Harts of Arizona Series

by Yahrah St. John

  “Let me through,” she said to one guard who tried to hold her back. “I know him.”

  “Sure, lady. Everyone does.”

  “But I do,” she pleaded. “He’s my boyfriend. You have to let me pass. I have to get on that ambulance.”

  “Let her pass,” ordered a deep masculine voice.

  When Addison glanced up, she was thankful to see Josh, Caleb’s friend whom she had met before. “Josh, thank God,” she cried. “Please, I have to go with him.”

  “C’mon.” Josh grasped her hand and pulled her past the guard and through the crowd.

  Addison glanced back at Collette, who was being swallowed up in the masses. “I’ll call you from the hospital,” she yelled and rushed toward the ambulance just as they were closing the doors.

  “Are you family?” the EMT asked.

  “Yes,” she lied. “I’m his fiancée.” She knew it was a lie and more like wishful thinking, but she wasn’t leaving Caleb’s side, not now. Perhaps not ever.

  The next few hours were excruciating for Addison. More because of the not knowing than anything else. During the short ambulance ride, Caleb had briefly opened his eyes and smiled when he saw her.

  “This is some way to get my attention, cowboy,” Addison tried to joke.

  Caleb merely squeezed her hand before passing out again.

  “Is he okay?” Addison asked, looking worriedly at the EMT.

  “He’s stable for now,” he replied, “but we won’t know how extensive the damages are until they run some tests. He definitely has a concussion and probably some internal injuries, but the doctors will tell you more.”

  Once they made it to the hospital, everything happened quickly. The doctor examined him and told her he was going to need tests before he could make a diagnosis. In the meanwhile, Addison had time on her hands, so she called Collette, who was already en route, and then she called Caleb’s family.

  Initially Madelyn Hart had been happy to hear from her, but as soon as she heard the reason for the call, she dropped the phone. Isaac Hart was more stalwart than his wife and told Addison he would make arrangements to be there in a few hours. In the interim, he was sending Duke on their behalf if any major decisions came up between now and then.

  Addison needn’t have worried because before Collette could even arrive, Duke was already barging through the ER. “Where’s my nephew?” he asked, raising his voice to anyone who would listen.

  When Addison saw him, she rushed over. “Duke!”

  He glanced up when he heard her voice and enveloped her in a big bear hug when he saw the absolute fear in her eyes. When they finally pulled away, he asked, “How’s Caleb?”

  Addison shook her head. “I don’t know. They’re still running tests, plus I’m not sure they bought that I was his fiancée since I wasn’t wearing a ring.” She held up her empty left hand.

  “Don’t you worry, girl,” he said, pulling her toward him with a one-armed hug, “I’ll get some answers.”

  Addison didn’t know how long they waited in the ER before the doctor came out to speak with them. He was a tall, thin man with a receding hairline and wire-rimmed glasses. “Mr. Hart is awake.”

  “Oh, thank God!” Addison said, clutching Collette, who’d arrived several minutes after Duke.

  “So, we’ll have to limit visitors to one at a time.”

  “That’s all fine and good, doc,” Duke responded. “But how’s my nephew? What’s the prognosis?”

  “It’s still too early to tell,” the doctor replied. “Caleb suffered a concussion and some broken bones, but—”

  “But what?” Duke urged. “What are you saying?”

  “The initial tests show some swelling and bruising on his spine. We’ve given him a high dose of methylprednisolone for the swelling.”

  “And?”

  “We’d like to take Caleb in for surgery to stabilize his spine.”

  “What about a less invasive approach—to allow the bones to heal naturally with the help of halo traction?” Addison asked. She’d looked it up online on her phone to find out as much as she could about spinal injuries.

  “We could do that and try the wait and see approach,” the doctor said.

  “But you’re obviously hedging your bets,” Duke replied. “There’s more, isn’t there? What aren’t you saying?”

