Cowgirl Strong

by Jenny Hammerle

  “Why are you angry with me?”

  “From now on, you have to wear underpants, of some sort.”

  “I don’t think I’ve got anything she hasn’t seen before.”

  Rachael decided to drop it for now, but the conversation was far from over. What was he thinking?

  She walked over and helped him to sit up by using the automatic bed to lift his weight into a more upright position. While holding the sheet firmly in place he slowly swung his legs around to dangle just off the bed. He grasped the edge of the bed, teeth gritted, but never made a noise.

  Rachael opened the gown and had Travis put his arms in it. Afterwards it was draped covering his lap to his upper thighs.

  “Can you stand up?”

  “My legs aren’t broke if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “Ha. Ha.” Rachael wasn’t amused.

  He gently shifted to the edge of the bed and stood up slowly.

  “If they’d let us leave now, I could walk out of here.”

  “Not like this you couldn’t.”

  “Hold the back of that gown closed.” Rachael ordered.

  She picked the sheet up from his feet where it’d fallen to the floor and folded it neatly placing it back on the foot of the bed.

  “Could you hurry it up back there? I’m catching a chill.” He teased.

  Rachael rolled her eyes at him and started tying the top string near his shoulders. While his jeans and shirt were filthy, he still smelled of cologne, and a morning shower. She placed a light kiss on his bare shoulder above where the neckline exposed his skin.

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” He warned.

  “That was a I hope you feel better soon peck. Nothing more.”

  “Too bad for me.”

  Rachael quickly tied the strings at the middle of his back. He let go of the back of the gown and she quickly turned away, catching a peek of his very nicely shaped butt.

  He sat back down on the edge of the bed to steady himself.

  “Please grab the wheelchair.”

  His face looked pained and she could see he wasn’t well. She thought he flashed her on purpose, but quickly realized something else was wrong. She quickly procured the wheelchair and brought it over to him. She ran to the door and called for the nurse who happened to be waiting just outside.

  “I need your help to get him in the wheelchair.”

  She nodded and came into the room. After he was situated in the chair and the foot rests were placed under his feet, the nurse covered his lap and legs with a warmed hospital blanket. Travis closed his eyes.

  “I’ll wheel him down to radiology. We shouldn’t be more than fifteen minutes or so.”

  “Okay.” Rachael looked at him. He didn’t look well. “Have you given him anything for pain?”

  “Mary, the RN, did just before you came in. It should be kicking in shortly.” At Rachael’s concerned stare she added “He lost quite a bit of blood and once the meds kick in he’ll be very sleepy.”

  Rachael kissed his cheek and could see what the blonde said was correct. He looked like he could pass out any moment. She wheeled him down the hall and through another set of double doors. They were gone.

  Rachael went back in, spying the shirt on the chair. She looked at it from a distance. The nurse had said he’d lost quite a bit of blood. From where Rachael stood the side of the shirt facing up just looked dirty, muddied. She walked over and picked it up, opening it and holding it up to examine it more closely. The side facing down on the jeans was covered in blood.

  Travis’ blood.

  It had a tear in it which could more accurately have been described as an actual hole. The cow had hooked him and then apparently raked her horn up, or down as the case may be, his side. His ribs were obviously bruised and maybe even broken. Rachael was hitting freak-out mode and instantly felt badly for giving him a hard time about the lack of boxers.

  “It’s not as bad as it looks.” Mrs. Baxter said from the doorway. She handed Rachael a coffee. “Accidents like these are a common occurrence on a ranch, but they’re seldom serious.”

  “I’ll be honest- it’s freaking me out.”

  “I was more bothered by the lack of underwear. The first nurse wasn’t much older than y’all and while I’m sure she’s seen just about everything in her line of work- a handsome young cowboy sans underwear was more than even she could bear. She asked him if he had a girlfriend.”

  “Oh, really.” Rachael knew what she’d be buying him for a belated birthday gift. He was sorely mistaken if he thought she’d let this go after learning about that.

