Page 43 of Waiting for the Rancher
His eyes were closed, and his face was streaked with dust and grit and blood. He had a gash on the side of his head that was oozing blood. He also had a cut near one of his eyebrows that was bleeding and would likely need stitches. From the blood staining his trouser legs, he probably had some deep tears there too.
Sterling held one side of the stretcher and was moving carefully. “From what I can tell, he has a dislocated shoulder.”
“Reckon he’s got a doozy of a concussion,” said one of the men.
Sterling’s eyes were grave. “He’s lucky he landed in the brush and didn’t bash his head on the rocks.”
Hazel’s insides churned over how close she’d come to losing Maverick. In some ways she felt as if she’d only just started her life with him, or at least this new life where he’d stopped treating her like his friend’s sister and saw her as a desirable woman.
Now that her dreams were coming true, she wanted to make the most of the time they had and didn’t want to miss out on the chance to be with him. Life was too short and uncertain to let anything more come between them.
With the men having to carry Maverick, the journey back to the ranch seemed to take forever, especially because Sterling was trying not to hurt Maverick any more than he already was.
Hazel and another ranch hand led the horses on foot. And with every step she took, she was relieved not to be riding anymore.
When they made it to the house, she was surprised when Sterling directed the men to put Maverick in his room instead of one of the guest rooms. Thankfully, the doctor was already there and set to work right away tending to Maverick’s injuries.
Since they had to cut Maverick out of his clothing, Sterling wouldn’t allow her to be in the room. Instead, she paced the hallway, waiting for the doctor’s prognosis. Scarlet and her mother waited with her.
Soon they were joined by Clementine and Tanner. Hazel was thankful Sterling had been thoughtful enough to send a messenger over to the Oakleys regarding Maverick’s accident. She prayed that meant everyone was learning to forgive Maverick and moving on from Sterling’s failed wedding.
As the bedroom door finally opened, Dr. Howell and Sterling stepped out while conversing in low tones.
Hazel stopped pacing.
All eyes turned upon the doctor expectantly. An older man with a few tufts of gray hair upon his head, the doctor came to an abrupt halt at the sight of the hallway filled with so many people. Small in size—not even as tall as Hazel’s petite frame—he straightened his spine, as though trying to give himself an extra inch.
“Well, doctor?” Clementine spoke first, her pretty face lined with worry. No doubt she was dreading losing someone else she loved.
With a solemn gaze, the doctor cleared his throat. He started to speak, then stopped to clear his throat again.
Hazel’s heart sank. Was he trying to deliver bad news?
“I’m sorry,” the doctor started as he exchanged a serious look with Sterling, who was abnormally subdued. “But Maverick is gravely injured.”
“What does that mean?” Clementine asked before anyone else could.
“It appears that he may have fractured his spine.” The doctor’s words came out in a rush.
A pall fell over them, leaving them all speechless, including Clementine.
“We won’t know until he awakens,” the doctor continued solemnly, “but it appears that he has no movement in his lower extremities.”
Hazel tried to make sense of the doctor’s news, but she couldn’t seem to think or breathe.
“Then he’s paralyzed?” Tanner asked.
The doctor’s frail shoulders fell, and again he cleared his throat. “I’m afraid it’s a possibility.”
Maverick paralyzed? Hazel couldn’t begin to imagine how he would handle never being able to walk again. He’d be devastated. With as much life and energy as Maverick always had, he’d likely feel that his life was over.
“How much of his body is still functional?” Tanner persisted.
“Again, I can’t be sure.” The doctor glanced through the open bedroom door, where only the footboard of the bed was visible. “I do believe he’ll have motion in his arms and hands. But time will tell.”
The ache in Hazel’s chest pulsed through her body. How would Maverick be able to function? And who would take care of him?
Clementine’s forehead was creased. She was likely thinking that they were busy with their ailing mother, and how would they be able to tend to Maverick too?