  The doctor sighed, clearly uneasy at being pushed into a corner, but Addison was with Duke and the doctor wasn’t saying something. “If I had to speculate and present a worst-case scenario, Caleb could be paralyzed and you’ll need to prepare him for his new reality.”

  “Omigod!” a woman screamed from behind Addison, and they all spun around.

  It was Madelyn Hart. She’d arrived at just that moment with Caleb’s father, Isaac, and Noah in tow and was falling to the floor.

  “Sis.” Duke rushed toward her, but Isaac shooed him away.

  “I’ve got her,” Isaac said, helping her toward a seat.

  “Listen,” the doctor said, “it’s too early to make these pronouncements. Let’s see how he reacts to the steroids and complete another round of tests in a day or so. In the meantime, who would like to go in first, one at a time?”

  Several pairs of eyes landed on Addison. She wanted to go and rush into Caleb’s arms, but his mother was here. “Mrs. Hart, you should go see your son.”

  Isaac shook his head as she held his arm, sobbing softly. “You go on ahead. It’s best she calm down before she goes in. Otherwise, Caleb will know something’s wrong.”

  Addison glanced at Collette and then at Duke. “Go on,” he agreed. “I’ll be after you.”

  Addison nodded and slowly walked with the doctor down the long corridor toward Caleb’s room.

  When she arrived, the room was quiet save for the beeping of the machines. Caleb was lying still on the hospital bed, but as if he sensed her presence as she approached, his eyes popped open. “Hey, beautiful,” he murmured groggily.

  She tried for a half-smile when she reached him, but instead her emotions took over. She broke down and started crying and laid her head on his chest.

  “It’s okay,” he said, caressing her head softly. “I’m okay. It was nothing more than a scratch.”

  At his attempt at a joke, Addison raised her head and looked into his eyes. There were several covered cuts and lacerations across his face from where the bull had attacked him, but there was a nasty one above his left eye that would leave a scar. “It was definitely more than a scratch.”

  He smiled wanly. “I’m glad you’re here,” he said, caressing her cheek. “When I woke up in the ambulance and saw you there, I thought I was dreaming, but now I can see I wasn’t.”

  Addison’s eyes filled with tears. There was no place she would have been but in that ambulance.

  “And you’re here now.”

  She nodded.

  “I wa-wanna know what that means,” Caleb said, “but these drugs they just gave me are amazing.”

  “It’s okay.” Addison nodded. “Sleep. Just so you know, your parents and Duke are here.” But Caleb was already out like a light.

  Chapter 16

  The next morning, Caleb knew something was wrong the moment he woke up and saw his mother’s somber face. It wasn’t that he was surprised she and his father had come. He was injured and he’d listed them and Duke as next of kin, but usually his mother was always happy and hopeful. This morning, however, she looked far from having either of those emotions.

  “Mom?” Caleb attempted to rise and scoot himself backward, but when he pushed his arms down to lift himself up, he couldn’t move. He immediately glanced at Noah, who was standing near the door, and for the first time in his life, his older brother didn’t look him in the eye. Instead, Noah looked downward.

  Frustrated, Caleb tried again to right himself into the seated position,
but couldn’t. “Dammit! Will someone tell me what’s going on?”

  “Son.” His father came toward the bed.

  “Don’t son, me,” Caleb spat. “I know that tone.” He pointed his finger at his father. “That tone is never good news. So what is it? What the hell is wrong with me?”

  “Please don’t get agitated,” his mother replied softly. “It won’t help in your recovery.” She walked to his bedside and began pouring him a cup of water from the container the nurse had left on his bedside tray.

  “Don’t tell me what to do!” Caleb yelled.

  “Don’t speak to your mama that way,” Isaac said.

  “I’m sorry, Ma,” Caleb apologized, “but for Christ’s sake, will you all stop looking at me with these sad faces and shoot straight from the hip. Noah?” He looked at his big brother. He trusted him more than any man.

