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The drive into San Antonio was quiet. I drove and Kade stared out the passenger window. I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel and popped my gum. Every time, it popped Kade would flinch.
“Can you stop that?” He growled at me. He turned his blue eyes toward me. I raised an eyebrow at him.
“Stop what?” I snapped my gum again and he winced.
“The tapping and the thing you are doing with your gum.”
“Oh, this.” I blew a big bubble until it popped.
“Yes,” he ground out.
“What is going on with you today? You’re unusually cranky.” I maneuvered the car through the parking garage. I wanted to find a closer spot to the hospital for him. Kade turned back to the window.
“Any spot will do,” he said.
“Really? You want to walk all the way down from the eighth level?” I angled my car into a compact space by the elevator. Luckily, I drove a small car.
“I’m fine.” He was opening the door before the car stopped. I sighed with frustration at him. The engine shut off and I grabbed his crutches before exiting the car. I hurried up to him and forced them into his hands.
“I’m fine.” He step/clomp across the concrete
“Just use them. It hurts to see you limping and it’s a long walk in your boot.” He jerked himself away from me and entered the elevator. He pushed the button for the floor that we needed. Finally, I had him in a corner. I faced him and stared him down. I placed a hand on my hip and tossed my hair back.
“What is going on with you? You have been a bear to deal with all morning.”
“Just nervous I guess,” he said. He quirked an eyebrow at me.
My heart melted at his words. I slipped a hand into his and kissed his cheek. “I am here with you.”
He squeezed my fingers back and his lips pulled up on one side.
“Besides, I am not scared of any doctors. I took great care of my patient.” I raised my chin. Kade smiled and slid an arm behind me.
“Your patient couldn’t have asked for a better nurse.”
His lips hovered over mine for a brief second before closing the gap. The elevator pinged and the door slid open. He pressed a firm kiss to my lips, causing my knees to go weak. Then, he limped out the door, leaving behind the crutches. I sighed and grabbed them before the door closed again.
Kade held my hand in his as we slowly made our way to the orthopedic wing. He limped with every step as I carried the crutches under my arm, the carpet masked the thudding. After a few minutes, we made it to the waiting room. The glass windows let a large amount of sunlight into the room, warming plush chairs that were gathered in small groups around tables. A couple of TVs sat in the corners playing a daytime talk show. Kade checked in at the front desk as I made my way to a couple of chairs in a corner. He hobbled over and sat on a chair and I drew up another to prop his injured leg up.
“They are running ahead of schedule. So, we shouldn’t have to wait too long.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
“O.K.” I flipped through a magazine as we waited. A few minutes passed before a nurse in bright pink scrubs appeared.
“Kade Kisment?” She called.
He nodded to her and I helped him up to his feet. He reached for my hand and squeezed it again. Butterflies danced in my stomach when I turned to him. He smiled back at me. We followed the nurse down a long hall until the last door. She motioned for us to go through.
“The radiology tech will be in for your x-rays. Then, the doctor will be in.” She ushered us in and closed the door behind us. Kade hopped up on the examining table while I sat on the hard plastic chair. He rolled his sweatpants up to his knee. A knock sounded on the door and the tech motioned Kade to follow her to the radiology room. He winked at me as he followed her out.
Kade came back shortly and sat next to me. He gripped my hand and kissed the back of mine. Tingles ran up my arm and I leaned into his shoulder. Contentment flowed through me. My future life with him flashed before me. I smiled to myself.
“What are you smiling at?” He whispered in my ear. His breath sent shivers down my spine.
“Nothing...just thinking about us.” I smiled at him, squeezing his hand.
A knock sounded on the door and Dr. Greg Glanders walked in, carrying a laptop under his arm.
“Good afternoon.” He set the computer on the counter and made eye contact with each of us before pulling on some gloves. “How have you been doing?”
“Pretty good,” Kade said. He took a couple of steps toward the exam table. A hitch was perceptible, but I could tell he was trying to hide it. The doctor glanced over at me when Kade sat on the table. I raised an eyebrow at him and shrugged. Dr. Glanders turned his attention back to the patient. He felt up and down Kade’s leg and moved his ankle throughout its range of motion.
“Can you draw circles with your toes?” He watched while Kade rotated his foot in both directions. Dr. Glanders pulled up the x-rays. “Your fracture has healed. Everything is looking good on the radiographs.” He drew out a pad of paper and started writing some instructions down. “Now you don’t need to come back here, but you’ll need two to three months of physical therapy to get full strength and mobility back. Here are the instructions for your therapist.” He ripped off a sheet and handed it to Kade. “Any questions?”
