FIFTEEN

 

 

 

"They'll take some getting used to, but they're temporary. Once you have your full strength back, you can drop the braces and use the forearm crutches until you're stable enough to go without them all together." Nancy strapped the braces onto Cooper's legs and handed him the crutches. "If you find the crutches too uncomfortable, we can go with a walker instead. I want you to have some kind of support, though, until I'm sure you're not going to fall."

"I'll use these, thanks. I'm not quite ready to look like my dad," Cooper quipped. "So where are we going for our walk?"

Nancy laughed. "Just up and down the halls for now. But when you're a little stronger, we'll venture outside. It won't be long before you'll be released and you can walk anywhere you want to."

She stayed close by his side as they walked the halls. When they passed the exercise room, Becky waved to them from the bike. Sam sat nearby, keeping track of her progress.

"How's she doing?" Cooper asked.

"She's fine. Other than some initial sadness over not having any family left, her grandmother's death didn't really bother her. I guess because Becky barely knew her. Evidently her grandmother and mother had a falling out years ago over Becky's father and they didn't visit much." Nancy put a hand on Cooper's arm to slow him down when he tried to go faster. "Keep it slow and easy for now. We're after strength and endurance, not speed."

Cooper nodded and slowed his pace. "Have you been by the ranch lately?"

"Your parents place? No, I haven't. Why? Is something different?"

"You might say that. They started on the main building last week. I got the plans from Ted at the Triple E for their house, made a few modifications, and Logan and Jake hired a contractor for me. The foundation is already in and Logan said they raised the outside walls yesterday. He said they had so many volunteers, they didn't even have work for them all. So some of them are working on the arena, making a few changes there, too."

"Oh, Cooper. That's wonderful. I'm so happy for you."

"Yeah, me too. I need a place to go when I leave here, so they're working really hard to get it done in time. I know I can stay with mom and dad, but I'd rather not do that for more than a week or two."

"I can understand that. I've enjoyed living with Jean, but there are times I crave my own space."

"That's my main motivation to get my own place built. Otherwise we'll never get another chance to be together." Cooper looked around to see if anyone was watching. Seeing no one, he stole a quick kiss.

"Cooper, stop it!" Nancy swatted his arm. "You know better. And yes, I agree. The situation as it is now is driving me crazy. But here at the center, I am your physical therapist and nothing more. Got it?"

"Yeah, I got it. I don't like it, but I got it. Guess I'd better change the subject, huh? So, what's going to happen to Becky when she leaves here? Where will she go?" Cooper looked over at Nancy when she didn't answer.

"Let's go sit down for a minute." Nancy got him settled on a couch in the common room and sat down beside him. "I'm taking Becky. I've been made her legal guardian, and if things work out, I'm planning to adopt her."

"Seriously?" Cooper shook his head. "I think it's great, but won't she be a lot of work for you? I mean, what kind of social life will you have with a kid to take care of?"

"About the same as I have now. She's not a burden, Cooper. I love her. I want to take care of her."

Cooper took Nancy's hand in his. "And what about us? Is there room for me in this plan?"

She curled her fingers around his and squeezed. "If you want there to be, there is."

It wasn't until she got home that night and thought about their conversation that Nancy realized he hadn't responded to that, instead changing the subject back to his plans for his new home and business.

***

"Hey Coop! What's this I hear about you ditching the chair while we were gone?" Nick caught Cooper's neck in the crook of his elbow and rubbed the top of Cooper's head with his knuckles. "You couldn't wait until we got back so we could take credit for it?"

"That's just great, Cooper." Blake shook Cooper's hand and chucked him on the shoulder. "Really proud of you."

Cooper nodded his thanks. "So how did it go? Where did you place?"

"I'm running third on points right now," Nick said. "I could really use some pointers when you're ready. That squirrely little Peterson kid is making me look like an amateur."

"I'm in second, but barely." Blake grabbed a chair and pulled it up close to where Cooper sat in the common room. "Got a couple of young hot shots out to prove themselves this year. But you watch. I'll be back in first in no time. Now we want to hear how this came about," he said, picking up one of Cooper's crutches.

