I felt like she could. But I wouldn't take that from her, she had made it very clear that she was her own woman and made her own decisions. And I liked that about her. I threw my now empty cup of coffee in a can nearby and made my way back to my truck. I was still in yesterday's clothes, I needed to stop off at my camper and take a shower and get ready for the day. It was time to focus on rodeo. And when I saw Cara, then I would know what to do.
11
Cara
My day had been jam-packed with patients. I had been following Gwen around like a lost puppy. Carrying her bags, doing vaccinations when she needed me to, and constantly looking over my shoulder to see if Hunter was around. She had already decided that she would spend the evening with Loki handling his abscess. She was impressed that I had done the x-rays myself. But she could also tell that something was off about me.
“What's going on?” She finally asked me as the day began to blend into evening.
“It's nothing.” I said as I looked over my shoulder for about the hundredth time. The rodeo had already started. Barrel racing was done, and a lot of the roping events had finished up. I knew that I wouldn't be seeing Hunter anymore tonight, his event was up soon, I assumed that he was preparing for it.
“It's not nothing, and I know it. So you might as well just tell me what's going on. You looked really tired this morning. I know that this was a lot of work this weekend, but you usually take to these tasks without a problem. So tell me what's really going on Cara.”
“Hunter took me out for drinks last night, I admitted. And one thing led to another, and I thought he stayed the night, but he wasn't there this morning.”
She shook her head. “You know how cowboys are. But I am glad to see that you had a little fun.”
I packed some gauze back up into her kit. “I do know how they are! Which is why I feel so stupid. I know that he is completely focused on his career, and I am probably just another notch on his bedpost. But somehow I can't stop thinking about him. About how kind he was to me, and how he stuck up for me at the bar when this other guy wouldn't leave me alone. I don't know what it is about him, but I just can't let it go. Even though I know I should.” I paused, zipping up the bag in front of me. It was getting dark and harder to see.
That was what had been going through my mind the entire day, what would I do when I saw him again? I thought I had decided that I wouldn't let him get into my pants again, but every time I thought about last night, I just wanted to repeat it.
Gwen stopped what she was doing and took my hands in hers. We were both dirty and sweaty, and exhausted. But she still had some good words of advice left in her. “Cara, listen to me. If you like this guy, don't just let him go. Why don't you go watch him in the arena? I can finish up here. The stuff is easy.”
“We still have three horses to vaccinate. You need someone to hold the reins! I'm not going to leave you here on your own to finish,” I protested.
“There are about a million high school boys standing around here who would jump at the opportunity to hold a horse for me. Don't worry. Just go watch your man!” She squeezed my hands tightly as if to give me the confidence I needed to go.
“Fine. But I'm not staying out there for very long, so if he doesn't come out in the next few minutes then I'll be back to help you.”
She shrugged. “Just go watch him risk his life for what he loves.”
Jesus, I hadn't even thought about it like that. If something did get serious between Hunter and I, I would be a rodeo pro’s girlfriend. He would be risking his life every weekend for his job. I wasn't sure I was prepared for that.
I left my supplies with Gwen and I made my way across the gravel and into the arena. The lights were blinding, and the stands were completely full. People eating and talking, I understood why the environment was so intoxicating. And when the next rider came out they all yelled his name as he tried to hold on to a bucking bronco. I didn't even try to find a seat, I just stood at the edge of the arena watching. It was wild! That horse couldn't get him off for anything. And when the buzzer finally went off he jumped down and walked away. I hoped that that was exactly how Hunter's ride would go.
At least that he would be able to walk away.
I continued to watch as a couple other riders came out and did broncos as well but then they announced that they would be moving on to the bulls. They even said a couple of the cowboys’ names, and when they announced Hunter everyone cheered. He really was famous.
And he was also first.
I moved closer to the fence, climbing up a couple rails in order to get a better view. There was no one behind me, I was in an area almost completely by myself which felt weird considering there were so many other people in the stands. Maybe even people who knew Hunter better than I did. And maybe not.
I could tell that when we were in the bar and he was telling me about his brother, that was private. Something he probably didn't share with many people. And it made me feel special, trusted.
I could feel the cold metal under my hands, and somehow I was sweating, not just from the heat but because I was nervous.
I kept my eye on the gate, watching carefully for when they would release the pin and he would come flying out on the back of some two thousand pound animal. I had never watched so closely before. I had never cared enough to. But now the Hunter's life was on the line I realized that I really cared about him. I really wanted him to be okay.
I watched as they released the gate and the bull kicked and stamped. He was pushing Hunter to his limits, I could tell by the position of his body. He was squeezing as tight as he could but I didn't know if he was going to make it to the eight seconds.
I held my breath.
But as I watched and waited I realized just how good Hunter was at his job. The buzzer went off and he immediately jumped off the bull. The crowd went nuts. It was electrifying.
But that's when things went wrong.
