Karma

Page

Karma

ISBN # 978-1-78651-411-0

©Copyright Carol Lynne 2016

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright March 2016

Edited by Sue Meadows

Pride Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Pride Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Pride Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2016 by Pride Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

Pride Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

Cattle Valley

KARMA

Carol Lynne

Book thirty-three in the Cattle Valley series

From an Olympic gold medalist to a jail inmate, one man’s journey to rebuild his life after hitting rock bottom.

Once a celebrated athlete, Guy Hoisington fell from grace and into a bottle. For years, the citizens of Cattle Valley went out of their way to avoid the drunk lecher, but one man, Shane Rendell, not only dated Guy during a brief period of relative sobriety but fell in love with him, too, before he was hastily cast aside.

Living within the thick haze of liquor and sex, Guy rarely made good decisions, but on one particular dark night, he makes the worst decision of his life when he decides to drive down the mountain after a long evening of drinking. He wakes from a coma to discover he’s run an innocent man off the road and has a life-changing injury. For the first time in a very long time, Guy is able to look at himself through sober eyes, and he hates the man in the mirror. In one stupid move, he’s lost what little self-respect he had left.

Shane has tried for two years to move on with his life after falling for the town alcoholic, but when he learns of Guy’s accident, he rushes to the hospital. Although the entire town may hate Guy, Shane is determined to prove that Guy hasn’t lost everything.

Dedication

Thank you for continuing the Cattle Valley saga with me.

Trademarks Acknowledgment

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Prius: Toyota Motor Company

GLR Retreat: GLR Retreat

KFC: Yum! Brands

Jeep: FCA US LLC

Neosporin: Johnson & Johnson

Chapter One

He’s awake, Jessica announced when Shane Rendell stepped off the elevator.

Shane handed his favorite nurse a box of treats from Brynn’s Bakery. Really?

Jessica smiled and set the doughnuts and cinnamon rolls on the desk. He’s been coming out of it since Tuesday, but when he woke up yesterday and saw his leg, we had to bring in the psychologist. He’s doing better, but he’s a real bear this morning. We tried to call but your phone must not be working.

Shane’s gaze shifted to the open door of room five-twelve. It broke, and I haven’t had the chance to get a new one, he confessed. He didn’t go as far as telling her he’d thrown the damn thing against the wall when a woman from the hospital administration office had phoned to tell him they were going to move Guy to a long-term care facility.

Well, now that he’s awake, things should get easier for you, Jessica said.

Shane had made the hour-long journey to Sheridan countless times since the morning after Guy Hoisington’s car accident. Unfortunately, the hospital staff believed he and Guy were domestic partners who had simply never got around to combining their bank accounts. He felt shitty for perpetuating the lie, but it had been his only advantage in the days and weeks following the horrific wreck.

Jessica moved to stand next to Shane. I’m sorry. He hasn’t asked for you, but I don’t want you to take that as a bad sign. It isn’t uncommon for coma patients to feel foggy for a few days, so don’t let it worry you.

Shane swallowed around the lump in his throat. He’d grown close to the nursing staff and hated to admit his deceit. I understand.

Jessica’s mouth turned down in a frown. He did ask if his father had been in to see him.

Damn. Shane sighed and rested his hands on his hips. What did you tell him?

She shook his head. Just that the hospital had been in touch with him on several occasions.

Good. Shane didn’t know what kind of relationship Guy had with Buck Hoisington, but when the hospital had contacted Buck about the accident, Buck had hung up on them. They’d tried on two other occasions, but when the second the hospital administrator had identified herself, Buck had ended the conversation. Not once had Guy’s father asked about his son’s condition. It didn’t make sense to Shane because he remembered watching Guy on television during the 2002 and 2006 Winter Olympics and both times his father had been at his side the entire time. There was a famous picture that still floated around, on occasion, of Buck standing with his hand over his heart and tears in his eyes as his son accepted one of his four gold medals. Shane wondered if Guy’s drinking had caused the rift between the two men, or if their issues had caused the drinking.

Regardless, Shane had ended up emptying his savings account to pay the hospital. It was a mere drop in the bucket, but the hospital management had been very good about working with him. The fact that he’d willingly handed over all his money for a man who had been nothing but a prick since breaking up with him made Shane feel like a fool.

How’s his leg doing today? he asked.

Jessica withdrew an apple cider doughnut from the box. Better than expected. Those exercises you’ve been putting him through have really helped. Have you ever considered a career in physical therapy?

Shane thought about the hours he’d spent trying to keep Guy’s muscles from atrophying. Nope. I’m a nerd. Always have been and always will be, which means I’m right at home in front of my computer.

That’s a shame because you’ve done a nice job. Once Guy’s ready, it shouldn’t take him long to get comfortable with the prosthetic.

Although Guy had suffered through his alcohol withdrawals while in a coma, the necessary amputation of his right leg from just below the knee worried Shane more than anything else. Guy was a world-class skier, or at least he had been before the drinking started. How would a man like that handle the loss of a limb?

What happened with the psychologist? he asked.

Dr. Murphy tried to make him understand that the only way to save his life was to amputate. Mr. Hoisington was angry, but that’s to be expected in cases like this. He bellowed and threatened to sue the hospital, but he eventually calmed down.

Shane didn’t argue, but he sincerely doubted it. Guy wasn’t the type of man who calmed down after being reasoned with. Maybe it would be better if I came back after he has a chance to talk to the doctor.

Don’t be silly. Jessica started to reach for Shane’s hand when Guy’s physician rounded the corner. Good morning, Dr. Porter.

Morning, Jess, Dr. Rick Porter replied, before disappearing into Guy’s room.

Not ready to have his lie uncovered, Shane hooked his thumb toward the elevator. I have a few errands to run in town, so I’ll stop by later.

That’s really not—

It’s fine, Shane said, cutting her off. If I don’t do it now, I’ll just have to do it before heading back to Cattle Valley anyway. He pushed the elevator button and jumped on the second the doors opened. He couldn’t stall the meeting with Guy for long, but he needed some time to gather his courage first.

* * * *

Covers pulled back, Guy stared at the stump he’d been left with. According to the surgeon, the crushed limb wouldn’t have done him much good anyway, and when infection had set in, a panel of doctors had decided to remove the damaged portion of the leg in order to save his life. He wasn’t sure he agreed with their assessment. Without two legs, he was worthless.

The door to his room opened and a nurse appeared, carrying a small mug. Dr. Porter said you could try some broth.

Broth? Guy hadn’t eaten anything solid in over a month. "When can I have real food?"

That depends on how well you keep this down. Jessica set the cup on Guy’s bedside table before moving around to straighten the blanket. You had a visitor earlier.

My father? Guy asked. He’d hoped his dad would visit once the hospital informed him that he was awake.

No. I’m sorry. She moved the tray table closer to the bed. Shane stopped by, but Dr. Porter was on his way in to see you, so he said he’d come back later. Jessica set the cup in front of Guy.

Why the hell would Shane visit? It wasn’t like the two of them had been friends since Guy had scraped the nerdy twink off. Before he could voice his question, Jessica spoke again.

Don’t be angry with him for not being here when you woke up. He practically lived in this room for two weeks after the accident, and it wasn’t until the chaplain came up to speak with him that he agreed to go home and only visit a few times a week, but between you and me, I think he’d be here more if he had the money for gas.

Guy stared at the yellow liquid in front of him. Gross. Although Shane visiting him at all didn’t make sense,