  “Don’t worry. He was quick to say he was dating a beautiful girl.” Mrs. Baxter put her arm around Rachael’s shoulders. “And that you are. In ranching Rachael, these types of things come with the territory. Try not to fret over it. He’s only been seriously injured twice in eighteen years.”

  “I guess that’s not so bad.” Rachael looked around. “Where’s Mr. Baxter?”

  “He went to help Tristan and Maysie. You know him, he worries about leaving them alone for too long.” She gave a knowing look.

  Chapter Eight

  Rachael’s phone rang.

  “It’s my mother. I better take this.”

  Mrs. Baxter nodded in agreement.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “I heard about Travis.”

  “I’m at the hospital, now.”

  “How is he?”

  “I’m sure he’ll be fine. It’s a nasty cut though. He may have a few broken ribs.”

  “He is a cowboy, honey.”

  “Until today it just seemed so glamorous.”

  “Not to mention super masculine.” Her mother added.

  “That, too.”

  “That’s life. Can I speak with Ginnie?”

  Rachael held the phone out to Mrs. Baxter. “Mom wants to talk to you.”

  “Hi.” Mrs. Baxter paused, listening. “Well we’ve certainly seen better days, and worse too.” Mrs. Baxter sat nodding her head and laughing from time to time. “I’m afraid she’s getting a crash course in Ranching 101 today. First the injury and then the whole no underwear thing. It’s been a tough day on poor Rachael.”

  Isn’t anything personal around here?

  “Okay. I will make up the guest room for her if and when we get released tonight. Take care.” Mrs. Baxter handed the phone back to Rachael. She patted her knee. “Most cowboys don’t wear underwear, sweetie to hear Mr. Baxter tell it, it has something to do with chafing. I personally think it’s because they wear those jeans so darned tight. There’s no space for anything else.” She smiled. “Mr. Baxter has always called his jeans Stranglers, instead of the name brand. Another favorite is his ‘anti-theft pants’.”

  “So you’re saying this isn’t something I can change.”

  “Probably not.” Mrs. Baxter thought about it for a moment. “Except dress slacks on Sundays.”

  “I hope you’re right. He’s like an unrefined ruffian and I never realized it.”

  “You’re going to have to reform many of his ways. That’s marriage to a man.”

  “Don’t tell me he drinks out of the cartons and all that other nasty guy stuff.”

  “He does. Milk, juice, you name it. I like when he uses the last of the cereal and puts the empty box back. He always blames Maysie, but we both know it was him. I think he does that just to annoy us.”

  “Don’t share all of my secrets, Mama.” The nurse appeared wheeling Travis into the room. He looked groggier than before. She helped him into the bed and laid him back at a more comfortable angle. He was out in less than a minute.

  “We’re just waiting on the results of the chest scan?” Mrs. Baxter asked her.

  “Yes. The doctor will read them and be in shortly. We should have you out of here in an hour or so.” The nurse left and closed the door softly behind her.

  “Travis told me y’all are looking at going to school in Gainesville. Are you excited?” His mother prompted.r />
  “There’s so much to plan between now and then.”

  “Going off to school together is exciting. With the two of you it seems the natural progression of things. He knew he liked you the moment he first saw you playing in the creek on the ranch. He said you were catching tadpoles.”

  “Really? What else did he say?”

  “He came home that day and told me he’d met the girl he was going to marry. He told me how pretty you were, with the longest tanned legs he’d ever seen. Blonde, wildly curly hair. He hadn’t planned on taking you air boating. Your aunt had mentioned you, and he politely said he and Maysie would be glad to show you around. Then he caught sight of you and everything changed. He couldn’t make plans to take you out on the water soon enough. Of course I never told Maysie any of this. I suspected y’all would become close friends and my Maysie never could keep her brother’s secrets.”

  Rachael nodded her head in agreement. If Maysie had known all along that Travis had liked Rachael, she would’ve revealed all from day one.

  “Things always work out the way they’re supposed to, Rachael, and in God’s timing.”

  “I’m beginning to grasp that concept more and more.”

