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She stood to let the two paramedics get closer to him. “He’s a diabetic,” she said. “Hypoglycemic.” She held out the few remaining candies she had. “He always carries these with him, and we gave him one.”
“All right,” one of the paramedics said. “What’s his name?”
“Nick,” Spencer said. He came to stand beside Ginger, and he put his arm around her. She leaned into him, because he was taller and stronger than her, and Ginger felt one moment away from falling apart completely.
“Nick,” the man said. “My name is Carlos. We’re going to take real good care of you.” He looked at the other man. “Byron, check his pulse.”
Carlos continued to give Byron instructions, finally turning back to Spencer and Ginger. “He’s new on the job.”
“New on the job?” Ginger almost shrieked. This was her cousin’s life. She wanted the most seasoned paramedic in the force. “How is he?”
“His pulse is strong,” Byron said. “He’s not feverish, but he is sweating, which is a common sign of hypoglycemia. Shaking, also a sign.”
“Should we give him another candy?” She held one out to Carlos, who looked at it like it was a poisonous snake.
“Let’s get him to the bus and put in an IV,” he said to Byron. “Careful now.” They got him on the stretcher easily, as Nick was made of more bones than muscles.
As they took him past Ginger, Nick turned his head and said, “Ginger.”
“I’m right here,” she said, hurrying to his side and taking his hand. Walking with the paramedics like that wasn’t easy, but Ginger didn’t care. “You’re okay. You’re going to be fine.”
“Candy,” he said, his eyes fluttering open. “Ursula.”
“She’s right here too,” Ginger said. “She got Spencer’s attention. She saved you.” A sob gathered in the back of her throat, but Ginger swallowed against it. No one needed her tears and panic right now. She could sob into the shower later.
She left the ATV with Spencer, and told him to let everyone at the ranch know what was happening. She climbed in the back of the ambulance with her cousin, and they’d barely reached the highway when Nick opened his eyes.
“What’s going on?” he asked, trying to sit up.
“Whoa, there, Nick,” Carlos said. “You’re strapped down for safety, but it’s nothing to be worried about.” He looked up at Byron. “Looks like the drip worked.” He grinned at his partner, then Ginger, then Nick. “We’re taking you to the hospital so you can be fully checked. Can you tell us what happened?”
“I was out in the fields,” Nick said, settling back to a prone position. His eyebrows drew down. “I got really thirsty, but I didn’t have any water. So I was going to go in and get some, but my heart started beating too fast. My vision blurred. I…don’t know after that.”
“Did you know you were going to pass out?” Carlos asked, putting on a pair of glasses as he started filling out a sheet on a clipboard.
“Yes,” Nick said. “I got out of the tractor, because I could tell. I couldn’t think though. I usually have candy with me, and I just pop one of those in. I couldn’t find them.” He looked at Ginger, tears gathering in his eyes. “I didn’t eat breakfast.”
“It’s okay, Nick,” she said, though a measure of frustration filled her. He was never supposed to go out onto the ranch without eating. Without water. And without his candy. Ever.
“I was in a hurry,” he said, closing his eyes. “I have a date with Miss Samantha tonight.”
Ginger worked hard not to roll her eyes, though her cousin wouldn’t see her with his eyes closed. Carlos chuckled. “Well, Nick, she might have to come see you in the hospital.”
“No way,” he said, his eyes jerking open. He looked from Carlos to Ginger. “Ginger, you can’t let her come to the hospital.”
She leaned closer, trying to be compassionate but really wanting to crack her knuckles against his forehead. “I’ll keep her away this time,” she promised. “But if you rush out to work without eating again, I’ll put you in the hospital myself.”
Nick just blinked at her, but Carlos and Byron both chuckled. She straightened and looked at them. “I won’t,” she said. “Not really. But come on, Nick. You scared all of us. Spencer set off the siren.”
“I’m sorry,” Nick said, sounding absolutely miserable. “I’m sorry, Ginger. It won’t happen again.”
Seeing her cousin unconscious on the ground wasn’t what she’d wanted to keep her from the homestead, but it had worked. She got busy sending texts then, and she accompanied Nick into the hospital, where his mother soon arrived.
Only then did Ginger step out and lean against the wall, a sigh pulling through her whole body.
Her phone rang, and Nate’s name on the screen reminded her of the bone-bending kiss they’d shared that morning.
That morning.
