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“Well, all right. But come back soon. You don’t want to miss Cassie scoring a run at home base.”

“I’ll be quick.”

Popcorn wasn’t really what she wanted. What she wanted was not to be unnerved by the Tigers’ coach. She didn’t want to feel unexpected thrills every time Coop gave her a glance. She needed a distraction and popcorn seemed like the easy out.

She headed along the left field fence, eyeing Cassie, crouched, focused and ready to run, her helmet fitting her just like her hard hat—oversized and adorable. As Taylor was making her way to the snack area another blistering crack reached her ears. Shouts rang out from the bleachers and players, “Heads up!”

Whatever that meant.

A man coming toward her yelled, “Look out!”

She looked up just in time to see the ball firing down on her. Then a smack to the side of her head brought her to her knees. And the shock of the hit took her the rest of the way down.

“Damn it!” Coop’s voice seemed to be coming from a faraway place and then nothing.

*

“Taylor! Taylor! Wakeup!”

Taylor opened her eyes slowly. She looked up, into a blue haze, not sure what she was seeing, where she was. And then the fuzz cleared and she was able to focus. It was Coop. He was hunched over her, concern in his eyes. She tried to concentrate, tried to remember. She was on her way to the snack bar and out of the blue, literally, a ball came barreling down on her. As her memory returned, so did the pain. Her head pounded.

“Hey,” Coop said softly, though there was no softness on his expression.

All she saw was worry and alarm. How did he get to her so fast? He must’ve hopped the fence and raced over.

“How’re you feeling?”

A crowd had swarmed around them, but they circled clear of Coop. He was in charge apparently.

“Like I’ve been struck by lightning,” she answered.

He nodded. “It’s gonna be okay. Soon as I get you to the hospital. Have that head checked out.” Someone handed him an ice pack. “This is gonna be cold. But it’ll keep the swelling down. You’re gonna have a nice bump.”

He applied the ice pack, and the cold shot straight through her head.

“I don’t need to go to the hospital.” She hinged her body up, and was immediately sorry. Everything swam in her head. She glanced at Coop again, who had his hands on her arms, steadying her.

“Whoa, not so fast.”

“I’ll be fine,” she said, not too convincingly.

“Maybe. Hopefully, but you need to get checked out. Think you can stand up?”

She gave a tiny nod. No sense jostling her achy head any more. “Yeah.”

She stood with his help, but everything went fuzzy again and she swayed to one side.

“Yeah, I don’t think so,” Coop said and then she was being lifted in his arms. He cushioned her carefully, one arm under her knees and the other against her back. She had no choice but to hold on, wrapping her arm around his neck.

“Keep the ice pack on,” he whispered to her.

“Okay.” She held it steady.

“I’m taking you to the hospital.”

Joe Cooper made it through the crowd, Cassie by his side. “Should I call 911?” he asked.

“No,” she said immediately. “I’ll be fine in a minute. Please?” she asked of Coop.