“No, that’s just strips holding the wound together. It’s not deep, but head wounds bleed a lot. The donkey out there in the pasture kept the coyotes away from you,” Cody explained. “Can you see me? Is anything fuzzy?”

“I’m fine,” Stevie said. “My brain got a little scrambled. The wind got knocked out of me, and I was so cold. I’m warming up, so I’m good.”

“I’m going to call the folks and let them know she’s going to be all right.” Addy slipped her phone out of her pocket. “Then I’m going back to the house. If you need me in the night, just holler.”

“Thanks, Addy,” Cody said. “I’ve got it under control now.”

Stevie frowned and then flinched. “Wake me every hour. Tell you if I’m nauseated. This isn’t my first concussion. I know the drill.”

“You gave us a scare, love,” Cody said.

“I told you not to call me that,” Stevie scolded.

“I think we’ll be fine,” Cody said with a wink at Addy, “but I wouldn’t turn down some of that chili Jesse told me you were making.”

“Or some of that chocolate pie Mia told me about this morning.” Stevie stretched back out on the sofa. “It feels so good to be warm. Do you think chocolate pie will cure a concussion?”

“Of course it will,” Addy chuckled as she left.

“Why didn’t you call some of us?” Cody tucked the blankets back around Stevie’s shoulders.

“I don’t know,” she answered. “It was all surreal, and then it was cold and dark.”

“When did you have a concussion before?” Cody asked as he stood up. “Talk to me while I make you something hot to drink. Do you want tea, coffee, or…”

“Hot chocolate please.” Stevie shivered so hard that the blankets shifted. “I’ve had two concussions. One when I was in college during spring break. The one and only time I tried to use a skateboard, and tequila was involved. The second was about five years ago when a nasty-tempered cow kicked me. I never passed out on either of those times, but I did have a headache for a couple of days. If the four-wheeler is wrecked, how did I get from there to here?” She sat up and then stood to her feet and wrapped a blanket around her like a sarong.

“You need to stay on the sofa,” Cody told her.

“I need to go to the bathroom,” she said, “and then I’m going to put on flannel pajamas and some socks.”

“Are you dizzy?” Cody rushed across the room to support her with an arm around her shoulders.

“Just a little, but I’ll be fine.” She leaned against him.

“You have to be truthful with me, Stevie,” Cody told her.