Never Say Never Again

by A. E. Easterlin

  She loved him.

  Loved him with all her heart and soul.

  And with the amazing realization came the crushing knowledge that he might be taken away from her before she even got a chance to tell him.

  All her attention on the man kneeling at her side, she listened as he explained. “Gideon took out one of the new horses this morning to put him through his paces. He’s already had an offer on the stallion and wanted to make sure he was ready to deliver to the buyer.”

  Maddie nodded, dread filling her belly. “I’m guessing the horse caused an accident.”

  Roper nodded. “Rattler must have been hiding under the water trough. When the horse got close, he struck. The stallion reared and swerved, and Gideon tumbled backwards off the animal’s rear end. Landed hard, on his bad leg,” Roper paused, swallowed, took both her hands in his. “It buckled. It’s broken above his injury.”

  Maddie hissed, an instinctive groan rumbling from deep within her, and she bent at the waist with the news.

  As if that wasn’t bad enough, Roper squeezed her cold and shaking hands, and added, “The horse’s hoof came down on the side of his head. Hard. It’s bad, ma’am, real bad. He needs you to be strong.”

  Jerking her hands from his, she shoved out of the chair, turning toward the door. “I have to see him. Let me go, Roper, I need to see him,” she cried. Frantic. Begging. Pleading.

  Wrapping his arms around her from the back, holding her hands close to her waist, he wouldn’t let her go.

  “He’s unconscious, Maddie,” another man interrupted. “He won’t know you’re there. It looks… There’s a lot of blood.”

  She jerked her arms free. “I don’t care. I promise I won’t get in the way. Even if he doesn’t know I’m with him, I’ll know. Just for a minute…you have to let me see him…please…”

  The front door opened, and a stretcher inched through the passageway. Gideon dwarfed the narrow cot, eyes closed, the entire side of his head bandaged, though blood seeped through the gauze.

  The EMTs on either side of him paused as they took in her frantic state. Sharing a meaningful glance, the medics gave her a terse nod. “Just for a minute—we need to get him to the trauma unit as quickly as possible.”

  Maddie wanted the same thing, but she took her minute to clasp his hand in hers, lean into him and place a tender kiss lightly on his lips. “I love you, Gideon,” she whispered. “Don’t even think of dying on me. You tore down my wall and made me want you. It isn’t fair to leave me now. Hear what I say—my answer is yes, and I’ll be waiting on you to come back to me.”

  They whisked away the man she loved with all her heart, and loaded him into the belly of the helicopter as the doctor spared her a brief wave. “We’ll take good care of him, miss,” the medic yelled over the increasing noise as the ’copter blades rotated faster.

  And just like that, he was gone. And she was alone. And oh, so cold and frightened.

  Roper came to stand with her. “Eli’s packing a few things. We’ll stop by your house for you to do the same. I’m thinking you want to go to the hospital?”

  “You think right.” Eli bounded down the stairs, out the door, and jumped into his truck. Pulling up beside her, he skidded to a stop amid the dust. “I can answer your questions on the way. Jump in.”

  How long it took to get to her place, she couldn’t say. She was out of the truck before it came to a complete stop. “Eli, grab a cooler and throw in some water and sodas, beer, if you want it, cheese, crackers, and fruit. We won’t leave the hospital until we know Gideon is going to be all right. Give me fifteen minutes to pack, and we can hit the road.”

  While she threw her clothes and toiletries into a duffle, Eli told the men what had happened.

  “Stop jawing, Eli. Let’s get this show on the road.”

  ****

  Eli slammed the truck into park and sighed in relief.

  Firecracker was in full command mode, issuing orders and expecting him to follow every one. She would need that fighting spirit in the days to come—they all would. He’d seen Gideon thrown from the terrified horse. That he was alive was a miracle in itself. The only good thing—if there was such a thing—was that the woman Gideon loved and needed had finally realized her heart was in the same place.

  There was no way his brother could die. The son-of-a-bitch was too stubborn to leave Snowy Branch to him and Zack. And Maddie? She was another story altogether. He’d never leave that woman—for heaven or hell. If anyone could keep Gideon alive, she could.