Hunter fell awkwardly to the ground, like he didn't catch himself properly and the bull took full advantage. The clowns tried to get his attention but he had one singular thought. To take the asshole who had just been riding him down.
He snorted loudly right before he charged directly at Hunter's body on the ground. And then he trampled him.
Other riders entered the ring on horseback and diverted the bull's attention away from Hunter but his body was motionless.
My heart was breaking in my chest and I felt like I couldn't breathe. I jumped down off of the fence and I ran the length of the arena to the side where he was at screaming his name from the fence.
“Hunter!! Hunter get up!”
He didn't move. The medics came onto the field and put him onto a stretcher. I watched in horror as an ambulance showed up. The EMTs loaded him up.
I found a gate and I ran across the dusty field in order to get to the ambulance before I left.
“Hunter!” I yelled trying to push past the EMTs.
“Whoa, calm down. Who are you?” One of the EMTs asked.
“A friend,” I stammered out. “Can I ride with him, please?” I begged.
She nodded, and I jumped in.
The whole way to the hospital I felt like my body was pins and needles. His vitals were stable but he was still unconscious. They didn't know if he would have swelling in his brain, even though he was wearing a helmet. They said that the bull had stepped possibly on his head or neck. Either way it wasn't good.
We arrived at the emergency room and I realized that I had left Gwen alone at the arena without telling her what was going on. I sent her a quick text to tell her that I was at the hospital, and that Hunter had been hurt. She told me to take all the time that I needed, and that she hoped that he would have a quick recovery. I did too. But no one would tell me anything because I wasn't family.
An hour passed.
And then another.
Gwen called to check in and to tell me she worked on Loki. He was doing fine and she hoped Hunter would be too.
&n
bsp; I waited another hour, and I started to pace in the waiting room.
Finally a young doctor walked out to tell me that he was awake. And that somehow by some miracle there wasn't going to be any lasting damage. I couldn’t believe how lucky he had gotten. They did say he had to do some physical therapy for his neck for a while. That would be an adjustment for him. But I was prepared to help him through it. Anything he needed, I’d be there to support him.
They said I could go back to see him.
I rushed down the hallway into his treatment room and I was surprised to see him sitting up and smiling at me. All of his rodeo gear was sitting in a pile on a chair, and he was in nothing more than one of those stupid hospital gowns. He looked different, vulnerable.
“I don't think a cowboy hat would really match that outfit,” I said to him as a nurse checked his IV.
“I think it could match anything I want it to. Did you come with me here?” His voice was hoarse. It sounded different.
I nodded as I sat down in a chair next to him and the nurse left the room. “I watched you in the arena. I saw the whole thing Hunter, it was horrible. How do you feel?”
“Like I drank about ten bourbons, and a few whiskeys. My head hurts to be honest, but they said I'm going to be okay. I got lucky, Cara. I’m sorry you had to see that. Rough night.””
“You sure as hell did. That bull was pissed. I don't understand, why rodeo? It's so dangerous.”
He took my hand in his and squeezed. “It makes me feel alive. I know that at any moment one of those bulls could throw me and that could be the end. But I promise you that I try to stay as safe as possible. It does make me feel like everyday is new and exciting. I love the rodeo Cara, and I won't give it up. But I think that there's a part of you that understands that, and maybe even you're willing to deal with it?”
I didn't understand what he meant. I was here wasn't I? I had watched him risk his life because that's what he loved. “Why would I be willing to deal with it?”
“Because I think you and I both know that we have something here. Something that could be amazing. And I think we're both willing to take some risks to make it happen.”
“I like to plan things out. To know what's coming next.”
“Well I have to do physical therapy for the next month. So I'm off the circuit, and I'll be staying here in Austin for a while. Does that tell you what's coming next?” He smiled at me, and I melted a little.
I smiled back at him. “I don't like it that you're hurt, but I do like that it keeps you here. It gives us a chance to get to know each other better.” It was selfish, but I didn’t care. He was okay, and he was staying!
“I would really like that. Besides I haven't even seen what your apartment looks like. Hard to tell in the middle of the night,” he joked.
He laughed and a sparkle came back to his eyes. He may have been hurt, but his sense of humor wasn't going anywhere.
“I think we can make that happen. Maybe dinner tomorrow? At my place. I probably should tell you that I'm actually an okay cook.”
“Then I should probably tell you, I can't cook for shit. But I would love to help you in the kitchen.” He smiled at me and I leaned down so that our lips met.
“Oh I have good news! Loki is recovering. Gwen said she cleaned it all out and he’s looking great.”
He looked relieved. “That’s good to know, thanks.”
“You know I never thought I'd be dating some famous hardass rodeo cowboy,” I messed with him.
“You take it back! I’m not a hardass. I’m sweet like some good tea.” He smirked. Such a jerk always. “Besides, I'm in a hospital bed, shouldn't you be nice to me?”
