The Cowboy Meets His Match

by Leann Harris

  “Do we need to contact someone in his family to give permission?”

  “No need,” Sylvia spoke. “I gave it.”

  Mary and Betty stared at her. “I thought only relatives could give permission,” Mary said.

  “That’s right. I’m Sawyer’s mother.”

  Betty’s jaw dropped and Mary gaped.

  “How?” Mary asked.

  “There’s time for that later, Mom. Why don’t you go and find Tate? I believe he wants to see you. Now, he would not admit it, being a boy his age, but he needs you, just like I need you.”

  Mary grabbed Erin’s free hand and held it to her chest, then leaned down and kissed her. “Thank you for bringing your brother home. And how you managed to bring in two men and three horses, I’ll never know, but I’m proud of you, Daughter.”

  After a moment, Mary and Betty headed off. At the door, Betty stopped and held up something in her hand. “Here’s Sawyer’s phone. We found it on the floor of the barn after the paramedics took the three of you off in the helicopter. I thought you might need it to contact Sawyer’s relatives. Of course, you don’t need it now, but why don’t you keep it for him? You know how I am with this stuff.” Betty gave the phone to Erin, then followed Mary.

  Erin stared down at the fancy phone.

  “He’s come a long way since he was a teenager who was always begging for a fight,” Sylvia whispered.

  “Have you ever thought that he might’ve been trying to protect his mother?”

  Sylvia’s face lost all color.

  The moment the words popped out of Erin’s mouth, she knew she’d made a mistake. “I’m sorry, Sylvia.”

  “That’s okay. You were only telling the truth.” Unsteadily she rose to her feet. “I arrived early for my shift, but now I’ve got to get to work. See you later.”

  Erin felt as if she’d just crawled out from underneath a rock. She tried to access Sawyer’s phone but didn’t know the password. She thought and thought, wondering what he would use. What was his horse’s name?

  Suddenly the phone sprang to life. A name appeared on the screen: Caleb Jensen, Sawyer’s brother.

  “Hello.”

  The other end remained quiet.

  “Caleb?”

  “Yes and who are you?”

  The man didn’t sound welcoming. “I’m Erin Delong, and I’m glad you called.”

  “Why is that?” He didn’t seem too pleased that she had answered Sawyer’s phone.

  “There’s been an accident. I needed to get a hold of you so you could give the doctors permission to treat Sawyer for his injuries, but apparently, your mother works at this hospital and gave her permission.”

  “I don’t know what joke you’re trying to play, but it isn’t funny.” The tone of Caleb’s voice let her know he didn’t appreciate any foolishness.

  “It’s not a joke,” Erin reassured him. “Sawyer, my brother and I were caught in a freak storm out on the range behind our ranch house, and we all ended up in Albuquerque at the University Hospital. You might want to come see him, and your mother.”

  “There’s been a lot of miracles in the history of the world, but, lady, I don’t appreciate you including my mother in that group. Why don’t you give the doctors my number, and I’ll talk to them.”

  “Then give me your number because I’ll never get into this phone again.”

  Caleb told her his number and hung up. The man didn’t sound happy, but knowing what she did about the boys’ upbringing, Erin couldn’t hold it against him. She found the doctor and gave him Caleb’s number. The room swirled around her and she stumbled into the doctor.

  “If you don’t sit down, lady, you’re going to end up in a bed next to your brother.”

  Erin knew he was right and walked to the waiting room at the end of the hall and sat. She laid her head back against the couch and prayed.

  It was going to be a long, difficult night.

  * * *

  Finally, after several visits to her brother’s and father’s rooms, Erin ended up in Sawyer’s room. Her mother stayed with her father, and Betty settled in with Tate.

  Slowly, Erin walked to the bed. Sawyer still hadn’t awakened. “This isn’t exactly the way I thought we’d wind up. It was just supposed to be a ride, Sawyer, not some life-changing event.” Picking up his hand, she held it to her cheek. “C’mon, Sawyer, wake up. I need to see your eyes. So much has happened that you’d love to know.

