Chapter 6

Ezra heard Kaylee's yelp of pain and Casey's answering apology. He grimaced and stopped himself from going into his room where Casey was helping Kaylee out of her jeans and plaid shirt, covered in dirt from the arena, and into pajamas. Barney sat at the door whining, his tail thumping pitifully against the floor.

"How are things going?" Josiah's deep voice asked from behind him.
Ezra turned. He had heard the knock, but hadn't bothered to answer, knowing Josiah would let himself into the trailer.

Another bit back exclamation from Kaylee and Ezra winced. "Painfully," he answered.

A bit of shuffling and the bedroom door finally opened. Kaylee was seated at the foot of his bed, her face tight with pain. Casey looked like she had been in a wrestling match, strands of hair coming loose from her ponytail. Barney edged past Casey to hop onto the bed and nose at Kaylee. That she didn't respond to the dog was more concerning to Ezra than anything else.

"I should check in with Nettie, let her know how you're doing," Casey said. "You need anything else?"

Kaylee managed a short shake of her head, then winced with the pain the movement brought. Casey chewed her lip and looked to Ezra and Josiah.

"We'll be here," Josiah said. "Thanks for your help."

Casey nodded and looked back to Kaylee. "I'll be by tomorrow."

Kaylee muttered something that sounded like it could be a thank you and twisted her mouth in a grimace, that Ezra assumed was supposed to be a smile to reassure Casey. Casey looked anything but reassured, looking over her shoulder as she left the trailer.

Ezra grabbed the bottle of pills JD had picked up at the local pharmacy and tried not to look at how swollen her knee was under the wrap.

"You should take something for the pain," he said, repeating what he had said when they left the hospital and when they got home.

And Kaylee gave him the same answer. "I don't need anything."

Except now her face was turning a sickly gray color and she was barely moving. "You are clearly in excruciating pain and miserable. Take the prescription." He wasn't sure how much more he could take of seeing her like this.

She adamantly shook her head, then squeezed her eyes shut at the movement. "Tylenol will be enough," she said through gritted teeth.

Ezra popped the top off the bottle and shook out two tablets. The doctor had said Kaylee could—that she should—take two tablets every six hours.

"Ezra." Josiah's voice was calm, the hand on Ezra's shoulder steadying. He took the bottle and the pills from Ezra's hand. "Why don't you get a breath of fresh air?" When Ezra started to shake his head, Josiah continued. "Go check on her horse. She'd appreciate that."

Ezra glanced over at Kaylee, at the tight lines of her face, the white knuckle grip she had on the edge of the mattress. She was biting her lip hard enough he thought she might draw blood.

Josiah crouched down in front of her. "Have you ever tried guided imagery?" he asked softly.

Kaylee shook her head with one short movement.

"Let's give that a try. Just close your eyes and let your mind ease away from the pain…"

Ezra let Josiah's soothing words fall away behind him as he left the trailer. Outside, the routine sounds of the rodeo grounds settling down for the night were a welcome change from the tension in the trailer.

He breathed in the air, cooler now that they were getting closer to the mountains. Vin had set up his camp, with more concern for the comfort of his horses than for himself, near Ezra on the edge of the grassy field.

Kaylee's mare was in the temporary pen Vin set up at each rodeo stop. Ezra looked for the lead ropes he knew Vin kept in the horse trailer.

Lead rope in hand, he approached the pen.

"The mare's looking good." Vin's voice came out of the dark.

Ezra saw Vin, barely a shadow in the dim light with only a sliver of a moon behind clouds.

"How's Kaylee?" he asked.

Ezra didn't want to answer. The frustration in his voice would be too telling. He didn't get frustrated. He didn't get close enough to people to care enough to be frustrated.

"Ezra?" Vin asked, concern in his voice. Ezra couldn't tell if the concern was for Kaylee or him.

"Josiah is doing some sort of mind over matter exercise with her in lieu of actual medication for the pain," he said.

Vin nodded, moving closer and Ezra could see the expression on his face. The concern wasn't just for Kaylee.

Ezra didn't want to discuss it any further. He opened the gate to the corral and closed it behind him. Vin's two horses looked at him and Kaylee's mare trotted a few steps closer.

Ezra easily clipped the lead to her and took her from the pen.

He was just going to walk her a bit, make sure she wasn't favoring any leg, but he found himself taking her toward his camper.

He stopped outside the door. His truck was still parked close by, and he tied the mare off to the bumper. Vin stood near the mare without comment as Ezra went into the camper.

