Page 6 of Texas Daze (Texas Montgomery Mavericks)

“Did you know there is sort of an amputee club in Whispering Springs? I mean, it’s not a formal club but the guys get together and dothings?”

Eli nodded. “Yup. There are some excellent resources in this town. For example, did you know there is a nearby ranch that specializes in work with vets who are dealing with post-traumatic stressdisorder?”

Joe shook his head. “Man, that’s kindofcool.”

“It is. It’s owned by a military vet andhiswife.”

“You beenthere?”

Eli shook his head and then leaned closer. “I’ll tell you a secret. I am terrified ofhorses.”

Astonishment showed on Joe’s face. “You’re kidding. I love to ride.” His face fell as his bodysagged.

“Now, don’t hold me to this. I’ll have to do some homework, but I’m pretty sure you can still ride. Nothing about being a double amputee stops that.” Eli smiled. “Want me to checkitout?”

“Yes!”

“I’ll do that for you if you’ll give the prosthetic legs aserioustry.”

“Oh, I’d already decided todothat.”

“Perfect. I’ll get moving on that for you.” He began to rise but Joestoppedhim.

“But I want you to do somethingforme.”

Eli nodded and lowered back to the stool. “If Ican,sure.”

“I’ve done the reading and I know it’s going to take this summer to get good on mynewlegs.”

“That sounds about right, but the prosthetist will be able to tellyoumore.”

“I know, but while I’m learning to walk, I want you to learn to ridehorses.”

Eli’s stomach dropped. “Excuseme?”

“Man, you’re missing the best high. Being on a horse, racing through the pastures is the coolest thing ever. You can’t live in Texas and not know how to ride ahorse.”

Eli pushed a smile onto his face. “I don’t know, Joe. I’m only going to be here a few moremonths.”

Joe laughed. “So you’re telling me that I can learn to wear fake legs, learn to walk, run and even ride a horse and you, with two good legs, can’t learn just one ofthose?”

His heart pounding against his chest, Eli said, “I’ll thinkaboutit.”

“Yeah? Youpromise?”

“Ipromise.”

Did it count if he crossed his fingers at thesametime?

* * *

Marti had beenon her air cast for a whopping four days and she was sick of it. Oh, she could walk just fine. And the pain was getting better, but she hated the damaged image she presented to her ranch hands and herself. You’d think she’d broken her back and was paralyzed the way her family and ranch hands treated her. Someone was always handing her stuff, or asking how she was doing. Argh. She’d had enough. But it was Friday, so maybe she could get away from all the caring eyes for a whiletomorrow.

She was still using her grandfather’s cane occasionally to stabilize herself, and keep as much weight off her ankle as she could. From what the nurse explained, and from online research she’d done, keeping her full one-hundred and thirty-five pounds off her ankle could help the speed with which her ankle healed, and heaven knew, she wanted to be back to normal as soon as possible. She rose, made sure she had good balance, and made her way to the kitchen and a cup of coffee with her nameonit.

“Oh, honey. What are you doing down here?” her mother exclaimed. “I would have brought you coffee.” She held up the walkie-talkie on the counter. “All you had to dowasask.”

“I didn’t want to ask,” Marti said through clenched teeth. “I’ve been looking at the walls in my room for days. I’ve got to get outside or gocrazy.”

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