Balta’s mouth flattened into a hard line. “Hours. We should find a hotel here by the hospital, see about moving our things.”
“Yes. We have to get Joa’s truck, too.” They’d left it at the hotel, since Nate had rented a huge, fancy Suburban and everyone had wanted a ride. “Do you want to…?”
He frowned, trying to figure out if they should call Nate or just take the Suburban back to the hotel when Coke and Nate came running in, Coke running straight to Balta.
“How is he? What did the doctor say? Is Doc Madden here yet?” Coke’s questions shot out, sharp and worried.
“Not yet. Doc, I mean. The surgeon is putting a rod in his leg.”
Doc Madden charged straight in. “Who’s in charge? Sorry, Kynan popped a hip pointer.”
“Come, Doc. Please. Hurry.” Balta took Doc Madden by the arm and headed back into the hospital. “Doctor! Doctor, wait!”
The nurses flooded around them, and Raul winced, but damned if Doc Madden didn’t get admitted to the back.
“You okay, man? You look a tad pale,” Coke asked him and he nodded, but no. No, he wasn’t. Raul staggered, and Nate grabbed his arm, propelling him back to a seat.
“I got you your chocolate, buddy.” That was the little man, eyes bright like a bird’s.
“Good job, Landon.”
Landon glanced around. “Gettin’ crowded,non? Can I do anything?”
Nate nodded and held out his hand to Raul. “Gimme my keys, man.”
“I have to get Joa’s truck.” He handed the keys over easily.
“Landon can do that. Take Coop back with my Suburban, Landon. Get all their gear and Joa’s truck.” Nate poked Raul. “Room keys.”
“Yes, sir.” He handed those over too, insanely grateful that someone was taking over.
“Okay, kid. Go gather up everything. Coop will drive my truck back—you get Joa’s. Nothing leaves that hotel room but the bags, you got it?”
“I ain’t no thief.”Deus, Landon could frown, almost as well as Balta.
“That ain’t what he means,” Coke murmured, coming to stand with them while Balta talked to a lady with a clipboard. “He means this is Wyoming and there’s only one hotel room,comprends?”
“Oh. Oh!” Landon’s eyes went wide. “Oui. Oui. I do.”
“Go on, now.”
Landon nodded and trotted off, meeting Coop at the door. Coop turned and walked back out with Landon, and Raul sat back, taking off his hat.
“Troy needs to take that bull off the rotation,” Pharris was saying, the head bullfighter’s cheeks bright red. “He’s hurt eight out of ten. I don’t like it.”
Nate just nodded. “I bet Doc tears him a new one. Bruiser will be gone next event.”
“He’d better be, or we’ll stage a sick out. I hate this shit. Joa’s people watched that on the TV, for fuck’s sake!”
Raul swallowed hard.Sim.MaiandPapai. That wasn’t right. He closed his eyes, his throat working.
“Eat your Snickers bar.” The words were Brazilian and it was Eduardo’s face he saw when he opened his eyes. “It will help with the shock.” Eduardo picked up the candy from the seat next to him where Landon had left it.
“The other is for Balta,” Raul said.
“Good. He likes hisdoces.”
He nodded, then they all waited, a group of them standing around—Brazilian and American, Mexican and Australian andCanadian. There were so many, in fact, that a nurse in scrubs offered them a private waiting room.
