Rodeo Rescuer

“A friend,” she said softly.

He studied her for a second. “Sorry.”

“Let her come,” Seth rasped.

The paramedic turned back to Seth. “You’re awake?”

“Let her come.” He let out a pained groan and rolled his head on the pillow. The EMT grasped his stethoscope. “Come on, then.” He held out a hand.

She latched on to it and scrambled up into the nearest seat. She glanced back and saw Hank closing the distance. “Hurry,” she pleaded.

“Tonya!”

She glanced left, panic-stricken, but that wasn’t Hank calling her. Jake Foster sped toward her. He seemed dead set on stopping them before it was too late, but impatience to get the doors shut hurtled through her. Moments later Jake reached the back of the ambulance and tossed an object at her. She caught it in midair. A phone. “It’s Seth’s cell,” he told her. “I want to be able to call. Keep it on. Tell him I’ll clean out my truck if he needs a ride home from the hospital!” He disappeared as the doors slammed shut in his face. She shoved the phone in her back pocket and let a relieved breath escape her.

The EMT looked at her funny. She ignored him and glanced at Seth. He still looked awful and she thought he might have lapsed back into unconsciousness. Within seconds they were moving. Through the back window, she saw Hank standing still, watching them, the frown on his face shouting his displeasure.

And Tonya knew, whatever she did, she’d better not wind up within her ex’s grasp ever again.

Because this time he wouldn’t just leave her for dead—he would finish the job.

TWO

Seth stirred, then pushed himself into a sitting position on the gurney and winced as his leg throbbed. Intense anger burned through him. Two months back on the circuit and he found himself injured again. This was not how he’d planned to spend his Thursday evening.

“Hey, hey, no sitting up.” The paramedic on his left frowned at him. Seth ignored him but closed his eyes until the surge of dizziness passed. When his head stopped spinning, he opened his eyes and the EMT shrugged. “Okay, then, sit up. How do you feel?” The man bent over him, concern knitting his brow.

“Like I’ve been trampled by a bull.” He waved a hand. “I’m fine.” He gestured to his splinted leg. Someone had split the denim from hem to midthigh. “Is it broken?”

“Don’t think so, just a very nasty bruise. You’re fortunate you weren’t hurt worse.”

He grunted. “I’ll give God—and Tonya—the credit.” Fatigue swept over him. He turned his head and his gaze collided with a pair of sky blue eyes. Eyes that he’d not been able to get out of his head from their very first encounter. “Tonya? What are you doing here?”

The paramedic frowned. “You said to let her come.”

“I did?” He didn’t remember that...but okay. He lifted a brow in her direction and was intrigued at the flush that darkened her cheeks. But what really caught his attention was the haunted skittishness in her eyes. He reached out and clasped her fingers in his. “I’m glad you’re here.”

The flush deepened. From the corner of his eye he saw the EMT relax a fraction. The blood-pressure cuff tightened on his arm. “Why did I pass out? Am I bleeding anywhere?”

“No, sir. Probably passed out from the pain.”

“Right.” He remembered the pain. Vividly. “That pain wasn’t as bad as my break, though.” Close, but not quite.

“That’s a good thing.”

“Which hospital are we heading for?”

“Vanderbilt University.”

He nodded and leaned back, fighting the pain and the nausea. But he didn’t let go of Tonya’s hand. He liked the feel of her fingers in his. It helped him focus on something besides the throbbing in his leg.

When the ambulance pulled to a stop, he blinked the fog from his mind and tried to focus. They’d given him something for the pain and he felt groggy. Tonya’s worried face kept going in and out of focus.

They wheeled him into the emergency department and he lost his grip on her hand. “Tonya?”

“I’m here.” She slipped her hand back in his.

“Ma’am? You’re going to have to wait in the waiting room.”

“No.” He didn’t want her to leave, and while that shocked him, right now he didn’t care. He tightened his grip. At least, he thought he did. “Stay. Let her stay.”

They must have decided to listen to him. Tonya followed them back into the room.