Cooper told them all about the Triple E, his work with Joe, and his new plans for the ranch. "I think I want to concentrate on helping people using hippotherapy."

"But you're still going to offer the rodeo classes too, right?"

"I don't know, Nick. I'm not sure I want to help people learn something that might kill them someday." Cooper had struggled over the decision for weeks, and he still hadn't made up his mind. He knew people were excited about the prospect of a rodeo school in the area, but since he would never get on a bull again, the idea didn't hold as much appeal. And he, better than anyone, knew how much damage bull riding could do.

"But Cooper, that's not what we'd be doing. We'd be teaching them the skills they need to do it right. If a kid wants to ride a bull, he's going to do it anyway. At least we might be able to minimize injuries. You're a walking, talking testimonial to the need to wear a helmet, for sure."

Cooper didn't miss the "we" in Nick's argument. "Does that mean you want to come work with me?"

"Well, yeah. I thought you knew that already." Nick removed his cowboy hat, smoothed his hair back, and settled the hat back on his head. "I'm retiring at the end of this season. Win or no win."

"I'm really glad to hear that," Cooper said. "I worry about you guys out there."

"Well, don't look at me," Blake said. "I've got a few good years left in me. But if you can work around my schedule, I'd still love to help out. And there's no reason you can't do both, you know. Just alternate months, or weeks, or do the therapy camps from September to May and the rodeo training during the summer. We can help you work out a schedule."

"Y'all really think I could do both?" Cooper wasn't so sure he could make the transition from one type of class to the other so easily.

"I do," Nick said. "I've watched you switch from bull riding to broncs up there in Wyoming. It's not really that different. And besides, it would keep you from getting bored doing just one thing."

Cooper laughed out loud at that. "You know me too well, Nick. And you're probably right. Okay, we'll do both if I can figure it all out. You know I want you with me, both of you. I'll do whatever I need to do to make that happen."

"What about that hot chick who worked here. Is she still around?" Blake waggled his eyebrows. "Any chance of me getting a date with her while I'm here?"

Cooper went completely still. While Blake was one of his best friends, he would gladly plant a fist in his face if he so much as tried to make a move on Nancy. "Yes, she's still around. And no, you don't have a snowball's chance of getting a date with her. You stay away from her."

"And if I don't?"

"The only way you're getting to her is through me. And you know I can still whip your scrawny ass, crutches or no crutches."

Blake started laughing. "Just rufflin' your feathers, Coop. I figured out you were in love with her before I left the last time. So, you popped the question yet?"

Cooper didn't have time to assimilate the feelings that flooded through him. Yes, he was in love with Nancy, but he'd thought he was the only one who knew. "No, I haven't."

"Why not?" Nick asked. "You'd better snatch her up before someone else does."

Cooper shook his head. "She'd probably be better off with someone else. She needs someone strong, who can do the things a woman needs done for her. She's also adopting a handicapped kid, and I'd only be another burden."

"Ah, man, you can't look at it that way. All she really needs is you, and to know you love her. You can hire someone to do everything else."

"I don't know, Nick. What if she turns me down?"

"Well, buddy, you won't know the answer unless you ask the question, now will ya?" Nick stood up. "Here she comes now. Blake and I are gonna take a run out to your place and see what's happened out there since we left, maybe see if we can lend a hand for a day or two. We'll be back to see you tomorrow." He tipped his hat at Nancy, then hurried out the door.

***

"Where are they going in such a hurry? They didn't even wait to say hello." Nancy watched the door swing shut behind Cooper's friends, wondering if she'd done or said something wrong. But she hadn't seen them in several weeks, and she was pretty sure nothing had happened the last time. Maybe it was something Cooper had said to them.

"They're heading out to the ranch. Something urgent to tell Logan, I think." Cooper patted the couch next to him.

Nancy ignored him and chose an armchair a short distance away. It was safer that way.

Cooper grinned, letting her know he knew what she was up to. "Have you thought about what we're going to do once I'm out of here?" he asked.

