Cowgirl Up (26 page)

“No, just my chin and I’ve got a killer headache,” she answered.

“No broken jaw or you wouldn’t be talking this good,” Cindy said as she cleansed her chin with Betadine. “Is superglue okay or do you want a few stitches?”

“Superglue is fine with me,” she said.

“We need to buy stock in that stuff,” Mary Leah said.

“Oh yeah? Do you frequently head-butt horses?” Cindy asked.

“No, I had a piece of leftover shrapnel make an appearance a few weeks ago,” she explained.

“Did you heal well with the glue?”

“Yes, I did,” she answered.

“I’ll let Dr. Tully know you prefer the glue then,” she said.

“Can I get something for a headache?” she asked.

“Unfortunately no, not until Dr. Tully examines you. She will probably order a CT scan of your head to make sure you don’t have a concussion. Once we get your picture, I will give you something.”

“Did I hear my name called?” a woman said as she entered the room. “Hi, I’m Dr. Tully. I hear you’ve been head-butting a horse.”

“He definitely got the better of me,” she said.

The doctor pulled out a penlight and completed a routine exam. “Your neurological check looks fine, but I’d like a CT scan just to rule out a concussion. Is that good with you?”

“Yeah, that’s fine, Doc,” she answered.
 

“I’ll key in the order if you want to hit that chin with some glue and then take her upstairs to the lab,” the doctor told Cindy.

“What can she have for a headache?”

“Any allergies to medications?” she asked Coal.

“No, ma’am.”

“Take some Tylenol 3 up with you and she can have them once we have films on her.”

“Yes, Dr. Tully,” Cindy said.

“I’ll see you when you get back,” the doctor said and left the room.

Cindy sealed the gash with the surgical glue. “Do you want a bandage? You really don’t need one.”

“I’m good then,” she said.

Cindy stepped into the hall and returned with a wheelchair. “Let’s roll, cowgirl,” she said and helped her into the chair. “Are you joining us for a stroll?” she asked Mary Leah.

“Yes, if I can,” she answered.

“Not a problem. I’ll even let you push the buttons in the elevator,” Cindy said as she rolled Coal from the room. “Two please,” she said with a chuckle when they entered the elevator.

“Are you always this chipper?” Coal asked.

Cindy chuckled. “My wife calls me her little ray of sunshine.”

“She’s a lucky woman,” Mary Leah said.

“Yeah, I tell her that all the time,” Cindy said with a wink as the elevator doors opened. “Let’s go get your Kodak moment done and you can be on your way. Are you finished at the rodeo?”

“No, ma’am. I’ve got another event in the morning.”

“Well, it’s been lovely meeting you, but please don’t come for another visit tomorrow.”

“Trust me, I don’t plan to,” she said with a grin.

“Okay, Suzy, she’s all yours,” Cindy said as she rolled Coal into the x-ray lab. “Watch her close, she’s a cowgirl,” she teased.

“She’s in good hands. I’ll bring her back in just a few,” Suzy said and closed the door.

†

Twenty minutes later, she rolled back into the emergency room exam room to wait the results of her CT scan.

When Dr. Tully entered the room, she looked at Coal. “How is the headache?”

“Easing off some, thankfully,” she answered.

“That’s good news. Your scan looks good and there’s no sign of a concussion. I’d recommend wearing sunglasses as much as possible while you’re outside and by all means no more head-butting.”

“Not a problem,” Coal said.

“If that headache continues, feel free to come back and we’ll take another look at you,” she said and offered Coal her hand. “Good luck at the rodeo.”

“Thanks, Doc,” Coal said as she shook her hand.

“Have a great rest of the weekend,” Cindy said as she took them back to the waiting room.

Melissa and Del stood when they approached. “Let’s get out of here,” Melissa said.

“Let me make arrangements for the bill,” Coal said.

“It’s handled. Let’s go,” Melissa said. “The boys will be competing soon.”

They walked out to the truck and made it back to the rodeo arena in record time.

“Here, put these on,” Mary Leah said, pulling out a pair of Ray-Ban’s

Coal slipped them onto her head and sighed. “That’s better already.”

“Good, let’s go check on the boys, and then we’ll find a seat in the stands,” Melissa said.

†

“Are you all set?” Coal asked Gene.

“Oh yeah, I can hardly wait.”

“It won’t be long now.”

“This should be interesting,” Mary Leah nodded toward a bear of a man approaching them.

Melissa turned to see what her sister was referring to and smiled at the man as he stopped near them.

“Melissa, Miss Mary Leah, it’s been a long time, how’re you?” he asked.

“Doing well, Big Bob, and you? How’s Bubba feeling?”