* * *

She paced the floor, her gaze constantly going from a now-sleeping Seth to the small window in the door to check the hall. They’d rolled him to X-ray about thirty minutes after they’d been shown to the room and she’d been a nervous wreck until they’d returned. She slipped up to his side and covered his hand with hers. Even though he was pale and still, his strength was evident. She wanted to trace his square jaw and full lips. He had cheekbones a lot of women paid good money for. She allowed a faint smile to cross her lips. He had a good reputation in the bronc-busting world, and she had to admit every time he turned those smiling blue eyes in her direction, her knees went a little weak. She pushed a dark curl from his forehead and sighed when he didn’t stir.

The nurse had explained Seth was on some powerful painkillers. “He’ll be a bit loopy, dear,” she’d said and checked his vitals one more time.

Tonya had nodded as she tried to decide what to do. She’d thought about slipping out of the hospital and disappearing, but where would she go? Home wasn’t an option. Hank knew where she lived. He’d threatened her family once four years ago and she wouldn’t give him the opportunity to do it again. She shuddered. It hadn’t been proved, but she knew he’d been the one to run her youngest brother, Jacob, off the road and fire shots at his car. Jacob hadn’t been hit, but Hank’s point had been well made. No, she couldn’t go home. She crossed her arms and moved to the small window once again.

Hank hadn’t shown up at the hospital yet—as far as she knew—but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t. There were several possible hospitals in the city, but Vanderbilt was the best. He’d come here first. But surely he wouldn’t get past security. Right? He might come in the same entrance as she and Seth, but that was as far as he would be able to get.

Unless he faked an illness or injury.

But he’d have to wait in the waiting room. They wouldn’t bring him back immediately. She closed her eyes and dragged in a deep breath. She had to calm down. Stop her spinning thoughts.

“Tonya?”

She turned to find Seth watching her. “Hey. You’re awake.”

“You’re still here.”

She blinked. “I’m sorry... I can leave.” But being in his room felt relatively safe. More safe than the outside world right now. And she realized she wasn’t ready to leave, to give up the small measure of security she’d unexpectedly found in the hospital room.

“Leave? No, that’s not what I meant. I’m just surprised you stayed.”

“You asked me to.”

“Oh. I did?”

She laughed. “Yes.” Her laughter faded as quickly as it had bubbled up. She checked the window one more time.

“You should do that more often,” he said gruffly.

“What?”

“Laugh.”

Was he flirting? He’d just fallen off a bull and was laid up in the hospital—and he was flirting? She studied him with a small, uncertain smile. No. He was serious. She was almost disappointed.

She shook her head and, for the first time since entering the hospital, considered how she must look.

Clown paint on her face. Her hair tied up in a loose ponytail underneath the wig she still had on. Her cowboy hat dangled down her back. She had on a shirt that would rival one of Hawaii’s brightest tucked into jeans that were covered with pink chaps. Cowboy boots finished the ensemble.

And the hospital staff hadn’t blinked.

She started to respond to Seth, then saw his eyes were closed again and his chest rose and fell in a steady pattern. She sighed, pulled the bright red wig from her hair and dropped it on the chair. She went to the sink and grabbed several paper towels from the bin on the wall. She soaked them, added soap and did her best to get rid of the makeup.

When the door opened ten minutes later, Tonya felt halfway human again. The doctor entered. Tonya touched Seth’s hand and gave him a gentle shake. “Seth?”

He stirred and opened his eyes. The doctor approached and Tonya moved toward the door. “I’ll just wait outside.”

“No,” he murmured. “Stay. I might not remember a word he says.”

Tonya caught the doctor’s eye and he nodded. “All right.”

She shut the door with one more glimpse out the window. She caught her breath and stared harder.

Was that Hank?

“Tonya?” She jerked and spun to find Seth’s eyelids fluttering, his struggle against the desire to close them looking like a losing battle. “You okay?”

“Um...yes. I’m sorry. Someone caught my attention. I thought I might know him.” She snapped her lips closed to quit jabbering.

The doctor held out a hand. “Dr. Jackson Mobley.”

“Hi.” Tonya shook his hand, her mind on the man she’d seen walk past the door. At Seth’s curious look, she cleared her throat and tried to pay attention.

Dr. Mobley shook Seth’s hand, then pushed the X-ray slides onto the machine and flipped the switch. Seth’s leg popped up in black and white. The orthopedist pointed to an area with his pen. “Here’s the former break. Nicely healed. The good news is that you didn’t reinjure that. Nothing broken, just a bad bruise. I think you should pick back up on the physical therapy just to play it safe and you should be fine.”

