“Yeah,” he admitted with a grimace.
“Anything else?” she asked.
“Now that you mention it, I’m pretty sure I broke my ankle, too.”
“Timber urgent care is five minutes away. I’ll bring my truck around.”
“Not Timber. Take me into Pawhuska.”
“That’s twenty minutes.” AJ stopped and stared at him. “Tell me you’re not doing this because you don’t want anyone to know.”
“I like Pawhuska.”
“Seriously, Travis?”
“Oh, I’m real serious here.” He closed his eyes for a moment as pain shot up his leg.
Yeah, a man’s pride was a very serious thing. No way did he want to advertise that an over-the-hill cowboy was headed to the emergency room after what was no doubt his last ride.
Chapter Seven
Cupping her hand around her mouth, AJ peeked around the corner of the men’s bunkhouse. She whispered into her cell phone. “Emma, this is AJ.”
“AJ, is everything okay? I can barely hear you.”
She glanced around once more before speaking louder. “I don’t want to alarm you but I’ve just come back from the Pawhuska emergency room.”
Emma gasped. “Are you hurt?”
“No. I’m fine. It’s not me.”
“Travis.”
“Yes. He has a fractured ankle and some bruised ribs.”
“The Timber urgent care wasn’t open?”
“Travis refused to be seen there.” AJ paced back and forth across the gravel.
“Why?”
“He won today.”
“Yes. I know. Lucy and I tried to find him. We figured he was off celebrating.”
“He was off getting x-rayed. Travis refused to be seen in Timber. He has a reputation to maintain. Especially since this was most likely his last hurrah in the saddle.”
“Of course. What was I thinking? Macho mentality. I forget about things like that now that I don’t have a man around the house. Where is he?”
“In the bunkhouse. Tripp and Dutch are watching him.”
“I’ll wake the babies and be right over.”
“That’s probably not a good idea. Travis is...well, he’s not happy about being immobilized. I’m sure he’ll be better after a little time to adjust.”
“My brother spends way too much time worrying about what others think of him.”
“I’m not staying in bed,” Travis bellowed. The sound carried through the screen door to AJ.
Emma gasped. “Was that Travis?”
“Yes. He got a shot of something for pain in the ER. It’s made him cranky and a bit confused.”
“Oh, my. What can I do to help?”
“Could you let Lucy know? I mean, because then, technically, you told her and not me. He made me promise not to call Lucy.”
“Oh, brother. And I meant that.” She sighed. “Okay, yes, I’ll contact Lucy immediately.”
“Thank you.”
“AJ, you better be prepared. Lucy will swoop in. Fast and furiously, too. She’s a helicopter sister. Has been since our parents died.”
“I appreciate the heads-up.”
AJ put her phone away and snuck back into the bunkhouse where Tripp and Dutch sat staring at Travis. The man was asleep, sitting up in bed, with pillows tucked behind his back and propping up his left foot. His jeans had been sliced to his knee and the affected foot wore a soft cast. At the moment the only sound was his light snoring.
Tripp stood and soundlessly stretched his long limbs. He opened the door to the bunkhouse and stepped outside.
“How’s Travis doing?” she asked Dutch.
“Quiet for the moment,” Dutch said. “Conked out right in the middle of a sentence.” He chuckled. “You go ahead home. Tripp and I will watch him. I can call Rue if there are any problems.”
“Are you sure, Dutch?”
“Oh, yeah. You’re going to need a good night’s sleep. This entire operation is on your shoulders.” Dutch grinned. “No pressure, huh?”
“Right. No pressure.” AJ swallowed hard and planted a confident smile on her face. Dutch was right. Every single chicken, goat and steer on Big Heart Ranch was now her full responsibility.
“I’ll head home, but first I’m going to fill his prescriptions,” she said. “I won’t be long.”
She stepped outside where Tripp stood at the rail, looking out at the silhouette of the ranch at dusk.
“Nice ride,” he murmured. “You did us proud.”
