Page 5 of More Than a Little Spark

My heart sinks.If Carson is a ranch hand there, then he’s married.Because Rose told me right after she met Dallas that all his ranch-hand buddies were married.Maybe when I tell her about tonight, I should leave out all the parts about how sweet this guy has been because I don’t want to get him in trouble.It’s not like he did anything inappropriate at all.I’m doing all the cuddling.He’s just being nice.I guess the spark I felt was all in my head.But considering my car just rolled over, I’m probably not thinking straight.I’ll blame that.

“Good, okay.Then you can call him and tell him what happened.But don’t make it sound really bad because I don’t want Rose to worry.”I flash a smile at the paramedics, letting them know I’m not hovering near death’s door.“Will you snap a picture of my car for me please?”

“Sure thing.”He moves farther away as the three paramedics gather around me.

Carson calls out, “Be careful of her ankle and foot.It’s messed up, and she winces when she takes a deep breath, so her ribs might be broken.”

A deputy walks over to Carson, and they start talking.But they’re too far away for me to hear what they are saying.

One of the paramedics flashes a smile at me.“I’m Lucas.Can you tell me what happened?”

“I was driving, and some idiot hit my car as he was trying to pass me.”

Lucas hooks a thumb over his shoulder toward Carson.“That guy?”

“Oh, no no no.He’s my hero.I’d still be hanging upside down in my car if it weren’t for him.Passed out probably.”

“Did you lose consciousness?”the woman paramedic asks.

“I don’t think so.”

Carson moves closer.“She passed out for maybe a second or two.Woke up when I patted her cheek.”

“Thanks.”Lucas turns his focus back to me.“So what else can you tell me?”

“Carson saw it happen and stopped to help me.I really don’t even remember rolling.But the car being upside down kind of made it clear that I’d flipped over.The wheels aren’t supposed to be pointed up.”I lean close to the woman, who is checking my ankle, and nod toward Carson.“Will you see if he’s wearing a wedding ring?”

I’m holding out hope that maybe Rose was wrong because Carson doesn’t really act married.Is that a thing?Acting married?It is for my boss.I’ve met a whole new side of him since Zoe came into his life.

The paramedic grins.“I’ll sneak a peek in a minute and let you know.”

Lucas and the other guy step away and walk toward the ambulance.

“They’re getting a stretcher so that we can lay you down.We’ll try not to jostle you too much, okay?”She stands and gives a warm smile.“I’m Trudy, by the way.”

“Hi Trudy.I’m Daphne.Y’all are taking me to the hospital?”I blink, hoping to clear the mist pooling in my eyes.I’m glad they’re checking for injuries, but every touch hurts.

“Yes, unless you refuse, but I’d recommend you go.They’ll x-ray your ankle and ribs and likely keep you overnight for observation.You had a pretty serious accident.”

“Yeah.It didn’t seem so bad at first, but then I saw the car and started to feel all the parts that hurt.”

She glances over her shoulder toward Carson.“I’m glad he stopped to help you.”

“Me too.”

Lucas and his partner roll the stretcher up to the truck.

Trudy pats my hand.“I’m going to step away while they move you.And I’ll spy for you.”She winks.

“Thank you.”I close my eyes and hold in all yelps and screams while the guys put me on the stretcher.From the few times I’ve worked out, I know that the next day always hurts worse.And I am not looking forward to that.Because on a scale of one to ten, I’m at a nine.And I hate it.

“You can’t sleep right now,” Carson says.

My eyes snap open, and I give him a smile.“Okay.I promise.”

“The deputy wants to talk to you.And my dash cam caught the whole thing.I’ll send it in.”

“Oh, good.They won’t think I’m crazy.”I motion to my outfit.“I don’t always run around as a Scooby-Doo character.”

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