Page 47 of Cougar Chronicles

Sam!

He stood quickly, his heart hammering, steadying Holly so she didn’t fall.

“That’s Sam,” he said. “Sam! Sam!”

The scream had been loud. He was close by. Jack ran around the stable. Nothing. Across a small field stood the main barn. On the ground, next to a stack of hay bales, lay his son.

He wasn’t moving.

“No! Sam! Sam!”

He raced across the field, tears forming in his eyes. Not Sam. Not Sam.

He knelt over the unmoving body of his son. Had he fallen? Jack looked up. He’d tumbled from the roof of the barn. What the hell had he been doing? He was supposed to go in for lunch.

“Jack.” Holly knelt beside him. “What happened?”

“I don’t know. He fell, I think.” His voice sounded peculiar, like it had come from somewhere else. Thoughts couldn’t form. He reached under his little boy’s body and gently cradled him to his chest.

“Jack, you shouldn’t move him. He might be…injured inside.”

Jack knew. But he couldn’t think. He had to hold his son. He pressed his fingers to his neck. His pulse was steady and strong, thank God.

“I’ll call 9-1-1.”

“No. No. That’ll take too long. I’ll drive him to the hospital.”

“Jack, be sensible…”

“Damn it, Holly! This is my child! I need to take care of him!”

“I understand.” Holly nodded. “I’ll drive you.”

Fourteen

What was taking so damn long?

Holly sat in the ER waiting room and fidgeted with an oldPeoplemagazine.

Jack was in the back with Sam. He’d regained consciousness for a few seconds in the car, said something about a kitty, and then floated back away. He most likely had some broken bones. At least that’s what Holly hoped. Bones could be fixed. If he was bleeding inside…

She couldn’t go there. What would Jack do without his son? What would she do? She’d grown to care for the little boy in just two days. She loved him, just as much as she loved his father.

An hour passed, and then another. The nurse at the reception desk told Holly, very nicely, to please stop asking for an update. She’d tell her something when she knew.

Holly resisted the urge to smack her.

Just as Holly picked up her fifth magazine, Jack, looking like he’d aged a decade, walked into the waiting room.

She rose from her chair, her purse and magazine flopping to the floor. “Jack?”

He sighed. “He’s okay.”

She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him close. “Thank God. Come sit with me and tell me what happened.”

“I don’t know yet. I haven’t gotten a straight story out of Sam. But he did wake up for a little while. He has a concussion.”

Holly nodded. He looked so sad, so forlorn, and yet so relieved. She shared his sentiment.

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