“It’s sterile saline solution. I need to see how bad this cut is.”
“And?” I asked with a pained scowl, my eyes fixed on a cloud that looked like a pig floating over Dan’s head before I swiveled my head away from my hand, not wanting to see the damage. This was probably a strange time to notice how beautiful the farm was, but there I sat with my injured hand in Dan’s lap, feeling like I’d been droppedinto a Pissarro painting. There was an odd swelling in my chest as I took in the rolling fields, interrupted by the brightly colored barn and huge white silo in the distance. In front of me, the chickens strutted and fluffed their vibrant feathers, pecking around the pen, completely oblivious to my medical emergency. The farm made me feel small, but in a good way. It made me feel like a piece of something larger than myself, something important. I’d almost forgotten about the pain when Dan’s voice snapped me back to reality.
“It’s pretty bad.” He wrapped my hand in gauze. “This is going to need stitches and probably a tetanus shot.”
“A tetanus shot?” My stomach roiled. “Is that necessary?”
“Only if you don’t want to get lockjaw.” He pushed himself up to his feet and lifted me into his arms.
“Are you seriously carrying me?” I protested but not enough to force him to put me down. My injured hand was curled against my chest, and my other arm was wrapped around Dan’s neck while I inhaled his delicious scent. “I’m perfectly capable of walking to the truck.”
“Based on your track record, I’m not so sure about that, love.” Once again, he had wielded that word as a weapon. He loaded me into the front seat of his pickup and buckled my seat belt. “I’m not taking any chances. Plus, I didn’t want you to ruin those fancy coveralls.”
I rolled my eyes and turned to look out the window so Dan couldn’t see the smile threatening to overtake my face.
CHAPTER SIX
Every bump Dan hit with the pickup truck made me wince in pain. My hand, while being cradled in my lap, began to grow hot and sting.
“During my first week on the farm, I had no clue what I was doing,” Dan began, obviously reminiscing as he drove with a soft smile on his face. “But you couldn’t tell me that. I was going to turn the opportunity your granddad gave me into a new life in the States. I was desperate to prove myself.”
“So what happened?” I asked, since I could tell Dan was trying to take my mind off the pain with the story.
“What happened was I lied to Ernesto about knowing how to use a nail gun. I’d used a staple gun before—how different could they be?” He shot a quick glance at me before returning his gaze to the road.
“The answer is: very different. Ten minutes after I was handed that nail gun, I found myself screaming bloody murder with myhand attached to a barn. I passed out. When I came to, I was in Dr. Westlake’s office with Ernesto and your granddad laughing their arses off. The entire town’s been taking the mickey ever since.”
I couldn’t help laughing, even though I was still in a lot of pain. When he’d reached the part of the story where he fainted from the sight of his hand nailed to a building, I was feeling slightly more optimistic about my situation. At least I never lost consciousness.
Mercifully, when we got to the clinic, the doctor could see me right away. It was a relief because, in addition to being in an incredible amount of pain, there was a goat tied up outside, and I didn’t think I was in any position to question the presence of livestock in a doctor’s office. At least not while I was potentially bleeding to death.
“Well, I knew I’d meet you eventually.” The doctor was a middle-aged white woman wearing a white coat and stethoscope over a pair of faded overalls. “I’m sorry it’s under these conditions. Anita Westlake, town doctor.” She held out her hand to shake and I shot her an incredulous look. “I need to see your hand if I’m going to fix you up.”
I shook my head, letting out a nervous chuckle. “I am so sorry, of course.” I held out my hand, and Dr. Westlake gingerly began to unwrap the bandages. She let out a long, low whistle. “Wow. This is a doozy. But I’ve seen worse.” She tossed the bloody gauze into the trash and began to pull medical supplies out of a nearby cabinet. “Isn’t that right, Dan?” She tossed a mischievous smirk over her shoulder to the handsome man leaning against the wall. “At least I won’t have to use my smelling salts this time.”
I looked at Dan to find him grinning. He caught me looking at him and gave me a wink.
“Your receptionist didn’t ask me for my insurance card. How much will this cost me?”
Dr. Westlake smiled and put a comforting hand on my shoulder. “For George and Harriet’s granddaughter? Nothing.”
She picked up a large tablet and began scribbling on the screen with a stylus. I shot a confused look at Dan, and he answered with a shrug. First the mechanic, now the doctor. My curiosity about my grandparents’ celebrity status in town only deepened, but I was pulled out of my thoughts by the doctor’s voice.
“Okay Emmaline, have you had a tetanus shot in the last five years?”
My stomach tightened. “I’d actually prefer Emma. No, I’ve never gotten a tetanus shot. Is it really necessary?”
“Only if you don’t want to get lockjaw.” She smiled and approached the exam table with two large needles in her hands. My eyes widened in fear.
“The first one is to numb your hand so she can stitch you up.” Dan whispered to me, leaning in and patting my leg. He must have seen the anxiety scrawled across my features. “The second one is the tetanus shot.”
“Wisdom comes from experience.” Dr. Westlake smirked at Dan as she continued to prep.
“Plus, my dad’s a doctor. Our flat was the unofficial neighborhood clinic for minor injuries and ailments. People would just show up at the door and my father would never turn anyone away.” He let out a small chuckle.
“Did your dad want you to become a doctor, too?” I asked,grateful to have a distraction from the growing number of gleaming steel instruments accumulating on the small tray next to the table.
“Did he?” Dan let out an incredulous laugh. “He still does, though he’s not as bad as my mum. Once my brother graduated from medical school, he eased up.”
