Chapter Eighteen
Maisie
Trying to focus on reading and returning emails when all I want to do is go back to Warren’s is brutal. But I’ll have a much better time knowing there isn’t a pile of work waiting for me.
Assuming he’ll want me to stay.
Each day since I’ve been home, my mom’s brought up something about the wedding. One day, picking out the Save the Dates, another was about the music, and today the shoes.
That’s partly why I flew down here, so it was easier to make decisions with the coordinator, but my heart’s no longer in it.
I need to tell Hayes, but doing it over the phone feels wrong and disrespectful, especially when he’s coming in two days.
As I’m closing my laptop to take a snack break, Hayes sends me a text—the first since our last conversation.
Hayes
Hi, darling. I’m struggling to get these last chapters finished and decided to rewrite a couple before writing the ending.
I don’t think I’ll be done before Saturday, but I still want to see you in person, so I rescheduled my flight for Tuesday.
I want to be able to have a clear head when we talk and I will once my book is turned in.
I don’t have it in me to even be surprised.
Hayes
This doesn’t mean I’m not going to fight for you. I’ve been thinking a lot the past twenty-four hours and told my publisher I’m cutting the book tour short, so when I get there we can plan our honeymoon. I’d rather spend that time with my wife and I should’ve considered that months ago.
Okay, now that does surprise me.
Twisting my engagement ring, I contemplate how to respond, but before I can, a new message pops up.
Bodie
Hey, Maisie. This is Bodie. Warren got hurt at the ranch. I’m in the ambulance with him now on the way to the hospital. I don’t know what’s going on between y’all, but he told me to tell you he loves you before he lost consciousness, so I figured you should know.
I gasp for air, squeezing my throat as I reread his message three times.
He told Bodie to tell him he loves me before he passed out?
Fuck, that kills me.
Maisie
Which hospital?
As soon as he replies to tell me where to go, I’m halfway out the door.
Maisie
On my way. Is he okay?
Bodie
His vitals are all over the place but he’s breathing. Lilith kicked him in the chest and he went down hard. Smacked his head.
Holy fucking shit.
That’s not good.
Maisie
Is he awake? Can he talk?
Bodie
No, he passed out when I was on the phone with 911. The EMTs hooked him up to oxygen and gave him something because his blood pressure was spiking. But he hasn’t opened his eyes.
Maisie
Shit. Okay, I’m heading there now.
Bodie
I’ll text or find you in the waiting room when I find out anything.
Maisie
Thanks, Bodie.
My heart pounds and my mind races with panicked thoughts as I try to focus on driving. Of course nothing is close in these rural towns. The closest hospital is over thirty minutes away.
When my phone rings with my mother’s name on the screen, I quickly answer since she’ll continue bugging me until I do. And I don’t need her draining my battery right now.
“Yeah, Mom?” I answer, choking on the tears streaming down my cheeks.
“What’s wrong? Why’d you leave in a hurry?”
I quickly wipe my face. “Warren got hurt at work and the ambulance is on the way to the hospital,” I blurt in one long breath. “And before you say anythin’—”
“I wasn’t.”
“Good. Because I’ll never forgive myself if the last conversation we had was us fightin’ and him thinkin’ I didn’t love him.”
“I know, honey. I’m sorry to hear he got hurt. Keep me updated, okay?”
“Sure, Mom.”
“Maisie…” She sighs. “We want you to be happy. That’s all we’ve ever wanted for you.”
“Even if that means movin’ here and stayin’ married to Warren?”
“Yes,” she replies instantly. “Of course.”
Although she can’t see me, I nod because although I’m nearly thirty, it’s nice to hear my parents will support my decision regardless of what they wanted me to do.
“I’m glad ya came around,” I say, trying not to sound bitter. “Hayes ain’t comin’ until Tuesday now, so I’ll tell him then.”
She’s quiet for a moment and I think I’ve hit a dead zone until she speaks up. “We can hire someone to go to New York and pack up your things if you’d rather not see him after that. ”
That probably shouldn’t make me smile, but knowing they’d do that for me, is how they show love.
“Thanks for offerin’, Mom, but I need to handle this myself. You and Daddy can’t keep bailin’ me out.” Like with the divorce attorney and drafting the papers. “I’ll be okay and figure it out.”
“Alright, well, let me know if you change your mind. Especially knowin’ Hayes hired a PI to spy on you. Who does that?”
I roll my eyes at the irony of her being Team Hayes only a few hours ago. But I think this is her trying to be on my side and support my decision.
