by Linda Warren
After that first week, and realizing their relationship had been over for a long time, Jenny’s pain lessened, as did her thoughts of Paxton. Her happy time was taking care of Dovie. She couldn’t wait to see how the foal would turn out, since Red Hawk was chestnut-red-and-white and Dovie was black-and-white. Jenny watched her closely in case of problems.
She and Lindsay planned to cull the herd in October to cut down on feeding during the winter months. They would take a week of their vacation to do that. The good thing about forgetting the past was that Jenny was busy and she didn’t have a lot of time to mope. But if there was any moping done, it dimmed with each day. She grew stronger and confident and no one was ever going to take her pride again.
* * *
BY THE END of the week, as Quincy had predicted, Paxton finally got Lisa on a horse. She wasn’t crazy about it, but they were working out their problems and Quincy thought that was good.
Quincy was saddling Aries for the day when Paxton walked into the barn.
“We’re leaving in a little bit,” Paxton said. “Could you do me a favor?” He looked back for some reason. Maybe he didn’t want Lisa to hear what he was saying.
Quincy turned from tightening the cinch. “Depends what it is.”
“Could you check on Jenny?”
“Why?” he asked warily.
“We’ve been friends for a long time and she was upset.” Paxton twisted on his boots in the soft dirt of the barn, much like he had when he was a kid. “I just want to make sure she’s okay.”
“It’s too late for that, Pax. You’re engaged to someone else, so it’s time to forget Jenny.”
“I know that, but...”
“No buts. A clean break is best. Besides, Jenny is moving on. Last I heard she was dating a new intern at the hospital.”
“What?” Paxton’s eyebrows slammed together beneath his Stetson. “That was fast.”
“Yeah. You can stop worrying about Jenny.” Quincy swung into the saddle, and he wondered if his brother was really over her. His actions indicated otherwise. “Good luck on the circuit and good luck with your engagement.” He rode out of the barn with an empty feeling in his gut. He wouldn’t let Paxton hurt Jenny again. Family loyalty only went so far when a heart was divided.
Phoenix, Paxton and Lisa left and drove to a rodeo in Fort Worth, Texas. Lisa wanted to watch Pax ride. From there, she would fly back to Los Angeles as she had an audition for a part in a TV show.
Paxton and Phoenix had a heavy rodeo schedule for the next couple of months and they were hoping to improve their rankings enough to attend the national finals. Paxton and Lisa would have a hard time finding time for each other, but Quincy was sure they’d find a way.
Jenny hadn’t brought White Dove back and he was happy his threat had worked. The horse was hers and he wanted her to have it. Dovie would be the last thing he would ever give her.
* * *
ROUNDUP ON REBEL RANCH was in full swing. They found a bull that had a scratch behind his ear and it was swollen and looked infected.
“He must’ve stuck his damn head through the barbed wire,” Falcon said, eyeing the red-and-white-faced bull huddled in the portable pens with the cows and calves. “It’s best to herd him back to the corral at the house and use the squeeze chute. Once he gets riled up, these pens won’t hold him. Quincy, Jude and Egan can do that while we finish up here.”
“We’re on it,” Quincy said as he rode into the herd and cut the bull toward the gate. Jude and Egan were waiting, and it was a mad race to the corral.
The bull wanted to go everywhere but toward the pen. At times he’d turn and charge the horses, but the horses were expert quarter horses and easily swerved out of harm’s way. Jude pulled his rope and swatted the animal’s rear a couple times to keep him going straight. Dust billowed behind them as the bull picked up his speed.
John Rebel had installed a long alley to the corral for when they rounded up cattle. It was about a mile long and once they reached it, the animal would go straight into the corral, except the gate was closed. Egan rode ahead to open it. Quincy and Jude continued to dog the bull until they reached the alley. They picked up the pace and the bull loped straight toward the corral. Quincy quickly dismounted, closing the gate.