  Whatever he had to do to keep her close by, it would be done. She was his brother’s talisman. She’d force him to keep fighting. Gideon loved her—wanted her. So he’d fight his way back to her. With her, he stood a chance. Without her? Hell, he’d seen it often enough on the battlefield. The body bore the injury; the heart did the healing.

  “Emergency, please,” Eli barked into his cell as they got underway. Glancing at Maddie, he cast her a reassuring nod. “This is Eli Branch. My brother is critically injured and due to arrive there on Air Flight 813…Gideon Branch from the Snowy Range area… Can you tell me if he’s arrived?”

  Maddie paled and gripped the door.

  “ETA fifteen minutes? Any word on his condition? Thanks.” He disconnected.

  Maddie grabbed hold of Eli’s arm for just a minute. He covered her hand with his own. “He’ll be there any minute. You can trust the guys to look out for things at home. All you have to do is work your magic on our boy. He needs you, Maddie, more than he’s ever needed anybody in his entire life.”

  Sensing her strength of hardened steel in a soft body, Eli groaned in relief as Maddie reassured him with a squeeze and the words, “Whatever he needs, Eli. I’m not leaving his side until we get him through this.”

  Eli was first out of the truck when they pulled up to the Trauma Unit drop-off. He threw open the door for Maddie, and she ran inside the automatic doors and straight to the triage nurse sitting behind a long line of people. Shouldering aside the man talking to the nurse, her urgency garnered the woman’s immediate attention.

  “I’m Gideon Branch’s fiancée. The man trampled by a horse. Has he been brought into the Trauma Unit yet?” She’d have an easier time with the staff if they thought she was engaged to Gideon. In a way, it wasn’t really a lie. He’d asked her to marry him—she just hadn’t said yes to him when he was conscious—yet.

  The nurse pulled up a new screen in her computer. “Yes, ma’am. They took him to surgery just a few minutes ago.”

  Maddie’s knees gave out on her, and she swayed. Miraculously, Eli came up behind her and caught her before she hit the floor. The nurse stood. “Are you all right, miss?”

  Eli held her tight. “Gideon Branch? I’m his brother.”

  The nurse motioned to the attending orderly. “Can you get Ms…?”

  “Lowry.” Eli supplied.

  “Ms. Lowry a bottle of water and take them to the surgical waiting room, please.” She turned back to Eli and Maddie. “If you’d kindly wait there, I’ll have someone come and tell you exactly what’s been done for Mr. Branch and explain what they know so far. Oh, and before you go, I need someone to fill out the paperwork. Do you have his ID and insurance card?”

  God, these people were all alike. Gideon was in surgery, he could be dying, and she wanted insurance information and a copy of his driver’s license. Maddie wanted to scream—she was screaming, only no one could hear her except God. She’d always felt like she had a good relationship with the creator, but now was a good time to be sure the lines of communication were wide open.

  With paperwork completed in record time, the orderly led the way to the elevators to the second floor. The signs announcing this was the Surgical Unit were posted all over the cream-colored walls. The bland corridors were cold, and the smell of chlorine and soap couldn’t quite mask the rust and salt aroma of human blood. Anyone who lived on a ranch was familiar with the scent—her stomach lurched. The water she’d drunk, mixed w
ith stomach acids, burned her throat.

  ****

  Maddie put her head back against the hard, cushioned chair. Mind racing, heart beating erratically, headache pounding, and fatigue overwhelming her, she closed her eyes. Eli left the room and came back with one of those over-washed hospital blankets and tucked it around her. After a while, she grew warmer and sighed as she laid her head against his strong shoulder.

  All they could do now was wait.

  One hour.

  Two hours.

  Three hours.

  Just as Maddie was about to poke her head out the door for the millionth time, two doctors bustled through to bracket them. “Branch family?” he asked.

  The doctor on the left stuck out his hand. “I’m the Head of Neurological Surgery, Dr. Barry Cole, and this is my colleague, Dr. Rimkin, who heads the Trauma Unit.”