“So, I am healed?” Kade unrolled his sweatpants.
“Yes, the bone is healed. But the ligaments still need some time to heal. Now, you must build up strength in the bone, muscle, and ligaments.” Dr. Glanders said. He closed his laptop with a click.
“So, I am O.K. to ride again?” Kade said as he hopped down.
What was he getting at? I narrowed my eyes at him. I am not sure I like where this is going. Didn’t he hear Dr. Glanders that he needs two to three months of rehab?
“Horses are fine, but no riding bulls.” Dr. Glanders gave him a serious look. “It will take several weeks of physical therapy to even be strong enough to walk on it, much less run away from a bull.” He walked out the door, closing it with a click.
“What?” Kade looked at me with a mischievous grin.
What was he thinking? I was so mad, steamrolled out of the top of my head and from my ears. I had to leave before I made a scene in the doctor’s office. I turned on my heel and headed toward the parking garage. I arrived at my car before Kade did as he had to check out at the receptionist desk, and he could only hobble so fast. I paced back and forth by the car. My sneakers squished and squeaked on the pavement with every step I took. The temperature dropped while we were inside, and I shivered in my sweater. I crossed my arms over my chest and rubbed them as I continued to walk. The elevator doors dinged with arrival and slid open. Kade limped out.
“What was that all about?” He threw up his arms and gimped towards me.
“Are you seriously considering riding at the Bull Riding Finals?”
“Yes, this might be my last chance.” He glared at me and I glared right back, wishing I could break all his bones, just to keep him home.
“That is ridiculous! Isn’t it next week?” I threw my hands up in the air and shrieked. A couple of people hurried on by, diverting their gazes.
“Actually, in two days.” He stood there watching me pace. That stopped me in my tracks. I walked up to him and stared him in the eye.
“Are you kidding? What kind of lunatic would put himself in that situation? You aren’t in shape. You can barely walk, and you expect to be able to get on a bull and ride to win! In. Two. Days!” Worry gnawed at my belly and I felt sick.
“I only have to ride six bulls,” he said softly.
My heart dropped and tears welled in my eyes. “Six?” I choked out. “But you’re not in shape. What if you get bucked off and can’t get out of the way? What if you dismount and land on your bad leg wrong? What if...” Kade placed his hands on my forearms and gently squeezed me. Tears fell and a sob broke loose.
“I’ll be fine. Trust me,” he said as he wiped a tear from my cheek.
“What if you don’t come back? I can’t lose you again.”
He pulled me close to his chest and I soaked his shirt with my tears. “I have to try. This is the biggest event of my career.”
“Why can’t you just recover and plan to compete next year?” His hands rubbed up and down my back as my sobs quieted and I hiccupped.
“It’s not that easy. I am ranked fifth in the nation. I have a shot at winning it. Next year, I start over at the bottom,” he explained
“So, I don’t understand. Don’t you have enough money? Kaleb says you have it squirreled away somewhere,” I said as I tried to pull away from him, but he held me tight.
“I’m one of the older guys riding. I’m running out of time,” he said with panic in his voice.
“I don’t want you to go. You need to stay here and recover. It’s too dangerous,” I pleaded with him as yet more tears wet my face.
“Baby, life’s always dangerous.” He placed a soft kiss on my forehead. “Let’s go home.”
He walked around to the passenger side and slid in. I wiped my tears on my sleeve and sat in the driver’s side. I started the engine and turned my car toward the Kisment ranch. Tears continued to fall down my cheeks as the car fell silent and a pit formed in my stomach. This was bad. He wouldn’t even consider not going.
About halfway home, I gasped and pulled the car over to the side of the road. New fears were threatening to surface. Breathe in and breathe out, Delilah. You can do this. On my third round of breathing, Kade interrupted me.
“Um, Dee, I don’t mean to be dense. But what are you doing?” He reached out to touch my shoulder. I jerked away.
“Trying not to hyperventilate.” I breathed in and out again.
“But why?”
“I may not make enough money!” I said. Desperation pawed at my chest and a large lump lodged in my throat. My chest tightened and I couldn’t get air in and out. I placed my head against the cool glass.
“For?” Kade touched my arm again.
“For the therapeutic riding stable, you buffoon! I’m not able to get paid until you had a full recovery at six months or released from the doctor!”
He chuckled. “I wouldn’t worry about that.”
I shot him a look. Not worry about it!? I was banking on that money.
“You wouldn’t understand,” I said through clenched teeth. I tugged on the blinker to pull back out into traffic. “You never worry about anything.” Silence met my remark. I finished the drive back to Sunnydale.