves had her on edge. With every bump from turbulence, her throat constricted. Surely she wouldn’t die in a fiery plane crash trying to get to the man she loved?
The flight attendant was out and about offering drinks and snacks. That was a blessing. Any kind of diversion would be helpful. She opened a bag of peanuts and put a few in her mouth hearing them crunch between her teeth. She sipped on a soda wondering how much longer the flight would take.
Minutes seemed like hours as she tried to get comfortable to no avail. Man, but a puzzle book would have helped.
* * * *
J.C. walked the rodeo grounds alone. Will had met up with Stacy, and it wasn’t hard to guess what they were up to.
He thought about the airline ticket and how he wished he would have known where to have it sent to Danielle. Not that she would come, but he’d spotted a falling star in the big Wyoming sky the night before and was sure it held magic, so he wished upon it.
This lifestyle had become old. The traveling from one rodeo to another was lonely. He remembered times when this had been all he lived for. Now nothing held its sparkle at all.
He’d decided tonight would be his last ride. He had been trying to hold on until the championships and hoped to earn that large pot, but now he didn’t want it. It was worth nothing now. Everything was worthless without Danielle and damned if he knew how it happened so fast.
J.C. peered up at the endless sky and squinted then shook his head. He was surrounded by a vast landscape and couldn’t give a shit.
A trail of dust followed him as he kicked it up with each step. His heart was no longer here. It was in Oklahoma with a woman he had always loved but had been too stupid to grab onto and hold for dear life.
Will and Stacy caught up with him, giggling and holding hands. How he wished that were him with Danielle.
“Hey, bro, one hour to go. Are ya feeling it?” Will asked. He was as worked up as always before a ride. J.C. knew his brother was trying desperately to cheer him up.
“I feel like shit,” J.C. muttered and kept walking.
Stacy grabbed J.C. by the arm and looked up into his eyes. “Don’t give up,” she said and gave him a hug.
It was very sisterly, and J.C. smiled. “Thanks, Stacy,” he muttered and walked off alone.
* * * *
Danielle gripped her armrests until her fingers hurt. Landings were scary. The plane taxied toward the gate, and the pilot came over the radio with his spiel. She missed everything he said. She was lost in her thoughts and, all of a sudden, wondered how she would get to the rodeo. Should she rent a car? Could she get a taxi? Where was the rodeo even at?
Once off the plane, Danielle raced through the airport toward the entrance of the airport. Hopefully they had taxis or a rental car service or anyone willing to give her ride.
After hailing a taxi, the driver sped out of the airport, and Danielle hung on in the back seat. It was her fault he drove erratically. She squealed out where she wanted to go and yelled, “Pronto,” like it was a life or death situation, and it kind of was for her.
After this, Danielle would be ready to keep her feet on hard, solid ground for a while. The quick turns and bumps combined with the acid that rose up in her throat were beginning to get the better of her.
The rodeo grounds were on the outside of town, which Danielle thought couldn’t be that big and figured on a short trip. What she didn’t expect was the sea of cars, trucks, and trailers.
Her worst nightmare was that she wouldn’t find J.C. The second worst was she’d die in that fiery plane crash on her return trip. She had a return trip, didn’t she?
After she paid admission, she waded through the enormous crowd. Somehow she found her way to the rail and stood in nearly the same spot she stood in at any rodeo. Looking from the chute to the left and halfway down was her spot. It offered the best view of everything, whether it was bull riding, barrel racing, or team roping.
All she could do now was wait, and waiting patiently was not a strong suit for her. But walking through the crowds would prove fruitless.
The announcer welcomed the crowd and asked for everyone to stand for the national anthem. Riders and horses floated around the arena with flags flapping behind them as the music played. Danielle just wanted them to hurry along, move out, and bring on the main event.
