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Confusion reigned in the arena when the bull charged a bullfighter Then the barrel ed it out with ropes

He looked back, expecting to see Ryan on his feet, but he hadn’t h the loudspeaker syste

Get up

Chase wasn’t sure if he’d said the words aloud His vision beca in the dirt

Then the bullfighters and medical team erected a hu

Get up kid Come on Shake if off Don’t scare your mama like this Jesus Don’t scare me like this

More medical personnel raced over A stretcher appeared Then an aency vehicle slowly rolling across the arena dirt No flashing lights, no wailing sirens, no rush

The sound of spectators clapping as they paid respect to the person leaving via ambulance partially roused Chase from his stupor Seemed as if he’d blinked and the next rider was up, and the rodeo was back in business

He turned and literally ran into Ava “Let’s go to the hospital Ryan is probably freaking out I iine Jackie is already on her way” He took Ava’s hand and they weaved through thethe event She didn’t speak until they were in his truck

“Will Ryan be okay?”

Chase shifted in the seat “In small events like these, there are no med techs, so they automatically take injured riders to the closest hospital as a precaution And Ryan is young Old timers like Taz refuse to ride in an ambulance and find their own ster like Ryan put up o to the hospital”

“Oh Okay That’s explains a lot”

They made the drive to the hospital in silence He parked in the eh those e room, Jackie paced in front of the s Ava hustled over and hugged her “Any news?”

“No They haven’t told ”

“Did you call someone to ith you?”

“My boyfriend is on his way I won’t call the rest ofon I appreciate you coroup effort to chew his ass for worrying us once they let us see hi to eat? A blanket?”

Jackie shook her head and continued pacing

Chase wanted to bust through the swinging doors and get so his hands in his pockets, he braced his shoulders against the ceed The click of Jackie’s heels co machines that echoed from the nurse’s station

Ava left him alone She left Jackie alone too The three of theht as well have been miles apart

The doors opened

“Jackie Acker blue scrubs asked

“Yes I’ue lined the skin around her eyes, but her face remained blank “I’m Doctor Silsbee I headed the team that worked on your son”