The Chase (9 page)

Anne let out a deep breath. “I’m sure you’re probably right. It’s just that after what happened before …” Her voice trailed off and she looked away.

“Your concern is certainly understandable, Mrs. Cummings.”

“What about you, Mrs. Cummings?” the young deputy asked. “Will you be at home alone tonight?”

“No, I’ll be staying here with Doug,” Anne replied, rising from her chair.

“That’s good,” Deputy Hodgkins said, retrieving his hat from the couch. “We’ll let you get back to your husband. I hope we didn’t cause you too much distress by telling you this, Mrs. Cummings, but we felt that you should know as soon as possible. I don’t think you should be overly concerned at this point, but just be on the lookout for anyone or anything suspicious. And if you think of anyone who might hold a grudge against your husband, please give me a call.” He pulled out his wallet and handed her a business card.

“Thank you for taking the time to come here and tell me,” Anne said, taking the card from him.

Deputy Hodgkins nodded at her. “Yes, ma’am. No problem.”

Anne followed them into the hallway and pushed the buzzer to get back into ICU. The baby was kicking incessantly, and she leaned against the wall while she waited for the door to be opened. She rubbed her belly soothingly. “Oh my God, I can’t believe this is happening,” she whispered.

D
r. Ned Carey pulled off his surgical cap as he entered the observation room, revealing a thick mane of salt-and-pepper hair. He nodded at Jake and took a seat in the chair next to Kendall.

“It’s good to see you, Kendall. Are you here because of Chancellor?”

Kendall nodded. “Yes, I just left Anne at the hospital with Doug. She asked me to come over and check on Chancellor.”

“How’s Doug doing?”

“Not good, I’m afraid. He’s in a coma. When I left the hospital, they were moving him to ICU.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Please give my best to Mrs. Cummings.”

Jake, who had been lounging against the windowsill with his arms folded across his chest, straightened up and narrowed his eyes at them. “Did you say Cummings?”

Ned looked at him and nodded. “Yes.”

“
Doug
Cummings?”

Ned eyed Jake quizzically. “Yes. Doug Cummings.”

“He’s Chancellor’s owner?”

“Yes.”

Jake shook his head. “What are the odds of that?” he mumbled under his breath.

“Do you know Doug?” Kendall asked.

Jake opened his mouth as if to respond, then closed it again. “No.” He lowered his eyes and looked away. “No, I don’t know him.”

“You obviously recognized his name.”

He nodded, leaning back against the windowsill. “Yeah, you’re right. I recognized his name.”

Kendall raised an eyebrow. “If you don’t know him, where have you heard his name before?”

Jake shrugged. “I just read an article about him and the name stuck with me.”

“Really? What was the article about?”

“I don’t remember. It was in some paper I picked up at a truck stop where I had lunch today. I just remember thinking his name sounded like someone who would live around these parts. You know, kind of white-bread and horsey.”

Kendall studied him. She didn’t believe that explanation for a minute. Something about the fact that Doug was Chancellor’s owner had obviously struck a chord with Jake.

Ned broke into her thoughts. “Let me fill you in on Chancellor’s condition.”

Kendall turned her attention back to the veterinarian. “How’s he doing?”

“I’m very pleased with how the surgery went. I was able to patch the hole and reinflate Chancellor’s lung. I’ve inserted a chest tube, which will remain in for a few days, and of course we’ll continue to monitor his lungs and heart.”

“Does he have a problem with his heart?”

“When he arrived, he had a rapid heartbeat and decreased cardiac output, a condition known as cardiac tamponade. It was caused by a contusion to his heart, which produced fluid retention in the pericardial sac. During surgery, we incised the pericardium and suctioned the blood off, which relieved the pressure on his heart.”

Kendall paled as she listened to the veterinarian describe the procedure.

“What are his prospects?”

“I’m cautiously optimistic. Pleurisy is my greatest concern at this point. Chancellor’s puncture wound was dirty, and although we cleaned it out as much as we could, there is a risk of infection. We’ll have him on IV antibiotics, as well as Banamine and Bute.”

“What about his recovery time?”

“Sternum wounds generally heal very well. Barring any complications, he should be in the hospital for a week to ten days. When he goes home, he’ll be on stall rest for a month; then he’ll be able to go on turnout and gradually be put back to work.”

“That’s amazing, considering what he’s been through. I’m sure Doug and Anne would want me to pass on their gratitude. It sounds like Chancellor wouldn’t have survived without you.”

Ned shook his head and gestured towards Jake. “Don’t thank me, Kendall. Chancellor’s alive due to Jake’s quick thinking and expert horsemanship.”

Kendall looked at Jake. “Really? What did you do?”

Jake shrugged off the compliment. “Doc Carey’s exaggerating. It was a team effort. I just rigged up a contraption to help Chancellor breathe. Steve’s the one who was responsible for getting Chancellor here in time.”

“Don’t let Jake’s modesty fool you, Kendall. The contraption Jake rigged up saved Chancellor’s life. Without it, Chancellor wouldn’t even have made it to the horse ambulance.”

They were interrupted by the sound of the door opening, and Kendall turned, to see a tall, dark-haired young woman enter the room, carrying an armful of clothing and a tan cowboy hat.

“Ah, Elizabeth, my dear, I was wondering where you were,” Ned said. “Kendall, do you remember my daughter, Elizabeth?”

Kendall stared at her. “I do, but the last time I saw you, Elizabeth, you were still a kid. When did you get so grown up?”

Elizabeth blushed. “Nice to see you, Mrs. Baxter.”

