“It’s broken, alright. You can see the bone. It sucks, but it could’ve been worse. Thanks to you, it wasn’t.”
Cord glanced at Mason’s leg, glad a bandage covered any exposed bone. “My mind is foggy. I don’t remember doing anything.”
“After my leg snapped, you kept me on m
y feet and dragged me out of there. At least until Dynamite got his horns on you. Aren’t you glad I made you put that vest on?”
Cord looked down at his bare chest, which was swollen and abraded, but not bleeding. “Yeah, I’m not fond of the idea of having extra holes in my body.” He fumbled in a vain attempt to button his shirt. “Awww, man! They ripped my buttons off.”
“Yeah. They cut my jeans to get to this leg.”
Cord tried to fasten his thick protective vest across his tender skin, but gave up and left it gaping.
“Sorry your leg got broken.”
“That’s what happens when you stick it under an 1800-pound bull. Worth it, though. I scored an eighty-six!” Mason seemed awfully cheery for a man with a compound fracture.
“Congratulations. But doesn’t it hurt?”
“Pain meds are kicking in. Kind of floating, right now.”
“I need some of those for these ribs. I think they may be broken, this time.”
“Naaah, you’re tough. You don’t need pain meds.” Mason’s words slurred. “You’ll make a good bull rider someday.”
“Don’t think so. I’m done with bull riding, forever.”
“That’s good to know,” said a familiar voice. “I need you to stay alive long enough to finish our project.”
Cord ducked his chin. “Hello, Finn.”
Except for the times they’d both been in the company gym, he’d never seen his boss so casually attired. Though Phantom Enterprises was famous, few would recognize one of the owners wearing jeans, and a t-shirt that read, “Gamer. Real life is just a hobby.”
“Your chest looks horrible.” Finn’s brows knotted. “Not that I’m surprised. When that bull flung you into the air, I thought you were dead.”
“If it weren’t for this vest, I probably would be.” Cord tried to shift positions, his efforts sending a slice of pain through his chest. He sucked in a hissing breath.
“I’ll sit down so it’s easier to talk.” To Cord’s horror, his boss plopped onto the dirt beside him and leaned against the fence. “That woman at the gate almost wouldn’t let me in here. She was totally immune to my charms.”
His grin indicated he found the situation amusing, rather than frustrating.
“Yeah, she seemed irritated that I got injured.” Cord picked at a thread where a button was missing from his shirt. “I’m sorry you came out here for nothing.”
“The trip was productive. I had a meeting in Houston with Cole before I drove over here,” Finn said. “But I wouldn’t have missed watching you get gored by a bull and somehow live to tell about it. I’m waiting for you to walk on water.”
Two paramedics walked past with a litter and set it on the ground beside Mason.
“Finn, I hate to tell you this, but I think I’ll be staying here in Sage Valley after all.”
“I thought you wanted to work from the Houston office?”
“Things have changed…”
Finn heaved an audible sigh. “By any chance, does this have something to do with a woman?”
Heat rose up from his neck to his hairline. “There was a woman, but not anymore. She was the reason I was interested in Houston.” Cord fidgeted with the zipper on his vest. “You probably think it’s dumb to make career decisions based on a girl.”
“It depends,” Finn said. “Do you love her?”