Kaylee looked better, reclined back on the couch, pillows under her leg to elevate her knee. The color had returned to her face, though she was clearly still hurting. She had her free hand resting on Barney's head.

Josiah was in the armchair, legs stretched out in front of him, humming a tune under his breath.

"I…" And now Ezra didn't know what he was thinking. Was he planning to walk a one ton animal up the stairs and through the door to Kaylee?

Kaylee opened her eyes at his voice.

"I have Alcott outside," he said, covering the doubt he felt with at least the sound of confidence. "I thought perhaps you may like to see her."

The wave of gratitude that washed over Kaylee's face was reassuring that he wasn't being foolish.

Josiah started to push himself up from the chair. "That's a fine idea, Ezra. I think setting her mind to ease about her horse will go a long way toward helping with the pain."

Ezra approached Kaylee, looking from her knee to the black sling that held her arm and kept the pressure off her shoulder. There was really only one way to get her to the mare.

Ezra leaned down close, sliding an arm behind her and one beneath her legs.

"Alright?" he asked.

Kaylee turned her head and her face was a whisper away from his. She was completely still, Ezra couldn't recall ever seeing her not moving.

"I'm good, Ezra," she whispered.

He had to work to get words out, not something he could remember afflicting him before. "Let me know if it's too much. I don't want to hurt you."

"You won't hurt me," she said, her pale green eyes filled with complete trust.

He had spent a lifetime making sure he didn't feel emotion. If he didn't feel it, then it wouldn't show, wouldn't give anyone a weakness to exploit. But no one had ever looked at him with trust, like they knew beyond a doubt he would never let them down.

Ezra forced himself to look away from her eyes. He tightened his hold on her, and stood easily.

Josiah's look of approval didn't bear thinking on, Ezra decided. He let Josiah open the door for him as he carefully made his way down the two steps out of the trailer.

When she saw the horse, Ezra heard Kaylee's breath leave her all at once, her body relaxing in relief now that she could see her horse really was fine.

Ezra carefully set her on her foot, making sure he was supporting enough of her weight to keep her off her injured leg.

Kaylee lifted her arm and stroked the horse's face, lowering her own face to press a kiss on the horse's velvety nose. The horse nickered lightly and nuzzled back against Kaylee.

Kaylee lifted her head, keeping her hand resting on her horse. "Thank you, Ezra," she said.

And there it was again. That warmth that insisted on creeping in when she called him by his given name and not Mr. Standish. When she looked at him like he was all she needed right then.

And right then, he wanted to be what she needed.

"Tell me about her name," Ezra said, desperately needing to get his feet solidly under him again. "Alcott. As in Louisa May?"

Even in the bit of light that came from the camper, he could see Kaylee's face light up. "Yeah," she said. "Louisa May Alcott. No one's ever figured that out before." She looked back at the horse and Ezra tried not to feel like the horse had taken something from him. But then Kaylee spoke again, her words quieter and he got the distinct impression whatever she was choosing to share with him didn't come easily. And didn't tell the entire story.

"I loved Little Women when I was younger. It was my favorite book. I would have given anything for sisters…" her voice trailed off and he almost couldn't hear her whisper. "And a mother like they had."

He wanted to tell her he understood. But that would open too many memories that were best to keep buried deep, so instead he said she should get back inside and rest her knee.

Kaylee gave the horse one last pat before looking at Ezra again.

"Thank you. For everything, Ezra. For holding my hand tonight and for knowing I needed to see Alcott."

Ezra had the craziest impression she would lean toward him and kiss him if he made the slightest incline of his head. His breath stilled. He felt the muscles in his neck prepare to lean down.

"Let's get you back inside."

Because he remembered who he was, and how innocent and trusting she was. Ezra knew he did not deserve trust.

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"I can't believe I'm doing this."

Kaylee shot JD a look and he didn't say anything else. "You're doing it because I asked for help and you're a good guy."

Kaylee bit back a groan as she accidentally put too much weight on her leg. It felt better than last night, even though she had woken this morning with new aches and pains…and exhausted thanks to Ezra waking her every two hours.

The memory of waking to his concerned face over hers throughout the night, and then the the look of relief when she opened her eyes and assured him she was ok and not slipping into a coma or whatever it was he was supposed to be watching for.

"I could carry you, ya know," JD offered again.

