"I'll be fine,” Sherrie reassured Daisy with a nod, dried away her tears, and took the shivering girl into her arms. “Okay honey. We'll go together."
Daisy glanced over her shoulder at Sam. “I'll have Sam drive me there ... if you want me—"
"I want you there big sister. I'll need a shoulder to lean against."
As she ran to her SUV, Sherrie's cell phone began to ring. She ignored it, but it rang again when she put the keys in the ignition. She picked up her phone and glanced at the caller ID. “Not now. Damn it, why does she have to call me now?"
"Who?” Soledad asked, fastening her seatbelt.
"My agent. Might as well pick up because I know she won't leave me alone until I answer.” She put the phone up to her ear. “Yeah, Anna, look now's not a good—"
"I won't be long darling. I wanted to tell you, I just got a fantastic offer for you. You've been chosen to help young aspiring models on a new reality T.V. show. You were always so good with the young kids, so—"
"Anna, I can't talk about this right now. I'm on the way to the hospital. There's been a terrible accident.” Sherrie knew she sped out of the parking lot to keep up with the ambulance, but all that mattered was getting to the medical center so she could stand at Jake's side.
"Oh honey, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I ... I ... I'm not s-sure about my boyfriend, Jake."
Anna fell silent for a few seconds, and then finally blurted out, “Call me when you get a chance darling. This is really a fantastic opportunity. Sorry to hear about your boyfriend."
Sherrie stuck her phone in the charger and wiped away more tears.
"What'd she want?” Soledad asked.
"Said something about a reality T.V. show. I couldn't even think about it. Not now."
Soledad put her hand on Sherrie's shoulder. “Jake will be fine. My brother's a tough guy."
"I hope you're right,” Sherrie whispered, turning into the parking lot of the trauma center. “I hope you're right."
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Chapter Eleven
Fear seized his entire body. Jake couldn't remember what happened. One moment he was helping to free a downed cowboy and then ... blackness. Through the haze, the throbbing headache, churning stomach, and stiff, numb legs, Jake heard the whispers and weeping as the bright, blurred red lights from the ambulance danced in front of him. He felt a weathered hand clutch his wrist, but that was all he could feel. He heard familiar sobs.
"Will he be okay?” his grandmother asked in a shaky voice.
"His vital signs are stable. Once he gets to the trauma center, they'll run a bunch of tests to make certain he's fine,” a young unfamiliar male voice replied.
His legs were numb. Paralysis was the first thing that shot through his mind. He couldn't feel a single thing below the waist. Would he truly be stuck in a wheelchair for the rest of his miserable life? Hell, Sherrie wouldn't want him like that. Sherrie didn't deserve a broken man, who might not be able to make love to her, who might never be able to give her a family.
Half-heartedly he moaned her name. “Sherrie..."
He felt a warm hand caress his cheek as his grandmother whispered, “She's right behind us, Jake, with her sister and Soledad. Rest now Jake ... You'll see your love soon."
The fog clouded his head, as his eyelids grew heavy. One thought remained in his mind. Sherrie was not going to push him around in a wheelchair. He would send her back to California where she belonged.
* * * *
Jake's eyelids jerked open as the stretcher jostled out of the ambulance. He could make out the faint lines of golden blonde hair, what looked like sky blue eyes, with thick teardrops streaming from them. A slender hand reached to touch his cheek, but he turned his head. It was Sherrie. He knew those strained female sobs all too well. He couldn't let her touch him. She deserved so much better.
"Don't give up on me, cowboy,” she cried out.
"Go a-away, Sherrie,” he managed to croak. His throat was so dry and hoarse.
"No. I'm coming with you inside the trauma center whether you want it or not."
He gripped an arm in a white paramedic jacket. “Send her away. Don't let her in. She's not family. She's not anything."
"Are you sure that's what you want?"
Jake nodded and closed his eyes. In the distance, he heard Sherrie crying and pleading with the paramedic not to push her away, but this was for the best. He hoped Sherrie would return to California, and forget about the crippled, broken cowboy she left behind in Wayback.
* * * *
Sherrie clutched Daisy's arm for support as she walked back to her SUV. “Damn him...” She wiped away the tears from her puffy eyes. “Why'd he have to push me away a-a-again? Everything was so perfect ... I really thought...” She collapsed her head on Daisy's shoulder, too tired and heartbroken to continue.
