A Stallion's Touch

by Deborah Fletcher Mello

  Nicholas closed his eyes and chanted. “Pop off, pop off, pop off, pop off...” He opened one eye and feigned a pout. “Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn!”

  Still giggling, Tarah pushed herself off the side of the pool and swam one lap to the other end. She turned and swam back, pausing once again at Nicholas’s side.

  “Your therapist said you had a good workout. Are you tired? Do you need help getting out of the pool?”

  “Nope! And it was a great workout. But the water feels really good. I’m not ready to move back into my chair. I’m on a mission right now,” he said, lifting his eyebrows suggestively.

  Nodding her understanding, Tarah swam a second lap, enjoying her own time beneath the water. The tension that had tightened the muscles across her neck and back was suddenly gone. She swam back to Nicholas’s side again as he watched her. When she’d finished five laps, her breathing labored from the exercise, she swam to the concrete steps that led into the pool and sat down. Nicholas was already sitting there, leaning back against the pool wall with his arms outstretched. With both his hands he lifted one leg and then the other to shift his body some, giving her more room beside him.

  Tarah leaned her torso against his, allowing herself to melt easily into his arms. Nicholas wrapped his arms around her and drew her close as he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I missed you today,” he whispered softly.

  She smiled. “I missed you, too.”

  Tarah sat with him for a good long while, the Arizona sunshine beaming down on them. The light reflected off the crisp blue water, and from where they sat, the mountains in the distance reflected off the wet surface. “That would make a beautiful painting,” Tarah said as she pointed out the imagery for him.

  He nodded as he looked where she stared, following the line of her index finger. “Too bad neither one of us paints,” he said.

  Tarah laughed. “Are you hungry?”

  “I’m actually starving. I didn’t eat lunch today.”

  “Why didn’t you say something?” Tarah asked as she stood up.

  Nicholas shrugged. “I knew I’d eat. Eventually. I was just enjoying this time with you.”

  “Let me help you get into your wheelchair,” she said as she stepped out of the pool to pull his chair closer, maneuvering it to the edge of the pool.

  Nicholas shook his head. “I’m good. Why don’t you go on in? Put some clothes on or something. I’ll be right there.”

  “Are you sure? I can help...”

  “I said I can do it.” His tone was abrupt, and it stunned Tarah.

  A wave of concern pierced her expression for a second, but she forced a smile onto her face. Taking a deep breath, she tossed him a nod of her head as she moved across the patio and stepped inside.

  Standing in the doorway, Tarah watched him. An air of sadness had flooded Nicholas’s face, and she found it disturbing. She wanted to rush back to his side to make him smile. He sat alone for a good few minutes, lost in thought, and as she studied him, she would have sworn that he was praying. His lips moved slightly, and tears misted his eyes.

  When he finally moved, she took a step back behind the curtains, not wanting him to catch her observing him. She watched as Nicholas lifted himself onto the edge of the pool. His muscles bulged, his upper body strength extraordinary. He scooted his backside over until he sat in front of the chair, turning so that he could grab the chair’s arms with his hands.

  It happened in a split second, Tarah suddenly realizing her mistake. She cried out, calling his name as she rushed back through the door. But it was too late. When she’d moved the chair, she’d forgotten to lock the wheels in place. As Nicholas used all of his might to push himself up into the seat, the chair slid abruptly from beneath him, rolling off into the grass. It threw Nicholas off balance and he fell hard, hitting the concrete with a loud thud.

  * * *

  “It was an accident!” Nicholas said, his voice raised. “I will have accidents!”

  Tears streamed down Tarah’s face as the emergency room physician set his arm in a cast. She was talking to Nathaniel on speakerphone as she explained what had happened.

  “It was all my fault,” Tarah sobbed. “I was trying to help. Now I’ve set him back two steps.”

  Nicholas shook his head. “Tarah, it’s no big deal. You act like it’s the first time I’ve fallen. I forget to lock the wheels on my chair sometimes, too!”

