Travis rushed over and his team halted fire.
“You okay?”
“I think I might have twisted my ankle.” Rachael lay there in exaggerated agony, holding her ankle, and wincing in pain.
While Travis tended to Rachael and her ankle, three guys on his team got shot and were out of the game. It was now down to Clay, Travis, and Gabe. Rachael glanced over her shoulder at the girls who’d disappeared from sight into the blind.
“I think I’ll be all right now.” She jumped to her feet not even attempting a limp.
“Something tells me you were never injured in the first place.” Gabe narrowed his eyes at her.
“It’s probably just the adrenaline and all that, I’m sure it’ll be killing me later.” Rachael shrugged her shoulders and walked away. She could hear the exchange between Gabe and Travis where they hid on the opposite side of the climbing wall the girls had used as shelter only moments earlier.
“You gonna let her get away with that, man?” Gabe asked Travis.
“It was a smart tactical maneuver if you ask me. We’re the idiots that fell for it.”
While Rachael had been eliminated from the competition, she saw no reason why she couldn’t still be out there. She worked her way around to the blind where she went in to sit with Shannah and Maysie.
“Are you okay?” Maysie asked alarmed.
“I’m fine.”
“She was faking it goober.” Shannah added dryly.
“We’re cheaters!” Maysie exclaimed. “And cheaters never win.”
“No really- my ankle got twisted on the way down. It’s a little sore, nothing else.”
“That makes me feel better.” Maysie admitted. “I’m glad you’re actually hurt.”
“That our friend is actually injured?” Shannah held her finger to her lips. “They’re coming, I can smell Gabe’s cologne. Eau de stink.”
Maysie looked out the cutout and spied Clay running toward the blind. She shot him in the upper thigh, paint splattering on his leg. He fell to the ground and lay there playing dead. A shot sailed in through the back slit in the blind and hit Shannah square in the back.
“Crap!”
“Take him out, Maysie!”
Maysie whirled around and planted a paint ball square in her brother’s chest.
“Killed by my own sister! On my birthday!”
“It’s my birthday, too. We’re twins remember?”
There was silence from outside. No breathing or movement from anywhere.
“Where’s Gabe?” Rachael whispered.
Shannah looked out the back, while Maysie looked out the right, and Rachael the left.
“I don’t know. I can’t smell him anymore.” Shannah’s eyes narrowed. “It’s all up to you now, Maysie. Don’t let us down.”
“Oh I won’t.” Maysie gripped the stock of her paint ball gun. All of the girls listened in silence. After more than half an hour they began to lose patience and decided they may have to evacuate the blind.
“We could sit in here all day and Gabe may never attack us. I think he’s waiting for us to come out.” Shannah whispered.
Just then, the blind collapsed on the girls. Everyone screamed in the darkness fighting to get free. Rachael found a hole and pushed through it. Gabe let out a roar and pelted her with paintballs.
“I’m already dead, you jerk!”
In all the commotion Gabe hadn’t seen Maysie sneak out the back of the blind just before it collapsed. She was right behind him.
“But I’m not!” Maysie opened fire shooting him in his butt more than five times. Gabe fell to the ground in faked agony, holding his own backside.
“Okay, Maysie. You got me! You win!”
“One more for good measure, just to make sure.” Maysie splattered a final paint ball across his backside and turned to see who else pursued her. No one appeared to challenge her and Maysie was the self-declared winner.
“Let’s go celebrate our victory.” She announced.
Rachael jumped up and walked right over Gabe, narrowly missing stepping on his body. Shannah followed the same route, narrowly bypassing his outstretched hand.
“Please Shannah, be cool. Can’t we at least be friends?”
“A real friend would’ve had the guts to break up with me face to face. No thank you.”
Chapter Seven
Rachael sat cross-legged on the floor of Taffy’s stall late one afternoon.
“Hold still, Taffy.” She griped aloud.
Taffy lowered her nose to sniff the nail polish Rachael brushed on her left hoof. She sneezed blowing a little snot and spit on Rachael’s hand.
