Love Inspired Suspense September 2015 #2 Read Online Free

his room felt relatively safe. More safe than the outside world right now. And she realized she wasn’t ready to leave, to give up the small measure of security she’d unexpectedly found in the hospital room.
    â€œLeave? No, that’s not what I meant. I’m just surprised you stayed.”
    â€œYou asked me to.”
    â€œOh. I did?”
    She laughed. “Yes.” Her laughter faded as quickly as it had bubbled up. She checked the window one more time.
    â€œYou should do that more often,” he said gruffly.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œLaugh.”
    Was he flirting? He’d just fallen off a bull and was laid up in the hospital—and he was flirting? She studied him with a small, uncertain smile. No. He was serious. She was almost disappointed.
    She shook her head and, for the first time since entering the hospital, considered how she must look.
    Clown paint on her face. Her hair tied up in a loose ponytail underneath the wig she still had on. Her cowboy hat dangled down her back. She had on a shirt that would rival one of Hawaii’s brightest tucked into jeans that were covered with pink chaps. Cowboy boots finished the ensemble.
    And the hospital staff hadn’t blinked.
    She started to respond to Seth, then saw his eyes were closed again and his chest rose and fell in a steady pattern. She sighed, pulled the bright red wig from her hair and dropped it on the chair. She went to the sink and grabbed several paper towels from the bin on the wall. She soaked them, added soap and did her best to get rid of the makeup.
    When the door opened ten minutes later, Tonya felt halfway human again. The doctor entered. Tonya touched Seth’s hand and gave him a gentle shake. “Seth?”
    He stirred and opened his eyes. The doctor approached and Tonya moved toward the door. “I’ll just wait outside.”
    â€œNo,” he murmured. “Stay. I might not remember a word he says.”
    Tonya caught the doctor’s eye and he nodded. “All right.”
    She shut the door with one more glimpse out the window. She caught her breath and stared harder.
    Was that Hank?
    â€œTonya?” She jerked and spun to find Seth’s eyelids fluttering, his struggle against the desire to close them looking like a losing battle. “You okay?”
    â€œUm...yes. I’m sorry. Someone caught my attention. I thought I might know him.” She snapped her lips closed to quit jabbering.
    The doctor held out a hand. “Dr. Jackson Mobley.”
    â€œHi.” Tonya shook his hand, her mind on the man she’d seen walk past the door. At Seth’s curious look, she cleared her throat and tried to pay attention.
    Dr. Mobley shook Seth’s hand, then pushed the X-ray slides onto the machine and flipped the switch. Seth’s leg popped up in black and white. The orthopedist pointed to an area with his pen. “Here’s the former break. Nicely healed. The good news is that you didn’t reinjure that. Nothing broken, just a bad bruise. I think you should pick back up on the physical therapy just to play it safe and you should be fine.”
    Seth leaned back, the relief on his face evident. “So I can ride tomorrow.”
    The doctor lifted his brow. “I don’t recommend it. The muscles, tendons and ligaments are all bruised. You’re very fortunate—I really expected to see you heading into surgery for something a lot more serious than this.”
    Seth sighed and rubbed a hand down his face. “I need to finish this rodeo. I had a good ride right before I fell off earlier. I’m in the running for the finals in December.”
    Dr. Mobley shrugged and gave a small smile. “I understand. I’ve followed your career and am a fan. I’d love to see you go to the National Finals Rodeo. We missed you last year after that bad break.”
    â€œBut?” Seth nearly growled the word.
    â€œBut like I said, you can stay off of your leg