Scott McCord stood at Traci’s emergency room bedside. He knew he must look a mess. A nurse had already asked if he wanted a sedative. “Hell, no,” had been his response. He wasn’t going to soften his guilt with drugs.

God damn, how had it happened? He replayed the scene over and over again. He still couldn’t understand it. One minute Traci and Cory had been working together as a team and the next she was tossing about like a child’s rag doll.

Until she landed in the dirt. He hadn’t been able to move fast enough. Her words and the magnitude of her distress had temporarily paralyzed him. Without a doubt, this accident involved more than a woman learning how to ride a horse. But she was his responsibility, and he had let her down.

So there Traci Steele lay, ashen, but breathing steadily. The doctor indicated that nothing was broken. There were no apparent internal injuries. She’d be bruised some. And they’d want to keep her overnight to check her for a concussion.

He followed behind the gurney when they moved her from emergency to the second floor. No one seriously challenged his presence. Since he didn’t know about her insurance carrier, he’d signed to cover financial responsibility. Looking at the pale woman, who was becoming a bigger mystery every day, he knew she wouldn’t be pleased that he’d taken over. But they could straighten things out later.

During the night, Traci regained her spirits enough to complain to a nurse about the IV, but he could tell she still had little understanding of where she was or what had happened.

Scott dozed off and on until sunshine bounced off his closed eyelids. Sputtering, cussing himself for having fallen asleep, he pushed himself back in his chair and looked at his patient. She stared back at him with a wan smile on her lips.

Leaping to his feet, Scott fumbled for words. She held out her hand to him; he clasped it between his own.

“Hi,” Traci said, softly. “You don’t look so good.”

“Maybe.” Scott ducked his head so she wouldn’t see the moisture forming in his eyes. “You don’t look quite ready to walk down a fashion show runway either.”

“I’m sore and maybe a little weak, but otherwise I’m fine,” Traci offered. “So where am I?”

“You’re in the regional hospital. The doc wanted to keep you overnight for observation. They couldn’t find anything wrong other than being knocked out. Do you remember what happened?”

He watched the competent lawyer withdraw behind shuttered eyelids. Her body quivered and then gradually calmed. She stared at him with renewed brightness. “Yes, I remember. It wasn’t Cory’s fault.”

“No, I should have--”

“It wasn’t your fault, either. It’s hard to explain. I lost control of Cory. And then I got into a terrible place, and I lost control of myself.” She smiled weakly. “But I’m alive. I’ve survived worse.” Traci squeezed his hand. “Please don’t blame yourself. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“So are you going to tell me about it? Somebody hurt you badly.” His fingers curled into a fist.

Traci pulled the covers up around her shoulders. She shook her head. “Can’t talk about it. Wouldn’t do any good anyway.” She smiled lamely. “You’re a good man, Scott McCord. Maybe someday.”

“Okay. I won’t push you.”

Traci grinned. “And I signed all the liability release forms at the resort. So you don’t have to worry about that.” She laughed. “Just what a horse trainer needs is for a crazy female lawyer to fall off a horse and sue.”

Looking chagrined, Scott stood. “That never occurred to me. But I guess we’re done with riding lessons.”

The look on Traci’s face turned fierce and determined. Not for the first time, Scott was thankful he’d never had to take the woman on in an argument that mattered.