Seth leaned back, the relief on his face evident. “So I can ride tomorrow.”

The doctor lifted his brow. “I don’t recommend it. The muscles, tendons and ligaments are all bruised. You’re very fortunate—I really expected to see you heading into surgery for something a lot more serious than this.”

Seth sighed and rubbed a hand down his face. “I need to finish this rodeo. I had a good ride right before I fell off earlier. I’m in the running for the finals in December.”

Dr. Mobley shrugged and gave a small smile. “I understand. I’ve followed your career and am a fan. I’d love to see you go to the National Finals Rodeo. We missed you last year after that bad break.”

“But?” Seth nearly growled the word.

“But like I said, you can stay off of your leg for a couple of weeks and let it heal...or you can risk further injury.”

Tonya eased toward the door one more time and glanced out. The workstation for the doctors and nurses was directly opposite. Everyone seemed busy. She glanced left, then right. No sign of Hank.

Wait. Was that him? She looked closer. The man talking to the nurse turned and she sucked in a deep breath. No doubt about it—that was definitely him. The shaggy hair and goatee couldn’t hide his chillingly familiar features.

The doctor tapped her on the shoulder and she jumped with a high-pitched squeak. The man raised a brow and settled his hands on her upper arms. “Are you okay?”

Tonya felt the heat climb into her cheeks and nodded. “Sorry, I’m a bit jumpy today.”

“No problem.” He slipped out the door and she turned to find Seth appearing a little more alert.

“What are you looking for?”

“Nothing.”

“Something. Or someone.” Seth narrowed his eyes. “You’ve been looking out that window just about every other second—and you nearly just came out of your skin when the doc tapped your shoulder. What’s going on, Tonya?” he asked, his voice lowered. “Is it the guy from earlier? The one you were hiding from in the supply room?”

“Yes.” She twisted her hands together in front of her and debated how much she should say. What would he think if she told him the truth?

Then again, did she need to warn the hospital staff that a potential murderer had come through their doors? Hank wasn’t predictable and he was here in the emergency department looking for her. Could everyone around her be in danger? “I’m pretty sure he’s here at the hospital. It’s been four years since I’ve seen him, but I think he was just talking to one of the nurses. I need to tell them to be on the alert and to warn security about the potential danger if he shows up.”

She glanced through the window and, not seeing Hank, slipped out of the room before Seth could ask any more questions. She quietly told the nurse at the desk about Hank, waited for her to call security, then made her way back to Seth’s room.

As she stepped inside, she heard a buzzing. One that she’d heard several times since arriving at the hospital. Seth noticed it, as well, and frowned. “What’s that?”

Tonya pulled the buzzing phone from her back pocket and held it out to him. “Jake tossed this to me when I got on the ambulance.”

“That’s my phone. He was holding it for me while I rode.”

“You probably need to call him,” she murmured. “It’s been ringing for a while now.”

Seth took it from her. “Okay, I’ll call him in a few.” He looked at the screen. “It’s my mom.” He pressed the button and lifted the phone to his ear. “Hello?” His eyes still hadn’t left hers. “Yes, I’m fine. It’s just a bruise.” Tonya turned her back to give him the semblance of privacy even though she could hear every word. “No, Mom, you don’t have to come to Nashville. It’s not broken again, I promise. I’ll call you later. Love you, too. ’Bye.”

Tonya looked at him as he hung up. “She heard, I guess.”

“Word travels fast. I’ve been doing rodeos for a long time. Some of the people have become like family. Extended family, anyway. One of the judges called Mom and Dad.” Tonya nodded. “So who’s the guy from the storage room? How do you know him?”

She sighed. “Earlier, at the arena, I went looking for Mia. She was getting her dogs ready, and as I was walking toward her, I recognized an old boyfriend.” She glanced at the door.

“Old boyfriend, huh? Who?”

“Hank Newman.”

“And why does his showing up make you skittish as a new colt?”

She crossed her arms. “A few years ago he tried to kill me.”

Seth gaped at her. Then snapped his jaw shut. “Well, I guess that would do it.”

“Indeed.” His shock made her look away. This wasn’t something she liked to talk about.

“Why?”

She forced her eyes back to his. “Why what?”