"I know," Kaylee assured him. "But I don't need everyone to see me getting lugged around." And she wasn't sure she could have JD carrying her without thinking about Ezra and the way he had held her so carefully last night to take her out to see Alcott. And then that would make her think of that moment when she had been so sure he was going to kiss her, so sure she wanted him to kiss her. What had she been thinking? Ezra Standish was miles out of her league, not to mention she was his unwanted house guest. Though he didn't look like he minded her around so much anymore.

"Alright," JD said with clear relief that they had made it.

Kaylee took in the commotion around the outdoor arena, the crowds filling the stands, the noises and smells of the animals, the announcer calling for the start of the bareback riding, and disappointment twisted hard in her stomach that she wasn't going to be part of it tonight.

"I, uh, hmmm," JD was looking around. "I should've thought to get you a chair. Guess you won't be up to sitting on the rails tonight."

Kaylee felt her brow wrinkle. JD was right. There was no way she was going to be able to stand for one go-round, let alone an entire event or the whole evening.

"Ha!" Buck's loud bark of laughter sounded and they looked to see him striding toward them with a folding lawn chair under one arm, a pillow under the other, and an ice pack in hand. "Ezra said you'd find a way down here. Ez can read people like no one else."

"What?" Kaylee asked.

Buck set about unfolding the lawn chair near the fence where it would be out of the way, but with a good view of the action. He helped JD, his faster movements slowing with gentleness as he got Kaylee situated on the reclining lawn chair then adjusted the back so she was upright, and the feet so her leg was elevated.

"Ezra went into town today for this chair," Buck said easily as he tucked the pillow carefully under Kaylee's still swollen knee. "Said he didn't have any that would let you put your knee up like you needed. Told me to make sure I had it down here for you with a pillow and ice. That you were sure to be comin' on down to watch." Buck adjusted the pillow slightly, then set the ice pack against her knee. "I told him you'd be stayin' in, restin' your shoulder and knee, and he said I…" Buck paused, his eyes rolling skyward as he searched for Ezra's words. "I clearly don't know the first thing about the tenacity and mettle that make Kaylee Timms who she is and if I don't get this set up down here for you, Ezra will show me an example of the full discomfort you no doubt are feeling." He finished his recitation with a nod.

Kaylee stared at him.

Buck leaned in closer and lowered his voice. "Ezra's sayin' he's worried about you and is tryin' to make things easier for you. And he admires your grit."

"Then why doesn't he just say that?" JD grumbled.

"I don't know, JD," Buck said in exasperation, rising to stand. "Maybe because gettin' people so confused by what he's tryin' to say is how Ezra wins so many arguments. Man should've been a lawyer."

Buck and JD looked back down at Kaylee. "You need anything else?" Buck asked.

Kaylee shook her head. Buck's exasperation with Ezra made it hard to hold back her smile. "Thanks, Buck," she said.

He nodded. "You be sure to cheer real loud from your front row seat there. JD and I are goin' for the money tonight."

"I will," Kaylee promised.

She settled back in her chair, scanning the plaid shirts and jeans around her for Ezra. He would be near the bull riders, she guessed, since that's the big money stock he provided.

Kaylee cheered loudly for the bareback riders and when the Murphy announced overhead that they were ready for steer wrestling, she tried to stuff down her disappointment. She should be out there with Vin. She hadn't thought to ask him who he had found to haze for him. Probably one of the other bulldoggers. Vin hazed for at least two of his competitors himself.

Vin was the third competitor and Kaylee sat up straighter. She could see Vin in his chute, ready to go. He glanced across the arena and she saw the slight nod he gave her when he saw her. Kaylee cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled for Vin to win it.

She couldn't see the hazer, but she hoped whoever it was would give Vin a good shot.

The steer shot out of the middle chute and Vin and his hazer were out in a flash. The hazer had his head down, leaning over his horse to keep it moving towards the front of a steer veering too far from Vin. His hat shaded his face. Whoever it was was a good rider. A great hazer.

Vin leaned down, got the steer and dug his heels in the dirt.

Kaylee tried to keep an eye on Vin at the same time she was trying to see who was riding with him. The hazer trotted over to gather up Vin's mount and his back was to her. But his broad shoulders were familiar. When he turned to bring Vin his horse, he finally moved his head so Kaylee could see the smiling face beneath the hat.

"Ezra?"

Ezra and Vin were close enough now they could hear her exclamation.

Ezra raised an eyebrow at her shocked expression and rode out of the arena.

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