“I do. He’s number two in the country on the pro circuit. He’s just pissed I’m number one.”
“Or maybe he realizes this sport is taking a massive toll on his body and wants to have a life left to live.”
“You sound like my mom,” Porter grunted.
“Well, Aunt Gemma’s a very smart woman.” Jace ran his fingers up Porter’s spine and to the back of his head. Porter flinched and Jace parted his hair to reveal the giant goose egg. “You hit your head when you fell, didn’t you?”
Porter shrugged instead of answering.
“Porter, I don’t want to get in the middle of a family discussion about everyone’s futures, but you need a backup plan. One more fall and you might not be able to pass the medical exam.”
“I get your point. I’ll be more careful. What’s the damage?”
Jace walked around front so Porter could see him. “I need to take an X-ray, but I’m guessing you have two fractured ribs and another concussion.”
“I’ll be down a week. No big deal. Wrap me up, will you?”
Jace grabbed the compression bandage to help lessen the pain of the fractured ribs, but didn’t put it on yet. “Porter, I’m not making a point. I’m telling you as your doctor: one more fall and your rodeo career is probably over. Possibly your life. What’s so bad about being a horse breeder and farmer? Your dad is one now.”
“My dad was an international spy who had fun playing stuntman. He’s now a farmer because his cover was blown and he had a family. I don’t have a wife or kids. I have nothing that would make me settle down like that.”
“That’s not a reason to keep doing this to your body, Porter. You don’t have to run a farm. You can do anything you’d like.”
Porter groaned as Jace wrapped the compression band around him. “You really do sound like my mother. At least with a concussion you can get me out of family dinner.”
“No can do. Grandma Marcy sent me a list of medical excuses to get one out of family dinner and concussion isn’t on it. I’d advise ear plugs and sunglasses.”
“I don’t believe you. This is punishment for me not wanting to quit rodeos.”
Jace pulled up his phone to the email he’d gotten from their grandmother and showed it to Porter. “Severed limb, delivering a great-grandchild, or death. Those are the only things listed.”
Jace couldn’t stop the grin as Porter groaned. “Let me get you hooked up to some fluids with a little something for the pain in there.”
“When are you going to make an honest woman out of Stella? Even I know it could have been much worse if she hadn’t protected my head during that fall. Maybe she could make me put down roots if you’re not going to lock that down.”
“Want another broken rib?”
Porter chuckled, then groaned. “I think that answered my question.”
Stella tried not to gasp as Molly cleaned her wounds. The young nurse was doing a very good job of getting all the debris and dirt out and bandaging her up, but it hurt like none other.
“Porter is so sexy, isn’t he?” Molly asked as if this was girl time.
“What? Oh, Porter. Yes. You don’t see that many guys that look like actual cowboys anymore.” So, the nurse had a crush on Porter?
“He’s a great guy. If you decide to date him, though, give me the heads up.” Molly smirked as if she were laughing to herself as she began to wrap Stella’s knee. “Momma needs a new couch. Any inside scoop on your dating life will be much appreciated.”
Stella laughed this time as the two began to joke about the various bets going on around town. Stella resembled a mummy by the time Molly was done but she felt clean and ready to heal. Plus she had a new friend. She’d really enjoyed getting to know Molly.
“Sounds like you two are having fun.”
Stella and Molly both looked up and grinned at each other before nodding to Jace.
“Want me to drive you home?” Molly asked her. “I could grab us a to-go order from the café.”
“You’ll have to get a rain check,” Jace told her, but Stella was looking forward to doing just what Molly was suggesting. “I have a whole family waiting to make sure she’s okay. Grandma Marcy has already texted that they have a place for you to rest tonight before dinner.”
“Oh. Okay” Molly said slowly. “Gotcha. Good luck with meeting the family. You’ll love them. They’re great.”
“I’d really like a girls’ night, though,” Stella said before hissing in pain as she stood up. Jace was instantly by her side to steady her.
“I’d like that, too.” Molly stood by as Stella got her wobbly legs under her.
“Come on, sweetheart. I’ll help you out to the car. We’re taking Porter with us.” Jace began to help her from the room before turning back to Molly. “Thanks for taking care of her, Molly. Sarah said she’d clean up and close. Enjoy your weekend.”
Stella smiled over her shoulder as Molly watched them leave. Soon Jace had her in the front seat and was running back inside to help Porter out to the SUV. Molly had given her something for the pain, and now Stella wondered if that was a good idea. At first, she’d been thankful for it, but she’d completely forgotten about family dinner. High on pain pills and wrapped like a mummy wasn’t going to make a great impression.
15
Jace was going to strangle Porter. His cousin had been flirting with Stella the entire ride to their grandparents’ house. It wasn’t just flirting. Porter had point-blank asked her if she wanted to go out for dinner one night. When Stella laughed it off, Porter said to her, “You don’t have a boyfriend, do you? So, what’s the problem?”
Stella had clammed up and Jace had purposely hit a pothole, causing Porter to curse as it jarred his ribs. It wasn’t even that far a drive, but Jace was never so glad to turn onto his grandparents’ driveway.
“This isn’t where you grew up, is it?” Stella asked as the farmhouse came into view with more cars, trucks, and SUVs than you could count parked out front.
“No. It’s where our dads grew up. Porter and I grew up close to each other, though. Both of our dads have farms,” Jace explained as he pulled up close to the front steps and blocked in Parker’s truck. He wasn’t going to let Parker leave without taking Porter.
“We spent a lot of time running wild here. All of us cousins did,” Porter told her. Jace could hear the smile in his voice, and the happy memories brought a smile to Jace’s lips before the front door opened and his entire family rushed out.
Jace couldn’t even get around to open the door for Stella before his mom and Aunt Gemma had it open and were practically carrying Stella off.
“Oh, you sweet thing!” Gemma hugged Stella tight as Uncle Cy and Parker moved to help Porter from the backseat. “Thank you so much for saving my knucklehead of a son’s head during his fall. We met briefly before, but I’m Gemma Davies and that’s my husband, Cy. Then you’ve met Porter and Parker, but have you met my daughters, Reagan and Riley?”
Jace looked up to see Matt holding his wife, Riley, in his arms and Cy giving him a death glare as he helped Porter up the stairs.