Page 33 of The Cowboy’s Secret Lover

Eight seconds.

The buzzers blast filled the arena. Kurt let go and landed on the ground. His left leg refused to hold him, and he stumbled for the wall. Doctor Danger was corralled.

A pair of judges sat on a dais next to the chute. There was also a table with the official clock, buzzer, and an electronic scoreboard. Like it was for all bull riders, Kurt had to stay on for eight seconds in order to be awarded any points. Yet, his actual score came from the two judges. Each man was able to give 25 points for the rider’s skill and another 25 the difficulty of the ride, for a total of 100 points.

Holding his breath, Kurt waited.

The combined score flashed onto the scoreboard.

90 points.

As one, the crowd let out a cheer. Then they started chanting “K.C. K.C. K.C.”

Kurt waved his hat.

He looked back to where Faith had been sitting. The seat was empty. Had she left? And if so, where had she gone. Then he found her, standing next to the paddock—and waiting for him. Just looking at her filled Kurt’s heart with… What was it? Affection? Desire? Pride?

He limped to the gate. “Did you see that?” he asked. “That was a near perfect score.”

“Kurt,” she said. Her brows were drawn together. “I need to tell you something. I just got a call. Erin’s medication quit working and her pulse is erratic. If we’re going to save her life, we have to operate now.”

* * *

Faith foundherself behind the wheel of Kurt’s truck for the second time. She drove from the arena to the hospital. Kurt sat in the passenger seat, his jaw tight, and stared out of the window. He said nothing, and she didn’t try to make conversation. They both knew what was at stake and to speak would trivialize the moment.

The storm Kurt had predicted earlier in the day was about to arrive. Dark clouds hung low in the evening sky. A fork of lightening split the heavens in two. A rumble of thunder rolled in from the distance. Faith pulled into a parking space reserved for practitioners as the first rain drop splattered on the windshield.

After turning off the ignition, she held the keys out to Kurt. Wordlessly, he took them.

“Erin will be okay,” Faith said.

“Is that a guarantee?” he asked.

“It’s my sincere hope,” she said, as more rain drops began to fall. She removed an umbrella from a bag she kept with her always. “I’ll do everything I can to make sure that she not only survives the surgery but lives a long and happy life.”

Kurt nodded, and Faith could only guess at his internal struggle. Another bolt of lightning struck, followed by a boom of thunder. Without warning, a deluge began. The rain fell in sheets that obscured the hospital’s entrance that was only yards away.

They ran from the truck to the doors. Despite the umbrella, Faith was soaked through by the time they stepped into the hospital.

“I need to get scrubbed in for surgery,” said Faith. “You can wait in the lounge upstairs. I’ll let you know as soon as I’m done.”

Kurt wore the same clothes from the rodeo, minus the chaps. His hat was pulled low over his brow and his eyes were downcast. After a moment, he said, “I’m glad that you’ll be in the operating room. I trust you. I know you’ll do the right thing for Erin.”

She didn’t know what to say. Instead, she moved in close and placed a kiss on his cheek. His hand slipped around her waist and Kurt held Faith at his side. She wanted to remain in his arms forever, yet she said, “I’ll let you know as soon as I have something to tell you.”

Kurt let go and Faith turned for the operating suite. In the locker room, she stripped out of her street clothes and put on a pair of sterile scrubs. Dr. Adams was already in the scrub room. He looked up as she crossed the threshold. “We’re having difficulty setting up the video connection with Dr. Ortega. It’s the storm.”

Despite that fact the Faith was washing her hands with scalding water, she turned cold. “What do we do? Wait?”

“Erin doesn’t have time,” he said. “We have to operate now.”

“You said yourself that you’ve never replaced a heart valve.”

“True, I haven’t,” said Dr. Adams. “But you have.”

“I’ve assisted with the surgery before,” she said, correcting the doctor.

He’d already donned a surgical gown, hat, and mask. All the surgical instruments had been sterilized and were laid out on a table. Erin had been prepped and was waiting in the OR.

“If you aren’t comfortable…” Dr. Adams began.

Could Faith really walk out of the surgical theater and tell Kurt that she gave up on his daughter? Hadn’t she promised to do everything possible to save Erin? Besides, without the surgery, the young woman wouldn’t survive the night.

“We really don’t have a choice, do we?” asked Faith.

“We always have a choice,” said Dr. Adams. “And every surgery is a risk, no matter how routine.” He paused. “But you knew that already.”

With a deep inhale, Faith put on a gown, hat and mask. “Let’s go,” she said once she was ready. Shouldering open the door to the operating room, she continued, “We have a life to save.”