I laughed at him. “I guess I can try.”
“That’s all I’m asking,” he said as he pulled me in for another kiss. “Is that we try.”
Thank you for reading Take It Back, here’s a special preview of my next series, Firehouse 22!
Big Engine
Firehouse 22 Book One
A Texas Forever Love Story
Scarlett Brooks
12
Crew
“Crew! You can’t go back in there; the roof is going to collapse any minute… C’mon, buddy, we did the best we could!” Lucas yelled at me.
“I gotta go in Lucas; I hear a woman screaming!” I knew there was someone inside yet and I had to go back in. I charged into the burning factory without a second thought.
It was hotter than hell inside, and I could hear things falling: light fixtures from the ceilings, beams, the doors were metal and were holding the heat, so I had to use my Kevlar gloves to open them.
“Keep yelling ma’am! I'm coming! I need to hear where you are,” I yelled back at her and closed my facemask again. It was getting harder and harder to breathe.
I waited, and at first I heard nothing. Shit. Where was she?
Another second passed.
She could be dead by now. Damn’t.
And then another second.
I waited. Only hearing the air in my face mask.
And then a sound, “Help me! Please somebody help me! I can’t touch the door!”
Bingo.
I followed her voice and finally found where she was. I yelled to her to stand back from the door and then I kicked it hard with my boot. The door flew open and the smoke followed.
“Here!” she called as she coughed from the smoke.
I pulled my face mask off and put it over her face and told her to take small breaths through the mask as I picked her up in my arms. Holding my breath, I ran back towards the open garage doors where I went in.
The water from the hoses felt good as it rained down us. I ran toward the ambulance with her and left her with the paramedics. She didn’t look like she had many burns, but she definitely needed some oxygen. As I walked away from the ambulance, the entire roof of the building caved in.
Damn, my guardian angel must have been with me again, I thought, as I went to see what else I could do to help. There were three fire companies helping to get this fire under control. I went to talk to the supervisor of the shop to see if he had accounted for all of his crew. It was past midnight and there were twenty-eight employees on third shift. It was a hell of a job getting everyone out.
“Yes, sir,” he said, “you just brought out the twenty-eighth. Thank God everyone got out. Thank you so much for what you did. You guys are heroes!”
He shook my hand as he thanked me. I could see that he was tearing up, but I wasn’t sure if it was emotions or smoke that made him cry.
The fire was pretty much under control by this time; but the building looked like a total loss from what I could see. It was going to be a long night. My shift would be over soon, but I would hang around to make sure that my team was okay.
Lucas would give me hell about running back in to get that woman, but I just had to do it. I knew he understood. We all did. Every day we have to put our lives on the line. And we believe that we are appreciated by the people in our town who depend on us to save their homes, their places of employment, their favorite restaurants. Even their lives.
I must admit, I never really thought that I would end up being a firefighter. Lots of little boys dream of growing up to do this kind of work, being a hero, saving lives and all that stuff; but not me. I just kind of skated through my teen years—literally—I was constantly on my skateboard, ramping and jumping over things, trying not to break my neck. But I'm sure that it really didn’t look that way.
I didn’t want to go to college; mostly because I didn’t have a clue what to study. I probably didn’t want to study anything. One thing I knew for sure is that I did not want to be in the military; much to my father’s chagrin. Brad, my older brother wanted nothing but to be just like our Dad, who spent twenty years in the Army before he retired.
When Brad was in the Army, he was trained to be a firefighter and a paramedic. He only did a regular four-year tour of duty. He wanted to get married and settle down and have a famil
y and he didn’t want to drag a family all over the world like my dad did. So when his tour was up, he found a job with the fire department as a paid firefighter. He loved his job.
I, on the other hand, just shifted around, doing odd jobs and basically only earning my keep. My parents were pissed that I didn’t find anything worthwhile to do with my life, so I moved out and got a one bedroom apartment and just worked to get by. After I got tired of doing that and never having any money to do anything but pay my rent, put gas in my car, and eat ramen noodles three times a day, I went home to talk to my family about helping me find myself.
Brad asked me if I ever thought of being a firefighter. He told me how rewarding it was to do something that is truly meaningful. He told me that they were looking for some guys over at Station 22, and the rest is history.
I went to a community college for an eight month program involving rescue and medic courses, and then I started the training program to be a firefighter. That was three years ago; and I have to tell you that this is something that I really love doing. The camaraderie with the other guys at the station—it's like a brotherhood; and the pride in saving lives and giving back to the community is so rewarding—not to mention that women are really easy to pick up when you tell them you’re a goddamned firefighter!
I would say that my life now at twenty-five is perfect; however, I just seem to be missing something. My brother Brad keeps telling me it's time for me to find a nice girl and settle down and start a family. I'm not so sure about that. I mean, I have been dating, but I haven’t met anyone who really stood out as someone I wanted to take home to Mom.
Take It Back Page 4