Emily's Cowboy Read Online Free PDF

lap, managed to rest while her father fought his battle, but Gareth’s words about the doctor had her struggling to her feet.
    “My dad…?”
    “He’s in recovery, Miss Mackenzie. He lost a lot of blood at the accident site before anyone was able to stabilise him. It put enormous amounts of pressure on his heart, but there was no significant damage as a result. There are just a few things that we will need to monitor closely for the next few days. We also feel confident that we have managed to save his leg. We have reattached the tendons, nerves and blood supply, and are hoping for a positive outcome.”
    Emily nearly crumpled to the floor with relief, Gareth’s grip on her arms all that was holding her upright. The doctor’s comments about blood loss had nearly destroyed her—she was to blame, she knew that. She should have thought of that, should have stemmed the flow before running for help. Thankfully, the doctors had been able to repair the damage she had done, and they’d saved her father.
    “When can Emily see Mac?”
    Yes, she wanted to see her dad. Gareth at least had the presence of mind to be asking the questions she should, Emily thought, once again doubting her own ability to cope with any of the most important concerns. The doctor must think me a fool, she chastised herself.
    “Soon, just as soon as he is settled, but only for a short time. He needs his rest. Once he is in the ICU, you can stay with him longer, and perhaps other visitors can also see him, but you will have to check with ICU staff on that one.”
    “Thanks, doc. I’m sure that they will let us know. They seem pretty up to date with hospital policy.”
    She didn’t understand what Gareth was saying and watched him shake hands with the doctor, then offered her own hand too late for him to notice. It was all just too much. Emily felt as if she was in some nightmare state, unable to make the smallest decision competently. She just needed to see her dad, make sure he was okay, was alive.
    “Won’t be long, Em. Someone will come for you soon and take you to see Mac, so you can see for yourself that he is fine. Come sit back down. You look like you’re about to drop.”
    He was right and Emily managed to find the energy, the willpower to sit back down in the hard, white plastic seat behind her. It was not nearly as comfortable as being on Gareth’s lap, held in his arms. She sat there numbly, waiting again, until the sound of a phone ringing made her jump, startled her with its loudness in the deathly quiet room. The sound was so close and Emily finally realised, as she watched Gareth pull the mobile from his pocket, that it was his phone ringing.
    “Andrews.” His voice was so deep, so hypnotic to her. She could listen to him forever, Emily thought, momentarily distracted from her worries.
    “Sorry, I didn’t realise the time… Yep, I know I should have, but there’s been a family emergency… No, not my folks. It’s Emily. I’m at the hospital with Em… No, not her, her father. A tractor accident… Yeah, flew him in by plane… Last night… Out of surgery, just waiting to go to ICU… No, not today, if that’s okay with Brodie… Yeah, I’ll give him a call. And Pippa? Thanks. You will be the first person I call. Promise… Yeah, love you too.”
    The one-sided conversation was pretty easy for Emily to follow. Between what Gareth was saying and the extended silences where the caller was obviously speaking, it was clear to her that Gareth had missed being somewhere, probably training, because of her. But it was the last three words of his conversation that stung, ripped her heart from her chest. Caused such unimaginable pain she thought she would scream from it. She had heard correctly, there was no doubt about what he had said.
    ‘Love you too ’.
    And Emily had also heard the name of the person Gareth had been speaking to. A female name—Pippa.
    Gareth had told another female that he loved her, and he had done it