Walking through the staff door, he waved. “Morning, all.”
“Find any hot dates?” Teddy teased.
“No luck.” Jack rolled his eyes. Teddy was a nickname because the new PT guy looked like a big teddy bear. He was also very chatty.
Brenda looked at the schedule. “Nursing home patients again, with Kevin. I’m being punished for something.”
“The permanent patients need to work their muscles as well,” Teddy argued.
“Want to trade?” Brenda grabbed some coffee.
Teddy looked at Jack for help.
“We all do our turn with the residents. This town isn’t really big enough for an outpatient PT. The hospital has some staff and we take care of the rest. Teddy’s working with the replacement crew, knees and hips. That’s pretty dull stuff but he still needs my supervision.” Jack warmed up his travel mug of coffee and headed to flip on the lights in the outpatient room.
Teddy joined Jack in the room with his bear claw pastry and coffee. “They do get the residents more than we do.”
Jack nodded. “She’s easier on them, so they probably request her. Some people can’t be tough and nice. Kevin is quiet, but if a patient tells him no, he walks away like a mouse. Bren pushes a bit but then they call her a nag. It’s mostly little old ladies so Bren does better there, chatting with them about hair and men. She can motivate them if she tries but we can’t ever force a patient.”
“But you like to play it tough,” Teddy joked.
“I am tough. You’re positive and friendly, plus, a former football player. The athletes will respond to you. That’s a different challenge than octogenarians who don’t want to move because of arthritis pain. Once you’re going on your own, you’ll get guys who want to be back at it now. Don’t worry. Just remember to pump the brakes when a patient’s pushing too far. Too much too fast can do more damage,” Jack reminded him.
He tilted his head with his trademark smile down to a thin line—he hated conflict. Brushing the crumbs from his beard, Teddy seemed lost in thought. He didn’t like to scold motivated patients or take sides.
“Time to open. Just focus on your patients’ needs and you’ll be fine.” Jack clapped Teddy on the shoulder.
At lunch, Brenda complained about her assignment again. Teddy rolled his eyes behind her back. After Jack finished up his turkey sandwich and chips, he refilled his water bottle.
Just then the boss, Ken Webb, poked his head in. “Jack, I need you for a meeting right after lunch. We rescheduled your two next clients.”
Jack arched an eyebrow but held back on how he really felt. “You did? Why?”
“We’ll talk at the meeting. Don’t worry about it,” Ken said.
Jack checked the clock. “I’m ready now if you are.”
Ken frowned. “Don’t want to infringe on your lunch hour. You have ten minutes left.”
Might as well get it over with. “If it’s important enough to reschedule two clients, it’s worth ten minutes.”
Jack followed him to his office. Ken wasn’t a bad guy, and far from the worst boss he’d ever had. Despite being retirement age with solid white hair and a gray handlebar mustache, Ken didn’t call every woman sweetie or doll. He didn’t think because Jack was gay that he couldn’t do the job, which involved touching patients. Some men got squirrelly about it, but Jack was the best. Ken was in charge of the physical therapy portion only so the nursing home managers didn’t interfere with their work. But Ken liked to remind people at times that he was the boss and mix up the schedules to prove it. Luckily, Ken cared about the patients enough that he generally chose in their best interest.
Jack sat in the guest chair. “What’s up?”
“We have a new client coming in who is higher profile in Burrwood. He’s a professional in the rodeo and wants to get back riding. He’s very eager, rather cocky, and needs someone firm but fair. He’s used to pushing his body, being injured and getting right back on the bull, so you need to meet him where he is. Get him on board,” Ken said.
“Do you have his file?” Jack wasn’t going to react to warnings or conjecture. The reality of the injury, orders and prognosis were the facts.
“Let’s wait on that for a moment. You might recognize the name. He fell, had a concussion and was paralyzed from the waist down for a few days. The swelling came down and he regained full movement but the pain and the damage to his spine is real. His manager is worried about getting him up riding again and the doctors have told him another fall could paralyze him forever. Some discs are bulging and it’s all a matter of where the impact is.”
“Rodeo idiots,” Jack muttered.
“That right there won’t help. Your straight talk might help him see the reality but he’s not someone you can just toss back to the doctor. You definitely can’t bully him. His docs will bend over backwards to help him get back to work. This rodeo stuff is his living,” Ken warned.
“Then he’ll be used to pain and working through it,” Jack said.
“Most people would agree with you, but some pain meds get a hold of people so fast. I’m just warning you that this guy isn’t our average patient. He’s someone we really don’t want pissed off,” Ken said.
There was a knock on the door. The secretary, Lexi, poked her head in. “The manager is here and wants to speak to you first.”
Ken nodded.
A wiry guy with a bolo tie, boots and a long white beard walked in. “Ken, thanks for the help.”
“Sure thing, Greg.” The men shook hands.
Jack stood up and shook Greg’s hand.
“Greg, this is Jack Gable. He’s the absolute best. Jack, Greg manages the best riders in the Burrwood Rodeo,” Ken introduced.
“A pleasure.” Jack sat back down.