  “I shouldn’t forget!” she cried out. “I should know better!”

  “He’s going to be fine, Tarah. Do you need me to come back?” Nathaniel tried to reassure her.

  Nicholas yelled. “No! I’m good. I told you it was no big deal!”

  The doctor shook his head. “I’m keeping you overnight for observation. That’s a nasty bump on your head.”

  Tarah brushed the tears from her eyes. She groaned, the anxiety that swept through her consuming. “I am so sorry,” she said, repeating the statement for the umpteenth time.

  The doctor gestured for her attention. “I’ve ordered a room for him, and I placed a call to Dr. Harper and his medical team. They may want to order some additional tests.”

  Nicholas’s gaze skated around the room. “I’m fine,” he exclaimed, frustration washing over his expression.

  The doctor nodded. “Better safe than sorry, Mr. Stallion.”

  “Tarah? Hello?” Nathaniel’s voice sounded from the device in Tarah’s hand. She and Nicholas looked at one another, having forgotten that his brother was still on the line. Tarah apologized.

  “It’s no problem, but the doctor’s right, Nick. They need to check you out. Just to be safe,” Nathaniel admonished him.

  Nicholas closed his eyes briefly. He fell back into the pillows, pulling his good arm over his head to shade his eyes. Spending the night in the hospital was the last thing he wanted to do. He listened with one ear as his brother and his girlfriend concluded their conversation, Tarah promising to call Nathaniel if anything changed with his condition.

  It took no time at all for them to transfer Nicholas to a private room. The doctor on call came to check his vitals and give the nurse on duty instructions. Once he was settled in, Tarah pulled up a chair, determined to remain by his side.

  “You should go home.”

  “I’m not leaving you, Nicholas. You may need my help.”

  “Tarah, it’s only a stress fracture. I don’t even know why they put it in a cast. The doctor said it will be back to good in a few weeks.”

  “They put it in a cast to make sure you don’t do any more damage.”

  “Whatever, but we’re not talking about me. We’re talking about you. You need to go home and get some rest. You’ve been working nonstop and you’re exhausted. The last place you need to be is here in the hospital with me.”

  “Being with you is the only place I should be.”

  “And I appreciate that, but you also need to get your rest, and you can’t rest well watching me all night long.”

  “I’m fine!”

  “You’re not, Tarah. You are the most levelheaded woman I have ever known. Your emotions are always in check. You don’t cry, and you definitely don’t cry in front of people. But you’ve been bawling like a baby since you called the ambulance to come get me. That tells me you’re exhausted and you need to get some rest.”

  “I want to be here, Nicholas,” she said, moving to the side of the bed to sit next to him. Tears pressed hot behind her lids again, and she blinked them back.

  He touched his good hand to her cheek, his fingers caressing her gently. “And I want you to go home. Please. Do it for me.”

  Tarah shook her head. “Are you upset with me?” she asked, apologizing yet again. “I really didn’t mean to be so careless. I am so, so sorry!”

  “I’m not upset, Tarah. It wasn’t your fault.�
�

  “Can’t I do anything for you?” she asked. “I have to do something, Nicholas!”

  He nodded. “Yeah, find me a hamburger and some fries. Then go home, get some sleep and pick me up in the morning.”

  * * *

  Nicholas’s overnight turned into a four-day hospital stay. Dr. Harper had some concerns, wanting to run a battery of tests to ensure everything was well. Relief flooded Nicholas’s face as the doctor confirmed the results of his last CT scan.

  “The swelling we were initially concerned with is gone. Everything looks good. How are you feeling?”

  “I feel good,” Nicholas said. “I’m ready to go home.”

  Dr. Harper nodded. “Well, I’m going to sign your release papers. It’ll take a minute for them to get everything together, but you’ll be home before the afternoon is over.”

  Nicholas extended his good hand, shaking the doctor’s. “Do you by chance know where I can find Dr. Boudreaux?” he asked. There was a hint of excitement in his tone, the wealth of it shimmering in his eyes.