“Gross!” Rachael brushed the slime off her forearm.
Taffy stamped her hoof in protest sending sawdust and wood chips scattering. There was a fine dusting now stuck in her polish. Rachael exhaled and blew her bangs out of her eyes.
“What are you doing, now?” Shannah stood at the stall gate, arms resting on top, wearing a smirk.
“Painting Taffy’s nails. What does it look like?”
“They’re hooves, not nails.” Shannah laughed. “So are you going to the dance tryout next week?”
“I am. I hope they’ll take me after the stunt I pulled last year.”
“That was mostly Melinda’s fault.”
“Not really. I played my part in it as well. She never forced me to skip practice.”
“True. Speaking of Melinda, she just moved away. Justin joined the military and they eloped.”
“Eloped! Talk about crazy.” Rachael jumped to her feet trying to absorb what she just heard. “Eloped?”
“I guess she got her GED this summer. Just like that, she’s gone.”
The sound of an unfamiliar truck pulling up the driveway caught both of their attention. Travis was working branding last year’s heifers with Mr. Baxter today on the ranch, so Rachael knew it couldn’t have been him. She stood brushing the sawdust from her jammy pants and butt. She unlatched the stall door and patted Taffy once more before leaving her for the evening.
“Aren’t you going to turn her out?”
“No. It looks like rain.”
The girls walked back up to the house and around the side. In the front yard JJ’s Honcho sat idling in the driveway. It’d been a while since Rachael had last seen him. He cut the engine and climbed out. His face looked bleak and Rachael couldn’t imagine what could’ve brought him over in such a state.
He was wearing jeans and boots. They were caked in mud and what looked like crap, cow crap. He usually wore shorts, no shirt, and no shoes. Rachael knew attired like this, and as filthy as he was, there was only one place he could’ve come from.
The cowpens on Baxter Ranch.
“Hello, Miss Rachael.” He took off his hat and held it in his hands. “I wish I could say this was a social visit, but it ain’t.”
“What’s wrong? Is Travis okay?”
“He’s fine but whilst we wus in the pens this mornin’ he got hurt.”
Rachael’s heart ached and panic filled her mind, sending it reeling. “What kind of hurt?”
“He was manning the head catch and a cow swung her head grazin’ his side. You know how it can be taggin’ and dewormin’, Miss Rachael. It’s dangerous work. Think he needs a few stitches is all. He’s up at the hospital now.”
Rachael realized that even after her summer working on the ranch and part of last school year as well, she had no idea what JJ was talking about. She’d spent most of her time building fences, both board and barbed wire. She’d also become an expert in all things related to barn cleaning. She’d even spent time in the saddle working cattle, but she’d never set foot in the cowpens. What is a head catch?
“Let me get changed, JJ.”
“I’ve come to give you a ride. Mrs. Baxter and Maysie are already on their way to the hospital.”
“I’ll only be a minute.”
Rachael ran inside and slipped on a pair of jeans, shirt, and grabbed a hair tie. She washed he
r face and hands. She grabbed her perfume and sprayed her neck and dabbed some at both wrists. A quick tooth brushing and swish of mouthwash would have to suffice.
A light rap on the doorjamb, she glanced and saw Michael. She spit into the sink.
“Come on. Travis is at the hospital. He got hurt and we’re going to see him.”
“What kind of hurt?”
“Something about a cow cutting his side.”
“He got gored!”
“Not gored. Really, Michael? I hope not.”
“Sorry, Rachael- I’m just shocked.”
“Grab your shoes and meet me outside.”
Rachael sprinted up the hall and back out the front door. It had taken her less than five minutes, but felt like an eternity. Shannah must’ve gone home in light of the situation, her jeep was already gone from the front yard. Michael closed the front door and jumped in JJ’s truck beside her, careful not to spill the spit can on the front seat.