"Give him time, little sister,” Daisy whispered stroking her hair. “He's hurt, broken, confused ... I heard a paramedic say he might be paralyzed."
"I don't care about that!” She pushed away from Daisy. “I don't care if he's in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. I'll love Jake Serrano in sickness and health. Like I always have, Daisy,” She grabbed her sister's shoulder and sighed. “Since I'm banned from going inside, will you talk to him? Tell him I'll love him no matter what. Please? Please make him understand for me."
Daisy nodded, sympathy flooding her soft blue gaze. “I'll try my best darling. You go on home now and rest. Okay?"
"I'll try, but I want you to call me after you talk to him. Promise me you will?"
"I will darling. Now, let Sam take you home. Max is waiting on you I'm sure."
As Sherrie walked to her Escape, two thoughts remained clear in her head. Wayback is my home, and Jake Serrano is my true love. She'd have to explain that to her agent and then tell her to find someone else to take that reality show.
* * * *
When Jake awoke, he lay in a big white bed with silver railings. An IV was attached to his arm and his vision was no longer clouded. From the stark white walls and the monitors attached to his body, he knew he was at the Wayback Trauma Center.
His head still throbbed, his stomach still felt all topsy-turvy, but to his surprise, his legs ached. He had the worst muscle cramps he'd ever felt, and that wasn't right for someone doomed to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Could he move his legs? Wiggle his toes? Hell, it was worth a shot.
Squinting his eyes shut in an attempt to stifle the pain, he curled his toes and to his shock, he spied them moving beneath the thin white blanket. I gave Sherrie up for nothing. God, what a damn foolish mistake. Still, maybe it was for the best ... Maybe it wasn't a mistake. Sherrie was a shooting star, destined to shine for all the world to see. Not to be stuck in some little one-horse Texas town, married to a lowly rodeo clown.
Doc Henson, a man in his mid-thirties stepped into the room. He frowned. “You gave us all quite a scare there Jake. I have to say ... You are one lucky fellow."
Lucky? He just gave up the most beautiful girl in the world. His body ached all over and Doc Henson was calling him lucky? “I don't think so doc. If I were truly lucky, that bull wouldn't have kicked my ass."
"You are lucky because you'll recover from your concussion, your broken ribs, your spinal concussion—"
"Spinal concussion? What the hell is a spinal concussion?"
"Temporary paralysis. We thought you suffered extreme damage to your lower cord and that you wouldn't be able to walk again. But the MRI results show that the damage is temporary. That's why you're one lucky young man."
Jake clenched his fist. “Shit! I ... I made a huge mistake and I don't know if I can fix it. I sent Sherrie away because ... Damn it, she deserves so much more."
"Her sister's been waiting outside to talk to you. Would you like to talk to Daisy?"
"Sure. Although I'm not sure how much good it'll do."
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Chapter Twe
lve
Sherrie drove to Max's house. On the way, Anna called again. Sherrie didn't say hello as she answered her phone. She simply said, “The answer's no, Anna. I thought it over and I've decided that Wayback is my home. I'm not coming back to California."
"Are you sure? This is a fantastic offer, your chance to climb back into the spotlight."
"I'm positive. Actually, I have an idea and I was wondering if you could help. Do you have any connections in Texas?"
"A few. Latest client is a new model and up and coming actress. She's lived in Dallas for years and I think her father's a television producer."
Bingo! That was just the connection she needed. Maybe her plan would work out. “Could you put me in contact with this girl's father?” Then carefully she gave Anna the details of her idea for a talk show revolving around Wayback's rodeo. “The mayor's an old friend of mine and I have her support. Same for the city attorney. I think they can talk the rodeo directors into setting up a studio for me."
"Not a bad idea, Sherrie. I could see you as a cowgirl version of Kelly Ripa."
"Not sure if I'm ready to go national yet. Think I'll just start out with the Texas market,” Sherrie replied with a laugh.
"Well, good luck to you sweetheart. I'll have my receptionist call you later with the phone number."