  Noah glanced up, and Caleb’s heart sank. “It’s your spine, Caleb. It’s been badly damaged from the fall when the bull threw you and kicked you. He may have br-broken your b-back.” His voice cracked. “Right now the doctor says your paralyzation could be temporary, but we won’t know for sure until the swelling goes down.”

  “D-did, did you just say P-A-R-A-L-Y-Z-E-D?” Caleb yelled, his eyes widening with fear as the truth began to sink in.

  Noah nodded and began walking toward the hospital bed, but Caleb stopped him. “Don’t come any closer! I wouldn’t want you to catch what I have.”

  “Caleb,” his mother sighed aloud.

  Caleb scratched his head. “Paralyzed?” He tried to move his body again, to wiggle his toes, but he couldn’t and tears began to streak down his cheek. He didn’t even know he was capable of crying until now. “Paralyzed.” He balled his hands into fists and slammed them down hard on his legs, but still he felt nothing. “I can’t be. I can’t. I won’t accept this.”

  “I’m sorry, son, but it’s true,” his father said. “We don’t know how long it’s going to last, so you’re going to need to go into occupational therapy to show you how to cope with everyday life. It’ll help you with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and food preparation, going to the toilet, and learning to maneuver in a wheelchair.”

  Caleb’s eyes followed his father’s, and he saw the wheelchair sitting in the corner of the room. Was that device really his new reality? Was this some horrific nightmare that he would wake up from? He blinked several times wishing himself awake, but when he opened his eyes, his family was still staring at him with sadness.

  “Get that thing out of my room,” Caleb said, pointing to the chair.

  “Caleb, you’re going to need it to get around,” his mother said.

  “I don’t care, Mama. I want it out. Now!”

  Sensing his distress, Noah walked over to the chair and wheeled it out of the room.

  Caleb leaned back in the bed and stared at the ceiling. “I would like you to all leave.”

  “Caleb ...,” his mother murmured.

  “C’mon, Maddie.” Isaac used the nickname he called his wife when he was cross with her. “Let the boy breathe. It’s a lot for him to take in right now.”

  Out of the corner of his eye, Caleb saw Noah return to the room, but Isaac Hart shook his head and said, “He wants to be alone.”

  When they were gone, Caleb threw the water pitcher at the door and watched water splash everywhere. He didn’t give a shit. He was crippled, and his life was over.

  Addison had hardly slept the last couple of days. She’d spent most of them at the hospital waiting for news on Caleb until Collette had finally pulled her away to come home, get a few hours of sleep, shower and change.

  Sleep had eluded her, so after tossing and turning on her bed, she finally gave up on sleep and showered. The hot pulsating water had done her good, and she felt rejuvenated and ready to deal with whatever life had in store. She was not, however, prepared for an encounter with her father.

  “Addison, wait!” Benjamin Walker caught up with her in the hallway as she was on her way out the door.

  “Yes, Daddy?”

  He was dressed as he always was most weekends—in trousers and a button-down shirt—but instead of the smile he usually greeted her with, he wore a frown. He came toward her and assessed her frankly. “You look exhausted. Have you gotten any sleep?”

  She shook her head. “Can’t.”

  “Because that young man injured himself?”

  “Why do you make it sound like that, Daddy? You act like he hurt himself, and that isn’t what happened.”

  “But that’s the life he chooses, is it not?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t want to hear this right now.” She didn’t want to hear it was Caleb’s fault that he was lying in that hospital bed, possibly paralyzed. She’d done her research online after she’d showered. She knew the odds were not in his favor, but she was hoping for the best.

  “Because it’s the truth?” her father asked. When she sighed loudly, he continued, “Listen, baby girl. I’m sorry the man was critically injured, but that doesn’t change the fact that your relationship with him was over before this accident. If you recall, you were the one who told me it was over between you two when you returned to Dallas after going to that wedding.”

  Addison rolled her eyes. “You’re right. I did say it was over, but the other night changed everything.”