“Pass me that ther’ can, Michael.” JJ took the can and dumped it outside on the ground, tossing the empty can in the back of the truck bed. While normally that might have made Rachael squeamish, she was far too concerned about Travis to concern herself with a pile of spit in her driveway.
Things raced through her mind. In the two years she’d known Travis, she’d never heard of anyone getting seriously injured on the Baxter Ranch. Sure, she’d heard the ranch hands grumble about getting tagged, also known as getting kicked, while legging calves…or nicking their fingers marking calves’ ears and all, but no substantial injuries. She herself had been bucked off of Creamsicle, and as a result suffered a concussion. Then there was the time she got the blister and a nasty splinter building fence. Of course, to Travis, those were very minor injuries, almost laughable with the exception of the concussion, which really seemed to worry him.
But this. Getting gored by a cow, this was something entirely different. Maybe she could convince him to take a desk job when they finished college. As soon as the idea formed in her head, she realized just how ridiculous it sounded. He’d never consider such a thing. He was a cowboy, through and through. A cowboy and a cattleman. The suggestion of him doing anything else was ridiculous.
JJ reached over and patted her hand.
“He’s gonna be just fine, Miss Rachael. You’ll see. He’s had worse.”
“Worse?”
“Well there was the time he got bucked off when he was five. The girth strap came loose after hours of riding. He wus young at the time. No one thought to retighten it. His saddle came loose and that horse went to buckin’. Launched him.” JJ laughed.
Rachael couldn’t see where this story was funny at all.
“He landed in a pile of saw palmettoes and hit a palmetto root with the weight of his body on his right arm. It broke.”
Rachael looked horrified. “Broke his arm getting bucked off at five years old?”
“This is a working ranch. Ain’t no preschool.”
“His parents made him work cows at five years old? Was this on a pony?”
“No.” JJ smiled. “Full sized horse. And there was no makin’ him do anything. You couldn’t leave that boy behind. Horses are to Travis like toy trucks or bikes are to other boys. He was something. I suspect y’all have one just like him. A whole lot physical and a little bit crazy.”
Rachael wanted to protest.
Absolutely not. Not my son!
But she knew in her heart JJ was probably right. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree was as true now as it was then. She was beginning to wonder if she’d be able to handle being married to a cowboy- and all that went with it. She didn’t want to worry all the time, but she didn’t want to be married to a wimp either. She loved Travis, cowboy side of him and all.
She bit her bottom lip the remaining twenty or so miles to town, until the hospital came into view. She saw Travis’ mothers SUV parked outside alongside his father’s truck. JJ pulled up to the emergency entrance where Rachael and Michael jumped out. He drove off to go park.
Rachael was inside in less than three long strides. She scanned the lobby and waiting areas. There was no sign of the Baxters. At the information desk there was a retired nurse wearing a volunteer badge and nametag. It read Helen. Rachael’s face must have communicated the dread she felt because the round faced, gray haired older woman merely handed her a visitor’s pass.
“He said you’d be coming.” She handed Michael one as well. “Take the hallway to your right. He’s in the room waiting for the doctor. I’ll buzz you back.”
Rachael and Michael approached the double doors and waited until they heard the click of the door. It opened automatically, then closed behind them. She could hear his father’s loud booming voice all the way out here and knew they must be nearby.
He was laughing, as was Mrs. Baxter, no doubt telling some insane story. Rachael followed the laughter and popped her head in. Travis lay on the bed, his head back and eyes closed.
“Try not to make me laugh. These ribs hurt like hell.”
Mr. and Mrs. Baxter turned to greet Rachael, but she merely smiled their way. Her only concern right now was Travis. His eyes opened and the hazel flecks in his vivid green eyes met hers.
“Hey, you.” He grinned.
She rushed over to his side. He was covered in a sheet up to his chest. A small smattering of black hair covered his amazing chest where it sat exposed at the sheet hemline.
“Hi, Michael. How are you?”
“Rethinking having accepted that job on the ranch during the weekends. How are you?”
Travis chuckled.