“And not to be pushy or overstep, but once y’all talk and it’s for sure canceled, I’ll take care of everythin’ with the coordinator.”
Now that I’ll let her handle. She needs a project to stay busy or she won’t leave me alone.
“I appreciate that, Mom. Thank you.”
At the very least, talking to her helped calm me long enough to drive to the hospital without speeding.
“I’m almost there, so I’m gonna let you go. But thank you talkin’ to me so I didn’t panic too much.”
“You’re welcome, sweetie. Let me know when there’s an update. I’ll add him to my prayer group.”
“Thanks, I’ll be sure to tell him that.”
He’ll wonder if he woke up in a different timeline where my mother’s concerned for him.
Truthfully, I’m wondering the same.
When I get to the waiting room, some of Warren’s family members are already seated and now I’m concerned if they’ll want me here or not .
“Maisie!” Posey jumps up from her chair and rushes toward me, wrapping me in a hug before I can even speak.
“Hi,” I squeak. “How’s he doin’?”
She pulls back, brushing her fingers over my cheek where my mascara probably ran down.
“Still waitin’ for an update. Bodie’s pacin’ the hallway outside his room since they won’t let anyone in. Last I heard, they were gonna take him to get a CT scan for his head and chest.”
I follow Posey to where Warren’s parents and Bellamy are waiting. Mrs. Langston smiles before wrapping her arms around me.
“Hi, sweetie.” She squeezes my hand. “Glad you came.”
“What exactly happened?”
Posey explains what Bodie told her and although some of it is confusing, I get the gist of it. Having firsthand experience with that demon horse, I can’t help feeling bad she got hurt and is probably scared.
“How’s Lilith?” I ask.
“Colton’s still lookin’ for her. She might be in worse shape than Warren thought,” Bellamy explains, sitting next to their dad.
“Or worse now after runnin’ off,” Posey adds. “She was already off-trail in a rockier area.”
“Oh shit.”
“If she’s not in good shape, the vet will put her outta her misery. He’s already there waitin’ to see if Colt finds her,” Mr. Langston explains.
“Wait, what’s that mean?”
“It’s too hard to say for sure, but he’ll assess once he examines her,” Mrs. Langston clarifies, but my gut tells me that’s not what her husband meant .
If Lilith doesn’t make it, Warren will feel horrible. Although he acts like a hard-ass, he’s a softie for his horses, and knowing he’s part of the reason she took off while injured, he’ll blame himself.
We sit and make small talk while we continue waiting. Eventually, Warren’s aunt arrives in a panic. She was already down a manager and couldn’t leave until the next one came.
“What’s takin’ so long?” She paces and then goes to the nurse’s station. It’s sweet she loves her nieces and nephews like they’re her own children.
“The doctor’s on his way out now,” I overhear and instinctively stand, everyone else doing the same.
Bodie’s the first to come out, followed by an older man.
“Is he awake?” Posey whispers to Bodie, but he shakes his head, and my heart drops.
The doctor calmly introduces himself while everyone impatiently waits.
“We’re running a variety of tests to evaluate Warren.
Because he was kicked in the chest, there’s a risk of blunt thoracic trauma—which can range from minor bruising to life-threatening internal injuries.
He may have a concussion, but until he’s awake, we can’t properly assess his neurological status.
The initial CT scan doesn’t show any hemorrhaging or structural brain injuries.
It did reveal some bruised ribs, so he was lucky not to have any fractures.
The blow to his chest most likely triggered a trauma response—either from pain, panic, or both.
If he was already in distress at the time, that could have compounded the reaction and led to the spike in his blood pressure.
For now, he’s breathing on his own and we’re monitoring his vitals closely. ”
Everyone’s so quiet—all I can hear is the blood rushing in my ears and my pulse throbbing in my neck.
“So he’s gonna be okay?” Posey’s the first to speak.
“He’s not gonna die?” Bellamy asks.
“Apart from any unforeseen complications, he should be fine. But until he wakes up, we won’t know about his neurological status.”
“Is it normal he still hasn’t?” I ask.
“It can take some time,” he replies gently. “His body and brain are still recovering from the trauma. Sometimes we need extra time to heal, but we’re watching closely to make sure there’s no hidden swelling or bleeding that’d be causing a delay in him waking up.”
“Can we see him?” Mrs. Langston asks.
“Yes, but only a couple people at a time. His nurse will come out and bring y’all back.”
“Thank you,” Mr. Langston says, shaking his hand. “Appreciate it.”
“Of course.”