doctor laughed. “No. The new metal we use doesn’t set off metal detectors.”
Mustang’s woozy brain spared a brief moment to consider why criminals didn’t just get guns made out of this new metal if it didn’t set off the detectors. He wrestled his focus back onto what was really important. “When do you think I’ll be able to use the arm again?”
He replaced the chart at the foot of the bed. “That depends what we’re talking about. As long as you’re careful, I don’t see why by tomorrow you couldn’t do most everything you’re used to doing, just with the sling on. You can drive and shower as long as you keep the bandages from getting wet.”
“And when can I ride again?”
The doctor shaking his head had both Mustang’s hopes and gut sinking.
“I will be able to ride again, right?”
“You will, yes. Mustang, you’re not the first professional cowboy I’ve patched up. This is Texas, you know. I’m telling you right now, you get back on a bull before you’re ready and I can make no guarantees that it won’t end your career.”
Mustang took a second to breathe and resolve himself to that. “Okay.”
The doctor raised an eyebrow. “Does that mean you’ll follow my advice or are you just going to do what you want anyway?”
“It means I’m not ready to retire.” Even if that meant having to swallow his pride for the next four months. “I’ll do what it takes to go back into competition one-hundred percent healthy, doc. I promise.”
“Good to hear.” He turned to the nurse. “Let’s find him some lunch and see if we can’t get him out of here by this afternoon.”
Mustang sighed. Didn’t that figure? The one time he would have actually preferred to remain in the hospital for a while they were sending him home. It looked like his luck hadn’t improved much. Though the operation had gone right and his arm would heal. There was no way Mustang could complain about that.
***
“Grams. I think I’ll drive over to the Jackson’s. You know, to pick up the plates I brought the empanadas over on and forgot to bring back.”
“You don’t need to do that, mija . Myra said she’d drop them off later in the week. She just couldn’t do it today. Michael had his operation today.”
As if that hadn’t been the only thing on her mind all day. “Yeah, I know. Have you heard from her since?”
Sage’s grandmother shook her head. “No, mija .”
“Oh. I was just wondering how it went. Maybe I should call and see if she needs me to pick anything up for her at the store. I mean, if she’s home taking care of Mustang she may not want to leave.”
Sage glanced up and saw an amused expression on her grandmother’s face. “What?”
“Nothing. I changed my mind. Why don’t you go get those plates now, that way you can ask in person if she needs anything.
Maybe I’ll make more empanadas and try and put some weight on that boy. Make sure you tell him I expect to see him here at least once before he leaves town again.”
Before he leaves . That was a very real reminder to Sage. He may be here now, but he would still go away again.
“Okay, Grams. I’ll run over right away, you know, to get the plates. I’m just going to get out of my work clothes first.”
Her grandmother smiled. “Good idea. Put on that pretty blue dress of yours.”
“You don’t think it’s too much?” She’d worn it to her graduation ceremony and the party afterward.
“No, mija . I think it’s perfect.”
“Okay.” Sage nodded and, pulse racing, took off to change clothes.
Chapter Six
“Do you want something else? Ice cream maybe?”
Memories of when he’d had his tonsils out years ago and his mother had given him all the ice cream he wanted had Mustang grinning. “No thanks, Ma. I’m fine.”
“I’m just going to get a start on dinner then. You rest.”
Apparently she was going to feed him until his arm either healed or he got so fat he couldn’t ride bulls anymore.
“Yes,
Mustang’s woozy brain spared a brief moment to consider why criminals didn’t just get guns made out of this new metal if it didn’t set off the detectors. He wrestled his focus back onto what was really important. “When do you think I’ll be able to use the arm again?”
He replaced the chart at the foot of the bed. “That depends what we’re talking about. As long as you’re careful, I don’t see why by tomorrow you couldn’t do most everything you’re used to doing, just with the sling on. You can drive and shower as long as you keep the bandages from getting wet.”
“And when can I ride again?”
The doctor shaking his head had both Mustang’s hopes and gut sinking.
“I will be able to ride again, right?”
“You will, yes. Mustang, you’re not the first professional cowboy I’ve patched up. This is Texas, you know. I’m telling you right now, you get back on a bull before you’re ready and I can make no guarantees that it won’t end your career.”
Mustang took a second to breathe and resolve himself to that. “Okay.”
The doctor raised an eyebrow. “Does that mean you’ll follow my advice or are you just going to do what you want anyway?”
“It means I’m not ready to retire.” Even if that meant having to swallow his pride for the next four months. “I’ll do what it takes to go back into competition one-hundred percent healthy, doc. I promise.”
“Good to hear.” He turned to the nurse. “Let’s find him some lunch and see if we can’t get him out of here by this afternoon.”
Mustang sighed. Didn’t that figure? The one time he would have actually preferred to remain in the hospital for a while they were sending him home. It looked like his luck hadn’t improved much. Though the operation had gone right and his arm would heal. There was no way Mustang could complain about that.
***
“Grams. I think I’ll drive over to the Jackson’s. You know, to pick up the plates I brought the empanadas over on and forgot to bring back.”
“You don’t need to do that, mija . Myra said she’d drop them off later in the week. She just couldn’t do it today. Michael had his operation today.”
As if that hadn’t been the only thing on her mind all day. “Yeah, I know. Have you heard from her since?”
Sage’s grandmother shook her head. “No, mija .”
“Oh. I was just wondering how it went. Maybe I should call and see if she needs me to pick anything up for her at the store. I mean, if she’s home taking care of Mustang she may not want to leave.”
Sage glanced up and saw an amused expression on her grandmother’s face. “What?”
“Nothing. I changed my mind. Why don’t you go get those plates now, that way you can ask in person if she needs anything.
Maybe I’ll make more empanadas and try and put some weight on that boy. Make sure you tell him I expect to see him here at least once before he leaves town again.”
Before he leaves . That was a very real reminder to Sage. He may be here now, but he would still go away again.
“Okay, Grams. I’ll run over right away, you know, to get the plates. I’m just going to get out of my work clothes first.”
Her grandmother smiled. “Good idea. Put on that pretty blue dress of yours.”
“You don’t think it’s too much?” She’d worn it to her graduation ceremony and the party afterward.
“No, mija . I think it’s perfect.”
“Okay.” Sage nodded and, pulse racing, took off to change clothes.
Chapter Six
“Do you want something else? Ice cream maybe?”
Memories of when he’d had his tonsils out years ago and his mother had given him all the ice cream he wanted had Mustang grinning. “No thanks, Ma. I’m fine.”
“I’m just going to get a start on dinner then. You rest.”
Apparently she was going to feed him until his arm either healed or he got so fat he couldn’t ride bulls anymore.
“Yes,
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