Fit for Love (A Stand By Me Novel Book 3) by Brinda Berry

Baby.”
    His eyelids pop open, and he begins crying. He reaches out for Makenna with both arms and she gathers him up.
    “You’re going to be OK. It’s all right.” She rocks him as he wails.
    “What happened?” Gunner asks.
    Blood drizzles in streams down Ryder’s face.
    “I guess he fell and it knocked the breath out of him.” I examine the cut along his forehead that looks deep. Ryder wails a little louder. If the wound were on my head, I’d probably just go inside and clean it up. But he seems so small and fragile. What if I do something wrong? “We should take him to the emergency room, to check him out and in case he needs stitches.” The words stick in my throat like a mouthful of sand.
    Makenna holds him tight to her chest while she strokes the fine hair that falls in dark matted wet curls across his face. How is there so much blood?
    Don’t panic. They need you to stay calm.
    His cries punch into my chest. A horse whinnies near us. A feeling of helplessness washes over me as I put my hand on Ryder’s back.
    “We need to get him checked,” I insist.
    “Poor baby.” Kiley says, looking as helpless as I feel.
    Makenna takes a deep breath as if she senses all our panic. “It scared him. Right, baby? Tell Mommy what hurts.”
    Kiley gets down on her knees beside us. “Those steps are a doozy. I am so sorry we didn’t hear him coming. We should’ve been watching for him.”
    Makenna kisses Ryder’s forehead. “It’s nobody’s fault. Right, Ry? Can you stand up? So I can check everything?”
    Ryder whimpers and stands, but immediately stomps his feet. “No Mommy, No Mommy.”
    This seems to be the wrong thing to do.
    She touches his arm and he begins wailing again. “Arm hurt. Arm hurt,” he chokes out.
    I inhale deeply and tell myself that kids cry a lot. They fall and get cuts and sometimes break bones. The last thought fills me with dread. What if his arm is broken?
    Gunner touches me on the shoulder. “I think you’re right about the emergency room. We’ll follow you guys to the hospital.”
    “You guys don’t have to do that.” Makenna lifts Ryder into her arms and walks up the hill.
    Kiley matches her swift stride. “Sure we do. I know he’ll be OK, but we want to come.”
    In minutes, we’re in the car and driving back to the city. Makenna sits in the backseat so she can be with Ryder. His cries downsize to sobs and sniffles. She croons to him the entire trip back to Nashville.
    I’m in awe of Makenna’s calm exterior. Her voice is steady when she talks to him and sings. Our eyes meet and hold in the rear view mirror in a silent exchange of concern. I know she’s worried. But her calm exterior helps keep down the panic level I’m feeling.
    I grip the steering harder. Did he hit his head hard enough for a concussion? The minute I think it, I scold myself. My brothers and I were always bleeding and bruised. It’s part of growing up, right?
    Maybe I’m in over my head. Maybe this is a sign. Maybe I should back away now before I’m too attached.
    “Do you think his dad needs to know?” I ask quietly. What if it’s something more than a cut and a bump? I’d want to know.
    “Oh. Yeah.” She exhales and pulls out her phone and her thumbs move across the screen. “It’s probably nothing, right? I’ll tell him we’ll update him when we know.”
    I park the car at the emergency entrance lot. “I can carry him if he’ll let me. There’s going to be paperwork that only you’ll be able to fill out.”
    “Yeah. Good idea.” She unbuckles him from the seat. “Aiden’s going to help Mommy. He’s going to carry you.”
    I reach inside and expect him to let off a bloodcurdling cry…but nothing. He reaches out his arms and lets me take him.
    Nashville Memorial is crowded. We sit in the packed waiting room. I suppose you have to be bleeding out the eyes to be seen any faster. Gunner and Kiley look at magazines and try to avoid the sneezes of the man two chairs down. He