“What?” She paused, confused for a moment. “Oh, yes, I nearly forgot. Thank you, Tripp.”
He nodded and went back into the bunkhouse.
AJ smiled as she walked to the truck, feeling as though she’d crossed some sort of milestone of respect. Whatever it was, it felt good. Really good.
By the time she drove into Timber and back, Lucy’s SUV was parked in the gravel area outside the bunkhouse.
AJ grabbed the plastic shopping bag and her canvas tote and started up the walk. Voices drifted to her and she stopped at the screen door, frozen.
“You don’t have to stay in bed,” Lucy returned. “You do have to elevate your leg and follow the doctor’s orders.”
“It’s elevated when I ride a horse.”
“That’s not what the doctor had in mind. Besides it’s dusk. Where are you planning to ride?”
“Dusk? What happened to the rest of my day?”
“You tell me. And why are you at the ranch instead of your condo, anyhow?” Lucy asked.
“My condo has too many stairs.”
“Have you considered moving in with me for a while? The kids would love having Uncle Travis around.”
“Kids. Right. Your place has enough kids. Besides, I don’t need a babysitter,” he growled.
“I didn’t say you do. But we all need help on occasion, Travis.”
“I don’t need help, I need to get up and do my job.”
“That’s not going to happen until the swelling goes down and you get either a short cast or a walking boot.”
“Not acceptable. What about the grant?” Travis said.
“There’s always next year.”
“No way. Do you believe in me, Lucy?”
“Of course, I do.”
“Then don’t even suggest I wait to get this program launched. This is my contribution to Big Heart Ranch and I’m not going to let an ankle fracture stop me.”
“You could do paperwork,” Lucy suggested.
“I’m lousy at paperwork. We hired AJ to fight that beast.”
“Travis, AJ can’t do everything,” Lucy said. “Besides, she not only has your work and Rusty’s, but there are interviews Monday for the two ranch hand positions.”
There was silence for a moment and AJ took a step forward and then paused.
“You don’t have to have surgery. Maybe you could be grateful for that blessing,” Lucy said.
“How do you know that I don’t have to have surgery?” Travis asked.
“I read your discharge papers.”
“You violated my privacy.”
“I’m your sister. That’s my job.”
“Lucy, I love you, but I’m a grown man. Time for you to stop mothering me.”
Once again there was a long silence.
AJ turned and walked back down to the drive, not sure what to do. This was a family discussion and she wasn’t family.
“You’re right. You’re absolutely right.”
This time it was Lucy’s voice that reached AJ.
Lucy chuckled. “After all, you did, so to speak, make your bed by entering the rodeo. I guess it’s time for me to let you figure out what you’re going to do about this situation all by yourself.”
“Thank you, Lucy.”
AJ
turned at a sound on the gravel behind her.
A vehicle’s headlights stretched across the grass as it parked. Rue Butterfield in the Ute. She got out and cocked her head. “AJ, is that you?”
“It is.”
“Glad to see you. I didn’t get to congratulate you earlier. You sort of disappeared,” she said. “Everyone in town is talking about how Big Heart Ranch nabbed two first-place wins.”
“Thank you. I have to admit, I forgot how much I love the sport. It brought back so many good memories.”
“What are you doing out here?” Rue asked as she approached AJ with a casserole dish in her hands.
“Eavesdropping.”
Rue laughed. “Really? Anything good?”
“Travis and Lucy are about to start round two. I’m sort of scared to go in.”
“Oh, that’s just another day at Big Heart Ranch. Something would be wrong if Lucy and Travis weren’t going at it. Come on.” She balanced the dish in one hand and linked her arm with AJ’s. “Let’s storm the castle.”
Rue marched up the steps, banged on the door and walked right in. “Dinner is here.”
“Now that’s what I want to hear,” Travis said. “I’m starving.”
“AJ,” Lucy said. “Our barrel racing champion.” She clapped her hands.
“Thank you,” AJ said.
