Jensen swings a side-by-side around.“Up with me,” he says to Tessa, voice all authority.She tries to argue, breath hitching.Eli doesn’t let her.He helps her up beside Jensen and starts walking the horses back to us.His head is down, and I know he is trying to rein in his emotions, his temper.
The world moves in a blur after that.The girls are crying like they’re the ones who almost got killed.Jamie’s hovering, torn between filming and looking horrified.My dad’s pacing like he’s trying to contain the storm in his chest.
Mom finally crosses to me, quiet but firm.“After lunch, you and your friends should head out,” she says softly.“It’s been… enough excitement for one day.”Her voice wavers only when she glances toward Tessa.
Eli crouches beside Tessa in the UTV, peels the denim button-up off her shoulder.McKenna sucks air through his teeth.“Jesus.”The bruise looks like a storm front rolling in under her skin.Tessa’s jaw flexes once, twice, because she won’t give pain the satisfaction of a sound.
Eli looks like he is the one in pain.She looks up at him and tries to offer him a smile.He shakes his head at her, and she tries again.
“I am ok, Eli.I don’t need a doctor.”It’s almost convincing.
Eli stares her down.“Yeah, you do.”
Kenzie jogs up.“Chase is almost here; he was already headed our way.”
“Good,” Eli says, not looking away from Tessa.
Dad stalks in a tight circle, then veers toward me like a storm changing tracks, rage out front, some other rough thing behind it.Tessa lifts her head and catches him with a single word.“John.”
He stops and changes direction to check on her.She shakes her head once, breath thin.“It isn't anyone's fault.Accidents happen.”
They talk low, nothing for the crowd.Whatever she says lets him bank it.He nods, jerks a thumb over his shoulder, and goes back to check on the bull.
Tessa eases herself down and limps toward the truck.Olivia peels away from Reeves and meets her halfway, face blotchy and tear streaked.Tessa lowers to one knee andwinces, just once, then smiles like she practiced it for the kid alone.
"Hey, princess, did that give you a scare?"
Olivia gives her a shaky nod.
“Your dad ever get hurt at work?”she asks softly.
Olivia sniffles.“He got a tooth knocked out.Twice.And sometimes he comes home with bruises and cuts.”
“And did he get better?”
“Yeah.”
“See?”Tessa says gently.“This is the same thing.I got hurt at work, but I’ll get better, too.”
Olivia stares at her, then throws her arms around her neck.Tessa’s breath catches, pain flashing across her face, but she doesn’t make a sound.Just smooths the little girl’s curls and whispers, “I’m okay, sweet girl.I promise.”
Around us, the world starts to move again.People talking, eating, pretending things are normal.Jamie’s still too close with his camera, his eyes shining like this is gold.I make a mental note to talk to him before he posts a single frame.
A truck rolls up fast, dirt spitting under its tires.It barely stops before the door opens, and Chase is out, moving quickly and controlled, doctor mode in full force.He goes straight to Tessa, crouches, assesses, and the second he sees her side, his tone shifts.
“You’re going for a scan,” he says firmly.“No arguments.”
For once, she doesn’t fight.Just nods, leaning into him as they head for his truck.
Kenzie touches my arm, voice soft but certain.“She’s tough, Nate.She’ll be okay.”
I watch them pull away, dust trailing, the tailgate glinting in the sun, and something settles heavy in my chest.Guilt.Fear.Respect.All tangled up.
I don’t say it out loud, but I know it as clear as I know my own name:
She shouldn’t have had to be the one to save us.
And I’m damn sure not going to forget that she did.