The bull ambled to the water trough and drank. Even though the heat of October wasn’t bad, the bull had come a long way and was thirsty.
“Let him drink and calm down,” Quincy said to his brothers.
Jude climbed the fence by the water trough to examine the bull’s head. “It looks bad. He’s going to need an antibiotic shot.”
“Get the supplies,” Quincy ordered, so they’d have everything when they got him in the chute. They had plenty of medicine on hand from the local vet.
After a few minutes, Quincy and Egan jumped into the pen with ropes. The corral was too small to bring a horse in. The bull could do a lot of damage before the horse could get out of its way. Egan lightly swung the rope at the bull’s rear and the bull yanked up his head, slinging snot and ready to fight. But when Quincy threw his rope, the bull swung around and ran into the squeeze chute. Quincy slammed the gate shut and the animal was held tight, but he still kept fighting, even shaking the chute.
Quincy stroked him. “Calm down, boy. We’re just trying to help you. Calm down. It’s okay.”
The bull snorted and stilled for a moment.
Egan took a look at the wound. “Damn. There’re maggots in there.”
Jude jumped from the pipe railing. “I’ll get the tweezers from the medical kit.”
Quincy continued to calm the animal, and soon he stopped fighting. Jude gave him an injection in the shoulder muscle and that agitated the bull again.
“We have to get the maggots out,” Egan said.
Quincy moved to the top of the chute to take a look, and he could see the little white critters. Damn, how did this happen? They checked the animals every day. Jude handed him a pair of big tweezers.
“What’s wrong with the bull?” a voice Quincy knew all too well shouted.
He looked up to see Jenny leaning over the fence, watching them. What was she doing here?
“He has an infected scratch,” Jude told her, as if it was the most normal thing in the world for Jenny to be here.
“I’ll take a look.” Jenny climbed over the fence and into the corral in jeans, boots and a long-sleeved shirt, much as she always wore on the ranch. Her hair, held back in a ponytail, framed the smooth skin of her face. His pulse slid into high gear at the sight of her.
Quincy jumped to the ground, looped a rope around the bull’s head and then tied it to the chute so he couldn’t move his head. The bull let out a loud guttural sound. Quincy got as close as he could to the wound, all the while talking soothingly. “It’s okay, boy. Just stay calm.”
Jenny moved in closer, and it was doing a number on his ability to do his job. What was she doing here?
“Oh, good heavens,” she said, inspecting the infected cut. “I’ve never seen this before. You know, maggots eat away dead flesh. Some say it’s nature’s cure for infected wounds, but then, that sounds absurd. We need to get the maggots out by flushing the wound.”
We.
“Jenny, I’m trying to keep the animal calm here. We need to do this as fast as possible. Damn!” The bull dumped a wallop of a cow patty in the chute. The stench and the heat should gag the maggots and solve the problem. It was working on him.
Jenny, unaffected by the odor, calmly squatted by the medical kit Jude had open on the ground. “Great, a big syringe and hydrogen peroxide.” She filled the syringe. “Do y’all have any four-by-fours?”
“I have a 4x4 truck,” Egan quipped.
“Funny.” She made a face at him. “I need something to saturate and wipe the wound.”
“
Here are some small rags we buy by the hundreds.” Jude handed her a pack.
She pulled one from the package. “Do you have latex gloves?”
The bull grunted and tried desperately to move his head. “Jenny, we’re doctoring a wound on a bull who is not in the best of moods at this moment. Could you just hurry?” Sweat trickled down his back in beads of frustration.
She stood with the syringe and towel in her hand. “You know you can catch diseases from animals and you need to be careful.”
“Jenny...”
“Okay.”
Quincy tightened the rope a little tighter as she flushed the wound with hydrogen peroxide. The bull jerked, but he was held firm. The maggots began to wiggle and fall on the ground. Jude stomped on them with his boots. She then used tweezers to pluck out the rest. After that, she rinsed the wound again and applied Betadine. Once they were satisfied—or rather Jenny—that the wound was clean, they backed the bull out of the chute.
