Spurs and Heels(Divine Creek Ranch 5)(10)

chair before he could say anything. She faltered and stumbled then

fell backward over the seat of the chair and the boxes stacked right

behind it. Whimpering as she went down again, Juliana’s head

cracked against the kitchen countertop.

Ash moved first, afraid she was going to lose consciousness, but

she shook her head and started griping at him again. Ethan found

another dishcloth and filled it with ice from the freezer then handed it

to her as Ash helped her back into the chair.

“I’ll call nine-one-one,” Angel said, appearing concerned as he

and Joaquin entered the carnage in Teresa’s living room.

Juliana held up her good hand, grimacing when Ash blotted again

at the wound on her back with the dishtowel. “No, Angel. Don’t do

that. Can someone take me to the emergency room? I would drive

myself but my wrist…I’m right handed. Oh, that’s just fucking great!

How am I supposed to work with a broken wrist? Son of a bitch! Ow-

ow-ow! Fuck, what are you doing to me!” she screeched like a white-hot poker had touched her back, not seeing the rather large splinter of

glass that Ash had just removed from the laceration. He was thankful

it hadn’t been lodged very deeply.

That had to have hurt like a son of a bitch. He looked up at Jack

and grimaced, showing it to him. Jack’s and Ethan’s faces blanched

when they saw how big it was. He dropped it in the trash can, and

after making sure there were no more pieces still stuck in the wound,

he pressed the towel carefully to her shoulder again.



Spurs and Heels

33

“I’ll take you to the emergency room.” Ash felt one hundred

percent responsible for her current pain.

“No! Uh-uh! I think you’ve done enough, Mister Helper. Jack can

take me, or any of the others. There’s no telling what else will happen

to me with the luck I have around you. I’m liable to self-destruct! Ow,

shit! Will you stop?”

“No, I will not! It’s my fault you fell. I’ll take you to the ER. Sit

still so I can wrap this towel around your shoulder.”

“Don’t tell me what to do, you big, overgrown—Urgh! That hurts!

Stop it!”

Adam moved the ladder out of the way so Ash could lift her up

and carry her out to the truck.

“Oh, no you don’t! I don’t need to be carried! There’s nothing

wrong with my legs! Son of a bitch, that hurt! Ow! My wrist!” she

howled as he carried her out to his truck. Angel opened the passenger

side door then Ash lifted her into the seat, which was too high for her

to climb into, even if she’d been able.

“Shush now. Let me buckle you up,” he muttered as he tried to

carefully ease her back in the seat.

“Did you just ‘shush’ me? This is all your damned fault! If you

hadn’t come barreling in there like some idiot motherfucker, I

wouldn’t be in this damned mess! You broke my wrist! You did this

to me! I’m not going anywhere with you! Jack! Help me down! I’ll

drive my own damned self to the ER.”

Ash retrieved the icepack from Ethan, who stood on the sidewalk

with big eyes, listening as the lovely and professional Juliana Meyers

cursed a blue streak that brought Ash’s paternal lineage into question,

made predictions on where she thought he’d end up after he died, and

what he’d do once he got there. Ash rolled his eyes as Ethan handed

over the icepack. If she was feeling up to that tirade, her injuries must

not be life-threatening.

Jack walked up to the truck to stop her from unbuckling the seat

belt and climbing down. “No. Now, sweetheart, listen. You need to sit



34

Heather Rainier

still and let Ash take you to the hospital. You’re only making it hurt

worse by getting so worked up.”

Ash returned with the icepack. “Here you go, darlin’. Put this

icepack—”

“Don’t you darlin’ me, you—” She growled as she leaned out of

the truck, getting right in his face.

Ash laid his hand carefully between her collarbones, pressing her

back into the seat, afraid to touch her anywhere for fear of causing

more pain. He looked her dead in the eyes, and she glared right back

with her icy-blues.

“Listen up, darlin’. I’ve had just about enough. Either you shut

the fuck up now, or I’m going to duct tape that pretty little potty

mouth of yours closed.” He slammed the door in her face, walked

around the front of the truck, and pulled open the driver’s side door.

“Do you kiss your mama and daddy with that mouth? Shame on you,”

he muttered then turned to the guys. “We’ll be in the ER for a while,