  Dr. Harper smiled. “Tarah’s in surgery at the moment. She has a full schedule today. Do you need me to pull her away?”

  Nicholas shook his head. “Oh, no! I just wanted to share the news with her. I’ll see her when she gets home tonight.”

  Dr. Harper smiled, a twisted smirk appearing. Nicholas swore he saw a hint of deception trickle across the man’s face.

  “I hope I’m not overstepping my bounds, but I’m glad we have a moment to talk.”

  Nicholas met the man’s gaze. “Is something wrong, Doc?”

  Dr. Harper took a seat at the end of Nicholas’s bed. “I don’t know if she told you or not, but Tarah and I spent quite a bit of time together before your accident. In fact, I didn’t even know the two of you were in a relationship until your accident.”

  Nicholas nodded. “Tarah and I are very private people.”

  Dr. Harper hesitated. “Okay, if you say so.”

  “Where are you going with this, Doctor?” Annoyance pressed like a lit match against Nicholas’s spirit.

  “Tarah’s a good friend, and I’m concerned about her.”

  “Excuse me?” Nicholas shifted forward slightly.

  Dr. Harper paused as if he were choosing his words carefully. “Tarah has a brilliant career ahead of her. She has worked extremely hard to get to this point in her surgical career, and she’s been making quite a name for herself in the field. But lately she’s been distracted, and rightfully so. But a distracted surgeon makes mistakes. Tarah can’t afford to make mistakes.

  “Obviously it’s important to her to be here to support you. I don’t know how serious you two are, but I wouldn’t want to see her continue to make all the sacrifices she’s been making for you, then lose herself and everything she’s worked so hard for if you two don’t work out.”

  “Tarah’s not going to lose herself,” Nicholas said defensively.

  Dr. Harper smiled. “I’m sure you don’t think so, and I’m sure you don’t mean to be a burden to her, but let’s face facts, Mr. Stallion. Tarah has hopes and dreams that she will never see come to fruition. She once talked about having children, a family, a stellar career and a partner to share that with. She never once talked about being a caregiver.”

  Nicholas bit down on his bottom lip to stall the quiver of emotion that had suddenly hit him broadside. “And your point?” he finally muttered.

  Dr. Harper moved back onto his feet. “Sometimes, Mr. Stallion, patients see only what they want to see. As your doctor, I would do you a great disservice if I didn’t point out things you need to see. That, and I wouldn’t be a good friend to Tarah if I ignored what I see happening to her.” He moved to the door and, with one last glance over his shoulder, made his exit.

  Nicholas sat in stunned silence for over an hour, the conversation replaying over and over again in his head. He couldn’t deny that everything the good doctor had said had concerned him at one time or another. To have the man put it so bluntly made him think that he’d been deceiving himself, and her, to believe that what they felt for each other was enough to get them through. He pressed the call button for his nurse. When he became impatient, he used his one good hand to lower himself into the wheelchair that rested beside the bed. The effort was exhausting, and he struggled for a minute to catch his breath.

  Rolling himself to the open door, he paused, catching sight of Tarah and the doctor huddled in conversation at the other end of the hallway. Dr. Harper was whispering in her ear. There was a smile on her face, and he clutched her shoulder too casually. And then the doctor kissed her cheek.

  Nicholas rolled himself back into his room. He was lost in reflection again, not sure what to think about his relationship with Tarah. Moving back to his bedside, he reached for his cell phone and dialed his brother.

  “Noah, hey! I need your help.”

  * * *

  Tarah’s eyes widened. She was stunned into silence. She took a big step backward, shaking herself out of Dr. Harper’s grasp.

  “We’re very proud of you, Dr. Boudreaux,” he said.

  Dana looked from one to the other. “Is everything okay, Tarah?” she asked, moving to stand by her side.

  “Everything is just fine,” Dr. Harper answered. “I was just congratulating Tarah. Dr. Boudreaux has been named this year’s recipient of the prestigious Field Foundation Award from the Society of Neurological Surgeons. The award recognizes individuals for outstanding and continuing commitment to research in neurosurgery.”

