The Cowboy and the Cougar (The Cougar Chronicles #1)(30)

Did it matter? Sam wanted a brother. He knew that. He sure loved kids and always thought he’d have more eventually, once the right woman came along.

That the right woman might not be able to give him children hadn’t occurred to him.

She rested her head against his shoulder and he inhaled the apple-fresh scent of her hair.

"Sugar?"

"Hmm?" Her voice was muffled.

"I never saw a scar."

She lifted her head. "They used a laparoscope. The scar’s hidden in my belly button. It’s a lot less invasive. I was able to recover a lot quicker."

"Oh." So she had recovered quickly. Physically. He had a hunch she wasn’t completely recovered emotionally.

She’d had to give up her dream of children. Could he give up his dream of a child with her?

Before he could formulate an answer to his own question, a scream rent through the air.

Sam!

He stood quickly, his heart hammering, steadying Holly so she didn’t fall.

"That’s Sam," he said. "Sam! Sam!"

The scream had been loud. He was close by. Jack ran around the stable. Nothing. Across a small field stood the main barn. On the ground, next to a stack of hay bales, lay his son.

He wasn’t moving.

"No! Sam! Sam!"

He raced across the field, tears forming in his eyes. Not Sam. Not Sam.

He knelt over the unmoving body of his son. Had he fallen? Jack looked up. He’d tumbled from the roof of the barn. What the hell had he been doing? He was supposed to go in for lunch.

"Jack." Holly knelt beside him. "What happened?"

"I don’t know. He fell, I think." His voice sounded peculiar, like it came from somewhere else. Thoughts couldn’t form. He reached under his little boy’s body and gently cradled him to his chest.

"Jack, you shouldn’t move him. He might be...injured inside."

Jack knew. But he couldn’t think. He had to hold his son. He pressed his fingers to his neck. His pulse was steady and strong, thank God.

"I’ll call 911."

"No. No. That’ll take too long. I’ll drive him to the hospital."

"Jack, be sensible..."

"Damn it, Holly! This is my child! I need to take care of him!"

"I understand." Holly nodded. "I’ll drive you."





Chapter Fourteen


What was taking so damn long?

Holly sat in the ER waiting room and fidgeted with an old People magazine.

Jack was in the back with Sam. He’d regained consciousness for a few seconds in the car, said something about a kitty, then had floated back away. He most likely had some broken bones. At least that’s what Holly hoped. Bones could be fixed. If he were bleeding inside....

She couldn’t go there. What would Jack do without his son? What would she do? She’d grown to care for the little boy in just two days. She loved him, just as much as she loved his father.

An hour passed, and then another. The nurse at the reception desk told Holly, very nicely, to please stop asking for an update. She’d tell her something when she knew.

Holly resisted the urge to smack her.

Just as Holly picked up her fifth magazine, Jack, looking like he’d aged a decade, walked into the waiting room.

She rose from her chair, her purse and magazine flopping to the floor. "Jack?"

He sighed. "He’s okay."

She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him close. "Thank God. Come sit with me and tell me what happened."

"I don’t know yet. I haven’t gotten a straight story out of Sam. But he did wake up for a little while. He has a concussion."

Holly nodded. He looked so sad, so forlorn, and yet so relieved. She shared his sentiment.

"His femur’s cracked. The doc was amazed he didn’t have more broken bones. He won’t need surgery, but he’ll wear a cast for a few months. They did an MRI and a CT scan." Jack sighed. "No internal bleeding, thank God."

Holly let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

"He’s resting now. They have him pretty doped up. He’s gonna be in a lot of pain. The bruises are already forming all over his little body..."

Jack’s voice trailed off and he stared at the white wall of the waiting room. Holly gently cupped his cheek and turned his face to her.

"Will he stay the night?"

"Yeah. I’m stayin’ with him. I can’t leave him alone."

"I understand."

"Could you...?" He sighed. "This is a lot to ask, Holly.

"You can ask me anything."

"Would you mind driving back to the ranch and getting some stuff for me? A change of clothes, my toothbrush, you know."

"Not at all. I’d do anything for you and Sam. I hope you know that."

"I appreciate it."

"Are you hungry? I can get you something."

"No." He rested his elbows on his thighs and cupped his face in his hands. "I can’t eat."

"You should eat something. You probably haven’t eaten since breakfast." She checked her watch. "It’s nearly five."

"Can’t. Not hungry."