  Everyone shook hands. “Okay, here is where we stand. Mr. Branch made it fine through surgery, but he sustained some serious injuries. We’ve set his leg—it was a clean break and should heal nicely. That isn’t our major concern.”

  Maddie’s heart sank. After all Gideon had endured, a clean break would be a walk in the park—even if it was to his bad leg. Together, they’d get him back on his feet. But she hated the uber-serious expressions of the two doctors.

  “Mr. Branch sustained what we call a TBI—traumatic brain injury. When the horse’s hoof came down on his head, not only did it cause a large contusion but also an injury to the occipital lobe. It might cause partial loss of sight in one eye.”

  The other doctor took a breath. “The other complication is that Mr. Branch was unconscious for slightly over thirty minutes, which leaves us at a crossroads, so to speak, for classifying the degree of injury. For people unconscious less than thirty minutes, the patient is said to have mild injury to the brain—for over thirty minutes, severe. Mr. Branch was borderline.”

  “So you don’t know how bad it will be?” Eli asked, his brows crunched over his nose.

  “Not until he’s conscious. We took a CAT scan before surgery. His brain is very swollen, and we inserted a drain to reduce excess fluid and pressure. For now, all we can do is watch and wait.”

  “Can we see him?” Maddie whispered.

  The doctor put a comforting hand on her shoulder. “He won’t know you’re there. ICU has strict policies about who can visit and how long a person can stay…”

  “Doc,” Eli interrupted. “My brother loves this woman…if anyone can bring him back, it’ll be her.”

  The two doctors glanced at each other and then at Maddie.

  “He’s in recovery right now. Give him an hour or so, and I’ll leave word with ICU that you’re to be allowed in—for a short while only. Often it’s life or death in that unit, and people who don’t belong tend to get in our way.”

  “Thank you, Doctor. I promise to be careful.” Maddie heaved a great sigh. “I appreciate it—more than you know.”

  “He’s a lucky man, Mr. Branch. If the horse had stomped a bit lower, he’d have lost his eye. A bit more force, and the injury an inch deeper, it’s possible he wouldn’t be with us.”

  Dr. Rimkin handed them a pamphlet about Traumatic Brain Injury. “You might want to read some information on what his symptoms might be and the course of treatment.”

  Maddie stared as if in a daze. Eli took the booklet, offering his thanks to the two doctors as they took their leave.

  The title hit her square in the gut as Eli read aloud. “Traumatic Brain Injury. What to Expect. Symptoms, Effects, Recovery.”

  “Jesus,” he exclaimed.

  “Exactly,” Maddie agreed. The prognosis was out of their hands. It was between Gideon and God. Prayer couldn’t hurt.

  I need him. I love him. Please, make him better.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Maddie prayed every day and every night for an entire week. As long as the nurses would allow her, she sat by his side, held his hand, and talked. She told him she loved him, she needed him, begged him to open his eyes.

  Eli spelled her long enough for her to grab a bite to eat and take a shower. Otherwise, she hovered until the staff insisted she take a break.

  On the ninth day, Gideon blinked when she came into his cubicle. Awake. Barely.

  His poor head was swollen twice its size, bruises a deep, dark blue and icky yellow-green. His right eye was the color of a beet, still seeping beneath the bandages. But his one-eyed gaze as it focused upon her tear-streaked face was clear and cognizant. Thank God.

  Hiding behind the travesty that was his beloved face, the Gideon she knew and loved was there.

  “Hey.” She spoke softly as she approached the side of his bed. Her fingers gently traced the outline of his lips and pressed. “Don’t try to talk. They won’t let me stay long. I just wanted you to know I’m here. Eli, too.” A single tear escaped from the corner of her eye and trailed down her cold cheek.

  His fingers moved on the sheet. “Shh,” she whispered. “Do you remember what happened?”

  No answer. Not a blink or anything. But his eyes focused on her face. He understood what she was saying.

  “You were thrown from that beast you were riding,” she explained. “He got spooked by a snake. I’m so sorry, but your bad leg is broken—the doctors assured Eli and me that in time it will heal nicely. Gideon, the horse came down on the side of your head. I can tell it hurts, and that’s the reason. You have a severe concussive disorder and stitches. All you can do now is sleep and heal, let your body do its work. Everything at home is taken care of, so I don’t want you to worry.”

