“You okay to wait here while I grab us some gas?”
A nod.
“Do you want anything else?Food or a drink?”
She shakes her head, eyes firmly shut.
“Are you okay?”
No response.
I resist the urge to gather her in my arms, following Mr.Morrison instead.He stands with me in line as I purchase a canister and pay to fill it.
“Your girl okay?Seems shook up.”
I clear my throat, thinking of what to say.As far as I know, Mr.Morrison isn’t one of the townspeople who knows about the wolves.I give half an answer.
“The mountain lion was a lot for her to take in.She’s from the city, you know?”
He nods and walks with me back out to the pump.
Not long before we’re back out on the road.
Once we pull up alongside Zoey’s old Toyota, she finally speaks, offering Mr.Morrison a quiet, “Thank you.”
“No problem, Miss Gunner.I owed Warner here a favor anyway.He was the first one up on my roof when it sprang a leak.And in the middle of a rainstorm, no less!Glad I’m finally able to pay you back.”He claps me on the shoulder as I wave him off.
The old man waits around while I fill the tank.Once Zoey starts the engine and it comes to life, no problem, he gives us a salute and continues on his way.
And we’re alone again.
24
WARNER
“Which way is the doctor?”is the first sentence Zoey speaks to me since we got back in her truck a half hour ago.The entire drive to town was silent.No talking.No questions.She didn’t even flip on the radio.
Ignoring my growing apprehension, I tried to let Zoey have her space.Her sense of safety.
Hearing her voice now is a soothing balm.At least I still exist a little bit to her.And she hasn’t pulled the truck over and run away screaming.
“You’ll want to head down Main Street until you get to the corner The Wild Rabbit is on, then make a right.”
She nods, bringing the car to a stop at a red light.No other questions come, but I’m jittery with the need to fill the void, and my mouth moves on its own.
“I’ve met most of the nurses and doctors who work at the emergency clinic.They’re all nice.They’ll have you stitched up in no time.”
Zoey blinks over at me, drops her gaze to the arm I clumsily wrapped for her earlier, then flicks her eyes to my chest.“I thought we were going for you.”
The toneless way she speaks ramps up my anxiety, but I cover my worry with overenthusiasm, grinning wide as I reassure her, “Don’t worry about me.This is nothing.”I wave a dismissive hand at the claw marks.“They’ll be healed up in a day or two.”
The light changes, but we don’t move forward.Zoey stares at my chest as if it’s a puzzle she can’t solve.
“Zoey, the light’s green.”I keep my voice gentle, afraid to startle her.
She shakes her head, but still wears a dazed expression as she accelerates.
We get halfway down Main Street before she parallel parks in front of Sawdust and Supplies.