  “You might’ve been unconscious, but you did a great job riding in, staying in the saddle. If there was any doubt about you being a cowboy, it’s gone. And if you hadn’t been there, I never would’ve gotten my brother onto his horse.” She didn’t mention the bruise she sported when round two of the wind struck. “You’ll have to put that on your résumé—the man can stay on a horse even if he’s unconscious.”

  “That’s an impressive thing to put on one’s résumé,” said an unknown voice.

  Erin looked over her shoulder and saw an older version of Sawyer. “You must be Caleb.”

  He nodded, stepping next to her. He pointedly looked at her clutching Sawyer’s hand. “How’s he doing?”

  She didn’t want to let go of Sawyer, but at the steely look from his brother, she released Sawyer’s hand, gently placing it on the bed. “The doctors say he’s doing fine, but for some reason, he hasn’t woken up.” Her voice got thick and she struggled.

  Caleb studied his brother. “He was always the one to stir things up.”

  “I know. He told me he was always in trouble.”

  Caleb’s eyes narrowed. “I’m surprised he said anything at all.”

  “He tried to encourage me when I got all wobbly about my mother.”

  “Oh?”

  The word hung in the air.

  “He saw something I didn’t and inconveniently pointed it out.”

  Caleb smiled. “That sounds like my brother. He’s got a talent.”

  “True, but the way he said it lessened the blow.” She stared down into Sawyer’s sleeping face. She wanted to run her fingers over his cheek but didn’t think his brother would appreciate the action. “Was he always like that?” Looking up, she caught Caleb’s look of surprise. He quickly masked it.

  “He’s had his moments.”

  What did that mean? “I’ve been impressed with Sawyer’s ability to bring the town folks in. And, he’s listened to suggestions.”

  “That’s part of his job.”

  She found herself lovingly studying Sawyer. His beard showed, making it look as if he’d just ridden in from the range, and his brown hair could use a good cut. She pushed a lock back from his forehead, unable to hold back from touching him.

  Tears welled in her eyes as she remembered how he’d reached out to her and Tate without any hesitation. “No, what he’s done for my family is more than just making the rodeo redo go smoothly.” Looking up, she didn’t hide what was in her heart.

  Caleb swallowed. “You said something about my mother.”

  Erin stepped away from the bed. Of course, Caleb would want to know about his mother. “Sylvia’s the night nurse on the floor above us where my father is. We met her when Dad was hospitalized for a stroke.

  “When the helicopter brought us in earlier today, the doctors wanted a contact number for Sawyer. I told Sylvia, and that’s when she revealed she was Sawyer’s mom. He saw her yesterday when he came with me to see my dad.”

  The world clicked in place and she understood Sawyer’s silence driving home last night. He’d come face-to-face with his mother. The mother who’d abandoned him, who’d sided with temporary boyfriends over her own sons. He’d been wrestling with the ugliness of his past.

  “So, how’d you come by my brother’s phone?”

  Caleb’s clipped tone snap
ped her out of the memory. “When my mother and aunt drove in from Tucumcari, they brought his phone with them since it had fallen out of his pocket when we pulled him off my dad’s horse. That’s why I had it when you called. Would you like for me to get your mother? I’m sure she could take a break.”

  Caleb shook his head. “There’ll be enough time to talk to her later.”

  The tone of his voice said he was done talking about his mother and he didn’t want to talk to her, either. But Caleb Jensen didn’t know Erin wasn’t one to back down. She wanted to stay with Sawyer a little bit longer.

  “Do you plan to stay in Albuquerque for long? I think the hospital will allow you to bunk in here, but you probably need to check with the nurses to make sure it’s okay.”

  He folded his arms across his chest and took on a steely look. “I don’t plan on leaving my brother, so I guess I’ll need to talk to his doctor.”

  “Check with the nurses’ station just outside. They’ll have the doctor’s name and how to get in contact with him.” Erin didn’t move.

  Caleb nodded and left.