That was when the animal became riled again. Once outside the chute in the corral, he threw up his head and pawed the ground, just daring one of them to come near him.
They had a small pasture connected to the corral for sick animals that needed medical attention. “I’ll open the gate,” Quincy yelled, trying to stay as far away from the bull as he could. He opened it and stood behind it while Egan and Jude swung their ropes at the bull to steer him toward the opening. In a fit of temper, the bull swung round and round and then shot toward the gate. But he wasn’t going without a fight. Kicking out with his back legs, he hit the gate and it knocked Quincy into the pipe railing hard. He landed with his shoulder slammed against the pipe. Pain shot up his arm and into his neck.
“Quincy!” Jenny screamed.
The world spun around and he staggered and balanced himself on the fence with his other hand.
Jude and Egan got the bull into the pasture and Quincy stumbled toward the gate.
“Are you okay?” Jenny asked, running to his side.
His shoulder ached and burned. Suddenly everything swayed and he blinked, trying to focus, trying to stand upright, trying not to show any weakness.
“Quincy!” Jenny cried a moment before Quincy crumpled to the ground.
* * *
JENNY FELL DOWN beside Quincy. He was out cold and his sun-browned skin looked so pale. Checking his breathing, she called out to Jude. “Bring those rags and some water.”
Egan knelt beside her. “Is he okay?”
She checked his head and neck for bruises. Jude was back with the rags and water and Jenny didn’t answer. She was too worried about Quincy. Hands shaking, she wadded several rags together and then gently tucked them beneath Quincy’s neck. She soaked a rag in water, squeezed it out and wiped his face. Then she placed the cloth on his forehead.
Quincy, please wake up. Please.
He lay unresponsive.
She grabbed the front of his shirt and yanked. The snaps popped opened, revealing a broad, muscular chest. Carefully pushing it off his shoulder, she saw dark bruises along his upper arm, shoulder and his rib cage. The skin was quickly turning blue. She was usually calm in these kinds of situations, but her heart raced and her hands were clammy. It’s different when it’s someone you love.
Whoa! What? Wha...?
She didn’t love Quincy. Then, why was her heart racing like a train on a fast track?
“Oh, man, he’s banged up pretty bad,” Egan said.
Jenny rinsed the cloth once again and wiped the strong lines of Quincy’s face, so lovable, so dear to her. “Quincy, wake up.”
When he didn’t stir, her breath caught in fear. “We have to get him to an emergency room.”
Jude jumped to his feet. “I’ll bring the truck around.”
A moan erupted from Quincy’s throat and Jude hurried back.
Jenny stroked back Quincy’s damp hair. “Quincy.”
His eyes slowly opened and relief surged through her. Glancing up at them, he muttered, “What the hell...?”
“Let’s get him into the barn, out of the sun,” Jenny ordered.
Egan and Jude prepared to lift their brother to his feet, but Quincy suddenly stood up on his own. Staggering a little, Quincy took several steps, and Jude and Egan were there to catch him if they needed to. Jenny hurried ahead with the cloth and water as they made their way inside the barn.
Quincy eased onto a bale of hay. “What’s my shirt doing open?”
“How do you feel?” Jenny asked, taking his pulse.
He pulled his arm away. “Fine. I blacked out for a minute, that’s all.”
Sliding his shirt away, she said, “Look at your arm and ribs. You need to go to the emergency room. You might have fractures or even a broken bone.”
“Stop fussing, it’s nothing.”
She placed her hands on her hips. “Okay, Quincy Rebel, this is the way it’s going to go. Jude is bringing your truck and you and I are going to Temple to the emergency room. That’s it. No arguments.”
“I’m not going to the ER for a bruise. That’s my last word.”
Dealing with the bull was easier than dealing with Quincy. It definitely had something to do with that Rebel manly pride. Men! She looked at Egan and Jude. “I need you to help me get him in the truck.”
