To Rodeo To Your Heart (COMPLETED)

Chapter 17

"The x-ray doesn't look quite as bad as I expected it to be. You only broke your ankle in two places. Because of where it is at we are going to put a full leg cast on so that you rough tough cowboy don't mess your leg up more," the doctor explains, a smile forming as he says the last part. It is obvious this isn't his first rodeo injury to treat. He shows Gunner and Caisson the x-ray and where his ankle is broken before leaving the room.

Caisson turns to look at Gunner with a half glare half worried look.

He smiles and kisses her cheek. "I am fine. I promise. I just have one favor to ask of you."

"Okay."

"Can I stay at your place for a couple of weeks until I get back to riding? I would go to my parents, but it is going to be hard to drive all the way to Texas like this and if you took me then I wouldn't have my truck and this way I won't miss you so much-"

She cuts his rambling off. "Yes, Gunner, you can stay with me, but you are not riding until the doc releases you."

He rolls his eyes. "Okay okay we will cross that bridge when it gets here."
***

Caisson listens to Gunner's end of the conversation with his parents. She hasn't gotten to meet them so she isn't sure how they will take the news of his injury. Somehow she imagines that his mom is none too happy and probably begging him to quit riding bulls. While his dad probably blows it off as nothing while inwardly he is thinking about what would happen if his little boy wasn't here anymore. She wonders if that is ever how her parents feel.

One of her favorite songs comes on the radio distracting her from her thoughts. Since Gunner is still on the phone she begins to whisper sing the words, "You are the God of the hills and valleys. Hills and valleys and I am not alone. I have watched my dreams get broken. In You I hope again no matter what, I know I am safe in Your hands."

"You have a really pretty voice," Gunner says softly.

She blushes and steals a glance at him before looking back at the road. "Thank you," she whispers. There is a moment of silence before she begins to speak again, "So what did your parents say?"

He chuckles, a hint of nervousness resting in the deep rumble. "Well the usual, I guess. Are you okay? How bad is it? And that they wish I would stop riding bulls. Aside from that they want to come see me." He pauses, "And meet you."

Her right foot immediately switches to applying gentle to the brake pedal. "They what?"

He can't help but to smile at her reaction. Sure he understands her uncertainty and if he is being completely honest he is a bit nervous about seeing them himself. He knows that they will love Caisson and everything about her. His mom tends to over react to his injuries and he isn't sure how she is going to take this one. "They want to meet you and check up on me."

By now she has pulled over on the side of the road and is hiding the panic on her face behind her hands. She begins to shake her head. "No no no," she mutters.

He places a hand on her back and rubs small circles on it. "Cais, sweetheart, what's wrong?"

"My house isn't clean. It is a wreck and I need to go get food and-"

He chuckles slightly. "Cais, they are not coming today. It will be a week or two and they don't have to stay at your place. They don't even have to go to it at all."

Slowly she peeks through her fingers at him. "Are they going to like me?" She whispers so softly he barely hears her.

He smiles softly and begins to run small circles on her cheek. "They are going to fall in love with you. Just not as much as I have."