  She turned back to Sawyer, picking up his hand, again. “I hope you don’t mind I ran your brother off, but he was trying to intimidate me. And he didn’t want to talk to your mother, either.” She stroked the back of her fingers across his cheek. “You need to wake up. I now know why you were so quiet last night and today before all of this happened, but you don’t know this new woman your mom’s become. She’s nothing like the woman you told me about. Please open those beautiful hazel eyes.”

  She heard a commotion out in the hall. Rushing from the room, Erin saw Caleb facing Sylvia. From their body language, the confrontation wasn’t going well.

  “What right do you have to assume any medical decisions for Sawyer? You haven’t been in our lives for the last fifteen years, so what makes you think you’re allowed to make decisions now?”

  Sylvia blanched as if her son hit her.

  Erin moved to her side. “This isn’t the time or the place for this discussion. Besides, Sylvia was the only one here when the doctors needed permission.” She looked from mother to son. “Would you rather have had Sawyer not treated? What if there’d been a brain bleed? Would you have wanted them to waste time trying to contact you and not treat your brother?”

  Caleb took a step back as if her words nearly flattened him. “I don’t believe you. In emergency situations, doctors act all the time,” he shot back.

  “True,” Sylvia answered, “but I was here. I told the doctors I was his mother, and maybe those extra few minutes made the difference. I don’t know.”

  “Yeah, if that’s true, why isn’t he waking up?” Caleb snapped.

  Sylvia’s shoulders hunched, and her eyes filled with moisture. “I don’t know,” she whispered.

  Erin glared daggers at Caleb, slipped her arm around Sylvia’s shoulders and led her to the elevators. Nothing was said while they waited, but Erin felt the woman’s pain.

  Once they were inside the elevator car, Erin said, “He’s speaking out of hurt and fear.”

  “I know, but what he’s saying is true.” Her stark words only reinforced the somberness of the situation.

  When the doors slid open, Sylvia walked off. Erin looked down at her watch and realized that Sylvia still had time on her shift. Erin went to her father’s room. Both of her parents were sleeping, and Erin slumped down into the single chair.

  She tried to take in what had just happened. She didn’t blame Caleb and Sawyer for their feelings about their mother and what had happened, but her sons needed to become acquainted with the woman their mother was now before they made any judgments.

  “Oh, Lord, help us to deal with the situations we find ourselves in.”

  * * *

  Voices drew Sawyer from his sleep. He recognized one voice, Caleb’s, but not the other.

  “I’m sorry, Son. There was no excuse. Forgive me.”

  “That’s easy to say now,” he said, “but it doesn’t change the past.”

  “I know...”

  The conversation slipped beneath the surface of sleep. When Sawyer next woke up, darkness surrounded him except for the night-light by the sink. He remained still for a moment, cataloging the sounds he heard. A cart with a wobbly wheel went by his room; he noted voices in the distance as people walked by. The smell of antiseptic filled his nostrils. He cast his mind back, trying to remember what had happened. Obviously, he was in the hospital, but how had he gotten here? What day was it?

  The last thing he remembered was the sand-and windstorm. He’d just put Tate on his horse, mounted his own, then—nothing. When did it happen? Why was he in the hospital? He ran his fingers through his hair and felt the bump. He jerked his hand away from his head. He had quite a lump.

  Obviously, they’d gotten Tate help, but there was a whole lot of memory missing.

  The door to his room opened. Outlined in the light from the hall was a woman, and from her shape he knew it wasn’t Erin. The woman stepped into the room and allowed the door to slowly close.

  “You’re awake.”

  His mother.

  “How are you feeling?” She stepped closer so he could see her face in the light from the night-light in the room.

  “Like I’ve been kicked by a bull.”

  “I’ll tell the nurse you’re awake.” She disappeared. Several minutes later, she and the floor nurse walked in.

  “Welcome back to the world, Mr. Jensen. I’ll call and let the doctor know you’re awake. You gave us quite a scare there.” Before she left the room, she took Sawyer’s vitals, wrote them down and patted his mother on the shoulder. “You must be excited your son’s finally awake after two days.”