“Why would he try to kill you? That’s insane.”

Tonya huffed a short laugh. “Yes. Quite. We met my senior year of college. We had a couple of classes together. He asked me to marry him after three dates and I told him no. I’d already decided I didn’t want to see him anymore and the marriage proposal sealed it. He asked me to reconsider. I wouldn’t.” She swallowed hard, then said, “This continued for the next several weeks. He’d show up at my apartment. If I refused to answer the door, he’d leave a gift.”

“What kind of gift?”

She shrugged. “Flowers, chocolates, whatever he thought I might like. I finally had a restraining order taken out on him, but it didn’t matter.”

“Why? What happened?”

“He showed up at my apartment one day and caught me carrying groceries inside. I barely had a chance to shut the door before he kicked it in, furious and raving at me. He threw the restraining order in my face. I screamed at him to get out. He shouted he loved me.” She’d shouted back that he didn’t know what love was. “He finally calmed down a bit and tried reasoning with me. I got my phone out of my purse to call for help. He snatched it and threw it through a window. I raced for the door. He grabbed me, wrapped his hands around my throat and tried to strangle me.”

She took a breath, let it out slowly. “I finally had the idea to just go limp right before I passed out. He must have let go immediately, thinking I was dead. One of my brothers, Grant, found me and got me to the hospital.”

“And this psychopath is walking around free?”

Seth’s outrage soothed some of her panic. “He went to jail but didn’t stay there long. I’ve been hiding from him ever since. I have minimal contact with my family. I don’t even want them knowing where I am.” As she said the words aloud, an ache formed in her throat and tears rose to the surface. How she missed her big wonderful family. “I don’t want them in danger. He threatened them once, almost killed Jacob, my youngest brother. I won’t give him a reason to go after them again.”

Seth held out a hand and she walked over to take it. His warm fingers wrapped around hers. “What are you going to do now that he’s found you?”

“Run.”

“You can’t do that,” Seth blurted out. His immediate desire to keep her close surprised him. Just like in the ambulance. He hadn’t wanted her to leave then, and he didn’t now. He frowned, wondering at the strangeness of his feelings. She lifted a brow and he waved a hand. “I mean, of course you can, but I don’t want you to.”

Tonya tilted her head and stared at him. “Well, what other choice do I have?”

“Fight him. Call the authorities. Tell them he’s stalking you—harassing you—and you want it stopped.”

She sighed, walked to the door to peer out one more time, then came back to sit on the edge of the bed. He drew in a deep breath, drinking in her scent. Vanilla, strawberries, something else. All mixed in with the smell of horses and leather. And possibly sweat and dirt. He loved it. She’d gotten most of the clown paint off her face, but she’d missed one spot on the side of her nose.

She looked down at her hands. “I wish it was that simple.”

“Why isn’t it?” He struggled back into a sitting position. His leg twinged, but the sharp tearing pain from earlier was gone.

She leaned over and helped adjust the pillow behind him. Her nearness nearly caused his heart to explode. Her tender care, her gentle touch, set his pulse to pounding.

He liked the way she did things almost without thinking. She’d noticed he could use a hand and offered one. He had to blink to focus on her words and resist the desire to pull her close.

“Because he’s clever,” she said. “No one ever sees him do anything wrong. In public he’s in control, the nicest man you’d ever hope to meet. He could charm a bird out of a tree.” She hesitated and he could see her fear escalating with whatever memories were going through her mind. “I’ve worked with the authorities before, to no avail. It took me almost dying to get him finally jailed.” She shook her head. “I can’t go through that again,” she whispered.

He couldn’t resist anymore. She’d offered him comfort just by being there with him. He grasped her upper arm and pulled her close. She tensed and he stopped, wondering if he was being too forward. Then something seemed to snap inside of her and she leaned into him, wrapped her arms around him and rested her head against his shoulder.

He held her and she let him. “I haven’t said thank you.”

She pulled away and he wished he’d kept his big mouth shut. She sniffed and grabbed a tissue from the box near his bed. “For what?”

“You saved my life today and I haven’t even thanked you.”

“Oh. You’re welcome.”

He laughed. “You say that like it’s no big deal.”

Tonya flushed. “Of course your life is a big deal.”

