Relief hit me so hard my knees almost gave out. “You’re okay,” I said, but it wasn’t a question. It was a statement. A fact. She was okay. Her arm busted up, but she was still living and breathing, and that was what mattered.
The technician frowned. “Sir, you’re not supposed to be in here during imaging.”
“I’ll stand back, but I’m not leaving.”
The man looked irritated but finished the scan quickly.
A moment later the door opened again and a doctor stepped inside, flipping through Rowan’s chart. He glanced at me immediately.
“And you are?”
“Tex.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Don’t really care what you meant.”
The doctor sighed. “You can wait outside.”
“I’m staying.”
“Sir, I need you to leave.”
“No.” The word came out flat. “I’m staying.”
The doctor frowned deeper but decided against arguing any further with me. He looked at Rowan. “Is this okay with you?”
Her forehead puckered in frustration but she nodded.
The doctor cleared his throat awkwardly. “Well, the bullet went clean through the arm. No major damage. She’s lost a lot of blood, and we’ve had to give her a transfusion, but you’re a healthy young woman and I don’t think there will be any lasting nerve damage. A couple of days’ rest and monitoring, and you can go home. You’re going to be in this sling for a while though and we’ll give you a course if antibiotics to ward of any infection. Is there anyone at home who can help you?” He looked down at his notes again before speaking. “I believe you own a ranch. Well, you’re going to need lots of help for a few weeks, at the very least.”
“I’ll be there. I’ll be helping her,” I said without hesitation. “I’ll have others come around and help with the ranch.”
The doctor didn’t bother to look at me, instead he sighed again, tutted, and shook his head before scribbling something down on the chart in his hand.
“So she’s going to be okay?” I asked, my voice thick and desperate.
The doctor looked at me a look of disdain on his face. “Thankfully, yes.” He glanced at Rowan and sighed before leaving the room.
I knew what he was thinking and I didn’t blame him. I was thinking it myself too.
I had been getting that look my whole life.
Regardless, deep relief washed through me. She was going to be okay.
“Tex,” Rowan began as soon as the door closed behind the doctor.
“You’re not safe,” I said quietly.
“What do you mean?” her eyes widened.
“It was the cartel,” I said. I’d suspected as much last night, but Moose and Bear and one of the prospects had followed the sedan for a few miles before catching up with it. For cartel men, they hadn’t taken much to crack.
Rowan’s face had gone even paler, if that were possible.
A nurse brought in a wheelchair. “I’ll take you back upstairs,” she told Rowan.
But I was already moving towards it. “I’ve got it.” I took the handles of the chair and carefully helped Rowan settle into it.
