by Ronica Black
“Here comes EMS,” he said, looking beyond her. Madison followed his line of sight and saw the ambulance working its way up the trail, lights on with no sound. Jake stood and began to pace.
“I’m not going. I’m not going.”
“Jake, just let them take a look at you, okay?” She had to calm him down. He looked to be in fight-or-flight mode and he was in no condition to do either.
“They’re gonna take me. They’re gonna take me without Aunt Grace and she’ll never find me. She’ll never find me!”
“Jake, Jake, shh, it’s okay.” She tried to touch him again, but he slinked away from her.
Marv’s face fell as he met Madison’s eyes. Something was wrong, and they both felt helpless.
“Jake, we won’t let them take you anywhere until your aunt gets here,” he said.
Jake turned on him quickly with wild, desperate eyes. He reminded Madison so much of Grace it nearly took her breath away. The doe eyes, the shimmering light hair. And that look…so intense and seeking. She cleared her tight throat and agreed. “That’s right. We’ll just let them look at you. No one goes anywhere until your aunt gets here.”
“You’re lying,” he said.
Marv held up his hands. “We don’t lie.”
“It’s a rule, remember?” Madison reminded him.
Jake looked to the patio floor, then back up. “Swear?”
“On my daddy,” Marv said. “Here, we’ll shake on it.” He held out his right hand and Jake released his injured arm to shake limply.
The ambulance tires cracked on the gravel drive, coming to a stop very close to them. Jake’s shoulders fell as if in defeat. He looked like a hunched, blanketed bag of bones. Helpless. It tugged at Madison’s heart despite his attitude of indifference and defiance. The boy was hurting, inside and out, and it was plainly obvious now.
“This our guy?” a man asked, crawling from the vehicle. A built woman followed, immediately homing in on Madison.
“Yes, sir,” Marv said. “This is Jake.”
“Hey there, Jake,” the man said, snapping on gloves as he entered the patio. “I hear you took a spill off a horse.”
Jake nodded but refused to meet his gaze.
“Will you come sit over here for me?”
The woman came as well and carefully removed his blanket. She was thick with muscle and had short, curly brown hair. Her skin and face had seen the sun for many years.
Madison assumed she was gay just by the looks the woman kept giving her. Brief glances here and there to size her up, a small smile. She wasn’t unattractive but she wasn’t Madison’s type. She was, however, very good with Jake, taking his vitals and asking him questions. Both examined him completely and he yelped when they looked at his arm. And when they mentioned taking a ride to the hospital for x-rays and a CT scan of his head, he bolted upward again.
Madison had to explain. “We’re waiting on his aunt for that decision.”
“Where is she?” the woman asked, looking to Madison.
“She’s on her way.”
“We can’t wait too long,” the man said.
“Can you bandage up that brow and splint his arm in the meantime?”
The woman smiled. “Sure. Ms.?”
“Clark.”
“Sure thing, Ms. Clark.”
They retrieved supplies from the back of the ambulance and set to work on Jake. As they were splinting his arm, Madison heard the sound of the Mercedes engine gunning. Tires kicked and spat and Grace flew onto the drive like a stunt driver. All heads turned to look as she climbed from the car and tried her best to run in her heels toward the patio.
“What the hell happened?” she demanded, whipping off her sunglasses. “What the hell was he doing on a wild horse?” She glared at Madison and scurried quickly to Jake. “You’re supposed to take care of him!” She held his face. “Oh my God, oh my God. You’re bleeding and—” She saw his arm. “Is your arm broken?” She turned to Marv. “You said he wasn’t seriously hurt! Just what the hell kind of show are you running here?” The question was aimed at Madison, who burned with anger. It was understandable for Grace to be upset, but to place blame right away without knowing the whole story? Madison fought remarking in return and instead clenched her jaw tightly shut.
“We don’t think he’s seriously hurt,” said the female EMT, seeming to pick up on the tension. “We just want to take him in to be sure. He probably needs some stitches and he needs his arm and head looked at just to be safe.”
“Stitches? His arm and head? Sounds pretty damn serious to me.”
“Standard procedure with this type of fall.”
“I’m sorry. Who are you?”
“Wy.”
“Wy?”
“As in Wynona.”
“Oh, well, thank you, Wy, but I’ll take it from here.”
“You’re going to take him in yourself?”
“Please, Aunt Grace, no. I don’t want to go.”
“Yes, I’ll handle it.”
He began to tremble again.
“Shh, shh. We’ll talk about it.”
“We’re going to need you to sign something, then. I’ll get the papers while Henry bandages up that wound.” Wy headed back to the ambulance.
“You really should take him in,” Marv said softly.
“You think?” Grace shot back. “Thank you very much, but I know how to care for my nephew.”
“No, Aunt Grace. Don’t make me go.”
“Baby, you have to.” She squeezed his uninjured arm. “I’ll be right there with you, I promise.”
“You won’t leave my side?”
“No, of course not.”
“Not even for a second?”
“No.”
“And I won’t get lost? And they won’t do to me what they did to Mom?”
Grace fell to her knees. “No, they won’t.”