  “How so? Do you think that young man will marry you now when his entire future is on the line? I think not. You need to cut the cord.” At her horrific expression he added, “No pun intended.”

  “It’s not that easy, Daddy.” Tears filled Addison’s eyes.

  “Because you love him, don’t you?”

  Addison nodded. “And I can’t let him go.”

  “Then I’m sorry, because I think you’re in for a world of hurt.”

  Her father’s words echoed through Addison’s mind as her heels clicked on the tile floor in the hospital corridor on the way to Caleb’s room. Was she in for a world of hurt? Would Caleb hurt her again? She knew he had a rough road ahead of him and would need help in his recovery. She was prepared to stand by his side until he was the old Caleb again ... and even if he wasn’t.

  She found Noah leaning against the windowsill outside of Caleb’s room. “How’s the patient?” she asked.

  “In a foul mood.”

  Fear shot through her. “Why? What happened, Noah?”

  “Nothing happened. All the test results came in this morning.”

  “Dammit! I should have been here!” Addison berated herself. She should have never allowed Collette to talk her into going home. She should have been here when Caleb learned of his condition.

  Noah touched her arm softly. “It wouldn’t have mattered, Addison, and quite honestly, I don’t think you would have wanted to be here.”

  “What did the doctors say?” Addison asked, even though she suspected the answer.

  “That he has a lot of swelling on his spinal cord and that he’s injured several areas of his thoracic and lumbar regions. They’re giving him steroids to reduce the swelling in the hopes it’ll give them a better idea if he’ll recover. But the prognosis isn’t good based on the initial tests.”

  Addison nodded. “So the doctor’s worst-case scenario is true? Caleb could be paralyzed?”

  Noah looked at her with the same dark-brown eyes that Caleb had. “Yeah, how did you know?”

  “I did a little research online when I went home. I had to know more. How did he take the news?”

  “He went out of his mind. Yelled at Mama and threw us all out of the room. He said he wanted to be alone. That was nearly four hours ago.” He glanced at Caleb’s door. “I want to go in there and help my brother, but what can I do? I can’t help him, Addison.” Noah’s voice broke, and Addison pulled him into a hug.

  She didn’t know how she could be strong at this
moment, but she knew she needed to be. She would be there for Caleb’s family because they might be hers one day. They were both so wrapped up in emotion that hearing Noah’s name coming from a female voice caused them both to pull away.

  When Addison glanced up she saw Rylee nearly running down the hall toward them with Amar not far behind. Rylee reached them in seconds and grasped Noah’s hands. “When Sharif got through to us on the island and told us about Caleb’s accident, we chartered a plane and got back as fast as we could. How is he, Noah?”

  Noah shook his head. “Not good.” He pulled Rylee aside several feet while Amar walked toward Addison.

  “How are you?” Amar asked, searching her face intently.

  Addison glanced up at him. With his six-foot-four stature, Amar had such a regal bearing that before, when they’d met in Tucson, she’d been too intimidated, but not today. Addison felt like she’d aged in the span of a couple of days. “I’m hanging in there,” she finally responded.

  “Are you sure?” he asked. “I hate to be indelicate, but you look like you could use some rest.”

  Addison looked at Caleb’s closed door. “It’s been hard to sleep when Caleb’s hurt and in pain.”

  Amar nodded. “I understand. I would feel the same way if anything happened to my Rylee. You will let me know if there’s ever anything I can do for you?”

  “I will.” Addison was just about to head to Caleb’s room when Rylee pushed past them.

  “I’m going in there, Noah,” Rylee huffed, looking at the door and then at her brother. “He can’t keep us out here. We’re his family. And for Christ’s sake, I need to lay eyes on him for myself and know he’s okay.”

  “Perhaps now is not—,” Amar began, but Rylee was already barreling through the door.

  And if Rylee was going in, thought Addison, so was she.

  “Get out!” Caleb roared with his head facing the window. He didn’t appreciate the interruption of his pity party.