  “I am. It’s an answer to prayer.” Sylvia nodded. Once they were alone, she moved to the side of his bed but remained quiet for a long time.

  Sawyer still didn’t know what to think. He often wondered if his mom was still alive, but he never imagined her like this.

  “I know you have a million questions, but I’d like to tell you what happened if you’d let me. If you don’t, I’ll walk out of this room and not bother you.” She stood by the door waiting for his answer.

  He didn’t know what to think. Was this reality? Maybe he had had a psychotic break.

  The floor nurse came in. “I called the doctor. The resident should be in within a few moments, and the doctor should be by tomorrow morning, first thing.”

  For the next twenty minutes he was poked and prodded.

  When he looked around again, his mother had disappeared. That psychotic-break thing was looking better and better.

  When he woke again, the room was still dark, but he saw a figure by the door.

  She walked to his bed. Her hand shook as she crossed her arms across her chest and tucked her hands under her arms.

  “I thought you’d skipped out on me again.” He sounded like an eight-year-old boy.

  “I’m still on duty on the floor above. This is my break.”

  The reason rang true.

  “I wanted to try to explain some things to you.”

  As if that was possible, Sawyer thought, but he said nothing.

  “After Caleb won his emancipation and took you away, my boyfriend left, blaming me that we couldn’t get more money from you. I was alone. At thirty-five, I didn’t know how to take care of myself.” She paused, lost in some memory.

  “I ran through a series of boyfriends who beat me and used me. My last boyfriend, before I got sober, beat me up badly and left me on the side of the road. I probably would’ve died if Neil Turner hadn’t found me and taken me to the clinic that he runs here in Albuquerque. Neil is also a recovering drug user, and he recognized a woman at the end of her rope. It took me months to recover, but, fortunately, Neil’s clinic had places
for homeless and abused women like me. The people there encouraged me to go to AA. Neil took me to their meetings. He helped me find a job, an apartment and encouraged me to go back to school.

  “Neil also took me back to church. I’ve been sober nine years, eight months and eleven days.”

  If he wasn’t so angry, he might be impressed. “Did you ever try to find us, Mom?” Sawyer bit out. “Did you ever wonder about us? Ever give a rat’s rear if Caleb and I were alive or dead?” He heard the harsh words coming out of his mouth but couldn’t control them. They spilled out with a raging hurt he didn’t realize was still inside him.

  She flinched as if he struck her. “I wasn’t sober most of those years, but the times I was, and remembered my sons, I wanted another drink or hit off a joint to drown my guilt.”

  She looked down at her hands. “I didn’t want to remember the terrible things I’d done.” Taking another deep breath, she continued. “I remember siding with my boyfriends against my sons. Allowing you to be beaten, and then blaming it on you.

  “It’s an ache in my heart that doesn’t go away. Lately, I’ve wanted to hire a detective to find you and Caleb, but I hadn’t worked up the courage. Forgive me, Sawyer.”

  In the shadows, he couldn’t see her eyes, but he heard the pain in her voice. She waited.

  “I don’t know, Mom. Caleb and I lived too long supporting ourselves and only depending on each other. It’s a lot to think about.”

  “I can’t ask for anything more.” She touched his arm. “Thank you. I have to go back to work.” With those words she turned and left.

  Light spilled into the room, then, as the door drifted closed, the light winked out.

  Staring at the ceiling, Sawyer had never imagined how his life would change this day. It should’ve come with a neon sign warning Danger Ahead. Instead, it came with him oversleeping for church and riding out with an amazing woman.

  He’d often wondered if his mother was still alive. Caleb never mentioned her, but Sawyer often thought of her. Even as a teen, something inside him thought that if his mom ever got her life together, she’d be an amazing person. Before their dad had died, they could depend upon her. She’d embraced her family, made a home, but once they buried Dad and were thrown off the ranch, she’d unraveled quickly. From the looks of things now, it seemed she had gotten her life back together.