Page 19 of The Cowboy’s Secret Lover

“Must’ve been exciting,” said Faith.

“It was. It was during summer break, so I took Erin. It’s nice that she got to see so much and do so much when she was growing up.” His voice cracked on his last word. Faith could imagine what he was thinking—that his daughter wouldn’t have a life beyond her childhood.

After setting her plate on the coffee table, Faith moved to the end of the sofa. She sat right next to Kurt. “It’ll be okay,” she said, placing her hand on his arm.

“That’s where you’re wrong. Erin needs surgery, plain and simple. Without fixing her heart, she won’t live another two years.”

“Do you have her medical records?” Faith asked.

“Sure,” said Kurt. “They’re upstairs.”

“Come on, then,” she said, rising to her feet. “Show me.”

“What will my showing you Erin’s medical records do?”

“My last assignment was working with a cardiologist in San Diego. She was an expert in heart valve replacement. I learned a lot from her, maybe I learned something that can help.”

“Erin’s gotten all sorts of opinions over the past few years. They’re all the same.”

“I’m not giving up, Kurt. And neither are you.” She held her hand out. “Come on. You don’t have anything to lose.”

* * *

Kurt lookedat Faith’s outstretched palm. With a shake of his head, he said, “I can’t show you the records.”

Drawing her brows together, she asked, “I thought you said you had all the reports upstairs?”

“They are.”

“Then, I don’t understand. Are you too sore to climb the steps? Do you want me to get everything and bring it down to you?”

“I know that kindness has spurred you to offer help, but I’ll be honest. You said that I don’t have anything to lose. You’re wrong. I can’t keep praying for a miracle that never comes. It’s why I decided to go back to the rodeo. I’m the one who’s in control.”

Faith let her hand drop, but she still stood close. He was tempted to reach out and touch her. Before he could muster the courage, she stepped away. “I hadn’t thought about that.” She returned to her place at the far end of the sofa. Picking up her sandwich, she said, “If you change your mind, let me know.”

They both stared at the silent TV. Another rider had his turn in the ring. It was a kid from St. Louis. He wasn’t bad and was the first of the event to stay on the bull for the full eight seconds.

Was Kurt crazy for thinking that he had a chance to win the Bear Creek Rodeo, much less a third national title? Bull riding was a young man’s game and Kurt, well, he hadn’t been young in a very long time.

His mind returned to Faith’s offer to review Erin’s records. True, Kurt didn’t need someone else telling him that there was nothing to be done for his daughter, other than a surgery that he couldn’t pay for in the first place.

Then again, Faith wasn’t exactly just another nurse.

Setting his plate aside, he stood.

Damn. His knee ached.

“I’ve changed my mind. Let’s look at all the medical records I have for Erin.”

After wiping her mouth with a paper napkin, she set the plate aside. “Are you sure?”

“As sure as I’m going to be.” He picked up the empty plates and walked them to the kitchen.

Faith followed and he led her up a set of stairs. His knee caught with each step, and he still had a fierce headache. “My office is up here,” Kurt said, pointing to a door on the left side of the hallway. To call it an office was to paint a fancier picture than the actual room. In all honesty, it was meant to be a nursery and was the smallest bedroom in the house. Still, it was where Kurt conducted any work, kept his financial records, and other important papers—like Erin’s medical history.

The sun had set, leaving the room dark. Flipping on a light switch, Kurt gestured to an office chair that sat in front of his desk. “Have a seat.”

As Faith sat, Kurt opened his filing cabinet. The folders with all of Erin’s medical records were in the top drawer, right in front. Pulling out several thick, manila folders, he dropped them on the desk.