Meanwhile, Raney kept Timmy entertained. They read to each other, went over the flash cards again, watched cartoons on the ceiling-mounted TV. Later, she went downstairs, got a dinner plate, and came back up and ate with him while his parents ate in the cafeteria.
Nine o’clock came. Nine thirty. Still, no call. Raney was thinking of pacing in the hall, when her cell buzzed again.
“We made it!” Dalton almost shouted. “We’re in the Futurity finals, baby! Can you believe it?”
“That’s wonderful!” She could hardly hear him because of all the background noise, but she got the gist of it. She slumped against the wall, her heart thudding and her mind spinning. She wanted to do a happy dance, cry, raise a fist in triumph. Instead, she closed her eyes and whispered, “Thank you, God.”
“Gotta go. Some of the trainers are heading to a later supper. Oh, and our draw is 8, so we’re in the first go. We have to be ready by five P.M. Can you make it?”
“Absolutely! I’m so proud of you and Rosco. Have you called Mama?”
“You do it. Love you. Later.”
Once Raney settled down, she called Mama and gave her the news. It still didn’t seem real. For a debuting trainer to make the Futurity finals was almost too good to be true. But Dalton had done it.
Mama was excited, too. She didn’t say anything about boxer underwear or men’s deodorant being in her room, and Raney certainly didn’t bring it up. They talked for a minute about the baby, the new parents, and how well Len and Ryan were doing. “And did I tell you I heard from KD?” Mama said. “She sent the cutest little glockenspiel for Lyric, although it’ll be months before she can start banging on it, thank the Lord.”
“What’s a glockenspiel?”
“Some sort of keyboard percussion instrument. Sounds like bells. You hear them in Christmas music.” Mama went on to say that KD was still in Germany, but would be getting new orders any day. “Probably Middle East or Africa. She can’t say where, but the whole area is a war zone, so I’m already starting to worry.”
“Don’t,” Raney said. “KD can take care of herself.” Raney hoped that was true.
“You’re right,” Mama said. “Instead I’ll worry about what you’re going to do with all Dalton’s winnings. It’s a sizable amount for those who make the finals. Have you decided how you’re going to handle that?”
Raney wasn’t sure why her mother was interested. “I believe it all goes to the owners, and they share it with the trainer if they so choose.”
“Just don’t give him all of it. He might misunderstand.”
“Misunderstand what?”
“You know how men are. How is Timmy?”
Grateful for the change in subject, Raney said he was doing well enough to go home tomorrow. “I’ll head back to Fort Worth then. Dalton and Rosco are riding in the first group, so I need to be there no later than four. I’ll go directly to the trailer. If you can, take the hotel shuttle to the arena early, so you can get us good seats. Look for Press. He might be there, too. The finals! I still can’t believe it!”
Hours later, she was still in disbelief, but eventually fell into an exhausted sleep with Dalton’s name whispering through her mind.
* * *
She awoke early, showered, dressed, and was on her way to the hospital by eight thirty. If she was to make it back to the arena by four, she’d have to leave no later than eleven, and she wanted to tell the Cardwells good-bye before she left.
As she came through the hospital doors, she saw Dalton’s parents exiting the elevator. Mr. Cardwell waved and hurried on down the hall, while Mrs. Cardwell waited for Raney. “Glad you came early,” she said as Raney walked up. “Looks like they’ll be discharging Timmy fairly soon.”
“Great! He had a good night?”
“Yes, praise the Lord. Dad’s going to the accounting office to take care of the paperwork, and I thought I’d grab something from the cafeteria for the trip home. Timmy was worried he wouldn’t see you before we left. Why don’t you go on up and give him your good-byes? We’ll be along directly.”
As soon as Raney walked into his room, Timmy gave her a big smile and asked the same question he had asked her every time she’d arrived, even if she’d been gone only a few minutes.
“Where’s Dalton? Did Dalton come, too?”
He seemed fixated on where his brother might be. It had seemed amusing and touching at first, but now Raney was beginning to wonder if there was more to it than that. And now, when Raney said Dalton didn’t come, tears filled Timmy’s eyes.
“Timmy, what’s wrong?”
“He’s mad at me. He’s going away again.”
“No, he’s not mad at you, Timmy. Why would you think he’s mad at you?”
“It’s not my fault my arm broke.” More tears rolled down his cheeks.
“Of course it isn’t.” Raney moved over to sit on the edge of the bed. She took Timmy’s good hand in hers. “What’s wrong, Timmy?”
“I don’t like it when Dalton goes away.”
“He’s not going away. He’s at the horse show, remember?”
“I didn’t mean to fall.”
Raney patted the big hand in hers. “He knows, Timmy. He’s not mad at you.”
He looked up with tear-filled eyes. “He’s not going to the bad place?”
“What bad place?”
“I’m not supposed to tell.”
His gaze moved past Raney and she turned to see the Cardwells in the doorway. They looked distressed, too. “Timmy’s upset,” she told them. “He’s afraid Dalton’s going away again. Do you know what he’s talking about?”
The Cardwells exchanged a glance. Mr. Cardwell gave a slight nod and stepped around his wife into the room. “Let’s get you ready to go home, Timmy.”
Mrs. Cardwell remained in the doorway. She motioned to Raney. “Best come with me, Raney. We can talk in the waiting area by the nurses’ station.”
Raney rose from the bed
