Angie leaned forward, her head resting against Ben’s shoulder. “Thank you, Ben,” she whispered.
The old horse nickered and Angie looked over at Red. “Please give him a cookie,” she said her heart aching at the thought that Jace might never see the horse’s ears prick at the word again.
“I’ll take good care of him darlin’,” the old wrangler said. “You go on over and see what’s happening.”
An ATV came bouncing into the yard, Kade Ballard sitting up on the back part of the seat holding a dazed Jace in front of him. Angie pushed her chair recklessly across the road to the waiting ambulance and past the crowd of curious onlookers that had begun to gather. An EMT helped Kade get Jace onto a stretcher but the sound of a racing horse made everyone look back down the trail as Chase galloped into the yard, pulling his horse to a skidding halt and leaping from the saddle before the animal had stopped.
“Is he all right?” Angie asked not knowing who to address. “Is Jace going to be okay?”
“We’ll take him to the hospital,” the man in the EMT uniform said pushing toward the back of the Ambulance.
“Kade, what’s going on?” Michelle hurried from the house her little girl clinging to her while Kadence gazed around her legs curiously.
“Jace got knocked out,” Kade said as the ambulance doors slammed shut.
“Angie, you come with me.” Michelle barked handing her two children off to their father. “I know you won’t rest until you’re sure Jace is going to be fine.”
Kade took Olivia in his big hands settling her onto the seat in front of him while Kadence climbed on behind then tipped his head to Michelle accepting her quick kiss. “Be careful,” he drawled.
Angie smiled with relief as she and Michelle turned down the drive. She wasn’t sure she could have driven herself to the hospital, and a new wave of thankfulness swamped her.
“Go on,” Chase agreed as Phil joined him and began calmly dispersing the guests. “One of our wranglers took a tumble,” the auburn-haired woman said, offering a kind grin. “He’ll be all right, after all, he’s Chase’s cousin, and we know all those boys have hard heads.”
A nervous laugh rippled through the onlookers, but moments later they had moved on toward their planned activities.
“Come on,” Michelle said heading toward the parking lot. “My car is closest.”
***
A half-hour later Angie and Michelle were sitting in the waiting room of the local hospital, impatient to hear how Jace was. Michelle had kept the ranch up to date on any news and had finally heard of Angie’s wild ride home to get help.
“I’m pretty impressed,” she said clicking off the phone and turning to Angie. “You rode all the way home at a full gallop when you wouldn’t even get on a horse just a few days ago.”
“Jace has helped me,” Angie’s voice was soft, full of worry. “I hope he’s okay.”
“I’m sure we’ll know something soon.” Michelle dropped a hand to Angie’s wrist. “You want some coffee or anything?”
“No, I’m good.”
“You like him don’t you?” Michelle’s question came out of left field, catching Angie by surprise, and she didn’t answer immediately as she thought the question over.
“I do,” she finally stated. “He’s a good guy and has been so helpful. Besides I’m on Spring Break and there’s nothing like a holiday crush to see a girl through long hours of study.”
Michelle shook her head. “Good try,” she laughed. “I can see that there’s more to it than that. You should tell him.”
“Michelle, I’m only here for a few more days. A two week trip to a dude ranch is hardly going to result in undying love and devotion.”
“Why? You were only here a week last time and we all remembered you and love you.”
Angie gasped meeting the woman’s dark eyes.
“Angie you’re special,” Michelle continued before the girl could protest. “You’re like a little angel God sends into a life for a brief time to bring blessing. In all the time, any of us have spent with you, you have never once complained about your handicap. You just accept it for what it is and work to do your best anyway. You rush in like an April shower bathing everyone on your sweet presence and kindness. Don’t steal Jace’s chance at falling for you just because you think it is too soon. That should be up to him.”
Angie opened her mouth to reply, but before she could say anything Michelle had hurried from the room digging in her purse for a handful of change, as her words worked their way through the chinks in Angie’s armor.
Was she denying her chance at something special with the cowboy who had all but stolen her heart already? Did he care for her the way she knew she could care for him? She thought about the brief kiss only a short time ago and heat filled her. A soft warmth like the sigh of a crackling fire in a fireplace.
“Miss, are you here about Mr. Anson?” a nurse asked as she walked into the drab waiting area.
“Yes, I’m Angie, his… his friend.”
“Well, he’s been asking for you if you’ll come along. I think he’ll be calmer knowing you’re all right. You are aren’t you?”
“I’m fine,” Angie grinned pushing her wheels to follow the nurse. “I’ll be better when I see Jace though.”
Angie’s face fell when she saw Jace lying on the stiff bed his head wrapped in a white bandage. “Oh,” she gasped noting the smear of blood on his forehead.
“Angie,” Jace lifted his head flinching at the action, but the hand he reached out to her was steady.
“Jace, don’t move.”
The cowboy grinned. “I think I’ve heard that a few times already. I’m just relieved to see you. This was pretty stupid,” he added
