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“What?”
“Larry couldn’t find any solid proof. Probably only Sam and Dusty know what really happened to their pa.”
“I suppose so.”
“Anyway, around the time Dusty was doing her chemo, a neighbor of hers bought a stud bull. Dusty was over visiting and took to the animal. That’s how the whole Bull Whisperer thing started. It seems working with the bulls kept Dusty focused, so she didn’t succumb to the fatigue and depression that’s so common in cancer patients. Turns out she has a unique gift with bulls, as we all know now from experience.”
“I’m thankful she found something that was cathartic for her,” Laurie said.
“Yeah, it no doubt helped when her pa died too,” Dallas said.
Zach swallowed and took a deep breath. “I knew she needed money. I would have gladly given her everything I have. I never told her I wanted a boatload of kids. I don’t care that she’s a cancer survivor. She’s well now, so why did she leave me? It still doesn’t make any sense. Unless she just didn’t feel the same way about me that I feel about her.”
“I’d wager that she does, bro,” Chad said.
“How so?”
“There’s a little more to my story.”
The ominous look in Chad’s brown gaze told Zach the news wouldn’t be good. He buried his face in his hands. “What is it?” he mumbled.
“Turns out Dusty was nearing her five year mark as a cancer survivor. If you hit five years out from A.L.L., you’re considered cured. She had a blood test shortly before she and Sam came to Denver for the stock show.”
“And?”
“It showed an elevated white count. Her records show a message was left for her at the Holiday Inn in Denver, and she called and got the information the day before her barrel race.”
The day he found her by Diablo’s pen, Zach thought. The day we made love for the first time.
Everything was falling into place now. Her statement that there were things worthy of her fear, but Diablo wasn’t one of them. She’d said short hair wasn’t flattering on her. She meant no hair. She’d said she couldn’t get pregnant, that he deserved better. It all made sense. But why hadn’t she told him? He had opened up to her, professed his love to her.
“God, she can’t be sick again. She can’t be.” Zach buried his face in his hands. Profound sadness threatened to consume him.
“If she is, Zach, she needs you more than ever,” his mother said.
“Dusty was supposed to go in for a recheck in three weeks, which is just about now,” Chad said.
“You don’t have those records?”
“’Fraid not.”
“And no health insurance.” Zach sighed, remembering how he had paid her bill for her concussion.
“Nope.”
“No wonder she sold her mare to Harper. And she wanted that purse for riding Diablo. It wasn’t the ranch. It was her life.” Zach stood and began to pace.
“There’s something else you should understand,” Chad said.
“What?”
“Her white count was up when you were in the hospital with your infection. She had to know what a huge risk she was taking by staying with you. You were growing God-knows-what kind of gunk in your leg, and she had a depressed immune system. She risked her health to be with you. To take care of you.”
“She never left your side, Zach,” Laurie said. “Not once.”
“Why wouldn’t she trust me with this? I told her I loved her, for God’s sake!”
“I think she wanted to protect you, Zach,” Laurie said. “You would have done the same for her.”