The formalities ended, and Danielle was glad for that. The bull riding began, and a couple tried their luck. Both met with disastrous results. She cringed as medics helped the second rider out of the arena. He was up, but she was sure he had a few broken ribs after the bull stomped him. It really could have been much worse, she thought.
“Please welcome J.C. Evans, ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer said loudly.
The crowd cheered as J.C. tipped his hat and climbed over the rail and into the chute. The announcer continued his commentary about J.C., his wins, and his national ranking. Danielle was more concerned with J.C.’s riding right now.
Just because someone rode well ninety-nine percent of the time didn’t mean they could skim past the one percent and always avoid injury. It was a double-edged sword. Basically, it was damn dangerous.
J.C. readied himself as the bull thrashed underneath him. Hell, he didn’t want to be here and pounded the rope against his palm. He began to think about Danielle again. All he wanted was to see her. He quickly decided that star hadn’t been magical at all.
Just as he thought about that star, he looked out into the arena at the crowd. His eyes worked to the left and halfway down the rail to the spot Danielle would always stand. His heart leapt as he tried to make out what or who he thought he was looking at. He blinked and looked again.
“Greg, do me a favor and look down the left rail and tell me if you see a blonde wearing green scrubs,” J.C. said as he thumped against the chute wall.
“Yeah, I see her. You know her?” Greg replied as he straddled the back rail behind the chute.
“Dumbass, it’s Danielle,” J.C. yelled as the bull became more irritable underneath him.
“Whoa, I thought she basically told you to kiss off.”
“Yeah, I thought so, too,” J.C. said, but his heart warmed considerably.
“Look, asshole, keep your dick under wraps and your heart out of your head. Forget her until you nail that eight seconds, then you can get all smoochy, lovey-dovey,” Greg yelled in a stern tone.
“You’re a dick, but I got ya.” J.C. grinned.
J.C. turned then tipped his hat, and the gate flew open. Raw emotion and strength were fueling J.C. The bull slung snot and bucked and spun underneath him. He held
on tight, determined to see this through, for himself and for Danielle.
The bull spun again hard to the left, and J.C. nearly came off. He gripped harder and used every ounce of energy he could gather as the time clicked by.
When the horn blew, J.C. let go of his grip and allowed the bull to buck him off and away. He hit the ground and rolled. Before he could get his feet under him, the bull charged and hit him in the side, causing him to roll like a rag doll.
Danielle screamed as the rodeo clowns worked hard to get the bull away from J.C.
“No, God, no,” Danielle screamed and climbed up and over the rail. She hit the soft dirt of the arena in her white nursing shoes and stumbled as she ran toward him.
The bull gave chase to the clowns, and a couple of cowboys on horseback managed to get him into a pen.
Danielle ran as fast as her legs would carry her in the soft earth. All she could see was J.C.’s body writhing in pain.
The medics came out of a gate toward J.C. as Danielle fell onto the dirt at his side.
“J.C., J.C., please speak to me,” Danielle screamed.
J.C. winced with pain, not sure which part of him hurt worse. He smiled with his eyes closed, and his face distorted in pain. “Took ya long enough,” he said breathlessly.
“Where are you hurt?” Danielle demanded as the medics rushed to their side.
“Ma’am, we’ll take care of him,” one man said.
“The hell you will. I’m a nurse, so back off,” Danielle screamed.
Danielle turned her attention back to J.C. “Where are you hurt?” She swiped the tears as they rolled down her cheeks.
J.C. lifted his hand slowly and pointed toward the left side of his chest, and then he pointed directly to his heart. “Here,” he rasped out.
Tears began to fall harder, and Danielle wiped her eyes. “I’m sorry, so sorry…please forgive me. I love you.”
J.C. managed a grin. “It’s okay. I’ll heal,” he said, his voice gravelly.
Danielle laughed as the tears rolled down her cheeks. She felt his ribs, and he grimaced. “Looks like a couple of broken ribs.” She continued to check him and swiped another tear from her cheek.
Eight Seconds (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 18
