Taking Charge (31 page)

“Okay, let’s go,” Robyn said, encouraging them to get
into position.

“Hey, listen. You might need to cover me a little,”
Cole said to Wes and Mickey.

“You carrying a knock?” Mickey questioned.

“No, I’m going to be covering her,” Cole said,
indicating Robyn.

“Hey man, this is Robyn we’re talking about. You’ve
never seen her play, have you?” Mickey said with a laugh.

Cole shook his head.

“The only thing we’re going to have to worry about is
how long it is before she’s sent off,” Mickey told him.

Robyn was absolutely terrified. She hadn’t played a
competitive game since her teens, and as well as hoping none of the
rules had changed too much, she hoped she was going to be able to
keep pace with the other players. Ice hockey was a complete
physical work out and the Panthers were already down in
numbers.

She warmed up her blades and turned just past the
middle of the rink. She looked into the crowd and there was her
family. Bob, Pam, Sierra and Sienna in full uniform and Sarah too,
sat next to Brad. He had a hot dog in one hand and a bottle of beer
in the other.

She could hear Pam raising her voice at Bob and him
trying desperately to quiet her. Then Sierra and Sienna pointed at
her and waved their pompoms in the air. They knew she was playing.
No wonder Pam was going nuts. The sooner the game started and
finished the better.

“You good?” Cole asked, skating up to her.

“Yeah, sure, let’s go,” Robyn replied, pushing her
mouth guard in and pushing off toward the center.

Robyn had to admit the Grand Rapids team was good.
They had plenty of players to swap in and out and they were quick.
She had been out of breath from the five minute mark and as play
went on she feared for her lungs.

“Are you okay?” Cole asked Robyn. Play had stopped
for one of the Grand Rapids team members to reclaim their
stick.

“I might need a bath and some painkillers when we get
home, that number twenty-two caught me,” Robyn admitted, still
trying to catch her breath.

“I’m on him, don’t worry,” Cole responded.

“Yeah, man, cool, let’s go, go Panthers!” Robyn said
in a gruff, manly voice as one of her opponents approached
them.

Play restarted, and within seconds, Grand Rapids had
out run the tired Mickey and slotted a neat goal past Scott. Robyn
ached with disappointment as the opposing team began to celebrate
and hug their squad on the bench. The Panthers had played so well,
but a stupid error because of fatigue had cost them.

“It’s just one, we can get that back,” Cole called to
her. She knew he could sense her frustration.

Robyn nodded, picked up her stick, and prepared to
recommence play.

It was still one to zero Grand Rapids at the end of
the first period, but given the small number in the Panthers’ team
and how exhausted they all were, it was amazing they were only one
goal down.

“Listen, I really appreciate your hard work out there
guys, you’re doing an amazing job. One nil is okay. If we can keep
it like that, I’ll be okay with it. If we can sneak an equalizer,
I’ll be more than okay with it,” Robyn said as they skated up the
tunnel and back onto the ice.

“You need to keep away from number twenty-two. He
either hates the fact you’re beating him to everything or he knows
you’re a girl,” Cole told her seriously.

“Yeah, he’s caught me a couple of times, but it won’t
happen again. I’ve got the measure of him,” Robyn assured him.

“Look, we’ve only got the last period to go, just
don’t do anything crazy,” Cole said.

“And I thought I was the manager,” Robyn said,
skating away from him to take up her position.

Play continued, Robyn out turned her opponent and
came away with the puck. She looked up, saw Henrik trying to get
away from his marker, and she sped off toward goal, number
twenty-two in hot pursuit.

Henrik couldn’t find any space, Cole was trying to
shake off another player at his side, and Robyn was left with no
options.

She shuffled the puck from side-to-side against her
stick and hit it toward goal with every ounce of strength she had
left. It flew across the ice, the keeper dropped to his knees, but
the puck was quicker and it hit the back of the net before he could
get down to the ground.

The light lit up, the crowd went crazy, and the
celebratory music filled the air as Robyn was bundled by her team
mates.

Mickey howled as he hugged Robyn and the team
celebrated their equalizing goal.

“Goal was…how you say? Incredability!” Henrik said,
slapping Robyn on the back.

“Way to go, Boss,” Wade said, giving Robyn a high
five.

