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“Nothing is guaranteed in life, but I don’t think my Georgia is done living yet.”
We sit next to each other, not speaking again, for several hours. Then there is a commotion from Georgia’s room and several doctors go running past us. I’ve never been one to pray, but I say a few words asking for to live.
Fifteen minutes, that feel like the longest fifteen minutes of my life, pass before anyone comes out to talk to us. Then her doctor comes out with a big smile on his face. “She’s asking for that stupid cowboy.”
Her father and I both fall into our seats. “What just happened?”
“She woke up and her heart rate accelerated too fast because she didn’t know what was going on. She tried to pull out tubes and stuff on her own.”
“Damn stubborn girl,” her dad says.
“So, who’s the stupid cowboy?”
“I am,” I say with a huge grin.
Her dad turns to me, “I’m gonna call the rest of ‘em and tell ‘em to get their asses up here. You go see your girl.”
I don’t have to be told twice. I walk as fast as I can to her room. I slow as I walk through the door, my knees going a little weak at seeing her eyes open again.
“Cowboy, I messed up your Cowboy Day,” she says, her voice hoarse from the tubes.
I rush to her side and sit gently beside her on the bed, “Wildflower, you didn’t ruin anything.” I take a deep breath, trying to get my emotions under control. “God, I’m so happy to see your eyes open.” I place a kiss on her forehead. “Your dad is calling the rest of your family. The boys had finally convinced your mom to go home and rest.”
“Have you rested? These are the same clothes you were wearing on Saturday. What day is it?”
“It’s Monday.”
Her eyes widen. “I was out for two days? I just got kicked in the leg, why was I out for so long?”
“You didn’t just get kicked in the leg. You were swept under Daisy and were kicked multiple times including in your head. Luckily there wasn’t any swelling. You were in an induced coma for the first twenty-four hours and then we were just waiting for you to wake up.”
She doesn’t say anything for minutes and I sit with her while she processes. “You know this isn’t your fault right.”
“Sure,” I agree with her, even though I know I’m the one that put her in that position.
“Boone, I’m so fucking serious right now. Look at my face.” Her face is bruised, and it hurts to see her so beat up. “Stop it. I’m fine, right? There aren’t some major injuries that have done something bad to me.”
“No, everything should heal completely. It will take a while and will hurt, but you will eventually be one hundred percent.”
“You didn’t put that kid on the horse, I did, even though I had some misgivings. This is not your fault. And if you try to give me that bullshit about if I hadn’t been made to do Cowboy Day it wouldn’t have happened. If the auction hadn’t happened, my friends hadn’t meddled, your friends hadn’t meddled, then I wouldn’t be admitting right now that I’m in love with you. Now, it could be the drugs, so you’ll have to wait until I’m sobered up to say it back and make sure I still feel the same way.” She winks at me and that’s the moment I know she’s going to be okay. She’s got a long recovery and I’ll be by her side every second.
10
Georgia
It’s been two weeks since the accident and I’m busting out of this hospital. Boone has been with me every day. We’ve had some fun discussions and some very serious ones. Being a captive audience has accelerated our relationship positively, at least I think so.
I’m worried though. Boone still blames himself for what happened, and I can’t convince him that it’s not his fault. No matter who talks to him and tries to get it through that thick skull of his, accidents happen, and I’m fine.
“I can’t wait to get home,” I say to the room full of people who’ve gathered to help me get out of the hospital. I don’t add that it’s because I could use a break from the constant family visits, but that’s a big part of wanting to go home. I also want my own bed and to get a full night’s sleep.
“Daddy and I were thinking that you should come and stay at the main house while you’re still recovering,” my mother says with a sweet smile. We’ve already had this conversation without an audience and I said no. Now she’s trying with my dad and brothers present hoping they will be on her side.
“Mother, we already talked about this. I want to go home to my house. I’m still on the property so if I need someone all I have to do is call and you guys can be there so fast.”
I look over at Boone, waiting for him to tell everyone that it’s going to be fine because he’ll be with me, but he isn’t. Instead he looks away when I look at him. A ball of dread starts to form in the pit of my stomach. This man has held my hand, helped me shower, and wiped my tears when the pain was too much, but now he won’t look me in the eyes.
“I’ve gotta go to work,” he says to my dad. “Let me know when you’ve got her home, so I know she’s safe.”