  His lips puckered as if he was trying to say something. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he struggled to form the words.

  “Stop—we can talk when you’re better. I won’t leave you until they make me.” She glanced up at the monitors and wires by the dozen that were attached to his body. “If you don’t behave, they won’t let me stay. Zack is on a mission—we’re still trying to notify him. Eli’s taking care of that for us. The rest of your posse is running the ranch. All that’s left on my place is the paint. We’re both in good shape, and there’s nothing for you to worry about. I can’t think of what else would put your mind at rest… Oh, the horse is fine. Collier and Samuels will deliver the beast to his new owner. So, see? All you have to do is follow the doctor’s orders and get well. Do it, Gideon. I need you…I love you. Do you hear me, Gideon? I. Love. You.”

  Softly, intimately—her declaration only for the two of them. His eyes closed and peace spread over his face. Though healing, Gideon had a long way to go.

  Maddie quietly opened her heart to the man who had broken down her walls of doubt and fear, kissed away her resistance, made her believe in love again. All she could do was let him know she was by his side, here to stay, and assure him of her love. At first she thought she might be disturbing his rest, but every time she stopped talking, he stirred and the monitors showed erratic movement.

  Eli came about six. “You look tired, Maddie. And you have to be hungry.”

  “Our hotel doesn’t offer room service. I’m not really hungry, anyway.”

  “Great. Gideon’s getting well, and you’re going to make yourself sick. I insist. Chinese? Mexican?”

  “You win. I’ll eat, but I don’t care what.”

  “Done deal,” he replied.

  They found some food—not the healthy kind—and dragged themselves to the elevators of the hotel. Maddie had just inserted her key card when Eli’s cell rang. He glanced up from the screen and leaned against the wall.

  “Zack, man! You’re a tough guy to get hold of… I’m glad to hear your voice… Yeah, we got trouble. Gideon had an accident—got thrown by a new horse he was trying to check out… He’s in bad shape, contusions and Traumatic Brain Injury. Maddie and I are… Yeah, they’re together… Anyway, we’re staying across the street at a hotel. The doctors won’t let him have other visitors until he stabilizes… Great, call me when you find out, and I’ll come pick you up at
the airport.”

  Ending the call, Eli smiled, relieved. “I guess you could hear. That was Zack. He’s going to apply for emergency leave and catch a flight as soon as he can. Assuming he can make a connection from Logan International, he’ll fly into Cheyenne and give us a call.”

  “Great. I’m sure you can arrange to meet him,” she said. “I’m going to eat, shower, and try to get some sleep. I’ll be at the hospital all day, don’t worry.”

  “Famous last words. Worry is all I’m going to do until we know more about the outcome for Gid. Thank God he has you.” Eli sighed, shoulders drooping from stress.

  “No, thank God we still have him,” she softly replied. “Go to bed, Eli. No news is good news.”

  They said goodnight and settled in their respective rooms. Maddie couldn’t remember eating her hamburger or taking a shower. She was numb from fatigue and fell on the bed wrapped in her bath towel. Closing her eyes, she began a replay of all that had happened. Then, it was daylight.

  After a rushed morning ritual, she hurried across the street, only to find Gideon was much the same. In and out of consciousness, he seemed alternately confused and irritated by his inability to think clearly. She petted his arm and tenderly kissed his sore and battered face.

  “Headache,” Gideon complained.

  “You earned it,” she softly replied. “Hard-headed as you are, you need to be more careful.”

  He grunted. “You need to be nice to me—I’m injured.”

  “Yeah? From the looks of things, it’s going to be a while before I can show you just how nice I can be,” she teased.

  Gideon grated out a laugh. “Ow! That hurts. Don’t be funny.”

  “Can’t help it, I’m a funny girl.”

  He curled his fingers around hers. “Yeah, you are. Funny and sweet and sexy and…”

  “Hey, now.” She grinned. “You can’t be too bad off if you’re talking like that after taking a nosedive off a crazy horse.”