Kayla
It's been a long time since I've done something as simple as getting ice cream. Sure, I have ice cream in my freezer at home, but it's different going out and sharing the experience with someone.
Once we get our ice cream cones, he opens the tailgate of his truck, and we sit there eating and talking.
"You held your own today with my mom. Not many people can do that, you know.""I deal with mean, sexist, billionaires every day who think they own the world. Your mom is a sweetheart compared to that.. She’s sweet, and honestly, it's how my mom would be with you. It means she loves you."
"That's a good way to look at it."
"Now my dad, on the other hand, he can interrogate you like the best of them. You feel like you’re under investigation for international crimes or something."
He doesn't get a chance to respond before his phone rings. He frowns but answers it. "Hey, there Bill, everything alright?"
His face changes instantly, and he jumps off the tailgate. "I'm on my way. Is he safe?"
Oh shit, something’s wrong. After tossing the last of our cones,we climb into the truck.
"No, don't move him. Have someone meet me at the barn. I'm on my way."
He hangs up, looking over at me."I'm sorry to ruin our ice cream date."
At the word date, butterflies fill my stomach. It did feel like a date even if I didn't want to admit it.
"What's going on?"
"A rancher got thrown from his horse and then the horse trampled him. That was his wife on the phone. We’ll beat the ambulance there."
Brice picks up the phone, hits a few buttons, and puts it to his ear."Dad, Bill was thrown from his horse. His wife called. I guess the horse trampled him, too. I'm on my way." He’s quiet for a minute."Yeah, she's with me. I got this. Why don’t you meet us at the hospital?"
"Is it okay I'm with you?" I hadn't thought about it until now.
"Yes, just be careful. With situations like this, I often don't know what I'm walking into. We don't know what spooked the horse. Could be a snake, coyote, or even the occasional bear. We don't know if they rounded up the horse or if it spooked other animals. You need to be careful with your ankle, too, okay? Promise me?"
"I promise," I say as he turns into a long dirt driveway.
"Ever shoot a gun?"
"Yes. I hit the shooting range once a month. I'm a female CEO, and I'd be stupid not to protect myself."
He nods in approval. "There’s a handgun in the glove box Take it out and keep it with you while we check on him. Be my eyes for anything that spooked the horse or any animal that might be drawn to him because he’s bleeding."
"Such a different life, that of a small-town cowboy doctor."
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
When we get to the barn behind the main house, there’s a man waiting, a ranch hand, I guess. Brice gets the directions of where to go and the ranch hand opens a gate. Driving through the field is bumpy because there’s not a road or even a wheel track, yet it's quicker than being on foot.
Pulling out his phone, Brice makes a call, checking on the ambulance and giving instructions for their arrival.
As we get closer, I see a woman waving him down next to a man on the ground.
Brice angles the truck so his lights are on the man and gets out, grabbing the medical bag he always carries in the back seat.
"Remember what I said," he reminds me.
Nodding, I follow him over to the man on the ground, tucking the gun into my jeans behind my back and pulling my shirt over it.
"He was out riding. When he got a phone call, I went out after him. I saw it all happen, but I wasn't close enough to stop it," the woman says, who I assume is the injured man's wife.