“Actually, if they take him for x-rays and scans, you probably won’t be able to go in with him,” Henry said somberly.
Grace glared and Jake started up again. “Aunt Grace!”
“She can go with him,” Madison said, stepping forward. “I’ll call ahead and make sure.” She had a connection or two at the local hospital. She’d make sure he was well cared for, along with Grace. It was the least she could do to make sure he actually went to get examined.
Jake grew quiet and whispered something to Grace. Marv shifted and eyed Madison as if he’d heard.
“No. Out of the question,” Grace said.
“Then I don’t want to go!”
“Jake, stop this. You’re going. I will take you and I won’t leave you.”
“I want her to come too. Ms. Clark.”
“Well, she can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Why do you want her to go?”
“Because she—I trust her.”
Grace went slack as if the wind had been knocked from her.
“I won’t go without you and her both.”
Madison wanted to walk away. She was feeling so many things from anger to confusion to worry about imposing. She’d been by her boys’ sides before with injuries, but it was obvious Grace didn’t want her around. This felt more like a family issue, and Jake was not hers.
“That’s it for us, then,” Henry said, putting away his gear.
“If you’ll just sign here.” Wy handed a clipboard to Grace, who signed quickly. Then Wy approached Madison and spoke softly.
“If you want I can call ahead too. Let the ER know you’re coming. I know some of the nurses.”
“Excuse me,” Grace said rising. “If you’re talking about my nephew, I’d prefer it if you speak to me.”
“I was just offering to call ahead to some of the nurses I know.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Okay, then.” She shrugged and slipped Madison a business card. “Just in case.” She smiled apologetically. “Or if you need anything else. My cell’s on there.” She nodded at Grace an
d followed Henry to the ambulance. They climbed in and drove away slowly.
Jake stood and walked surprisingly fast directly up to Madison. “Please come with me. I’ll feel safer.”
“Jake,” Grace said. “Jake, don’t put her in this position.”
“Please, Ms. Clark. I know you won’t let them hurt me.”
“I can’t promise that, Jake,” she whispered, wishing she could.
“See?” he said to Grace. “She’s real with me. I trust her. With both of you there I’ll feel better. Please, Ms. Clark.”
Tears welled in his eyes. Those familiar brown eyes. Two pairs boring down on Madison.
She sighed and looked to Marv. He nodded once and headed back toward the stables.
“Okay.”
Grace nervously tucked loose strands of her hair behind her ears.
Jake tried not to sob. “Thank you.”
“We’d better get going,” Madison said. She cleared her throat again, trying not to let the boy’s emotion get to her. He was more vulnerable and sensitive than she’d ever considered, and his tears and pleas had tugged on her heart. “I’ll follow you.”
She rounded the house to her own private drive and climbed up into her dually truck. The keys were always in the visor so she caught them in midair and started the engine. By the time she backed out and reached the driveway, the Mercedes was well ahead of her, kicking up dirt as usual.
“What am I doing?” she asked, shaking her head. “What am I doing?”
Chapter Nine
“Aunt Grace, don’t leave!” Jake shouted from the hospital bed in the busy ER. A doctor had just examined him and they were waiting to send him to get his head and arm scanned. A nurse was tucking pillows in behind him and adjusting the TV remote for his good hand.
“I’m not, honey. I’m just going behind this curtain to talk to Ms. Clark. We’ll be right here.” She motioned for Madison to follow, then yanked the curtain closed behind them just before she started in. “Just what the hell happened? Why weren’t you watching him? Why—”
“Don’t speak to me like that,” Madison whispered, anger on her face.
“I’m sorry. How should I speak to you now that my nephew is laid up in a hospital bed from a fall at your ranch? Should I be polite? Do I not have enough manners for you?” She was so sick of the high-and-mighty attitude of Madison Clark.
“Frankly, no, you don’t. You’ve been rude from day one. Inconsiderate of the rules—”
“Rude? Excuse me? You’re the one who’s been rude.” What was with this woman? Grace was so mad she could just haul off and hit something. She considered screaming into the pillow of the empty bed next to them and pummeling it into nonexistence.
“Enough,” Madison said.
“No, it’s not enough. Tell me what the hell happened to my nephew!” She had to lower her voice, praying Jake couldn’t hear.
“Why don’t you ask him?”
“I did.”
“And what did he say?”
“That he tried to ride a horse on his own.”
Madison pulled the curtain open and stood next to Jake. “Tell your aunt what happened today.”
He hesitated. “I did.”
“All of it.”
“I—”
“Remember the rule about lying.”
He closed his eyes. “Fine.”
The nurse left them, and Madison fingered down the volume on the TV remote. Grace grew nervous, not liking the look on either one’s face.
“I had to do shit chores again today, and Ms. Clark wouldn’t let me work with this cool horse named Draco.”
“Tell it without the cursing.”
“He’s on my time now,” Grace interrupted. “Jake, no cursing.” She blushed at how ridiculous she’d just sounded.
“So I got tired of shoveling sh—uh, crap and I threw down my shovel and took off. I saw the horse, grabbed the reins, stood on the fence, and climbed on.” He smiled. “I rode him a good ways too.”
