"You're getting a new patient, Nancy. Starting
tomorrow, you'll devote all your attention to this one for the next two weeks.
That's all the time you have to get him ready to return to the rodeo circuit,
so it will be an intense rehab." Dr. Harris slid the file across the desk.
"But what about my other patients? I'm really making
progress with Anna and Andy. They need me."
Dr. Harris shook his head. "Can't be helped. This young
man is a local celebrity and his parents specifically requested that you, and
only you, handle his case. It will be high profile for us and, if you're
successful at getting him ready for the Finals, we'll get a lot of
publicity."
"Let me guess. Cooper Saunders, right?" Damn him.
Just because he was some kind of star around here shouldn't mean he got
preferential treatment. As much as she liked his parents, she resented them
interfering with her job. She'd spent weeks getting Anna and Andy to trust her,
to respond to their treatment. Anna was finally pulling out of her depression
with the help of medication and counseling sessions, and Andy seemed to be
gaining control of his anger and frustrations. What would happen to them if she
suddenly didn't show up for their sessions and they were turned over to someone
else?
"There's nothing I can do to change your mind?"
Nancy asked, knowing the answer from the firm set of Dr. Harris's jaw.
"No, I promised Mary and Jed that you would personally
handle Cooper's recovery."
"Can I at least do my sessions with Andy and Anna
today, so I can explain to them why they'll have a new PT?"
Dr. Harris stood, indicating the discussion was over.
"No. Cooper is waiting for you in room 212. His doctor will brief you in
the conference room before you get started. He's already there."
In other words, hop to it. You didn't keep the busy doctors
waiting.
Nancy gritted her teeth and marched to the conference room.
She couldn't wait to meet Cooper and give him a piece of her mind for messing
up her other patients' treatments. She didn't even know him. And at this point,
she didn't care to know him.
Shoot, he probably didn't need much more than hand-holding,
anyway. Anyone could do that. Even one of his buckle bunnies.
The doctor smiled when she stepped into the room. She didn't
recognize him, so not a local. Nancy sat across the table from him, where a case folder
waited. "I'm Nancy Phillips."
"John Marshall." He nodded toward the folder.
"We have a short time table to try to get Cooper ready for the PBR
finals." He went over the particulars of Cooper's case and laid out the
treatment plan. "Cooper is willing to commit one hundred percent to his
treatment. You'll have his complete cooperation. If you have any questions,
call me. I'll be checking on his progress daily, as well."
"Do you really think it's wise for him to ride in two
weeks with these injuries?" It sounded like a recipe for disaster to her.
There was no way his shoulder and pelvic injuries could heal in that amount of
time, and from what she'd read, the finals involved several days of bull riding,
back to back. Cooper would be lucky if he didn't end up back in the hospital
after the first try.
"No, I don't, and I've told him that. But he's
determined to do it." Dr. Marshall shook his head. "He's planning to
retire at the end of this season and he needs the win to help finance his
retirement."
"It won't be much of a retirement if he's paralyzed, or
worse."
"If you can convince him not to try it, my hat's off to
you. I've tried everything I can think of to talk him out of it.
After the doctor left, Nancy took a few minutes to study
Cooper's file. Thirty-eight years old, he'd been riding bulls for more than
twenty years. While not the oldest bull rider, he was in no shape to be
thinking about trying it again. Anyone with half a brain could see he needed to
give it up while he could still walk.
Determined to convince Cooper he was a fool to even think
about riding another bull, Nancy headed down the hall to his room.
I don't have a cover yet, but I can tell you this picture will be on it.
Meet Cooper Saunders, professional bull rider. Yum! Can't wait to finish this book and see what you think about his story.
I'm going to invite other authors to comment with details about their February releases, too, so check back often to see what's new for next month.