“And thank you so much for taking care of my brother.”
Travis pinned AJ with his gaze. “You told her.”
“No,” Lucy said as she picked up her purse. “Emma called me.”
When AJ placed the prescription bottles on Travis’s bedside table and stepped back out of firing range, Lucy turned and put a hand on her arm.
“I mean it, AJ. God bless you for handling things because if it were me, I’d have tossed him in the creek three whines ago.”
AJ smiled, her gaze moving from one dark-haired Maxwell sibling to the other. They were blessed to have each other. She’d give anything to be part of the camaraderie of siblings.
“Sisters,” Travis muttered when Lucy left and they were alone.
“I wish I had a few. Possibly even a brother, too.”
“Surely you have a few good memories with Jace.”
“I can’t say that I do. Besides, it’s different. Jace and I have never spent much time around each other. I’m only family to him when it’s in his best interest. You’re very fortunate for the relationship you have with your sisters.”
“You’re right and I love my sisters.” He gave a crooked smile. “The thing is, Lucy has been the designated adult since we were orphaned. She forgets that I’m not eight years old anymore. I have to stay on my toes or she’ll be trying to dress me as well as doing her best to run my life.”
She couldn’t hide a chuckle at his words.
“What’s in the bag?” Travis asked.
AJ pulled the trophy buckle display box out of her tote bag. “Don’t want to forget this,” she said, handing it to him.
Travis opened the box and ran a loving hand over the shiny buckle. “Can’t say I didn’t earn this beauty.”
“The hard way,” she added.
“AJ, are you staying to eat?” Rue called from the kitchenette.
“No. But thank you. I’ve got to get going. Early day tomorrow.”
“What’s on the schedule?” Travis asked.
“What isn’t on the schedule?” AJ returned.
“So, you’re sticking around?” Travis raised a brow.
“Was there a doubt?”
He shrugged. “I’ve had employees bail for less.”
Travis was hurting and worried. She longed to ease the lines from his forehead. Instead she held her hands tightly at her sides.
“Travis, I’m not going to leave because of a little setback.”
“I wouldn’t call this a little setback. A pile of cow patties has officially been dumped in your lap. I couldn’t blame you if you did take off.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” she said, her voice even and her eyes locked on his. “A cowboy finishes what he starts, and that goes double for cowgirls.”
“Hadn’t heard that saying before.”
“Now you have. Believe it.”
He glanced at his watch. “You’ll come back and check in with me tomorrow when you’re done?”
“I can call you. I’ll be headed over to give Gus a workout tomorrow. Lem called and said Jace will be out picking up supplies most of the day.”
“That horse again.”
“I am completely loyal to Big Heart Ranch, but it isn’t my whole life.” She chuckled. “Only twenty-three hours of every day.”
Travis looked up at her with soulful eyes. “I wouldn’t mind if you were around 24/7, you know.”
“That’s the medication talking,” she murmured.
“Is it?” His eyelids drooped and he was asleep again, his dark lashes resting on his face.
AJ stared at the handsome cowboy who had somehow managed to lasso her heart and was tugging on the rope. He needed her now, but could she trust that in the end he wouldn’t change his mind and let her go? Only time would tell.
* * *
It was official. He was terminally bored. Travis glanced at his watch. He’d followed orders for seventy-two hours. No man could be expected to be still beyond that. He’d probably tied the Guinness World Record for cabin fever.
In between the fog of the pain pills he’d memorized the schedule for the Cartoon Network, watched a binge marathon of The Tick, and even counted the knots in the pine beams overhead twenty-four times. He was done with the pain pills and done sitting around with his leg in the air, like a trussed chicken.
Three days in isolation. Travis had to admit that he was disappointed AJ hadn’t even poked her head in. Hadn’t they mended fences at the rodeo?
He’d hardly seen Dutch or even Tripp, for that matter. Sure they’d texted him updates, but that was about it.