  “I hope he’ll be well enough to play football in a few weeks. It being his senior year and all.” Mrs. Baxter commented.

  “I hadn’t considered that.” Rachael added.

  “He’d be so disappointed if he couldn’t.”

  “I’m bruised up, not dead.” He grinned his cocky smile, eyes still closed.

  “Look, he’s awake.” His mother feigned shock.

  “How long have I been out?”

  “Thirty minutes or so. Not long.” His mother advised.

  “So what did y’all discuss?”

  “You mostly.” Rachael teased.

  “Should I be nervous?”

  “It’s our little secret.” His mother stood and went over to tenderly hug him.

  The doctor came in a short while later carrying a chart.

  “Well Mr. Baxter it looks like you’ll live to ride another day.”

  “Good news.”

  “You don’t have any broken ribs, but there is some bruising and those stitches will need to come out in the next ten to twelve days. As for medication, I’ve brought you a prescription for both a pain killer and an antibiotic. Follow up with your family doctor.”

  “We’ll do that next week.” Mrs. Baxter nodded.

  “We’re all finished here then. A person from the office will be in to discharge you shortly and you’ll be free to go.”

  After the doctor walked out, Mrs. Baxter produced a plastic bag from the gift shop downstairs.

  “I picked you up a clean pair of pajama pants and an extra-large t-shirt.” She jokingly handed the bag to Rachael who quickly shook her head back and forth, refusing the bag, thrusting it back on Mrs. Baxter.

  “No, thank you. Nearly seeing his backside once was enough.”

  “The way I see it…it’s going to be your backside in a few years.” She shook her finger at Rachael.

  Rachael laughed at her joke and bounded out of the room to wait in the hallway outside. Another nurse appeared with some paperwork, more meds in little cups, and a clipboard.

  “Can I go in?”

  “Sure. He should be finished by now.”

  Rachael followed her into the room. She had to laugh at the lime green t-shirt with fruit across the front.

  “It was all they had. Part of some healthy eating initiative.” Mrs. Baxter defended her choice. “The pants are even better.” Mrs. Baxter signed and initialed the last of the discharge papers.

  Another nurse came into the room, a large man this time, wheeling another wheelchair. He assisted Travis out of the bed and into the chair. Travis was wearing a pair of hot pink pajama pants covered in limes.

  Rachael burst out in giggles. Mrs. Baxter fought back fits of laughter, as well.

  “I’m so happy the two of you can bond and have a good laugh at my expense.” Travis chided.

  “That’s what you get for going without britches, Son.”

  “Tough luck man.” The male nurse commiserated with Travis. “Gored by a cow and forced to wear pink pants. That’s what I’d call a rough day.”

  The male nurse, Rodney, wheeled Travis toward the exit doors. Mrs. Baxter excused herself to go outside and bring around her SUV. When she pulled under the porte cochere, Rachael hurried forwards to open the passenger side door. Rodney supported him as he stepped into the vehicle. Rachael went over to buckle Travis up. If the seat belt caused him any discomfort he didn’t let on. She reclined the seat a little to take some of the pressure off the wound. She remembered how sore she’d been since her riding accident on Creamsicle, and while her ribs looked nowhere near this bad, she remembered how much it hurt to sit upright.

  Rachael gently closed the door and climbed in the backseat behind Travis and his mother. She felt relieved to hear him snoring lightly. He was resting peacefully at last.

  “I didn’t know he was a snorer.” She whispered.

  “Don’t worry about waking him, honey.” His mother laughed at Rachael’s quiet tone. “Once these Baxter men fall asleep, you can’t wake them!” She patted her son’s leg. “As for the snoring, be glad he doesn’t snore like his daddy. Now that man snores.”

  Rachael rode in silence for a while.

  “Your mother knew we’d be late and asked me to bring you home tomorrow. Would you like to sleep in our guest room?”

  “That would be nice. Thank you. I’m beat and now that he seems okay, I think I might actually be able to sleep.” Rachael yawned.