“I didn’t mean that. I meant you act like what you do, the risks you take, is not a big thing. It’s crazy and admirable and dangerous.”

She shrugged. “I don’t think about the danger so much. I mean, I know I could be seriously hurt one day, or even killed, but I’m good at what I do and I’m careful.” She paused and tilted her head. “And I pray a lot.”

“I know you’re careful. I’ve seen you work, Ms. Rodeo Clown of the Year.”

She flushed again. “Stop.”

“It’s impressive. You want to get to the NFR this year, too, as one of the barrelmen, don’t you?”

“Of course I do, but you know as well as I do that’s a long shot. I work in a man’s world where the good-ol’-boy system is alive and well.” He knew what she meant. Peers voted for whom they thought deserved to go to the NFR and work in the arena. Only three went. And the men tended to stick together when it came down to the voting.

The knock on the door startled them both. Tonya stood as the doctor walked in. “All right, Mr. Starke, you’re good to go. The nurse will be by with your papers shortly. Are you allergic to anything?”

Seth shot the orthopedist a sour look. “You mean besides the apparent newly acquired allergy of bull riding?”

Dr. Mobley smiled. “Yes.”

“Then that would be a no.”

“Excellent. I’ve prescribed you some painkillers in case you need them. You’ll probably be able to walk, but it won’t be comfortable. We’ll get you a wheelchair to get you out of here.”

Seth scowled. “No wheelchair. I’ll be fine. The fact that I can walk is better than any drug you’ve got.”

“All right, then. All the best to you.”

“Thanks.”

The nurse entered shortly after Dr. Mobley left. Seth signed the papers. “Do you need anything for pain before you go?”

Seth gave his leg a test move and stood. He gasped and gritted his teeth but was able to stay upright and keep the weight on it. Mostly. Relief pushed aside the pain. “No, the other drugs are just starting to wear off. I don’t need anything else right now.”

The nurse nodded, pulled her copies from the stack and handed Seth the others. “Take care of yourself.”

“Right.”

She looked at Tonya. “We haven’t seen the man you told us about. I think he may have left.”

“Good.”

Seth turned toward her. Tonya’s face was pale and frightened, but she lifted her chin up a notch. “Are you sure you’re all right?” he asked.

She drew in a deep breath. “I will be.” He took a step and hissed at the lightning that shot through his thigh. “What about you?” she asked.

“It hurts, but I’ll make it.”

Tonya stepped up beside him and wrapped an arm around his waist. “Lean on me if you need to.”

Her offer melted something inside him. When was the last time—discounting his family—someone had genuinely wanted to do something for him?

Just because. Not as an expectation that he would do something in return. He couldn’t remember. “I’d squash you.” But he wasn’t going to argue about the close proximity. Quite frankly, he relished it.

She frowned. “I’m stronger than I look.”

He settled her under his shoulder and took another deep breath. “All right, let’s go.”

“Just one thing.”

“What’s that?” he asked, looking down at her upturned face.

“I want to go out the back. I know I saw Hank here and I know he’s waiting on me to walk out the way we came in.”

THREE

Her heart trembled when Seth nodded and, without another word, led her toward the back exit. His limp was pronounced, but at least he was on his feet. She kept her head tilted toward him but her eyes bounced off each face she passed.

They exited the back of the ER into another part of the hospital. “Did you see him?” Seth asked.

“No.” But it didn’t mean he wasn’t watching. Just waiting for her to step outside the hospital, where she would be an easy mark. “He was in the emergency department,” she said. “I know it was him.”

“How do you think he got back there?”

“I told you. He’s charming.”

“How did he even know you were here?”

She swallowed and paused. Seth stopped and leaned against the wall to take the weight off his sore leg. Tonya noticed his ruggedly tanned cheeks were about two shades lighter than normal. “Hank saw me get in the ambulance. I spotted him and that’s why I wanted to hitch a ride with you.” She bit her lip. “I’m sorry.”

Realization dawned. “Ah. So all he had to do was call around and ask if I was in the ED. Pretend he was my brother or something and was looking for me.”

“Or simply follow the ambulance if his car was nearby.”

His lips quirked up in a half smile. “So, you weren’t so concerned about me—you were just trying to get away from him.”

Stricken, she grasped his hand. “Of course I was concerned—”