“Oh. You’re welcome.”
He laughed. “You say that like it’s no big deal.”
Tonya flushed. “Of course your life is a big deal.”
“I didn’t mean that. I meant you act like what you do, the risks you take, is not a big thing. It’s crazy and admirable and dangerous.”
She shrugged. “I don’t think about the danger so much. I mean, I know I could be seriously hurt one day, or even killed, but I’m good at what I do and I’m careful.” She paused and tilted her head. “And I pray a lot.”
“I know you’re careful. I’ve seen you work, Ms. Rodeo Clown of the Year.”
She flushed again. “Stop.”
“It’s impressive. You want to get to the NFR this year, too, as one of the barrelmen, don’t you?”
“Of course I do, but you know as well as I do that’s a long shot. I work in a man’s world where the good-ol’-boy system is alive and well.” He knew what she meant. Peers voted for whom they thought deserved to go to the NFR and work in the arena. Only three went. And the men tended to stick together when it came down to the voting.
The knock on the door startled them both. Tonya stood as the doctor walked in. “All right, Mr. Starke, you’re good to go. The nurse will be by with your papers shortly. Are you allergic to anything?”
Seth shot the orthopedist a sour look. “You mean besides the apparent newly acquired allergy of bull riding?”
Dr. Mobley smiled. “Yes.”
“Then that would be a no.”
“Excellent. I’ve prescribed you some painkillers in case you need them. You’ll probably be able to walk, but it won’t be comfortable. We’ll get you a wheelchair to get you out of here.”
Seth scowled. “No wheelchair. I’ll be fine. The fact that I can walk is better than any drug you’ve got.”
“All right, then. All the best to you.”
“Thanks.”
The nurse entered shortly after Dr. Mobley left. Seth signed the papers. “Do you need anything for pain before you go?”
Seth gave his leg a test move and stood. He gasped and gritted his teeth but was able to stay upright and keep the weight on it. Mostly. Relief pushed aside the pain. “No, the other drugs are just starting to wear off. I don’t need anything else right now.”
The nurse nodded, pulled her copies from the stack and handed Seth the others. “Take care of yourself.”
“Right.”
She looked at Tonya. “We haven’t seen the man you told us about. I think he may have left.”
“Good.”
Seth turned toward her. Tonya’s face was pale and frightened, but she lifted her chin up a notch. “Are you sure you’re all right?” he asked.
She drew in a deep breath. “I will be.” He took a step and hissed at the lightning that shot through his thigh. “What about you?” she asked.
“It hurts, but I’ll make it.”
Tonya stepped up beside him and wrapped an arm around his waist. “Lean on me if you need to.”
Her offer melted something inside him. When was the last time—discounting his family—someone had genuinely wanted to do something for him?
Just because. Not as an expectation that he would do something in return. He couldn’t remember. “I’d squash you.” But he wasn’t going to argue about the close proximity. Quite frankly, he relished it.
She frowned. “I’m stronger than I look.”
He settled her under his shoulder and took another deep breath. “All right, let’s go.”
“Just one thing.”
“What’s that?” he asked, looking down at her upturned face.
“I want to go out the back. I know I saw Hank here and I know he’s waiting on me to walk out the way we came in.”
Her heart trembled when Seth nodded and, without another word, led her toward the back exit. His limp was pronounced, but at least he was on his feet. She kept her head tilted toward him but her eyes bounced off each face she passed.
They exited the back of the ER into another part of the hospital. “Did you see him?” Seth asked.
“No.” But it didn’t mean he wasn’t watching. Just waiting for her to step outside the hospital, where she would be an easy mark. “He was in the emergency department,” she said. “I know it was him.”
“How do you think he got back there?”
“I told you. He’s charming.”
“How did he even know you were here?”
She swallowed and paused. Seth stopped and leaned against the wall to take the weight off his sore leg. Tonya noticed his ruggedly tanned cheeks were about two shades lighter than normal. “Hank saw me get in the ambulance. I spotted him and that’s why I wanted to hitch a ride with you.” She bit her lip. “I’m sorry.”
Realization dawned. “Ah. So all he had to do was call around and ask if I was in the ED. Pretend he was my brother or something and was looking for me.”
“Or simply follow the ambulance if his car was nearby.”
His lips quirked up in a half smile. “So, you weren’t so concerned about me—you were just trying to get away from him.”
Stricken, she grasped his hand. “Of course I was concerned—”
He placed a finger over her lips. “I’m just teasing, Tonya. I’m glad you hitched the ride with me. To tell you the truth, it was good to have you there.” She saw his Adam’s apple bob. “I didn’t feel so alone.”
Tonya blew out an unsteady breath and glanced back over her shoulder as his words resonated within her. She had been concerned, downright terrified for him. She closed her eyes and willed her heart to slow its racing beat. Don’t be attracted to him. Don’t even think about it. Haven’t you learned your lesson with Daniel? The harsh mental reprimand didn’t slow her heart rate, but the memory of Daniel’s death allowed her to put some emotional distance between her and Seth. She took a step and glanced over at him. “I think we should go.”
“How? We don’t have a car.”
“That’s why God invented cabs. Or we can call Jake. He offered to clean out his truck for you.”
Seth wrinkled his nose. “No way. I’ll take the cab.” They started walking again—or rather, she walked while Seth limped along beside her. Tonya’s gaze bounced off each person within eyesight. She finally drew in a steady breath and decided maybe Hank had given up and left. She didn’t fool herself into thinking it was a permanent absence, but as long as she could get Seth home safe, that was all that mattered right now.
She pulled out her phone and looked up the number for the cab company. Seth shifted and a low grunt escaped him. “You should have taken that offer of the wheelchair,” she murmured.
He shot her an insulted look. “Not this buckaroo.”
Tonya rolled her eyes, then tapped the number that popped up onto her screen. Within seconds she had a cab on the way. “I’m going back to my RV and pulling out,” she said softly.
“Where are you going to go? What about your job?”
She