  “Me, too.” His mother seemed more relieved than even Rachael was. Rachael wondered why. She caught her change in tone. Mrs. Baxter continued, “I was worried he may have bruised internal organs, his kidneys or lungs, but the scan showed all is well.”

  “I only knew about the x-ray.”

  “The other scan was done before you arrived.”

  “What time was he injured?”

  “Around eleven o’clock this morning.”

  “JJ said it happened in the morning. Why didn’t anyone come and get me sooner? Or call?” Rachael found it difficult to hide her aggravation.

  “These hard-headed Baxter men. They didn’t call me until around two o’clock. When I got here and saw it for myself- and found out that it may have involved some organs, I was not happy. I called JJ and asked him to go pick you up. I didn’t think you should drive yourself.”

  “Thank you for thinking of me. When Travis is better I’m going to talk to him about that. If I’m going to be in his life, I need to be one of the first people he calls. Not the last.”

  “Absolutely.”

  Rachael was fuming. So much for sleeping well. Her mind was in gear now and all she wanted to do was straighten Travis out. They pulled into the driveway and up to his house. Mr. Baxter must’ve been waiting up because he appeared on the front porch within half a minute to help haul Travis inside.

  Rachael jumped out and opened the car door for them. Travis awoke and gingerly stepped out of the vehicle. His father carried at least half his weight across his stout shoulders. Mrs. Baxter raced up the front steps and onto the porch to hold the front door open for them.

  “On second thought,” she pointed toward the family room, “let’s put him in the downstairs guest bedroom. He can’t make it upstairs.”

  They assisted him through the downstairs to the bedroom suite. It had its own bathroom. Rachael pulled the blankets back and stacked pillows up at an angle so he wouldn’t be lying flat. She helped to cover him after his father got him settled. She sat on the edge of the bed while Mrs. Baxter brought him a glass of water and some crackers on a plate along with a banana.

  “I’ll be back with a pair of socks.” She disappeared upstairs.

  “Come and get me tonight if you need anything.” Mr. Baxter patted her head like she was one of his own children, bent to kiss her goodnight on the fo
rehead, and disappeared upstairs as well.

  Mrs. Baxter returned and handed Rachael a pair of socks.

  “He likes socks when he’s sick, ever since he was a little boy.” She kissed his forehead.

  “Okay.”

  “You can sleep upstairs in one of the guestrooms. I also put a stack of blankets and a pillow on the couch in the living room. Your choice.” She turned and walked slowly toward the door. “And honey, if you fall asleep in here it’s okay this once. I don’t think he’ll be any trouble tonight.” She smiled.

  “Goodnight, Mama.” He slurred out.

  “Goodnight, baby.”

  Rachael stood and checked his breathing. He was already back to sleep. She went out to the kitchen to get a glass of water. On the couch in the living room she found the blankets and pillow, as well as some small pajamas. Neatly folded on top there was a short handwritten note.

  “I picked you up a matching set. Figured you’d be more comfortable. Mama B.”

  Rachael unfolded the shirt and bright pink lime clad pants. She went to the bathroom and slipped them on. What they lacked in style and design they more than made up for in comfort. The pants were unbelievably soft, and the t-shirt loose and roomy. She went to check on Travis one more time. She made herself a pallet at the foot of the bed.

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” He drawled out. “I can’t even lift my head.” He patted the bed.

  “I’m bringing my own blankets and sleeping on top of the sheets.” She joked.

  She went back out to the couch and grabbed her blankets. By the time she came back in, he was out of bed stumbling to the restroom.

  “Don’t fall! Should I go get your dad?”

  “I’ve got it.” He shut the door.

  Rachael listened for a loud thud and was relieved when none came. She continued listening. The flush of the toilet was followed by running sink water and apparent hand washing.

  He may drink out of cartons and lack other refinements, but at least he washes his hands!

  She heard him brushing his teeth, then spit and rinse. He opened the door and came out climbing back into bed. He moved very slowly and this time opted to lay on his side, right side facing up.

  Rachael covered him up.