"A little. I've been trying to figure out how I can work with you and Becky both. To be honest, I don't know what to do." She'd wrestled with the question several nights in a row. She hadn't had a decent nights' sleep in a week.

"Won't we continue our treatment here, on an outpatient basis?"

"Well, for a little while, yeah. But you'll have the gym at home to work out in soon, and Becky will be going to the hippotherapy center several times. That seemed to help her more than anything else." And there was just no way she could be in two places at once. Since Becky was now her responsibility, Nancy couldn't turn her care over to someone else. Cooper was an adult and he could adjust to a new therapist much more easily.

Cooper's jaw clenched for a fleeting moment. It was gone so quickly, Nancy almost missed it. "We'll figure something out, Cooper. We might have to get you some live-in help for a while."

There was that tightening of the jaw again.

"I'm sure I won't have any problem finding someone willing to move in with me," he said, his face expressionless.

"I'm sure you won't." She'd planned to tell him something very important, but she could tell now wasn't the time. He was in a foul mood all of a sudden and she was more than happy to leave him to it. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Nancy got up and walked away, refusing to look back. If he wanted to act like a child, that was his problem. She didn't have to cater to his temper. But her heart ached with the burden she'd wanted, needed, to share with him. It had taken all her courage to approach him today, and now the opportunity was gone.

***

At least she had the next two days off. Nancy had so much to do, she didn't know how she could possibly get it all done. With Becky being released from the rehab center in two weeks, she had to find them a place to live. The house she shared with Jean was too small and wasn't set up for wheelchair access. Though they could probably survive for a few days, it wasn't a permanent solution. She wanted a place with an open floor plan and lots of natural light, but there weren't many homes like that in Morris Springs. Most of the houses had been built in the fifties, with small rooms and narrow doorways. They were also built to withstand the extreme temperatures, so the windows were small and few in number.

"I swear, Megan, no one in this town has anything available. I've looked at rentals, houses with land, houses without land. Nothing." Nancy rested her chin on her hand and watched while Megan fed little Charlie his lunch of chicken and dumplings.

"Could you afford to have a home built, just like you want it?" Megan dish up bowls of chicken and dumplings for Nancy and herself and joined her at the table.

"I doubt it. Maybe if I could build it myself, but the labor would double the cost and then I'd have to buy the land to build it on."

"What about the money Becky's grandmother left her. Could you use some of that?" Megan held a hand up when Nancy started to protest. "Hear me out. The money is there for Becky's care, right? How can you care for her without a proper place to live? She has special needs that can't be met with a typical farmhouse."

"I know. But I wouldn't feel right using her money." The idea had come up before, but Nancy had dismissed it without really thinking about it. But Megan was right. "I guess I could talk to the administrator of Becky's trust, see what he thinks. But there's still the problem of where we'd live until the house is built."

"Okay, don't shoot me for asking this, but have you discussed this with Cooper?"

Nancy shook her head. "No. I've been afraid to bring it up."

Megan stared at her. "Afraid? Why?"

"I don't know. I guess I'm afraid he'd think I was asking for more than an opinion. His house would be so perfect. He had it built based on the design of the Triple E, and it has plenty of rooms. But he hasn't said a word. In fact, we got into an argument when I tried to bring it up and I haven't tried again."

"What if you approached him with the idea of renting a couple of rooms from him until you could get something built for you and Becky? If you offered to pay rent, he couldn't get the wrong idea, could he?" Megan wiped Charlie's face and hands and let him out of his highchair to play.

"That's an idea, of course. But, um, I have another problem. One he doesn't know about yet." Nancy ducked her head. She was a nurse, she should have known better. She did know better. But everything had happened so fast, she'd been caught unprepared. "I'm, um…"

Megan finally realized what Nancy was trying to say. "Oh my God. You're pregnant, aren't you?" She jumped up and ran around the table to give Nancy a hug. "This is so exciting. When are you due?"

