“Something about the bull doing his dirty work for him. They’re all there, though, every single message he’s sent her.
The relief felt like a wave washing over me, but it was momentary because then the anger and white hot fury took over.
“He better hope the sheriff keeps him safe because…”
I couldn’t continue because the words were stuck, battling with the emotion that had built up over the hours since I thought my life had ended.
Chapter 50
Endless Love – Lionel Richie & Diana Ross
Tally
Every single inch, every bone, every muscle of my body was in pain. Even my eyeballs hurt. My mouth tasted awful. Was I dead? It felt like it.
I tried to lift my arm, but nothing happened. It was too heavy. Everything was heavy. Painful and heavy.
“Brownie.”
The voice close to my ear sounded like Wilder, but if I was dead why would he be there. My heart started racing as panic rushed through my veins. He couldn’t be. Why was he?
In the background a beeping dueted with the drum of my heart, hushed indecipherable words and panicked whispers.
“She’s okay, panic often happens when the patient wakes from sedation. I’m just going to check her vitals.”
I tried to open my mouth, to tell them I was okay. To ask them why Wilder was with me when I was clearly dead. He couldn’t be. It wasn’t right.
I didn’t know how much time had passed before I felt calloused fingers take mine and squeeze them, his hand trembling as he held them.
“Brownie, you’re okay, baby. You’re going to be okay. Thank God, I thought I’d lost you.”
“W-what happened?” I croaked. “Why are you with me?”
Those fingers I loved, brushed against my forehead. “Where else would I be?”
My cheeks felt wet as he lifted my hand and kissed it. My chest felt like my heart and lungs were too big for it. My throat too tight.
“Are we dead?” I finally prized my eyes open and was gifted with the most glorious smile.
“No, gorgeous, we’re not. You’re not, thank God.”
“So, what happened?” I looked around to see stark white everywhere. An antiseptic smell burned my nostrils as I took a breath, sharp knives stabbing through my ribs. “Are you sure we’re not dead?”
“I’m sure.” He chuckled and kissed my fingers again, his stubble scratching softly against my skin. “Do you remember anything?”
Pictures flitted through my head. Feeding Petey an apple, walking away, Wilder calling my name.
“Not why I'm here.” A nurse came into my periphery and smiled at me as Wilder’s thumb traced gentle circles on my knuckles. “I’m guessing it wasn’t good because I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck.”
“Just a two thousand pound bull.”
My heart stopped for a second as my mind caught up. “H-how. He was in his paddock.”
“I know. We can deal with that later. You need to rest now.”
I tried to lift my army because I was desperate to brush his hair from his tired eyes, but nothing happened. Glancing down at it, I saw it was encasedin blue.
“It’s broken,” Wilder told me and winced. “It was horrible, the bone was sticking out. Glad I was too panicked to notice, I may have puked.”
