Slowly waking up, she lay there with her eyes closed and listened to her surroundings. The television was on but turned down low to an almost inaudible volume. People walked down the hall, murmuring with the occasional burst of quickly silenced laughter. Listening intently to the TV, trying to make out what was being said, she was utterly still and quiet.

"Randy, that was one heck of a ride. Yes, sir, that cowboy scored a whopping ninety-two points. Folks, that was Sean Everett out of a little town in Texas called Wolfe Springs. He is at the top and holding on real tight to a world championship title he won five years ago and hasn't let go of since."

"Hey, Wes, you ever been out to Wolfe Springs? Beautiful place to be, and I bet they're just real proud of their home town boy today."

"Oh, Randy, without a doubt. He showed up on the rodeo scene about ten years ago and now, not even a decade later, his name is synonymous with the sport. He has never had any serious injuries, which is almost unheard of, and has made one darn pretty penny with all those advertisement deals."

The broadcasters continued with their backstory, but she no longer paid any attention.

Her entire being trembled at his name being mentioned.

Oh, Sean. I wish you were here now. I have no idea how I’m going to make it all alone. 

Sean Everett was indeed a hometown boy. He was only two years older than her, and his father was her daddy’s ranch foreman, so they had grown up in close proximity. He had been everything from her first friend and her first kiss to first and only love for her.

They had been so close that even their parents had been sure that they would be together forever.

With that thought, a tidal wave of emotion hit as it all came flooding back. The machine monitoring her pulse began to pick up its pace and her breathing hitched before she once again started to lose control. Somehow, heavy footfalls and a sliding chair registered, but only minutely, so caught up was she in her total loss of control. A rough, large, and warm hand covered her forehead and, "Hey," was whispered into her hear, so softly chill bumps rose all over her body. She gulped down deep, calming breaths, while the hand continued to stroke her, and as the calm set in, she started to take note of her surroundings.

The heavy scent of musky cologne, the peppermint-flavored breath, the muted television, the once again steady beep-beep of the heart monitor, and occasional voices in the hallway.

Sean. Oh crap. No! I know I asked for this earlier, but I’ve changed my mind. Please don’t be who I think it is. 

She cracked open first one eye and then couldn’t help but open both and gape as she looked into brown eyes she had loved for as long as she could remember.

Eyes she would know in her sleep.

Eyes that had haunted her day and night for years.

Laughing softly, he said, "That’s better, Peach. If you don't watch out, they're going to have to sedate you again."

Without a thought to the embarrassment of her generic hospital gown and the way it was sure to be gaping open in the back or the IV and the way it would tug painfully at her hand where the needle had entered her vein, she flung her arms around his neck and held on.

This was Sean, her cowboy, and she knew he would make it better. He could chase away the horrors. He could save her.

Sean pulled back from her embarrassingly exuberant embrace. Her arms tightened, unwilling to release him. His laughter muffled as he kissed her hair, and she knew she was beat red and her heart was pounding, as the monitor was very vocal.

"Well, hello, gorgeous. Now, that is what I’m talking about. There’s a greeting."

Suddenly, she realized just how awkward this whole thing was and pulled away to lie back against the pillows. She busied herself straightening the covers on her lap, desperate to avoid making eye contact with him. Reaching over, he snatched her hand, bringing it to his lips—what?—briefly while taking in a deep breath as he closed his eyes and released the breath he held, then gave her hand a squeeze and leaned over her. She thought her heart had been pounding before, but holy smokes, it felt as if it were about to beat right out of her chest. Is he about to kiss me? He was smiling as he got closer, and then he pressed the call button with his other hand.

"Yes?"

"Katy’s awake, and the doctor asked that I tell him the second her eyes opened."

What?

The nurse responded that she would be in shortly, and his response was to grin broadly and give her a stupid wink.

"Aren't you happy to see me, Peach?" he asked in a cajoling voice.

She stubbornly remained silent, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring, refusing to dignify him with a confirmation, as millions of butterflies fluttered around in her stomach and her palms dampened. She was so mad at him, but she was also so desperately happy to see him.

"Look, Peach, I'm sorry, but they broke the rules to let me in to stay with you, and I had to promise to call as soon as you woke up if they were going to turn a blind eye."

She ground her teeth and felt her eye twitch with the effort to remain silent, not to ask, before she caved with a huff and demanded, "How did you know?"

When he let go of her hand and turned to pull up a chair, the tense silence drug on. Once settled, he took her hand once again. "I've missed you, Peach. You have changed so much, but, Lord, you are just as beautiful as you've ever been."

"Sean." What kind of game does he think we are playing here?

He held up his other hand. "The sheriff knew how to reach me, he always has, so he gave me a call to let me know what happened. As soon as we hung up, I headed straight back here. I didn't want you to be alone right now."

"Where were you?" she asked against her will.

He waved dismissively. "Another little town on a long road. After a while, they all blend together."

Her body jerked thinking that all of these towns that blended together were the reason he had walked out of her life and now they mattered so little. Maybe having a wife had made him settle down.

Does he have kids? Is he a dad? Why does just the thought make me want to scream?

The evening nurse walked in, keeping him from any further comment. Moving away from Katy, Sean leaned up against the wall of the hospital room next to the door.

"Ugh, please don't give me another shot," Katy whined.

"Katherine, if you really don’t want it, I won’t give you the medicine, but you’re going to be stuck here for at least another day for observation after that spill you took and the goose egg you are now sporting on your head, so you should take advantage of being here and let us help keep you relaxed. You’ve had quite a shock, sweetheart, and all things heal better with a little rest for the mind and body."

Katherine started to object but thought better of it and simply nodded.

I’m an orphan now, with no family, and Sean freaking Everett is sitting at my bedside with no significant other or wedding ring, for that matter, in sight, so maybe, just maybe, being knocked into oblivion is exactly what I need right now. Maybe a little rest will help me figure out how to handle this new reality that, even in my worst nightmares, I had never pictured happening. Katherine looked at Sean, hoping her eyes were conveying the message she couldn’t bring herself to ask him.

"I'll be here when you wake up."

"Katherine, this will work a bit quicker than most medications, so don’t be surprised if you drift off fairly quickly. You just get some rest and give us a buzz if you need anything, ok?” The nurse finished pushing the injection into Katy’s IV line and moved toward the door, stopping only for a brief moment to pat Sean on the shoulder, and then she walked out and the door slowly closed behind her.

She could already feel the drug flow through her veins, leaving a trail of grogginess in its path and heaviness in her chest, and then, before she had another conscious thought, she was asleep again.