Heart of Clay (24 page)

Do anything Clay wants to do.

“Really, Laney? Anything at all?” Clay
asked, staring intently into her eyes.

“Anything.”

“In that case, you’ll be pleased to know
that’s what I was coming to talk to you about.” He settled on the
edge of her desk and waited until she sat in her chair before
continuing. “Dad has one last batch of cows with calves we need to
brand and vaccinate before we move them to the summer pasture. He
thought it might be a fun weekend to get everyone together and work
the cattle. Josh and Jenna will be there and you can invite your
dad, Julie, and Ralph to come over. What do you think?”

Callan leaned back in her chair and shook
her head at him. Feigning indifference, she held out a hand and
studied her nails. “It sounds like a lot of hot, smelly work to me.
I think you need to sweeten the pot a bit.”

“Well, what if we go out this afternoon and
spend the night at the cabin? Just the two of us. Would you like
that?”

Callan jumped out of her chair and gave Clay
an exuberant hug. “I would love that. I have about fifteen minutes
worth of paperwork to finish then I’m out of here. I’ll meet you at
home.”

Clay stood and kissed her cheek, then walked
toward the door. “Sounds good. I’ll see you in a little while. And
Laney?”

“Yes?”

“Thanks for putting me at the top of your
list.”

Callan rushed to finish her paperwork then
drove home. She pulled into the drive surprised Clay’s pickup
wasn’t already there. She quickly changed into jeans, boots, and a
pink blouse that Clay told her was pretty the last time she wore
it.

She hurriedly packed an overnight bag and
dropped it by the door just as Clay walked inside the house.

“Don’t you look like a cowgirl with
someplace to go?” Clay gave her a look of approval. “Give me a
minute. I’ll change and then we can head out.”

Clay hustled into the bedroom, changing into
jeans and boots. While he did that, Callan ran out and got Cully,
putting him on his leash.

“You ready?” Clay asked as he walked into
the living room. After picking up the overnight bag, he settled a
straw cowboy hat on his head.

“Yep, cowboy man, I’m rarin’ to go,” Callan
drawled, carrying the wiggling puppy out to the pickup.

When they arrived at the ranch, Bobbi
invited them to stay for dinner and they enjoyed visiting long into
the evening. Bobbi suggested Cully stay at the ranch house with his
mama and the two puppies that hadn’t yet been given away instead of
going with them to the cabin.

The sun was just starting to set when Clay
and Callan took one of the four-wheelers, loaded their bag, and
drove out to the cabin. Bobbi thought they were crazy for wanting
to stay there when the ranch house was so much more
comfortable.

“It’ll be fun.” Callan told her as they
cleaned up the dinner dishes. “Like camping out, except with
running water and electricity.”

When they pulled up outside the cabin, Clay
insisted she wait outside for a minute before he opened the door
for her.

Callan couldn’t believe her eyes. The cabin
was spotless and a bouquet of pink roses filled the room with a
sweet, spicy fragrance while candles warmed the space with a golden
glow.

“Wow, Clay! When did you do this?” Callan
asked, looking around in pleased surprise.

“I had a little help.” Clay stepped behind
her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “That’s why you beat me
home. I had to connect with Jake about getting everything set up
and ready. All I had to do was light the candles.”

Callan turned around and kissed Clay on the
cheek. “I’ll have to be sure and thank him the next time I see
him.”

“You can thank him tomorrow. He’ll be here
along with about half the county.” Bobbi loved to entertain as much
as Callan did and turned a day of work into an excuse for a big
party. At the moment, though, the only thing Clay cared about was
the beautiful, soft woman in his arms. “How about thanking me right
now?” He tipped back his hat and pulled Callan flush against
him.

“Sure thing, cowboy,” Callan whispered,
melting into his embrace.

The “crew,” as Bobbi liked to refer to all
the people who converged on the ranch, was in high spirits.

The women spent the morning inside preparing
food for the big lunch they would serve outside at noon. The men
worked hard, and played harder, as they joked and teased each
other. Several friends and neighbors joined Steve’s regular ranch
hands in working the cattle.

Big Jim and Ralph showed up, mostly for the
fun, declaring they were too old to help. They seemed content to
sit on the fence and provide a running commentary for anyone who
cared to listen.

When the bell rang for lunch, it was a
welcome break. Hamburgers, potato salad, green salad, watermelon
slices, fried chicken, deviled eggs, chips and dip, baked beans,
corn on the cob, and sliced tomatoes filled one huge table. Another
table held pies, cakes, and a big platter of brownies. The men
gulped down iced tea and lemonade along with pitchers of cool
water.

Once they finished the meal, the women
looked at the tables and shook their heads. A tornado sweeping
through couldn’t have wreaked any more havoc. Piles of dirty dishes
covered the tables and trash overflowed from the can they’d set up
in the yard. Callan and Jenna started carting dishes inside to wash
while the other women packed in what was left of the food.

“Have you ever seen such a ravenous pack of
wolves?” Callan asked Jenna as they placed dishes in the
dishwasher.

“Yes,” Jenna said with a laugh. “The last
time we did this.”

After cleaning up the tables and washing the
dishes, the younger women wandered out to the chute and pens where
the men worked.

Jenna and Callan climbed up on the fence of
the pen where the calves milled around, picking out the ones they
thought had the best markings. From there, they could watch most of
the action taking place in the holding pen and squeeze chute, where
the majority of the work happened.

Josh and Clay were in the holding pen,
separating the cows one at a time and running them up to the chute.
The girls waved at them and called encouragement. Callan glanced
down and happened to notice the three puppies had followed them.
They rolled in the dirt, chewing and pawing at each other, so she
decided they were fine. Suddenly, one of the pups let out an
ear-piercing howl as a sibling bit down hard on her ear.