“Waters,” Kendall corrected her.

“Pardon me?”

“I’m not Mrs. Baxter any longer. I’m divorced. I go by my maiden name now. Waters.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“Don’t be sorry. It’s a good thing.”

“Oh, well then, congratulations, I guess.”

Elizabeth turned to Jake, extending her arms towards him. “Your clothes are finally dry, and I used a blow dryer on your hat. I hope it’s dry enough.”

“Thank you, Elizabeth.” Jake smiled as he took the clothes from her. “Doc Carey, I think you’re going to be busy fighting the boys off this one. Not only is she beautiful but she sure knows the way to a man’s heart.”

“What, by washing his clothes?” Kendall asked.

Jake grinned. “No. By understanding the affection he has for his cowboy hat.”

Kendall looked away without giving him the satisfaction of seeing a reaction. He might have done a good deed and saved Chancellor’s life, but she didn’t like him very much.

Elizabeth giggled. “It’s an
awesome
hat. I want to learn how to ride western and try barrel racing, but
Dad
won’t let me.” She rolled her eyes at her father.

“Elizabeth, one day when you’re rich and famous, you can learn as many riding disciplines as you can afford. But for now, while you’re still living under my roof and I’m paying the bills, you’re stuck with showing that fancy junior hunter I bought you last fall.” Ned gave her long ponytail an affectionate tug.

“Do you show on the circuit, Elizabeth?” Kendall asked.

Elizabeth shook her head. “No, it’s too expensive. I showed at Upperville, but I usually just do the local shows. Except Dad lets me enter Warrenton and the Middleburg Classic.”

“Maybe I’ll see you at some of the shows. I’m just showing at the local shows these days, too.”

Elizabeth’s mouth hung open. “You’re taking Wellington to the
local
shows?”

“For now.”

“Oh, I get it. It’s because of your divorce, right?”

Kendall felt a flush creep up her cheeks. “Yes, it is.”

An uncomfortable silence passed for a moment and Ned cleared his throat. “I’d better go see how Chancellor’s doing in recovery. I just wanted to fill you in on how the surgery went.”

“Can I observe him in recovery?” Jake asked.

Ned shook his head. “I’m afraid not. I wish I could let you, but it’s against the rules.”

“I understand,” Jake said. “I guess I’ll be heading out, then. Any chance Steve’s around to give me a lift back to my truck?”

“Oh, that’s right. You rode here in the ambulance. Where’s your truck?” Ned asked.

“Still on the side of the highway, unless they’ve towed it away by now.”

“Geez, I hope they haven’t done that. Why don’t you get changed, and I’ll have Elizabeth see if she can round up Steve to give you a ride.”

“Steve’s gone, Dad. I saw him when I went to get Jake’s clothes out of the dryer. He said you asked him to wash the horse ambulance so it would look good when it’s on display at the Equine Rescue League fund-raiser tomorrow.”

Ned hit his palm against his forehead. “Of course, I forgot all about that.”

“That’s all right,” Jake said. “I can hang out here until Steve gets back.”

“Nonsense. After all you’ve done, the least we can do is offer you a ride to your truck.”

Elizabeth flashed Jake a smile. “In eight more months, I’d be able to drive you.”

“Please, don’t remind me,” Ned groaned.

“Dad!”

Ned laughed and looked at Kendall.

Oh no. Please don’t ask me to give him a ride
, Kendall thought, breaking eye contact with the vet.

“Kendall, any chance you’d have time to give Jake a ride?”

K
endall had just driven through the gates of the Equine Medical Center when her cell phone rang. She glanced down at the display and saw that the call was from Anne.

“That’s Anne Cummings calling,” she said to Jake, pulling the Jeep onto the grassy shoulder and putting it in park.

She flipped the phone open and lifted it to her ear. “Hello.”

“Hi, Kendall. It’s Anne.”

“Anne, how’s Doug doing?”

“He’s still the same. They’ve completed all the tests. He’s in a room in ICU now,” Anne replied in a weary voice.

“What about the tests? Did they show anything?”

“No. His brain activity looks normal, which is good. The doctor says we just have to give him time and hope for the best.”

“Everyone’s praying for him, Anne. Ned Carey sends his best, by the way.”

“How’s Chancellor?”

“It looks like he’s going to be okay. He just came out of surgery and was still in recovery when I left. But Ned says he’s optimistic, barring any complications,” Kendall replied.

“How badly was he injured?”

“He had a chest wound and a punctured lung, but Ned was able to repair his lung. His only concern now is the risk of infection. I really think Chancellor’s going to be fine, Anne.”

“That’s great news. I’ll tell Doug. The nurses tell me that they believe he can hear what I’m saying to him, so I just keep talking to him, trying to reassure him that everything’s going to be all right. I’m sure that if he can hear me, it will help him to know that Chancellor is okay.”

“How about you? How are you holding up?”

Anne sighed. “I’m okay, but I’m worried about Samantha. I was hoping you might be able to check on her. Since she’s so close to you, I thought it might help her to see you.”

“Of course. What do you want me to tell her?”

“As little as possible. I guess just tell her that Doug was in a car accident and hurt his head, and he’s in the hospital so the doctor can help him get better.”

“All right. Is she going to spend the night at the Hortons’, or would you rather have her at home with Nellie? I’m happy to drive her home.”

“No, Nellie’s out of town. She left yesterday to spend some time with her sister. I spoke with Deb Horton a little while ago, and she’s happy to have Samantha stay there as long as necessary.”

“I’d also be more than happy to take Samantha to my house, if you think that would be better.”