Coal realized then that Big Bob was Bob Brewster, father to Shelly and Bubba. She winced.

“He needs some dental work, but from what I heard, he’s lucky that’s all he needs.” He turned to Coal. “Are you Ms. Bryan?”

“Yes, sir,” she answered.

“I’d like to apologize to you for the behavior of my children,” he said. “What they did was unforgivable, but I hope you will accept my apologies.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Is there anything I can offer to make this right?” he asked.

“You can reimburse me for this,” Melissa said as she pulled out the bill for Coal’s medical attention.

Big Bob looked at the total. Without flinching, he pulled out his wallet, and took out twelve, one-hundred-dollar bills and handed them to Melissa. “I hope you will allow me to pay for a nice dinner for you ladies as well,” he offered.

“This will cover it nicely,” Melissa said.

“Thank you and I hope you have a great rest of the weekend,” he said and started to turn away.

“Mr. Brewster,” Coal called to him.

He stopped and turned back toward her. “Yes, ma’am?”

“There is one other thing you can do.”

He looked at her with steel-gray eyes. “What would that be?”

“Teach your daughter to ride properly. Her mare is wicked fast and she shouldn’t receive punishment for the failure of her rider. If Shelly will lower her hands and give the mare her head, she will run much faster than being whipped with her reins.”

“I agree, and will see to it,” he said.

“Thank you, sir,” Coal said and offered him her hand.

Bob shook her hand and nodded, then turned and walked away.

“You handled that well,” Melissa said.

“So, where you taking us to dinner?”

“Are you sick of the Saltgrass yet?”

“I would love to try out their ribs,” Coal said.

“That was easy enough,” Melissa said. “Let’s go find a seat.”

“Good luck, boys,” Coal said and followed the others out of the stables.

†

She stopped at the trailer to remove her chaps and then joined the others in the stands. Her headache was finally beginning to ease off, but she kept the sunglasses on to shade her eyes from the bright sunlight. As she walked past a trailer, a sultry voice called out to her.

“Nice riding this morning, cowgirl. That wasn’t a bad kick either, from what I’ve heard. I’m glad someone has finally found out how to shut Bubba’s mouth.”

Coal turned at the sound of the voice and stepped toward the woman coiling a rope. “Thanks. I’m not proud of kicking Bubba’s teeth out, though,” she answered.

“That’s been coming for years,” the woman said. She stepped forward and reached out her hand. “Stormy Braxton, I have worked for Big Bob for a year now, so I’ve seen how the dynamic duo behaves.”

“Coal Bryan, I ride for the MC2,” she said, taking the woman’s hand. She took a good look at her well-muscled physique and charming smile. Her close-cropped dark hair and dark skin made her wonder if she had some Native American blood in her.

“Yes, I know. Very impressively too, I might add. Your horse is gorgeous and his rider’s not too bad either,” the woman said obviously flirting.

She blushed and smiled. “Thanks.” Not knowing what else to say, she smiled again and said, “Have a great one.”

“You too, Coal,” she answered and returned her smile with a wink of her deep blue eyes.

Coal found the crew in the stands and began to climb toward them as the event was about to begin.

†

“There you are. We were just contemplating a burger for a late lunch,” Mary Leah said.

“That actually sounds good,” she said.

“Sit tight and watch the competition. Del and I will grab some burgers and drinks.”

“Thanks, sweetie,” Coal said as she sat beside Melissa.

“How’re you feeling?”

“Like I was hit by a bus, but I’ll live,” she said with a cockeyed grin.

“You don’t have to compete tomorrow if you don’t feel up to it.”

“Are you kidding, nothing will keep me from roping with Gene tomorrow.”

“Okay, okay, I was just making a comment,” Melissa said, throwing her hands up in surrender.

Coal relaxed. “I’m sorry, boss. This competition means so much to Gene. I wouldn’t dream of letting him down.”

“You wouldn’t be letting him down. You know he worships you, Coal.”

“I know, and that’s more the reason I won’t back out on him.”

“We will make it an early night so you can get some rest for tomorrow then,” Melissa said.

“That sounds good to me. What draws did the boys get, do you know?”

“Lucas is fourth and Gene is seventh,” she answered.

“He’s going to be a bundle of nerves.” Coal grinned.

†

She was surprised when the announcer introduced Stormy as the third contestant in the steer wrestling competition. “I didn’t know women could compete in the steer wrestling,” she said.

“Title Nine made a difference in all sports, even rodeo. Women cannot be banned from competition in any event,” Melissa explained.

“Interesting,” Coal said.

“Just don’t get any ideas of entering the bull riding competition,” Melissa warned.