The puppy’s yip set the cattle in the
holding pen into a frenzy of motion.

Josh vaulted over the fence and got out of
the way. He looked over at Clay and yelled, “Get out! Now!” as a
panicked cow charged into Clay, knocking him off his feet and into
the fence. When Clay hit the ground with a thud, the hooves of a
storming sea of cattle trampled him mercilessly.

Callan heard someone screaming, only to
realize the terrified sound came from her.

Men reached through the fence, dragging Clay
under the bottom pole. Someone talked to a 9-1-1 dispatch operator.
The air reeked with dust and the smell of blood mingled with the
stench of singed hair from the brands they’d been burning just
moments ago.

Callan felt hands on her arms, holding her
up, only to realize Jenna and her dad were on each side of her,
hurrying her around the pen.

She reached Clay and dropped into the dirt
next to him. His left leg twisted at an unnatural angle. Blood
poured out of his nose, trickled out of his mouth, and flowed from
multiple gashes.

Gently, Callan lifted his head and held it
in her lap as her tears dripped onto his face.

Fear laced icy fingers around her throat,
threatening to cut off her air. She couldn’t believe this had
happened, especially now when they were so happy.

“Please, Lord, please,” was all she could
think to pray.

She sat for an eternity with Clay’s
lifeblood pouring out around before she heard the ambulance siren.
Everyone seemed afraid to move him, afraid to touch him, uncertain
of the extent of damage done to his body.

Callan thought the least she could do was
keep his head off the ground and hold his hand. She kept up a
steady, soft murmur of reassurances that he would be fine if he
would just hang on.

Julie and Bobbi arrived on the scene at the
same time as the ambulance crew. Bobbi threw herself into Steve’s
outstretched arms. “My baby, my baby,” she cried repeatedly.

The emergency medical technicians were quick
and efficient in loading Clay into the ambulance. Callan climbed in
beside him. One of the EMT’s called ahead and requested the Life
Flight helicopter be ready to go when they arrived at the hospital.
She groaned inwardly, knowing that was not a good sign.

“Mrs. Matthews, your husband’s injuries are
more than we can handle in Tenacity. We’re going to send him to the
university hospital in Portland. You can ride with him there. I let
your family know to meet you there instead of at City General.”

Callan stared at the young man doing his
best to keep Clay alive and gave him a look of gratitude. “Thank
you.”

Within a short time, they arrived at the
hospital and transferred Clay to the chopper. Callan felt herself
slipping into a state of shock and denial. This couldn’t be
happening. It just couldn’t.

She forced herself to take a fortifying
breath and grasp Clay’s hand as the helicopter lifted into the air.
Somehow, they would get through this. She refused to think of the
possibility of Clay leaving her now that they were once again so
much in love.

Once they arrived at the university
hospital, a team of doctors swept Clay away and a nurse took Callan
by the arm.

“Mrs. Matthews, I need to have you fill out
some paper work. Maybe you’d like a minute to clean up. There’s a
restroom right over there. You’re welcome to wash up and then we
can talk.” The kind nurse, who didn’t look any older than Callan,
showed her to the bathroom. Callan turned on the light and stared
in the mirror, noticing for the first time the blood that coated
her hands, splattered her face, and soaked into her blouse and
jeans.

Furiously scrubbing at her hands, she hoped
she could scrub away the pain of this day. Tears flowed unchecked
as she washed. She took paper towels to her cheeks and wiped her
face as best she could. Her clothes were another story.

After rolling back her shoulders, she
stepped out of the room and saw the nurse waiting for her with an
encouraging smile.

“Mrs. Matthews, I realize you don’t have
your purse with you, but we can get some initial paperwork started.
Would you please join me over here,” she said, indicating a chair
next to a desk.

Callan gave her what information she could,
wondering about Clay and why no one told her anything.

“Can I please see my husband?” she pleaded.
“Just for a moment?”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Matthews, but as soon as
the doctors have something to share, they’ll let you know. Can I
get you something? Some coffee? Water? Tea?”

“No, thank you,” Callan quietly refused,
waiting.

A few minutes later, a middle-aged doctor
with friendly eyes approached her. She stood to meet him, but he
motioned for her to sit down then joined her.

“Mrs. Matthews? I’m Dr. Fisher. I wish I had
better news for you, but your husband’s injuries are complex and
extensive. If it was just his broken leg, that would be bad enough,
but the blood loss is significant. He has several broken ribs, one
dangerously close to puncturing his left lung. He also has an
injury to his head that looks like a gash from a hoof. We’re
monitoring his brain for swelling and will take him into surgery
right away. With the number of injuries that require attention,
it’s going to take a while. Do you have someone who can sit with
you while you wait?” Dr. Fisher looked at her with concern.

Callan could have dealt better with cold
professionalism. Compassion weakened the bit of strength she had
left. Despite her paralyzing fears, she liked Dr. Fisher
immediately and knew she could entrust him with Clay’s life.

“My family is on their way
here. I’ll be fine. May I please see Clay before you take him into
surgery? Please?” Callan didn’t know if she could keep herself
together if he said no. She
needed
to see Clay.

“Certainly, Mrs. Matthews. I want to prepare
you though. Mr. Matthews is hooked up to a lot of machines and
tubes and it can look kind of scary,” Dr. Fisher said quietly.

“I don’t care what you’ve got him hooked to
as long as he is alive.” Callan studied the doctor a moment. “I
have a feeling we’re going to see each other frequently until Clay
is better, so you may as well call me Callan. Mrs. Matthews is his
mother and she’ll soon be here, wanting to know what’s being done
to save her one and only child.”