“Before he bucked you off,” Madison said, crossing her arms, obviously displeased.
“And where were you when this happened?” Grace asked Madison.
“On my patio doing paperwork.”
“Paperwork?”
Madison crossed back behind the curtain, jerked her head at Grace to follow, and then pulled the curtain closed.
“Do not question me like that in front of him. It brings my authority into question.”
“That’s exactly what it’s meant to do.”
“Look, Jake was assigned to a chore with another boy. Two staff members were in the stable with them. When he took off, he took off at a run. The whole thing was over in less than two minutes. No one could’ve stopped him or foreseen what he was going to do. When we did, my staff and I reacted right away. He’s lucky he’s okay.”
“You’re damn right he is.” How could she stand there so calmly and relay this story, as if none of it was her fault? Jake was hurt! Terrified and shaken. “He won’t be coming back to the ranch.”
Madison stared at her for a long moment. Then she removed her cowboy hat to reveal the sweat-coated blue bandana wrapped around her head. Grace could smell dirt, sweat, and suntan lotion. Strangely, it stirred her. She forced herself to look away from the intense stormy eyes and sun-kissed sharp cheekbones.
“I just don’t think it’s the best place for Jake,” Grace said.
Madison sank onto the empty bed behind her. “It is the best place. And this event should prove that to you.”
“Him getting hurt? Are you insane?” She had to look away again. Madison was sitting there with her elbows on her knees and hat in hands. She looked so handsome and hard-worked. And beautifully…butch.
“He got hurt because he didn’t follow the rules. He doesn’t like the ranch because he doesn’t follow the rules.”
“Rules. That’s all you talk about.”
“Perhaps that’s what you need more of.”
“Excuse me? Don’t tell me how to raise my nephew.”
“I’m not. I merely suggested.”
“Aunt Grace?”
They came out from behind the curtain to see a worker wearing scrubs maneuvering the bed to roll away. “Time for his CT scan,” he said with a smile.
“Aunt Grace, no. Tell them you have to come.” He began to panic and the color drained from his face.
“I need to go with him,” she said.
“You can’t go in the room with him. I’m sorry.”
Jake began to wail and breathe heavily. Madison went to his side and took his uninjured hand. She looked at the worker. “We are going with him. As far as we can.” When the worker didn’t respond, Madison took him by the elbow to the door. “Otherwise this will continue and you will have to sedate a thirteen-year-old boy.”
“Okay, okay.” He nodded quickly.
“Jake, I’m coming with you,” Grace said, trying to get him to stop. “Shh, I’m right here.” She patted his hand. “I’m coming. See?” She walked next to the bed as the worker pushed it down the hall.
“I want Ms. Clark. Ms. Clark too.”
“She’s waiting for us in the room.”
“No! Ms. Clark!” he called out. “Ms. Clark!”
Madison came out of the room and hurried to his side. “Jake, you need to calm down.” She looked at Grace with obvious questions in her eyes.
“Don’t leave me. Don’t leave me.”
“I’m not.”
“I’m here, Jake,” Grace added and he finally calmed with her on one side and Madison on the other. They entered a room where two other workers looked at them with surprise. The one pushing shook his head as if to say don’t ask. Grace helped Jake move onto the small sliding bench. Madison too came to his side.
“Jake, I know how these things work. First of all, it doesn’t touch you. Secondly, you just lie still and your aunt and I will be behind the window. We aren’t leaving you. We will be right here.”
Grace was amazed when
he didn’t argue. The workers nodded in agreement and gave him further instructions.
“You swear you won’t leave?” he asked Madison.
Grace took his hand. “I swear.”
“I want her to say it.”
The demand stung, but Grace would do and take whatever was necessary for him to get the scan done.
“I swear,” Madison said.
“Okay,” he breathed. “Okay.”
They moved into a control room and Grace waved at him through the window. He looked so small and fragile lying there on the sliding bench. She saw his good hand clench as the workers eased him into the hole of the machine. He lay very still as the procedure was carried out and his head scanned. She held her breath, afraid he would move. Madison broke the silence.
“Why is he so afraid?”
“He—” Grace glanced at her and looked away; Madison’s eyes were too penetrating. “When he was five he was taken to the hospital with his mother, who had apparently overdosed on something. He was left next to her on the hospital floor and when he wandered off to get help, they were separated. From a distance, he saw the doctors begin CPR and stab a needle into her. He was convinced they had killed her. He hid in room after room in the middle of the night with sick and dying people. When nurses saw him they tried to help, but he just kept running. When they finally caught him he was nearly catatonic with shock and exhaustion. To make matters worse, he was then brought to his mother to identify her and she was unconscious, hooked up to machines. It only terrified him more. He’s never gone near a hospital since.”
“That explains a lot,” Madison whispered.
“Yes.”
“He’s been through a lot, hasn’t he?”
This time Grace met her eyes. “More than you can imagine.”
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“For what?”
“For him.”
Grace pressed her lips together and nodded. He’d been through too much, and she felt so damned responsible for not knowing most of it until recently.