“I’m fine,” Angie smiled her heart filling with pride. “I just aimed Ben toward home and told him you needed help. We raced all the way back to the ranch.”
“Raced?” Jace raised an eyebrow.
“Raced, I’ve never gone so fast before, but I held on just like you told me too, and Ben took us to get help. I made sure Red gave him a cookie,” she added a relieved giggle bubbling from her lips.
Jace’s chuckle was a sweet reward and he squeezed her hand. “It sounds like he earned it.”
“Jace, are you all right?” Angie squeezed his hand back and he sighed.
“The doctors are saying I have a mild concussion, but that I’ll be fine.”
Angie scooted closer still holding his hand. “I’m glad,” she whispered. “I wouldn’t want to lose someone I care about.” She lifted her eyes on the last word as fear clawed at her. She had told him, and those very words could push him away.
Jace’s eyes held hers, but he didn’t speak and as the tension built, she was sure he was going to tell her that he didn’t feel that way about her. Then something twisted in her heart, and she let it all go. She had gotten to know this kind, cowboy. She had shared this time with him, and if it was all she ever got, it would be enough. God had her future buttoned up she had to stop worrying about it.
“I was afraid I’d lost you too. I let you down.”
The look in Jace’s eyes pierced through Angie’s heart. “I’ll be here as long as you want me.”
Jace squeezed her hand and grinned. He looked tired but a light shone in his eyes that warmed Angie to her toes.
“There you are,” Michelle walked in a bright smile on her face and a Styrofoam cup in her hand. “Jace you look like you took a hit to the head.” The petite dark-haired woman teased, her eyes sparkling when she saw Angie and Jace’s linked hands. “I can see you’re in good hands though, so I’ll go call Phil and let her know.” Michelle winked at Angie as she turned away walking back out the door already pushing buttons on her phone.
Jace and Angie sat quietly for several minutes, neither speaking.
“Do you think they’ll let you go home today?” Angie finally asked. She hadn’t thought about the implications of racing off with Michelle to get to the hospital. How was she going to get home? How would Jace get back?
“I think the doctor will be back soon. I’ll know more then.” His thumb ran absently over her hand as he spoke and Angie smiled at the tingles running up her arm.
“Angie, I’m sorry.” Jace turned, capturing her eyes. “I should have been paying attention. You could have been hurt.”
“Jace, it was an accident. You were looking out for me when it happened. Besides, it showed me exactly what I was capable of. If I’m ever in a situation where something goes wrong, I know I can do something about it. As much as I hate seeing you banged up like this, I have to say I think this has taken care of my fear. Even if I fail, I know what I’m capable of, and you helped me every step of the way.”
Jace squeezed Angie’s hand again willing some of his strength into her. “I’m a lucky man,” he whispered. “I have my very own special angel right here.”
Chapter 15
Jace rode home with Angie and Michelle his mind full of all of the issues at hand. He needed to talk to Chase. There was a good possibility that, cousin or not, he was about to lose his job.
Would it be so bad if he did? He could take Ben back to his father’s barn and find other work somewhere, but what about Angie? He didn’t want to say goodbye to her. He wanted to get to know her and explore the possibility of a future with her.
“You’re mighty quiet,” Michelle quipped glancing in the mirror at him. “You okay?”
“I’m good,” Jace smiled. “Just thinking of the conversation I’ll be having with Chase. He’s not going to be happy.”
“He’ll be happy you’re not badly hurt,” Angie added. “He has to be.”
“We’ll see.”
“I’ll go with you if you want,” Angie bit her lower lip worrying over the problem. Jace had only been helping her. It wasn’t his fault that one moment of inattention had led to disaster. She was the guest here and was safe, how could Chase or Phil be mad about that?
“No, I think I need to do this on my own.”
Angie nodded settling in for the quiet ride home. There was nothing she could do, but let Jace face the music. She only hoped that it wouldn’t cost him his job.
***
“Jace go home and rest,” Chase said when Jace stumbled up the stairs of the house in the middle of the horse pasture. “You look awful.”
“It’s not that bad Chase,” the cowboy said stopping to lean against the porch rail. “Head hurts, but I’ll live.”
Chase snorted but didn’t argue.
“I’m sorry about this. I’m sure it wasn’t good for business to have an ambulance take one of your wranglers away. It looks bad.”
“Jace, we’ve been fortunate here at the Broken J. A lot of things can go wrong when you mix novice riders with horses, cows, and cowhands. So far, we’ve had no major injuries. You know any kind of ranch work has its risks, so I’m not going to give you grief over this accident. I’m not happy that one of our guests was the one to have to ride in and save you, but in the end, you’re okay.”
Jace nodded then squinted against the pain. “She’s a special kind of lady.”
Chase turned, his blue eyes piercing Jace. “You like her?”
“I think it’s more than that,” Jace admitted. “There’s something special about that girl, and it feels like we fit
