Page 160 of The Flirty Vet

I'm on a…bed? I look around the white-and-blue room. In a hospital, I guess?

Fuck. How did I get here?

I try jogging my memory.

The last thing I remember is being out on the muster… I was killing it, because of course I was. I remember the damper being exceptionally good. Better than usual. The guys were giving me shit for being in love. I had a bastard of a chase after lunch and almost lost my hat. We got to the holding pen…

And then nothing.

I don't remember anything after that.

I cough, more like sputter, actually, and the sound wakes Col. His head jerks up, half his hair flat from where it was pressed against the bed.

"Heyyy."

"Hey," I croak.

He grabs the jug of water by my bed and pours me a glass and sticks a straw into it. He guides it to my mouth, and I take a few small sips, and, fuck me, that feels good gliding down my throat.

I nod when I've had enough.

He perches gingerly on the side of the bed, looking down at me with nothing but pure love and relief in his eyes.

Something in my chest stirs to life. "Am—am I okay?"

He bites his lip. "If this weren't such a serious occasion, I'd answer that question in the negative and point out all your many, many faults. But, given the huge scare you've given everyone, I'll play nice. Youwillbe fine. Do you remember what happened?"

"No. I know I was mustering, but that's about it."

He nods gently. "Do you want to know what happened?"

"Of course."

"Apparently you were closing off one of the gates when you got rammed by a cow. It ended up trampling on you. Thankfully, it didn't get your head, but your lower back is a mess."

"How much of a mess?"

"Not as big a mess as it could have been. Luckily for you, one of your friends charged the animal, preventing it from doing any more damage."

I smile. "They're good blokes."

"Yeah. They are."

"So, what state am I in?"

"You lost consciousness and have severe bruising. So far, though, nothing else, but they'll probably want to keep you in the hospital for a few days."

"What hospital are we in?"

"Brisbane."

"When was I brought in?"

"Last night."

"How did I get here?"

"Polly flew your plane."