Page 37 of The Cowgirl's Secret Love
Zach had his hands clamped around Finn’s leg, rich red smearing his fingers. Karen held Finn’s hand, and as a log beam was lifted off, his eyes fluttered open, and he groaned loudly.
“Hang in there, buddy,” Zach said. “Don’t try to move.”
“You guys good?” Finn’s stunned gaze danced over Karen’s face. “You get hurt?”
“Dumbass.” Zach responded before Karen. “You’re the one who went surfing. The rest of us took the stairs like normal human beings.”
“Wasn’t my idea.” Finn’s face contorted for a moment. “Hurts like hell.”
Karen squeezed his fingers, leaning in a little closer so he didn’t have to strain to see her. “We’ll take care of you.”
In spite of the pain on his face, hopefulness flashed in his eyes. “Promise?”
It was good to be able to answer honestly and instantly. “Promise.”
As if her answer was as good as a shot of morphine, the tension drained out of him. Finn’s eyes closed, but the grip of his hand in hers increased as he held on tightly.
His thumb started that back-and-forth motion again. The one that was so familiar and so right.
“Do we get him out?” asked one of the crew, staring in horrid fascination.
Zach met Karen’s gaze. “Everything else seems solid enough. I think it’s safer to keep him here.”
“Then we won’t move him,” she agreed. She looked up and offered a few orders. “Grab some blankets. And send someone to the gate so the emergency crew knows where to come.”
“What can I do?” Lisa asked.
Karen reached into her shirt for the kitten that had been kneading its claws against her stomach. “Take this. Wait—first, we need something to help Zach apply pressure.”
Zach motioned Lisa over. “Take off my belt. I need to get the bleeding slowed, but I’m not about to go near that bone.”
The one that was poking through sturdy jean fabric, and God, Karen knew Finn had to be in a ton of pain, but he just lay there, breath ragged, his fingers linked iron-tight with hers.
They stabilized him as best they could. Lisa helped Zach tighten the belt around Finn’s upper thigh then took control of the kitten. Karen ignored the blood on Zach’s hands and soaking through Finn’s jeans. Instead, she offered Finn a steady stream of reassuring words.
The local emergency crew arrived before the ambulance did, which meant Julia was there, sliding in next to Karen, while Brad Ford took his place on the other side.
“You with us, Finn?” Julia asked, all business after giving Karen a quick shoulder squeeze.
“Don’t want to be.” The words came out rumbling and low. “Hurts.”
“We’ll get you fixed up, then you’re taking a trip to Black Diamond.” Brad motioned to Julia, and they worked quickly, stabilizing him even more and offering a painkiller to help until the ambulance arrived.
“Much better,” Finn said, his grip on Karen’s hand loosening slightly. Then he opened his eyes, heavy-lidded, and unerringly met her gaze. “Come with me.”
“You got it.” He wasn’t going anywhere without her.
In the end, Zach drove and Karen rode with him, following the ambulance to the hospital where Finn was taken into surgery almost immediately.
Karen’s skin crawled as she sat there in the white-walled emergency waiting room, hands clenched, staring at the clock as they waited for news.
God, she hated hospitals.
Beside her, Zach seemed just as miserable. He alternated between sitting forward, head supported in his hands, and bouncing to his feet and pacing. His boots scuffed heavily on the linoleum floor.
He dropped into the seat next to her for what had to be the twentieth time before he finally spoke. “So damn stupid. We checked all the buildings. Somehow I fucked up.”
“It’s not your fault,” Karen began.
