Trust the Cowboy

Chapter Twenty-Three

We visited with Jordan for the next 45 minutes and the doctor pulled me off to the side. He explained to me the injuries and the severity of them, he then told me that she needed bed rest for the next two week. Gaining all this information helped me realize that I needed to call her parents, and fast. When I turned back to her and I noticed how Tatum got her to laugh and it made me smiled. But, I noticed how Jordan's eyes were drooping and I took that as out cue to leave. 

So, with promises that I'll be back soon, we left. As much as I wanted to stay, the nurses were also rushing us out. So begrudgingly I left with Tatum right in front of me. 

The truck ride back to the grounds was silent. Both of us lost in our own thoughts. Luckily, the silence wasn't uncomfortable, which I was grateful for. We stopped in front of his horse trailer and neither of us moved. 

"Thank you," I say softly. I can't trust my voice when I'm around him sometimes and it irritated me. 

"No problem." he says and I can feel his eyes burning into me. I unbuckle my seat belt and grab my keys that were sitting in the console. I mentally face palm myself for completely forgetting about my truck at the hospital. 

I opened the truck door and just about stepped out when he called my name. 

"Amber?"

"Yeah?" I called back. 

"Talk to me. I can tell that you're beating yourself up about this." Tatum says. 

I sighed, "I'm not ready to talk Tatum. I got to do some things first. Thank you for everything that you've done for me." With that, I hopped out and shut the door before he could utter another word and quickly walked to my trailer. 

Unlocking the door, I could already smell the old alcohol and the garbage that was everywhere. Whoever did this is going to pay for a lot of things. With a sigh, I closed the door behind me and started cleaning everything up. The smell made me think of a finished weekend high school party. 

After cleaning up things I opened up a couple of windows to help with the foul air and bring in some fresh, new air. Checking the time I realized that I should probably call Jordan's parents and I was most definitely dreading it. It rang six times until it went to voicemail. After the beep I took a deep breath and left the message. 

"Hey Megan, it's Amber. Um... so there was an accident and Jordan is in the hospital. And I think it's best her and Cora come home. Call me back. Bye." 

I cringed over the message, but I have to tell her the details when she calls me not over voicemail. I decided to tell the rodeo committee that I can't compete tonight and this will probably cost me for the NFR, but my friend is much more important. 

I walked into the little office and noticed other competitors, around a few tables, talking to one another. I approached the older man at the only desk and he looked up.

"Can I help you?" he asked me.

"Yes, I was going to let you know that I won't be competing tonight or any other night." I told him and he nodded. 

"Name?" 

"Amber Jennings." He pulled out a packet of stapled paper, and flipped through the pages. He grabbed a red highlighter and crossed out mine and Timber's names. 

"Alright, anything else?" he asked looking back at me.

"No, thank you," and the man nodded his head. I turned to leave and just about reached the door when I heard someone call my name.

"Amber?" I paused and looked around to see who called my name, but there was no one. I shrugged it off but still had that irking feeling that someone was watching me.

Once I reached the door, I turned around and looked one more time, but everyone was busy with their own conversations and not paying attention to me. I tried to leave that disgusting feeling behind in this makeshift office, but it still lingered. 

*****

After quite a long lecture from Megan and some more reassuring words from Mark, Jordan's father, we loaded Jordan and Cora into their truck and trailer. Jordan and I hugged good bye and reluctantly let go of one another. Mark hugged me good bye too but Megan just glared which I was used to. The car doors shut signalling that this was going to be the last time that I'll see Jordan for a while. 

We waved and the vehicle drove away. Away from the danger that I put Jordan in and away from the monster that did it. I took a deep breath and walked towards my truck.

I pulled up to my trailer and noticed that the rodeo was in full gear. I hurriedly hooked up my trailer and drove to the barn that held my beloved mare. Grabbing her red halter and quickly walking to her stall, I started jogging with Timber trotting next to me. 

I don't know why I was in such a rush, but I just wanted to get out of here. I loaded her up and double checked her stall, the tack room, the hitch, and I hopped into my truck and drove off. Hopefully, to a place full of new and promising possibilities.

Tatum's POV

After she hopped out of my truck, which I loved the sight of her sitting in the passenger seat sitting next to me, I couldn't help but see the hurt in her eyes on out drive back to the hospital. I wanted  that hurt to go away and for me to be the one that took it away and brought peace back into her life.

What am I saying? I'm messed up big time. No one wants me, especially everything in my life. I got ready for the rodeo tonight and decided that it was probably best to give Amber her space. 

Man, even her name leaves my head spinning. I love it. She's got such a fiery spirit about her that drives me wild. My phone rang and interrupted my thoughts. 

"Hello?" I said, without bothering to look at the caller ID.

"Tatum. Will you RSVP to the wedding already? Abby is turning the place into a mad house." My little brother's voice rang through the phone.

"What's the date again?" I asked, I completely forgot to RSVP, and when Abby sees me next, I'll have my head chopped off before the freaking wedding.

Ryder groaned, "On June Second. Come on Tate! It's in three weeks and the ranch has gotten out of hand."

"I'm sorry! I genuinely forgot." I said while looking at my calendar, "Okay, tell her I'm definitely coming and that I'm sorry."

"Yeah, yeah. Good luck tonight. I'll tell her and Gramps says 'hi'" Ryder comments back, followed by a loud crash and a feminine holler. "Curse her freaking pregnancy hormones. Alright see ya Tate, try to come a couple of days before the wedding."

"I will. See you before the wedding." With that, I hung up and walked out of my trailer and towards my blue roan gelding. I have three rodeos after this one and then my older sister's dreaded wedding.

I tacked up Ray and we headed towards the warm up arena. I kept glancing around, looking for that buckskin mare with a beautiful brunette. I sighed, when I realized she wasn't here.  I did my tie-down run and it was quick and clean. I scanned the crowd, hoping that she was sitting in the stands, smiling at who knows what. 

I cooled Ray down, put him in his stall, and made sure he had everything for the night. On my way to my trailer, I thought that may be I could check on her. But when I turned the corner towards the location of her trailer, I felt both sadness and disappointment. 

She wasn't here.

A/N: I'm extremely sorry for not updating! I had bad writer's block and now I've overcome some of it. I'm really busy with horse shows and training horses, so I'll try harder to update sooner. Anyways, let me know what you think! Have a great day guys! 

Until next time!