deductible, this entire bill was coming out of his pocket, along with most of the cost of his surgery to come.
The clerk apparently sensed his hesitancy. “We do take credit cards.”
“I don’t use credit cards.” He looked back at the bill, and the amount seemed to grow before his eyes.
“Sir, if you’re unable to pay this invoice—”
Luke jerked his head up. “What makes you think I can’t pay it?”
She gave him a smile, but Luke could see what was beneath it. Condescension.
“If you’re having financial problems,” she said, “you may qualify for assistance. If you’d like, I can put you in touch with one of our social workers to advise you.”
Luke could barely contain the rumbling of resentment he felt. Social worker? He’d dealt with enough of those to last him a lifetime. Just hearing the words made his skin crawl.
“I don’t need assistance from anyone,” he said.
“All right. Maybe a payment plan? The interest rate is quite reasonable.”
“No,” he snapped. “I don’t borrow money. I pay my bills. I always pay my bills.”
He reached into his wallet, pulled out his debit card, and tossed it down on the desk, numb with disbelief. Only hours ago, he was heading for the next rodeo in Phoenix, one more lucrative stop on his way to the top. Now he was sitting in this hospital with a damaged knee, essentially broke, with no means of support. Yeah, he had enough to pay his medical bills, but then he’d have nothing left over for living expenses for the next three months, not to mention the physical therapy he needed if this knee was going to heal in time for the World Championship. He could sell his father’s property to get the cash he needed…if only he had the money to get rid of the old gas storage tanks at the front of the property so it could be environmentally certified for sale.
Damn it.
He flipped open his wallet. Sixty bucks. It might as well have been sixty cents.
His pulse pounded in his head, making his mind feel dark and muddled. He just wanted to get the hell out of there. He wanted to go somewhere by himself and think about how to get out of this mess. And he would figure it out, one way or the other.
Unfortunately, his truck was currently in Rainbow Valley, and Shannon was his only means to return there.
When Luke finally came out, Shannon took one look at his tight-lipped expression and knew he wasn’t happy. He had a brace on his knee and was walking on crutches. He brushed past her and hobbled out the sliding glass doors. Once they were in her truck, he seemed no more interested in talking than he had been all afternoon. But since his mood had clearly deteriorated, she could only assume whatever news he’d received was bad.
“Tell me about your knee,” she said as they drove out of Austin. “Is it going to be okay?”
“Eventually. I’m having outpatient surgery next week. Then physical therapy.”
“Oh. Okay.” She paused. “So that’s doable, right?”
“Yeah,” he said in a deadpan voice. “It’s doable.”
“Did you get pain medication?”
“I don’t need it.”
Then why, every time he shifted in his seat, did he grimace as if his knee was killing him?
“Did the doctor clear you to drive?” she asked.
He paused. “Yes.”
She wasn’t sure she believed that. “Are you going to be able to compete anytime soon?”
“I’ll compete,” he said. “Bank on it.”
“Good. That’s good.”
Luke was silent.
“Well,” she said brightly. “Then everything’s going to be fine, right?”
“Yeah,” he said. “Just fine.”
She wondered if he knew how transparent his lies were. Or maybe he didn’t care. Either way, he clearly didn’t want to talk about it. She also wondered how big a hit he’d taken with the emergency room bill, but she knew he wouldn’t want to talk about that, either.
As they headed back to Rainbow Valley, Luke stared out the passenger window. Shannon watched him out of the corner of her eye. Being in a compromised position brought out the defensiveness in him, and she hated it. She wanted him to put aside all the tough-guy crap and just be truthful with her. That was all.
But as the miles passed, she realized that wasn’t all.
Memories were one thing. Having the flesh-and-blood man who starred in those memories sitting beside her was another thing entirely. She had the sudden irrational thought that he’d turn around and she’d see it in his eyes—everything he’d felt for her all those years ago. But