She heard raised voices behind her. Eli Covington and a woman she assumed was his new wife stood with rodeo vet. Thethree of them were arguing as Gizmo lay there, his sides heaving, hide slicked with sweat.
“The animal is in pain,” the vet said. “Putting him down would be the humane thing.”
“I’m about to hit you so hard your dentist won’t need to worry about which teeth to keep. I guarantee that’ll result in pain. Yours.” The woman, tall enough to look at the man eye to eye, stepped close enough to invade his personal space. “You suggesting I put you down then, too? As a matter of ‘humane’ treatment?”
“That’s different,” the man objected. “I’m human.”
She pointed at Ty’s still form. “You euthanize this horse, you might as well put him down, too, because you’ll destroy him and everything he’s worked for.”
Eli said something low to his wife.
She rounded on him. “Don’t you dare tell me not to get worked up! I don’t care if I’m six weeks’ or six months’ pregnant. Neither my hormones nor the baby responsible for them changes right and wrong.”
Ty squeezed Kenzie’s hand again, stronger this time but still far weaker than he should have been capable of. His eyelids fluttered before he ground his teeth and opened unfocused eyes. “Save...”
“We’re working on saving you, Mr. Covington.” The EMT scowled. “You’ve got to be still, though. We have to establish how much damage the accident caused your cervical spine.”
“Screw spine,” he whispered brokenly. His pain-filled gaze roamed wildly, skipping over her face and coming back. He fought to focus. “Giz... Save...” Tears rolled down his temples, and he squeezed her hand harder. “Please, Kenzie.”
“I’ll do what I can,” she answered, voice husky.
“No.” His tears flowed faster. “Promise.”
“You have to calm down, Mr. Covington.” The EMT pulled a syringe and loaded it. “I’m going to give you something for the pain before we transport you.”
“Promise!” he rasped, grasping Kenzie’s hand hard.
“I promise,” she choked out, but his eyes had already drifted closed, and she had no idea if he’d heard her before the drug hit.
His hand relaxed. She clung to him, unwilling to let him go.
“Where are you taking him?” she asked, standing as they lifted the body board.
“Medevacing him to Baylor’s trauma center.”
Kenzie looked at Cade. “Go with him. I’ll check in later after I take care of Gizmo.”
“Take care of him how?” Cade demanded.
“Don’t worry, I have a vested interest in ensuring the horse survives.”
Cade’s fiancée narrowed her eyes. “Ty didn’t mention anyone else having a vested interest in Gizmo.”
“Have you talked to Ty about his business dealings since he’s been here?” Kenzie asked with feigned arrogance.
Cade arched a single brow. “No.”
“Then, I don’t expect you to know that I bought into the horse here or that I’m funding part of your brother’s breeding program.” Any other time it would have bothered her how easily she lied. Not right now, though. Too much was at stake. “I won’t let my investment fall apart.”
“Gotta go, folks,” the EMT called.
“Do what you can,” the short-haired woman said, grabbing Cade’s hand and hauling him toward the ambulance. They hopped inside, the ambulance driver slamming the door closed behind them before racing for the driver’s seat. The ambulanced chirped and, with lights flashing, took off.
Kenzie turned to the rodeo vet. “What’s the prognosis?”
“Unless you own the horse—”
“I have a vested interest, yes.”How many lies would a cowgirl issue if a cowgirl could issue lies?The answer was simple: as many as it took. “Let’s consider the broken parts mine, so tell me what I’m facing here.”