Though Rue came around regularly to check on him, the usual chatty doctor was tight-lipped. Even his sisters were more circumspect than usual. When Lucy and Emma stopped by with meals, the only thing he got out of them was that AJ was doing a terrific job.
If he was a paranoid man, he’d say something was amiss.
This morning he’d decided to attempt an escape. A hot shower balanced on one leg went pretty well. Now he stood on his right leg while rummaging in the drawer for clean socks. A glance in the mirror reflected exactly what Travis expected. He’d become a mountain man with a three-day beard. There was something primal about facial hair. He rubbed his face with his hands and grinned.
Actually it was not a bad look for breaking out of his log cabin prison. If he added a black Stetson he could do an aftershave commercial. He choked, laughing at himself, then braced his ribs with his palm to ease the pain. Yeah, the ribs still hurt but that was only when he laughed. Growling might not be too painful.
Picking up his crutches, he maneuvered to the bunkhouse door and took a look outside. The coast was clear. The enticing perfume of spring grass and sunshine teased him. A perfect pale blue sky overhead beckoned. How could he resist?
He couldn’t. And that would be his excuse.
After hobbling to the Ute, he sank into the seat. It felt as cushy as a two-by-four and offered as much give. He pushed back the seat, carefully positioned his leg, half in the vehicle and half out, and headed to the road to check on the cattle. It took less than a minute to realize that the vehicle had the unique ability to find every bump, rut and rock in the road and Travis’s rib cage felt each and every one.
He bit back the pain, sucking in his gut and holding his breath for a moment until he got to the east gate.
Pulling over next to the fence, he sat for a moment inhaling the fragrance of cattle that drifted on the wind. He could smell them, though he hadn�
��t had a critter sighting yet. Cattle liked to hide in the trees and stomp through the pond, so where were they? Reaching under the seat, he pulled out his binoculars.
When a horse nickered, Travis turned his head.
Dutch Stevens grinned at him from astride his mare, gloved hands on the saddle horn. “They’re out there. Don’t worry.”
“I wasn’t exactly worried.”
“Sure you were.” Dutch narrowed his eyes. “Are you supposed to be driving?”
“Me? What about you? It’s 7:00 a.m. What are you doing out of your cave?”
“I’m riding the fences. What does it look like I’m doing, standing in line at Starbucks for a mocha latte?”
Travis snorted. “You always told me your seniority earned you the right to sleep in.”
“Tell that to AJ.” He scoffed. “The woman doesn’t believe in seniority.”
“She told you that, huh?”
“What she told me was that if my name was on the schedule, I better get my seniority blue jeans out of bed and on a horse if I want my job.”
Travis’s eyes rounded.
“Tell me about it. Don’t get me wrong. I like AJ, but that woman knows how to hold her ground. You don’t want to cross her.”
“You’re not going to quit on me, are you?”
Dutch stroked his silver-white handlebar mustache. “No way. Things have gotten downright interesting around here. I’m looking forward to seeing what else the boss lady pulls out of her saddlebag.”
“What do you mean ‘interesting’?”
“You don’t know?” Dutch’s eyes lit up with amusement and he offered a snickering laugh that rolled into a full-on belly laugh. After a moment he wiped his eyes.
“Know what? What’s going on?”
“Nope. I’m not going to be the one to tell you. You might decide to shoot the messenger. Besides, AJ said she’d tell you.” He frowned. “I guess maybe she chickened out.”
“Tell me what?” Travis fairly barked.
Dutch shook his head. “No can do.”
“Try to remember that I’m the guy who signs your checks.”
“And I appreciate it. But I reckon you need to drive that Ute on around and up to the north pasture.”
“Dutch,” Travis tried again.
“Sorry, boss. I got to get going. AJ’s got me working from dusk to dawn. She’s got some saying about eight hours’ work for eight hours’ pay. Craziest thing I ever heard of.” He shook his head. “After I finish morning chores, I’m supposed to work on the fence in the north pasture. She wants it higher and more secure.”
Falling for the Cowgirl Page 10