“Jenny, if I feel bad tomorrow, I’ll go.” Quincy made a last-minute effort, but she wasn’t having any of it. He was hurt and he was going.
She pulled her phone out of her back pocket and Quincy’s dark eyes watched her.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling your mother. I have a feeling she’ll say otherwise.”
“I make my own decisions.” He frowned so deep his forehead looked like ruts.
She shrugged. “I’m a nurse and I can see you’re hurt and I’m going to do everything I can to get you to a doctor. That’s it. Let’s go or I’m calling your mother.”
“You play dirty.”
“Yeah. I learned from the best.”
Their eyes locked for a minute. Hers were determined. His just as determined. Grimacing, he got to his feet and snapped up his shirt. Jude and Egan followed them to the truck. With a scowl, Quincy got in. Jenny ran around to the driver’s side.
“Egan, could you unsaddle my horse? I don’t want her to stand out there with the saddle on while I’m gone.”
“Sure thing, we’ll take care of your horse. Just take care of Quincy.”
Jenny backed out and off they went to Temple. Quincy leaned his head against the seat and closed his eyes.
“Try not to go to sleep. You probably have a concussion.” She hated to be so bossy, but his welfare was at stake.
He sat up straight. “What are you doing at Rebel Ranch, Jenny? I thought you were starting over without any contact with the Rebels. Yet, here you are. I’m just wondering what’s going on.”
The tone of his voice was laced with anger and she didn’t blame him. She was being pushy, but she had a reason. “I was out checking my dad’s herd. We sold some cows and calves and, as you know, mama cows will look for their calves even when they weigh six hundred pounds. While I was near your property, I noticed Prairie Flower and Snowbird were fighting, or nipping at each other like horses are known to do. Since they’re both pregnant, I thought you might be concerned, so I put Snowbird in her stall until you can figure out what to do. I was just leaving when y’all rode in with the bull.”
“Uh...thanks...I guess. I’m not in a thanking mood right now.”
“Really? No one could have ever guessed.”
They arrived at the emergency room and nothing else was said. Jenny waited at the nurse’s desk while they checked Quincy’s shoulder and ribs. She talked to the nurse on duty and then took a chair and waited some more. Her feelings were bursting all over the place, a
nd she was still feeling the aftereffects of her thoughts about Quincy.
They’d been friends for so long. Could friendship have turned into something more for her? Her thoughts were always on Paxton, but lately she’d been noticing a lot about Quincy. Mainly because he was always there when she needed someone. That wasn’t love. That was friendship. Round and round her thoughts went, torturing her.
Her new life had just taken a detour into absurdity. Or maybe into something wonderful?
Chapter Seven
Quincy was in pain—piercing, burning hot pain. But he would never admit that, especially to Jenny. He lay on an examining table while a doctor inspected his shoulder and ribs. The smell of antiseptic, alcohol and something he couldn’t describe clogged his senses. They X-rayed his shoulder and ribs and he waited, rather impatiently.
Memories of Jenny floated through his mind like bits of driftwood, jarring and disturbing. His heart knocked painfully in his chest. What was she doing back at the ranch? She’d explained, but...
The curtain opened and the object of his distress walked in. “Hey, cowboy, are you still mad?”
He swallowed to ease the dryness in his throat. His mouth tasted as if he’d been sucking on cotton. “At myself.”
She smoothed his tousled hair and then laid the back of her hand against his forehead. Don’t touch me. But the softness of her hand against his skin made all thoughts leave him. Other parts of his body were on fire now and he wanted her to leave. He didn’t want her to see him like this.
She reached for his right hand and took his pulse. “Steady and strong. Good.”
Yeah, that was his thought, too.
“Are you in pain?”
“No,” he lied without a second thought.
Closing his eyes, he tried to relax. His arm was hurting and he just wanted Jenny to leave. He’d gotten used to being without her and he didn’t want to rouse all those old feelings again. Not that they had ever left. He’d adjusted, though.
