“Oh, I know, but I suppose he owes me that. I broke my back and he took care of me then.”
She shook her head, looking sorrowful. “Are you a rodeoer too?”
“No, ma’am, I’m a roofer. I fell off a roof.”
She peered at Cam’s arm, checking out to make sure the IV was out, he was sure. “Well, make good choices, you two. I know you’re not from around here, but one way or the other, I don’t want to see you back in my hospital room.”
Cam had to laugh. “Yes, ma’am, I promise we will make good choices.”
“Good deal. I’ll be back. If you want to get dressed now, you totally can.”
“Thank you, ma’am. I think I’ll do just that.”
“I’ll be back with some forms for you to sign, and then we’ll get you a wheelchair. Just hang out; it’ll probably be about half an hour like I said.” She lifted a hand and waved and walked out of the room.
“Well, that’s a good sign.” Mitch told him, “Eat your breakfast, and then I’ll get you dressed.”
“Yes, sir.” Cam let Mitch dig out his food, and then took the sausage biscuit, munching on it. It was the first time since he’d woken up that he didn’t feel nauseated at the sight of food or the smell of it because his head had finally eased off quite a bit.
This whole being injured thing sucked, and he knew how Mitch had felt now. Oh, he’d known it already, because he’d been hurt more than once in his life, but never at this age, and never with so many people counting on him to be able to do stuff around the house.
Cam ate the little crispy hash browns, too, and then wiped his hands clean on a napkin. “Okay, babe, I can have my coffee after I’m dressed. Get me up and clothe my happy ass.”
Mitch rolled his eyes, laughed, and did exactly that. He had to sit again and breathe by the time he had on the sweats and the soft button-up, and Mitch dealt with his socks and slippers. He felt like an idiot.
Still, anything was better than the damn hospital gown.
“I need to step out and call Mark so he knows what’s going on. You can holler at your momma and fill her in, and you can also call Dale and make sure Copper Penny is good to go.”
Mitch knew him too well. He knew he was going to have to find out what happened there.
He puckered up, begging a kiss, and Mitch gave it to him before he stepped out into the hall. Cam started his calls with Dale, because that would be the easiest. He just needed to know what had happened with the damn horse, which was basically, “It all worked out in the end.”
He got the feeling Dale had paid for the mare out of some kind of misplaced guilt, but the official story was the guy had given her over because it was his fault both the mare and Cam were hurt because he hadn’t ridden like he was supposed to.
He knew it was bullshit, and so did everyone else, but he guessed this was intended to be. He wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth, figuratively.
Literally, he was totally going to check out the mare’s teeth.
He settled to call Momma, smiling at her voice.
“Hey, baby, how you doing?”
“Good, Momma. I’m good. I’m fixing to head home. I’m all dressed, the tubes are out, and we’re just waiting for those last bits of discharge papers.”
“Good. Good. So are y’all going to go to a hotel tonight?”
He shook his head, his collarbone making him wince. “No, no. Mitch’s friend Mark Bray—I think you remember him; we went to high school together, and then he went into the service?—Well, he’s going to drive my truck and trailer and the horses home. I’ll ride with the girls in the SUV, and we’ll be home by supper-ish. I don’t suppose you could bring some goodies for the girls.”
“Of course I will. I know they’ll be glad to get home.”
Yeah, he would too. He wanted their bed, their house, their Rosie dog. “Say, how’s your belly?”
She chuckled softly. “It’s fine, it’s fine. We’re all finally over that bug now. We’re getting ready for Christmas—I’m a week behind!”
“Heaven forfend. However will you completely overdo now?” He teased because there was nothing—nothing—like the wild and wooly Halley Christmas. From cookies to trees to caroling to parties, his folks loved the season.
“Shut up, you. Susan is driving home this weekend, and the girls haven’t missed any of the Girl Scouts or school parties or any of the activities. So you all get them home, and we’ll help them with transportation if need be.”