  “My goodness!” Dana exclaimed. “Congratulations!” She threw her arms around Tarah’s shoulders and hugged her.

  Dr. Harper nodded his approval. “This is one of the greatest honors that can be given to a neurosurgeon,” he said.

  Tarah was still in complete awe. She hadn’t even known she was in consideration. The award recognized the accomplishments of a neurosurgeon with exceptional surgical proficiency and an outstanding work ethic. Her research studies and her mentoring skills with young people pursuing academic neurosurgery careers had only added to her qualifications. The tribute acknowledged everything Tarah believed in, and to have her hard work culminate in such an honor left her stunned.

  “I need to go tell Nicholas!” she said, her gaze shifting down the hallway. “He’s going to be so excited for me!”

  “I’m sure,” Dr. Harper said. He looked at his diamond-encrusted wristwatch. “Your good news will have to wait, though. You have surgery.”

  Tarah looked down at her own watch. She’d had only a thirty-minute window of free time between her last surgery and her next. She’d been headed to Nicholas’s room to check on him when Dr. Harper had cornered her. Their conversation had started off awkwardly, Dr. Harper lauding her with praise. And it had surprised her. For weeks he’d been ignoring her, refusing to allow her near the operating room. She’d been relegated to grunt work, and she had done it with a smile on her face, refusing to let him get the best of her. Then, out of the blue, she was scheduled for back-to-back surgeries, barely having time to eat or pee. The extremes, topped with Nicholas breaking his arm, had put her on emotional overload.

  “You are scrubbing in, aren’t you, Dr. Boudreaux?” Dr. Harper had started down the hallway toward the elevators, turning back for her attention.

  Tarah gave him an anxious smile. “Yes, sir,” she said reluctantly. “I’m coming.”

  She tossed Dana a look. “Would you tell Nicholas I’ll be back up to see him as soon as we’re finished? It should be about an hour, maybe two.”

  Dana nodded. “I’ll do that right now,” she said.

  Tarah gave her a quick hug, then raced off, catching up with Dr. Harper, who was still lauding her with praise.

  Chapter 11

  Tarah’s two-hour operation took just under seven ho
urs to complete. By the time she was able to release the patient from recovery and change into a clean pair of scrubs, the sun had set and a full moon sat high in the evening sky.

  After checking all of her patients one last time, she took the elevator up to the fifth floor, anxious to see Nicholas. Bursting into the room, she was surprised to find a strange woman lying in the bed and what she guessed were her three adult children and husband visiting her. Tarah apologized profusely for the intrusion as she backed herself out of the space.

  Dumbfounded, she moved down the hall to the nursing station. Just as she reached the desk, Dana called her name, seeming to appear out of nowhere.

  “Hey, did you talk to Nicholas? Do you know where he is?” Tarah asked.

  Dana nodded. “Dr. Harper released him.”

  Confusion washed over Tarah’s expression. “Released him? When did that happen?”

  “This morning.”

  “This morning? That doesn’t make any sense. During surgery he was making snide comments about me wanting to check on Nicholas. He never said a thing about releasing him.”

  Dana grabbed her hand and pulled her down the hall. She didn’t speak until they’d entered the elevator, the conveyor doors shielding them from prying eyes and ears. “Dr. Harper is a snake!”

  “I don’t understand. What the hell is going on?”

  “I was talking to Valerie, Nicholas’s nurse, and she said she overheard Dr. Harper telling Nicholas that he was being a burden to you. She said he really went in on him about holding you back from achieving all of your goals. Valerie said she thinks the conversation knocked Nicholas offside. He didn’t look happy. She didn’t want him to feel embarrassed that she’d overheard the conversation, so she figured she would give him a moment to himself. But when she went back to the room, he was gone.”

  Tarah began to shake, something like rage building. It was a fast burn, and she knew that it would take very little time before she combusted into a full-fledged firestorm. She felt Dana grab her forearm, sensing her distress.