Page 80 of Rough Ride with the Grumpy Cowboy
My father jumps into action and helps me, putting a few pillows behind my back to support me.
“Eight hours,” one of the doctors replies. “You’re lucky to be alive, Mr. Morgan,” he adds.
“How bad is it?” I inquire, afraid of the answer.
“To put it simply, your riding days are over.”
“That’s what they said last time,” I grin back.
“And you should have listened. If you dare mount a bull again, you won’t be so lucky next time. You’ll lose all ability to walk, or worse, die,” the doctor asserts, scolding me like he’s my father, who is yet to say a word.
“Thank you, doctor. We will take it from here,” Jace says dismissively, and they all leave the room, revealing Ava, who was hiding behind them.
She’s not crying, but the haunted look on her face and the red eyes let me know she has been. I want to reach out to her, but I hold back when my father interrupts me.
“Zane, this is the only time I’m going to say this, so you better listen. Take your two wins—you did it, we are all proud of you—but no more bull riding,” he asserts.
“Dad—“
“I mean it, Zane. You’re done,” he booms loud enough for it to be heard across the whole hospital floor.
This time, I know he means it, and there’s no point arguing with him. “Yes, sir.”
“We’ll leave you two alone to talk,” Jace says as they all excuse themselves, leaving me in the room with Ava.
I hold my arms out, and she hesitates for a moment before she bridges the gap between us and hugs me. The dam breaks and she falls apart in my arms, so I hold her while she lets it all out.
“I told you. Why didn’t you listen to me?” she scolds, hitting my arm.
“I’m sorry,” I apologize, kissing her hair as I rub her back.
“No more bull riding,” she demands, pulling back to look at my face.
“No more, I promise.”
“Thank you,” she nods, then kisses me, her lips soft and wet from all the crying.
I knew there was a chance I would not make it to the PBR world finals, and although it sucks to be out of the competition this early, I have no regrets. I did it—I conquered—and now I’m throwing in the towel because I’ve chosen to, not because of that stupid accident.
Now I just need to focus on my future, which begins with the woman in my arms. Which reminds me—the ring. I cannot propose without it, and I have no idea where my clothes are, so it seems that will have to wait. For now, I hold my girl and console her, assuring her that I am okay.
31
AVA
He won’t be so lucky the third time.
I received that message earlier this morning, just as we were getting Zane home from the hospital. I don’t need to be a genius to know who that message is from. Those words keep ringing over and over in my mind, torturing me beyond all rational thought.
After her initial threat, part of me was praying and hoping that my mother was just being sour because Zane beat Estevan up and she wouldn’t go through with it. Then came the mechanical bull accident that Zane was lucky enough to walk out of with just a back injury. Now he’s lying in bed with a broken leg and no bull riding career.
I’m so grateful that he’s alive and all he has is a fibula fracture. Watching that bull charge at him and toss him in the air like a doll is one of the scariest things I’ve ever witnessed. I was so sure Zane was dead, and those eight hours before he regained consciousness were torture. He woke up, thank God, only to be told that he can never ride a bull again.
He has been working so hard for the past five years to rebuild his bull riding career, and once again, because of me, it’s all gone. I’ve managed to crush his dreams for the second time, and I will be damned if I cost him his life as well.
The one thing I’m sure of is that they will try again, and this time, they’ll be sure to succeed. This can only mean one thing—I need to protect Zane, and the only way to do that is to stay as far away from him as possible.
With shaky hands, I dial my emergency contact, and she picks up on the first ring as if she was waiting for my call.