“We need to get back into position, last five,” Robyn
said, urging them back into the middle section of the rink and
dismissing their congratulations.

She was wired and elated, but there was a game to see
out and the nature of hockey was that things changed in
seconds.

“That was something else,” Cole told her as he skated
back.

“We’ll relive it later, at least fifty times, and
I’ll talk you through it, but we need to keep focused. A draw would
be a great result given the whole no player scenario,” Robyn
growled in a low tone as a Grand Rapids player got near.

“Hey! Henrik! Look sharp, yeah?” Cole called as he
watched Henrik dip his head and seem to lose concentration
briefly.

The game restarted and the Portage team was
immediately under attack as Grand Rapids desperately tried to
regain their lead.

Mickey pushed the puck forward and Robyn sped toward
it, shielding it with her stick. She was about to turn around and
look to pass it off to Cole, when suddenly she was hit by what felt
like a truck.

Number twenty-two hammered into Robyn, his whole body
weight crushing her into the boards. Robyn crashed against the
hoardings, fell backwards, and landed face-down on the ice with a
dull thud. Blackness filled her up.

His heart dropped out of his chest like someone had
just dumped a concrete block on it. She was motionless, completely
lifeless and still, laid out on the rink like a rag doll. He yanked
the gloves from his hands and tore off his helmet as he sprinted
across the ice to reach her. He felt sick, he couldn’t focus, why
was she so far away? Why hadn’t he been right in that zone with
her? He fell down onto his knees as he got to her and flipped up
the visor on her helmet.

“Robyn, can you hear me?” Cole asked, looking down at
her. His mouth could barely form the words.

There was no response.

“Get the mouth guard out! Check for her tongue.” Bob,
who had rushed down onto the ice from the stands, yelled at
Cole.

Cole swiftly opened her mouth, removed the mouth
guard, and made sure her tongue hadn’t slipped down the back of her
throat.

“Is he breathing?” the medic asked as he arrived at
the scene.

“I’m not sure, I think so. We took the mouth guard
out, the tongue hasn’t slipped,” Bob answered.

“Okay, let’s get his helmet off,” the medic
instructed.

“No!” Robyn exclaimed in a deep, throaty roar, her
eyes flickering open.

“We have breathing. Gurney over here!” the medic
called.

“I’m okay,” Robyn said.

Bob was taking her pulse, Cole held her other hand,
and the medic began to strap a head brace around her. Henrik had
removed his helmet and was waving his gloved hands up and down in a
bid to see if her eyes were working, and Mickey had the number
twenty-two for Grand Rapids in a headlock at the side of the ice
where a referee was trying to part them.

“You’re going to the ER,” Cole informed her.

“I’m okay,” Robyn said, still trying hard with her
male voice.

“No arguments, young man, we need to get you checked
out,” the medic informed her.

“There’s only a minute left. I can last a minute,”
Robyn said, trying to sit up but flailing back down.

“Do as you’re told for once. Pam would kill me if I
let you play out the game. She’s going nuts over there,” Bob said
to her.

“We drew,” Robyn said, a smile of satisfaction
crossing her face.

“Yes, we did. That Matthers determination did it
again,” Bob agreed, smiling back at her.

“I think I want to pass out again now,” Robyn said,
her eyes flickering closed.

“Bruce! Get some oxygen over here!” the medic
called.

“I’m not leaving you, Robyn, you hear me?” Cole said,
squeezing her hand.

“Hey! You in the bed! Wake up! We’ve got raisins!
Apparently, they’re the nearest thing on God’s Earth to sweets and
much better for you!”

Robyn groaned. Her whole body hurt like Hell. It felt
like someone had pounded her over and over with a boulder. She
opened her eyes and saw a paper bag being jiggled up and down near
her face. Shaking the bag was a wrinkled arm poking out from a navy
blue gown.

“Max. What are you doing here?” Robyn asked,
attempting to move herself into sitting position.

“Keeping an eye on you for your pop. He nearly burst
his stitches trying to get out of bed when your uncle told him you
were in here. Took four people to hold him down,” Max announced,
putting the bag of raisins in her lap.

