Page 38 of The Texas Cowboy's Rescue

The girls came back, and introductions were made. The trio became four and the hours became two. And then there was activity. The camp came alive. A police officer came toward them, and Kenzie felt the women gather to share their strength with her. The officer smiled. Kenzie grabbed her breath. “She’s been found. They are on their way in. A water truck picked them up and is bringing them into the medical tent.”

“She’s hurt? What’s wrong? Why isn’t she flying in?”

“She’s able to be ambulatory. They’ll check her out. And the chopper did have to land a distance from here. But all passengers were able to walk away.”

Kenzie felt her knees folding, and Laurel held her tight.

“You said passengers—what about the pilot?” Emily voiced what she couldn’t.

“All we got was the word ‘passengers.’ We hope that includes all souls that were onboard.”

There were tears all around, both thankful and yet still apprehensive. All Kenzie wanted was to hold her little girl in her arms and never let her go. And ten minutes later, that was what she was able to do.

“Mama, what are you doing? You’re squeezing me so hard. Did they fix Ranger’s paw? He got burned. He jumped over the fire and landed in the water with me.” Kenzie walked beside the gurney as they moved her daughter into the medical tent and the physicians checked her over. Aside from some cuts and scrapes, she was pronounced okay. But to be safe, they were transporting on to the hospital in Burkitt for observation and more lung X-rays.

While they got her prepared for the trip, Kenzie searched for a familiar figure to come into the medical area. The doctor had told her that the pilot made it out also and was taking his dog home shortly in another transport.

She left Brooke with Laurel and Sammi Jo and went in search of Deke. She found him in another tent. A nurse informed her as she hesitated just inside the opening that he had some bruising and a gash on his forehead from the helmet hitting the steering column as the craft hit the ground harder than expected. But he was fine, otherwise. Emily was there, and when she saw Kenzie, she smiled and stepped aside to let them have some privacy.

Deke was seated on the edge of the gurney where Ranger lay, his tail managing to wag at her approach. Deke had a bandage just at his hairline, which seemed stark against his skin. His clothing was torn and soot covered. Ranger’s head lay on his lap, white gauze covering one of his front paws. Deke looked tired, and Kenzie didn’t know how to say what she needed. What she wanted. He looked at her, and his gaze was closed to her searching. She took a deep breath.

“I have so much to say that I have no idea how to start. But to begin, there aren’t words to thank you enough for what you did for Brooke. And what it will always mean to me. The chance you took even attempting it. And there aren’t enough ways to apologize for how horrible I was to you the other day. I made all the wrong assumptions. But Emily is a dear lady and I can see how much she cares. I let my past rear its head again and push me away from trusting. I ran instead of trusting. I want to say more, but I have to go to the hospital right now with Brooke.”

He finally spoke. “Give Brooke a huge hug for me again. She was one brave, tough kid. You better get moving.”

And he turned away. He had dismissed her. There was nothing more to say.

Chapter Seventeen

Two days later,Brooke came home. She was accompanied by an assortment of stuffed animals, balloons, and goody bags. She was rather basking in the attention. And Kenzie was just fine with that. Her little girl had come through a nightmare, and she was able to hold her again. She had settled on the couch, quilt and pillow forming her throne, and Kenzie served her favorite pizza, followed by a slice of “welcome home” cake from the fans at the hospital cafeteria... sprinkles in place.

Kenzie sat down beside her and opened a conversation without pushing. “You are a very brave young lady. Everyone is saying that. How did you make it up there alone? Were you scared? How did they find you in all that smoke?”

Brooke probably had more resilience than any of the adults around her in recent days expected. She gave matter-of-fact responses. “I was trying to find the puppy. I was very scared when I saw the fire and I couldn’t go back to where the camp was. Then I remembered what Mr. Deke told me to do when I heard grown-ups talking about the fire at the ranch one day, and I did that.

“And then I remembered that when we went hiking the first day, we passed this big windmill, and there was a pond around it with cement sides. It had water. Maybe I could get in the water or climb the windmill if I had to. It was high, and I knew you told me to not climb anymore, but I bet I could have done it. The smoke was really foggy, but I found it. It hurt my eyes and I was coughing. I had to climb over the wall, and it scraped my legs, but I got to the middle of the water, and then when the fire got closer, I kept going under the water, trying to hold my breath. I could do that because Mr. Deke worked with me on that when we were diving.

“I heard the helicopter and when it got really low, the door opened and Ranger jumped out. He came running fast and he cleared that wall like it wasn’t there. He flew. You should have seen him. Like in a movie. He stayed with me until Mr. Deke could come get me. The fire was awfully close, but he grabbed me, covered my head with a wet blanket, and we ran to the helicopter. We took off, but then there was a funny noise, and he told me to hang on tight, and it was really bumpy. When we landed, he told me to get out and run away from the helicopter as fast as I could. Ranger would go with me and get me to help... hold on to his collar.”

“So he told you how to take care of yourself... that’s what you guys would talk about while we had lessons at the swimming pool?”

“Yep. And he told me that I could be scared, but I needed to make my brain work and not panic. And I did my best. I kept telling my brain it had to work. Did you know Mrs. Jackie found the pup? He came back to the car. They’re going to try to find him a home. He is really a sweet little puppy. I’m glad he’s okay.”

“Were you surprised that Mr. Deke found you?”

“Nope. He said if I ever needed him, he’d be there. And he kept his promise. Why hasn’t Ranger come to visit? Will they come over now that I’m home? He’s a hero. They both are my real heroes.”

“Well, Mr. Deke has a lot of work to do. And Ranger has to let his paw heal. So they have to get well too.”

Brooke looked sad. But Kenzie got her to smile again by turning on one of her favorite movies. “I’ll go in the kitchen and make us a bowl of popcorn.” That made the smile grow.

A few minutes later, she was coming down the hallway with the freshly popped goody when she heard a car pull into the driveway. She expected it to be Jackie, dropping by as she said she would on her way home. Kenzie opened the door and then stopped. Deke, with Ranger beside him, stood on her porch. A box from Tallie’s bakery was in his hand.

He looked good. Even with the stitches on his forehead.

“I hope this isn’t a bad time. I wanted to drop this by for Brooke. And Ranger’s been moping about, so he wanted to pay her a visit.”

“Of course, come on in.” She stepped back and he moved toward the living room. Brooke saw Ranger, and she suddenly was up and laughing, giving the dog hugs. Then she saw Deke, and she ran around the couch, and he managed to catch her up in the crook of his arm.

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