Sherrie hit the end button and set her phone back in the charger. The career was shaping up nicely. Maybe she'd start hunting for a house soon, since she couldn't live with Max forever. All she really needed was her man. She frowned, hoping Daisy could talk some sense into Jake.
No. Her foot slammed into the breaks and she made a fast u-turn. The wheels squealed as she headed back to the trauma center. Her sister shouldn't be the one to talk to Jake. Sherrie needed to see him. To stare that cowboy dead in the eye and tell him she'd love him forever and ever ... in sickness and in health.
* * * *
"You promise you'll call her?” Daisy asked one last time as she rose from the chair in the corner of Jake's room.
"I promise. I was a fool,” Jake admitted. “I just thought she deserved—"
Daisy wagged a scolding finger in his face. “What my sister deserves is to be happy. You make her happy, Jake. You always have."
Daisy walked to the door, then turned around and smiled. “Looks like you won't have to call Sherrie. She's here. She's arguing with a nurse right now."
"Tell that nurse that I said to let my woman in. I need to see her pretty face."
Daisy winked. “I'll do that."
He suddenly worried about what he would say to her. After all, a man could only apologize for being an asshole so many times. But all those concerns faded when Sherrie stepped into the room. Her cheeks were flushed and those full lips were pursed tight, but he had never seen her look so beautiful.
"If you thought for one minute you could get rid of me again, you were wrong, you ignorant clown. I'm not going anywhere.” She stomped her foot, exhaled, and continued, “I had to run away to realize how much I missed my real home. I had to watch you leave to realize how much you mean to me. I'm willing to fight for you this time, cowboy. I—"
"You don't have to fight for me. I'm not going anywhere.” He reached forward and grabbed her wrist. “Do you promise to stick by me forever?"
"Damn it, why'd you think I turned around and came back? It doesn't matter to me if you'll be in a wheelchair—"
"No wheelchairs needed.” Though it ached to do so, he bent his knee to prove the point.
Sherrie gasped as tears streamed down her face. “Jake ... Oh Jake I thought...” She pounced on him, smothering his face with kisses.
He took her into his arms, savoring her warmth, vowing to never let her go, ever again.
* * * *
One week later, Jake was right back out there in the rodeo ring again, in full clown gear. Sherrie knew she couldn't talk him out of it. Neither could Doc Henson. But she adored her reckless clown and being out there was his way to shine in the spotlight.
Soledad sat to her right with a silk Miss Wayback Rodeo Queen sash over her denim dress. It had come as no surprise to anyone when Soledad was crowned Rodeo Queen on Friday night. She deserved it based on the elegant way she'd given her speech and the graceful way she'd accepted the flag on horseback. Sherrie doubted that she'd be hanging around the pool halls any time soon. In fact, from the way the star quarterback of Wayback Central School watched Soledad, Sherrie figured maybe he'd keep her busy on Friday and Saturday nights when the rodeo wasn't in town.
To her left, Sherrie turned and smiled at Daisy and Sam. They seemed happy as they held hands. Behind her sat Max and Katherine. She was surprised that her brother had turned up at the rodeo, with his pretty guest. Maybe Max and Katherine would find a little bit of happiness, too. Heck she wanted her whole family to be as happy she was. Her silly rodeo clown waved to her and then shocked the heck out of her by climbing right into the stands with a microphone and little black box in his hand.
Her hands trembled. Her heart raced. God, could this be the moment she'd waited so long for? Her question was answered as Jake knelt before her and the crowd roared with applause as they turned in his direction.
"Ladies and Gentleman, cowboys and cowgirls, I think y'all know this lady I'm kneeling in front of. I left home with her just after she graduated from high school and she became the prettiest cover girl ever to grace Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue."
Sherrie felt her face heat as tears of joy wetted her lashes.
"I should have asked Sherrie this long ago, but I'm asking her now. Sherrie Lynn Porter, I love you with all my heart. Will you marry me?"
She rose to her feet and screamed so loud that Jake didn't need to hand her the mike. “Yes! Oh heck yes. I love you so much, Jake."
He opened the box and slid the white gold band with one glittering diamond on to her finger. It was a perfect fit. She threw her hands around his neck, knowing she was home to stay, knowing that she'd be happy forever as a rodeo clown's bride.
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Return Of The Prodigal Daughter [Wayback Texas Series] Page 9