Lynette Eason - Rodeo Rescuer

The knock on the door startled them both. Tonya stood as the doctor walked in. “All right, Mr. Starke, you’re good to go. The nurse will be by with your papers shortly. Are you allergic to anything?”

Seth shot the orthopedist a sour look. “You mean besides the apparent newly acquired allergy of bull riding?”

Dr. Mobley smiled. “Yes.”

“Then that would be a no.”

“Excellent. I’ve prescribed you some painkillers in case you need them. You’ll probably be able to walk, but it won’t be comfortable. We’ll get you a wheelchair to get you out of here.”

Seth scowled. “No wheelchair. I’ll be fine. The fact that I can walk is better than any drug you’ve got.”

“All right, then. All the best to you.”

“Thanks.”

The nurse entered shortly after Dr. Mobley left. Seth signed the papers. “Do you need anything for pain before you go?”

Seth gave his leg a test move and stood. He gasped and gritted his teeth but was able to stay upright and keep the weight on it. Mostly. Relief pushed aside the pain. “No, the other drugs are just starting to wear off. I don’t need anything else right now.”

The nurse nodded, pulled her copies from the stack and handed Seth the others. “Take care of yourself.”

“Right.”

She looked at Tonya. “We haven’t seen the man you told us about. I think he may have left.”

“Good.”

Seth turned toward her. Tonya’s face was pale and frightened, but she lifted her chin up a notch. “Are you sure you’re all right?” he asked.

She drew in a deep breath. “I will be.” He took a step and hissed at the lightning that shot through his thigh. “What about you?” she asked.

“It hurts, but I’ll make it.”

Tonya stepped up beside him and wrapped an arm around his waist. “Lean on me if you need to.”

Her offer melted something inside him. When was the last time—discounting his family—someone had genuinely wanted to do something for him?

Just because. Not as an expectation that he would do something in return. He couldn’t remember. “I’d squash you.” But he wasn’t going to argue about the close proximity. Quite frankly, he relished it.

She frowned. “I’m stronger than I look.”

He settled her under his shoulder and took another deep breath. “All right, let’s go.”

“Just one thing.”

“What’s that?” he asked, looking down at her upturned face.

“I want to go out the back. I know I saw Hank here and I know he’s waiting on me to walk out the way we came in.”

THREE

Her heart trembled when Seth nodded and, without another word, led her toward the back exit. His limp was pronounced, but at least he was on his feet. She kept her head tilted toward him but her eyes bounced off each face she passed.

They exited the back of the ER into another part of the hospital. “Did you see him?” Seth asked.

“No.” But it didn’t mean he wasn’t watching. Just waiting for her to step outside the hospital, where she would be an easy mark. “He was in the emergency department,” she said. “I know it was him.”

“How do you think he got back there?”

“I told you. He’s charming.”

“How did he even know you were here?”

She swallowed and paused. Seth stopped and leaned against the wall to take the weight off his sore leg. Tonya noticed his ruggedly tanned cheeks were about two shades lighter than normal. “Hank saw me get in the ambulance. I spotted him and that’s why I wanted to hitch a ride with you.” She bit her lip. “I’m sorry.”

Realization dawned. “Ah. So all he had to do was call around and ask if I was in the ED. Pretend he was my brother or something and was looking for me.”

“Or simply follow the ambulance if his car was nearby.”

His lips quirked up in a half smile. “So, you weren’t so concerned about me—you were just trying to get away from him.”

Stricken, she grasped his hand. “Of course I was concerned—”

He placed a finger over her lips. “I’m just teasing, Tonya. I’m glad you hitched the ride with me. To tell you the truth, it was good to have you there.” She saw his Adam’s apple bob. “I didn’t feel so alone.”

Tonya blew out an unsteady breath and glanced back over her shoulder as his words resonated within her. She had been concerned, downright terrified for him. She closed her eyes and willed her heart to slow its racing beat. Don’t be attracted to him. Don’t even think about it. Haven’t you learned your lesson with Daniel? The harsh mental reprimand didn’t slow her heart rate, but the memory of Daniel’s death allowed her to put some emotional distance between her and Seth. She took a step and glanced over at him. “I think we should go.”

“How? We don’t have a car.”

“That’s why God invented cabs. Or we can call Jake. He offered to clean out his truck for you.”

Seth wrinkled his nose. “No way. I’ll take the cab.” They started walking again—or rather, she walked while Seth limped along beside her. Tonya’s gaze bounced off each person within eyesight. She finally drew in a steady breath and decided maybe Hank had given up and left. She didn’t fool herself into thinking it was a permanent absence, but as long as she could get Seth home safe, that was all that mattered right now.

She pulled out her phone and looked up the number for the cab company. Seth shifted and a low grunt escaped him. “You should have taken that offer of the wheelchair,” she murmured.

He shot her an insulted look. “Not this buckaroo.”

Tonya rolled her eyes, then tapped the number that popped up onto her screen. Within seconds she had a cab on the way. “I’m going back to my RV and pulling out,” she said softly.

“Where are you going to go? What about your job?”

She groaned. He had a good point. As of today, her reputation on the circuit was stellar. If she left now, her name in the industry would suffer. Was she willing to let Hank do that? He’d already taken away just about everything she cared about. Was she going to let him take this, too?

She lifted her chin. Seth was right—she had to finish the show. Then she could disappear. “Okay, then. As soon as the rodeo’s over, I’ll leave.” And cancel her other obligations until it was safe to surface again. She bit her lip as they continued their slow progress toward the lobby, where the cab would pick them up. “I can cancel the contest I was going to compete in next weekend.”

“You’re winning quite a few of those, aren’t you?”

She shrugged and smiled. “It’s a way to earn some extra money and I like them. The element of danger isn’t quite so nerve-racking.” Her smile slipped back into a frown. “But what am I going to do about Hank? What if he shows up at the rodeo tomorrow?”

“When we get back, we’ll move your motor home to another spot on the grounds. We’ll talk to rodeo security, make sure they’re keeping an eye on your place. We’ll also be up-front and honest about the fact that you have a stalker.”

They reached the lobby of the hospital and Tonya kept her back against one of the walls while she watched for the cab to pull up in the circular area.

When it did, she slipped an arm around Seth’s waist. He allowed her to help support him without a word. Which said a lot to her about his pain level. And stubbornness. His breath warmed her ear, threatening to shatter her composure.

With a steadying breath, and a refusal to acknowledge her rapid pulse, she helped him into the backseat of the cab then went around to the other side to get in behind the driver.

“You’re strong,” Seth said.

“I have to be.” He knew that, but she could see it still surprised him. She turned in the seat to look out the back window. No sign of Hank. But she knew that could be deceptive. She’d thought he was gone from her life at one time and he’d shown back up with a vengeance. Fear shivered through her. What was she going to do? The thought of facing him down terrified her. Lord, show me what to do.