Greg sat next to him. “Good choice. Lots of muscle. Is that a military tattoo?”
“Army right out of high school. That’s where I started my medical training.” Jack flexed out of habit. The rainbow flag next to it usually got more attention.
“Good. Lucas can be tough, but you’re tougher.” Greg nodded.
“I’m immune to cowboy charm. I’ve lived in Texas all my life, army deployment excepted. Tough, I can handle,” he promised.
“He wants to get back in the saddle yesterday. Riding bulls at the rodeo. You understand that’s dangerous without an injury?” Greg asked.
Jack smiled. “I understand. I’ve volunteered to sit with the paramedics if they’re shorthanded at the rodeo. I’m a qualified EMT but I prefer the PT office. If he wants to risk his neck again, once his body is healed, that’s on him. My job is to get him there. He must limit activity and cooperate with the levels of treatment he needs to regain his strength. Sometimes that back needs to rest. Being even temporarily paralyzed and stuck in bed for one day takes the body days of intense PT to recover from.”
“Rodeo boys think they’re made of rubber and steel. Getting him here was a miracle. I have to take his mama to church for a month for this.” Greg shook his head.
“That won’t kill you. If she works to motivate him, give me her number.” Jack shrugged.
“I like him. He’s a pistol but all business with eyes on the goal. Lucas will try to bully, negotiate, impress and charm. Don’t fall for it. He’s a handful,” Greg warned.
“It’s all business. He can fight me all day—it won’t help.” Jack smiled.
“Our toughest and our most professional. If anyone can wrangle him, Jack’s the one,” Ken said.
“And if for some reason it’s not a good fit, I’ll recommend who I think could work well with him. I’m about what’s best for the patient,” Jack added.
“Why don’t we bring him in and the two can chat?” Ken suggested.
“Sure, he should be here by now. Insisted on driving himself,” Greg replied.
Jack looked at Ken. “I’d like to see his chart and orders before I meet him.”
“You’re approved but the hospital chart system seems to be slow adding y
ou. He’s not prohibited from driving,” Ken said.
“Nah, but his back hurts like a dog’s leg caught in a bear trap. Every time he moves.” Greg nodded to the door. “I’ll go see.”
“Is he taking his pain meds as prescribed?” Jack asked.
“He doesn’t like fancy pills. Tough guys just pop open a beer and power through with a few aspirin.” Greg headed for the door.
The door closed and Jack turned back to Ken. “A rodeo guy who’s self-medicating with beer? No.”
“Yes, this is a huge get for us. If we get the rodeo guys to come here and get treatment, it’s a lot of new clients,” Ken said.
“Can’t we get ones who follow the rules and take the right thing for pain?” Jack pressed.
Ken held up his hand. “Give him a try. Meet him. See if he’s fixable, charm him and push him to do it the right way. He’s Lucas Burr—Burrwood is named after his family. He owns a quarter of the damn rodeo that doubled the size of this town.”
Jack sighed. “I grew up in Dallas. Burrwood isn’t that impressive.”
“Do not say that. If Lucas comes to us, every cowboy who aches will come to us. To you. Huge bump in business. Most of those guys blow off PT. This would only up your value here. You want to move up?” Ken dangled the career carrot. People had speculated about when he’d retire himself…maybe this was a step in making those plans—getting someone in on the business to pass it off to?
“Of course, but if he doesn’t take his meds, we’re going to have a problem. We can try Teddy. If he wants someone who falls for the charm crap—maybe Bren? Just don’t think I’m your only option,” Jack said.
Lucas Burr was the hottest rodeo rider in town, also one of the most sought-after bachelors. Tough, rugged and good-looking without being a pretty boy—Jack had heard plenty about him from his friends, patients and the local news. This was a potential problem. The coverage of his recovery and if he could ride again wasn’t just about Lucas—people would be watching. Considering the amount of pre-meeting meetings, Ken and Greg were worried. That told Jack a whole lot.
Ken chuckled. “Don’t try to push every tough case away or boot it back to the doctor. You can handle him. He wants to ride again—he’s motivated.”
“Motivated often really meant expecting a pain-free miracle. Men hate feeling weak.” Jack shook his head.
“You understand that, which is why we don’t want Brenda to get her claws into him. Men love being cared for by women. Lucas is known for being a ladies’ man,” Ken explained.
“Sure but Teddy could help.” Jack nodded. “We’ll see what sort of man this Lucas Burr is.”
He decided right then to treat him as though he were a total stranger, which he was, but as if he wasn’t the least bit famous. Jack couldn’t be impressed or the power sway would be wrong. That might check Lucas’ ego long enough to give Jack the upper hand. Then again, if Jack acted all impressed and star struck, Lucas might open up and let Jack in a bit more. Jack was flexible with his approach to patients but he needed a plan for the hot cowboy he’d googled on his phone during this long prep session.
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About the Author
A lover of unusual things, Cheryl Dragon enjoys writing unique stories with sinfully hot erotic romance. She loves cats, coffee and book signings where she can meet her fans. Cheryl lives in the Chicagoland area.
Cheryl loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website details and author profile page at https://www.pride-publishing.com
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