Page 50 of Rainwater
“Ellie, where does it hurt?”
“My wrist.” She tried to crane her neck. “Limelight?”
“I don’t give a damn about the horse,” he snapped as he cradled her against him and reached for her arm, soothing her as she bit her lip against the pain.
“I hope she’s okay.” She tried to sit up, but Corey held her too tightly.
“Hold still and I’ll check.” He looked over his shoulder, his stomach muscles knotting when he realized that one horse had not gotten up. Then he saw Limelight standing on trembling legs, a man—most likely the vet—checking her over. “She’s okay, darlin’, the vet’s with her.”
Ellie sighed against him as he heard the wailing sirens of the ambulance now making its way into the ring. “Well, it looks like you’re going to ride to the hospital in style.”
“You won’t leave me?”
“Hell, no. Wild horses couldn’t drag me away from you,” he promised.
“Corey?” Buck McDonald hunkered down, his face full of concern. “How is she?”
Buck was a longtime friend from his rodeo days. He’d been opening the gate for Ellie’s return when the black broke loose. “She’ll be okay, Buck. I think it’s just a broken wrist. I would appreciate it if you could take care of Limelight, though, then meet us at the hospital so we’ll have a ride back to the rodeo.”
“Sure, no problem, partner.” Buck smiled at Ellie and headed for the mare.
During the ride to the hospital, the paramedics immobilized Ellie’s wrist and thoroughly checked her over from head to foot. She had a few bruises, but a broken wrist was most likely the extent of her injuries.
Ellie, looking as pale as the sheet she lay on, turned her head and gave Corey a weak smile. “I beat her time. Can you believe it?”
“Yes. Ellie, you were magnificent. I’ve never seen a child as young as you handle a horse the way you did. You even amazed me.”
“It was the most exhilarating feeling I’ve ever experienced,” she agreed. “I felt as if Limelight had grown wings and we were flying around those barrels. I felt as close to her as a humanbeing possibly can. It was like we both knew what the other was thinking.”
“So that’s your secret, you can talk to animals. Nice trick,” Corey teased. He was rewarded with a giggle.
“Thank God she’s okay,” Ellie said.
“Yeah. I know Buck. He’ll take good care of her.”
When they reached the hospital, Corey walked alongside the stretcher right into the examining room. He had no intention of letting Ellie out of his sight. He stayed through the painful ordeal of X-raying the wrist, keeping out of the way.
When they took her back to the exam room, he again went with her.
A white-coated doctor came into the room. He slipped some X-rays up on a lighted screen and studied them for a moment, then turned to Corey and cleared his throat.
Ellie’s face screwed up in pain, just briefly, as she tried to be brave.
“Are you her father?” the doctor asked.
“No, but I’m responsible for her.” His heart lurched at his own words and how deeply he meant them.
“The wrist is fractured in two places.” He gestured toward an X-ray. “We’ll put a cast on her now, and since she has no other problems, you can take her home.”
“Corey, I don’t want to go home.” Ellie’s jaw was firm and deep determination swam in her eyes.
“Ellie, we’ll talk about that later.”
A nurse bustled in. “Sir, I’m afraid you’ll have to leave.”
“Corey, please don’t go,” Ellie pleaded.
He looked down to see the bravado totally gone, tears shining in her eyes, and he realized in an instant she had been trying to be brave for him. “Darlin’, I’m not going anywhere.” He gently caressed her face with the palm of his hand.