Nancy hugged her back. "At the end of December. And I don't know about exciting. I'm actually a little scared, though the estate will be paying my salary to care for Becky full time after she's released, so at least I'll still have my income. I hope I can care for her and a baby, too."

Megan took her hand. "Can I tell you a secret? And don't you dare breathe a word, because I haven't even told Logan yet."

Nancy nodded. "Of course. Are you…?"

"Yes! And I'm due the same time as you. It happened while Katie was at the Triple E. Jake and Carol took Charlie for the night, so we could be alone for a change. And, well, things got a little out of hand and we forgot to use protection."

"Boy, do I know how that can happen." Nancy laughed. "Oh, I'm so glad. I'll feel much better knowing we're in this together. I can't believe it."

"Can you imagine how much fun this will be? Jake and Carol's twins, our kids, all growing up together? We'll be one great big family."

That sounded perfect to Nancy. Becky needed a family, and now she'd have one. A little brother or sister, several "almost" cousins, and some of the best people in the world to play the roles of aunts and uncles.

All Becky needed now was a father.***

"I can't believe how much you've done on this place. Jake, Logan…I'm never going to be able to repay you two for all of this." Cooper looked around his living quarters, just recently completed. Three bedrooms, oversized bathrooms, the kitchen open to the living and dining areas, and all doorways wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair, even though he rarely used his anymore. The gym was still under construction, but it would be ready in a couple of weeks. The rest of the house would take a few more weeks, but when it was finished, it would house twenty patients along with a few extra rooms for those who needed private nurses and for night staff.

The bunkhouse would house the daytime physical and occupational therapy staff during camp weeks, and rodeo students during school times. It, too, was nearly completed.

"We decided getting your living quarters finished out was priority number one. And we haven't done that much, just pulled together the volunteers and bossed around the building crew. Your contractor is liable to charge you extra for having to deal with us." Logan laughed. "And speaking of bossy, look who's here."

Megan socked Logan in the arm. "Watch it, mister, or I'll leave Charlie here for you to deal with. He's teething." She leaned down and set the fussy child on the floor. He immediately crawled to Logan and demanded to be picked up.

She turned to Cooper. "So what do you think? Is it like you wanted?"

Cooper nodded. "It's perfect. I can't wait until the gym is finished and we can get the pool and hot tubs in. Then I won't have to go back to the rehab center any more."

"Uh-oh. Do I detect a note of trouble there? What's up? You and Nancy have a fight?"

"No. You can't fight with someone who isn't there." Cooper grew tired of standing and lowered himself into a chair. "She's avoiding me."

Jake and Logan took their cue and left, taking Charlie with them on the excuse of showing him the new handicapped playground going up out back.

"Okay," Megan said, "tell me what happened."

"I have no idea. We were talking about how we were going to work out the schedules once Becky and I were both released, and she pretty much let me know I'd have to find someone else to work with me, because she'd be busy with Becky."

"Ah, let me guess. That hurt your feelings and you got all pissy, right?" Megan frowned. "Did you give Nancy the impression she'd have to choose between you and Becky?"

"No." Cooper shook his head. "Well, not really. I might have said something along the lines of me not having any trouble finding someone who would move in with me to help me."

"Oh, Cooper. You're such an idiot. She was hoping for an invitation and instead of offering to let her and Becky move in here, you made it impossible for her to ask you." Megan paced the room, thinking. "I don't know how we're going to fix this."

"I might have asked her if she hadn't run off and then turned me over to Sam for the past couple of weeks. I've barely seen her." And he missed her. Missed her something awful, truth be told. He missed the way she brightened his day just being in the same room. Missed her smile and encouragement when he accomplished a new task. Missed the looks she gave him when no one was watching. Looks that could get him stirred up without a single touch.

"Let me ask you something. Do you love her?"

Cooper thought for a minute. He knew he did. He wasn't sure he wanted to admit it to someone else just yet, though.

"Cooper," Megan asked again. "Do you love her?"

Cooper sighed. "Yeah, I guess I do."

Megan breathed a sign of relief. "Okay. Then I'll help you. Here's what you need to do…"