Rodeo Hearts

Chapter 26

You may or may not need a box of tissues for this chapter! I can almost guarantee that you all didn't see this coming.

I added Kenny Chesney's song, "Don't Blink", for this chapter. It's an amazing song, especially since it kind of goes along with this chapter.

Enjoy!

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Aurora's POV

We never truly appreciate life until it flashes before our eyes.  We are all guilty of not living life to the fullest. Life is meant to be lived and people are meant to be loved. It's our choice whether or not we let life fly by us without truly and fully living it. Things happen so fast and if we don't pay attention we'll miss them.

There's no way anyone could foretell what was about to happen. Dread filled the pit of my stomach as I sped to the hospital. I thought it was nerves that plagued me through0ut today, but it was something far worse. Dread. That was the feeling I had all day.

My gut was telling me something bad was going to happen, I thought that what I was feeling was just nerves.

I reach my hand over and took Brayden's into my own. He had been silent since we had first got the call.

After the rodeo had ended, we took the horse back to the ranch. We planned on watching a couple movies together and relax, but plans don't always work out. We went straight from the rodeo to the ranch and put the horses away. Once they were situated, we went inside and turned on a movie. It was Million Dollar Baby, which is one of my favorite movies. I wanted to congratulated him on his win earlier tonight, but I did'nt get the chance. I also knew that now wasn't the right time.

As soon as we pulled into the hospital parking lot, he jumped out and took off towards the emergency room doors. I followed hot on his trail.  He ran towards the reception desk and asked for a name. The man at the desk typed away on the computer for a moment before looking back up to Brayden with a grim face.

"She was taken into emergency surgery.  I've taken the rest of the family to a private waiting area. You'll have to go and wait with them, I'm afraid. Please follow me." Brayden and I followed the man through a set of doors and into a private waiting room.

Colton, Blake, and Holden were sitting down with worried looks plastered on their face. An older man who shared similarities with the three brothers, paced the floor. All their attention turned to us as we walked in.

"You must be Aurora.  I'm Tom, Brayden's father. He has told me so much about you. I'm glad to meet you, but I wish it didn't have to be under these circumstances."

"It's nice to meet you. Is there anything I can do or get for any of you while you wait?" I asked.

"No. Thank you though." Tom said, giving a sad smile.

Tom went back to his pacing and the others sat and worried. I sat with Brayden for a few moments comforting him before leaning a bit closer and whispering, "I think I'm going to get some coffee or something and give you some alone time with your family."

"Please don't go." Brayden pleaded. His voice sounded vulnerable and my heart ached for him.

I nodded my head and took my hand in his. Within a couple of hours they all had drifted into a light sleep. Worrying takes a toll on a persons body and mind. It wears a person out. It was only natural in a situation like this that they had worried themselves to the point of exhaustion. Brayden had his head leaned over on my shoulder. Tom had fallen asleep in a recliner in the corner. Colten and Holden had fallen asleep leaning against each other. The only ones who were awake, were Blake and I.

Blake was leaned over in his seat with his head in his hands. We hadn't spoke once since the others had fallen asleep.

The waiting room we were in wasn't very large. There was around a dozen chairs inside the room. Only a couple of them were recliners. The smell of disinfectant and cleanliness that was so prominent in hospitals was not missing in this room. The walls were as white as new fallen snow. It really didn't differ from any other hospital waiting room.

"I'm sorry for the way I acted when we first met." Blake said as he sat back and looked at me.

I only nodded my head, because I was unsure what to really say.

"I thought you were just some fling, but I can tell you care about my brother." Blake shifted in his chair before closing his eyes to try and get rest.

"I do, He's a great guy." Nothing more was said between us.

As time ticked on, my eyelids began to get heavier and heavier. I wanted to stay awake, but eventually I gave in to exhaustion.

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How did this chapter make you feel?

Things are going to get more and more emotional in the next few chapters. I'm not sure why, but when I wrote that I imagine everyone like this;

I hope you loved this chapter and if you did, feel free to vote, comment, and or share!