“Don’t go and do that. Levi needs help with fence. I’ve gotta train you guys for while I’m off at college next year. Accidents like this don’t happen all the time, and some we actually are able to laugh at down the road.”
“I guess so.” Michael didn’t look convinced.
JJ appeared in the opened door.
“Well, I’ve seen yur alive. I’m going to ride back out to the ranch and put the horses away. Need anything else?”
“If you could water the cow dogs and feed them I’d appreciate it.” Mr. Baxter advised him.
“Wanna ride with me?” JJ asked Michael.
“Can I?” He asked Rachael.
“Sure, Mom will be home from work around five o’clock. Make sure you text or call her if you’re going to be later.”
“Always do.” Michael gave her a thumbs up, and disappeared with JJ down the hall.
“Where’s Maysie?” Rachael asked.
“She and Tristan went to go finish working cows. Can’t leave them standing in the pens overnight. They’ll get stressed. It’s one of the hottest Augusts on record.” Mr. Baxter spoke like these were all things Rachael already knew. “Come on.” He held his hand out to his wife. “Let’s go get some food. Hungry Travis?”
“Starved.”
Left alone, Rachael went over and kissed Travis’ cheek. He reached up and held her jaw.
“It’s not bad. I’ve had worse.”
“So I’ve heard.” Her voice was tight.
“Take a look. It’ll make you feel better.”
Rachael went to lift the sheet close to his waistline. He grabbed her wrist, stopping her.
“Don’t pull that thing too low. You’ll get an eyeful.”
She glanced over at the chair in the corner where his crap covered jeans and shirt were draped. His boots and socks set just beneath it on the floor. She didn’t see any undergarments- of any kind.
She put her hands on her hips and frowned. “Are you telling me you’re naked under there?”
“I don’t wear underwear, Rachael.”
“What? Never?”
“Hate the things.”
“And so now you’re in here without ... drawers?”
For lack of a better word she used drawers. She’d never used that word in her entire life, but she felt odd saying underwear. Maybe she’d start using the word boxers instead. It was less personal, e
ven she wore boxers. Just then a very attractive blonde haired nurse poked her head in to the room.
“In a few minutes I’ll be taking you down for x-rays, Mr. Baxter.” She chirped and then walked away.
“Thank you, Ma’am.” He responded.
“I think not.” Rachael scowled. “You’re not going anywhere butt naked! Especially with some young, pretty nurse.”
“Don’t be ridiculous Rachael. She’s a trained professional. She sees naked people all the time.”
“Oh and so if I were laying around naked in a hospital bed wearing no pants, and some hottie walked in to take me for x-rays, you’d be okay with that?”
“Good point, but I never wear boxers or tightywhities ... nada. I wasn’t exactly planning this injury. My mother just gave me the same speech, Rachael.” He closed his eyes.
“I’m not happy.”
She lifted the sheet, careful not to lower it too much, and saw the harsh line where the cow’s horn had cut him. It was already stitched up, but was about five inches in length.
“See, it’s nothing.”
“It’s not exactly nothing.” Tears filled her eyes.
“It’ll heal. We’ll do some x-rays to check for broken ribs and then they’ll send me on my way. You can play nurse.” He smacked her backside.
“This is no time to joke, Travis. You’re hurt and I hate it.” She wiped a stray tear that ran down her cheek.
The nurse appeared at the door again with a wheelchair. She carried a hospital gown, one of the pale blue ones that had ties up the back.
“Please help him into this. I’ll be back in two minutes.” At Rachael’s gaping stare she winked. “Or I could do it for you if you’d like to step outside.”
She had a syrupy voice and Rachael immediately disliked her.
“Nope. I’ve got it.” Rachael took the offered gown from her outstretched hand.
Travis chuckled from the bed.
“You’ll have to help him sit up. Tie it in the back.” The nurse instructed.
“Thanks.”
She walked over and closed the door. They were alone once again.
“I can do it myself.” Travis winced as he attempted to sit up.
“Be quiet. I’ll just close my eyes.”
Cowgirl Strong Page 7