“So how did you get down here? Don’t tell me they let
you wheel yourself? You can’t have a license for that thing,” Robyn
said, looking at the wheelchair.

“Nancy…” Max began.

“Morning! How you doing, honey? I got you coffee,
real stuff from the diner across the street, not that shit we had
yesterday from the machine. That stuff gave me gas,” Nancy
announced as she burst into the room with three cups.

“It’s morning? Where did the night go?” Robyn
asked.

“You spent that tossing and turning and muttering
under your breath,” Nancy informed her, putting a cup on Robyn’s
table and passing a cup to Max.

“And Cole says you grind your teeth,” Max added,
opening up the bag of raisins and helping himself.

“He was here all night. I sent him home a couple of
hours ago to get some rest,” Nancy said as she threw open the
curtains, letting the Michigan sunlight flood the room.

Robyn screwed up her eyes and reached over for her
coffee.

“You’re one crazy lady thinking you can play hockey
with the guys,” Max told her, shaking his head.

“I did play hockey with the guys; I have the bruises
to prove it. When can I get out of here?” Robyn asked, shifting
herself up the bed.

“Not until the doctor’s checked you over. He’s
waiting for test results,” Nancy said, fluffing up the pillows
behind Robyn’s head.

“What are you doing?” Robyn asked as Nancy helped her
to lie back against them.

“Looking after you, like I look after your equally
stubborn father,” Nancy said, tucking Robyn back into her
sheets.

“I have an appointment today, to go through my
statement,” Robyn said.

“I’m going to call whoever and I’m going to cancel.
You’re not up to that right now,” Nancy said firmly.

“You shouldn’t have to go through all that again,
it’s criminal,” Max told her, his eyes watery.

“Dad told you,” Robyn said, looking at the old
man.

“Broke down in tears, he did. Said he wished he’d
killed this Jason back in the day. I don’t blame him. If I ever see
him…” Max began, getting upset.

“Now you listen to me, I don’t want anyone wallowing
in upset over this anymore. And I don’t want you to cancel, Nancy.
I’m going to give my statement and then it’s going to be over, no
matter what. I’ve wasted too much time reliving it; I don’t want to
waste a second more,” Robyn said determinedly.

There was a knock on the door and Sarah cautiously
opened it and looked in. She smiled at Robyn.

“Hi. I hope I’m not disturbing anything. I just
wanted to see…” she began, stepping into the room.

“She’s fine; blow to the head did her the world of
good as far as I’m concerned,” Nancy answered smartly, taking hold
of Max’s wheelchair.

“We’d better check on your dad. Keep eating the good
stuff, girl,” Max said, gesturing to the half-eaten packet of
raisins.

“We need to talk about the roadhouse!” Robyn called
as Nancy and Max made for the door.

“Later, honey, Milo’s got it covered,” Nancy said
dismissively.

“Nancy!” Robyn yelled.

“Rest! Or the doc will keep you here longer. I’ll be
back in an hour to check on you,” she replied, and she closed the
door behind her.

Robyn let out an irritated sigh and then focused on
her friend who was still standing rather awkwardly too far away
from the bed.

“We’re fighting, aren’t we,” Robyn said, as if not
completely sure.

“Yes. But I don’t want to,” Sarah answered.

“Yeah, well, me neither. I haven’t got the energy,”
Robyn admitted.

“I’ve been an idiot. Just, so stupid,” Sarah
continued.

“Me too.”

“I’m pregnant, Robyn,” Sarah admitted with a wide
smile.

“Oh my God! You’re kidding, right?”

Sarah shook her head, still beaming.

“Oh my God,” Robyn repeated.

“Be happy for me,” Sarah begged, taking hold of
Robyn’s hands.

“I am. I mean, I am if you are and you seem like you
are. So I’m happy. God, that’s really like—wow—full on,” Robyn said
with a loud expiration.

“I know, but it’s just the best thing that’s ever
happened to me. I can’t tell you how I feel. It’s just like
everything’s clicked into place. I’ve got a purpose now, I know
what I’m doing, and I know where I’m going…it’s just incredible,”
Sarah announced, her eyes shining with expectant anticipation.

“Have you told Mickey?”

“Not yet.”

“Why not? I mean, if this news doesn’t prompt a
proposal then nothing will.”