“I’ll take a piggyback.” She grumbles again, folding her arms across her chest.
“That’s still carrying you…”
“Yeah. But if I decide I don’t like it, I can squeeze your neck.”
Damn. She thinks she can strangle me. That’s cute. Wouldn’t work. But if it makes her feel better—I’ll play nice. “Just scoot to the door and climb on.” I turn my back to her and wait. A few seconds pass before I feel two arms come around my shoulders and one leg hook my waist.
She pauses. “Can you grab my other leg, I can’t… It hurts to pick it up.”
I reach my hand back and gently find her leg, curling it around my body as I step further away from the door, bringing us both out into the open. I let go of her good side and close the vehicle door, then wave off the driver as I pat the hood in passing. She doesn’t say a word, but she’s not squeezing my neck so I guess that’s a good thing. I climb the porch steps slowly and when I reach the side door, leading to the kitchen, I pull the squeaky screen door and turn the knob on the wooden door behind it.
“That thing needs some WD40.”This woman—what doesn’t she have an opinion about?
“Yeah. I know. My niece won’t let me fix it. Says she likes it that way.”
Chapter Eleven
He sits me down on a wooden chair at his kitchen table. I can’t believe this is my life. I feel out of place; I feel dumb; I feel like…I wanna run. My mind spirals and then,“Blaze! Did they get her out?” The panic in my voice is more like hysteria and I know it, but I don’t give a shit.
“Hey…” His voice is steady and confident. My boss brings his hand to my knee and gives it a gentle squeeze. This time I’m not threatened. “Yeah, they got her out. I need to call up and see if they’re bringing her down yet. I know they sedated her before putting the harnesses on. I told Brian and Toby that one of them had to stay with her all the way back to the ranch.”
“Thank you.” The relief in my voice settles in the air.
“You’re welcome.” His face is sincere. “My son Justin is a miracle worker with horses. She’ll need to be checked over by a vet first, but I know Justin will be more than excited to help her through whatever the rehab looks like.”
As he’s finishing his last sentence, I hear that loud squeak. “Knock, Knock…” I look over to the doorway and assume the man standing inside, smiling at me is my boss’s doctor friend.He sure is a cheery son of a bitch.
“Are you my patient?” He moves toward us, carrying a small black bag by the handle.
“I am.” I try to give him a smile and make it as genuine as incredibly annoyed can be.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Doctor Anderson. May I have a look?”
I nod, giving him permission, as my boss reaches under my ankle, neatly pulling the sock from my foot. It stings a little, but he’s being gentle enough. I watch as he lays it on the table and the doctor kneels next to him on the hardwood floor. His hands touch my injury as he examines the damage, then he moves the joint and itreallyhurts. I grit my teeth the entire time, close my eyes, and try to drum up the strength to not kick this motherfucker in the face. Excuse me—I mean this very kind and gentle motherfucker. “Damnit.” I grind through my teeth.
“It’s not broken. I’ve seen thousands of broken bones and this isn’t one of them. I could take you down to the ER for imaging but I suspect it would just tell us what we already know.” He smiles up at me. “But, if it gets worse or doesn’t get better…” the doctor turns to my boss. “bring her in.”
“Will do.” He says, understanding. Then Doctor Anderson lifts his eyes to address me.
“For now, you need to keep this leg elevated. I’m going to wrap you in an ace bandage and put a boot on you.”
My face morphs into confusion. “A boot?” He chuckles then explains.
“I mean, a walking boot. It’s what we use for injuries such as yours or patients recovering from surgery who don’t need a cast.” I watch as he pulls out a tall black, open-toed, square contraption that looks like it’s gonna be a pain in my fuckin’ ass. He pulls the velcro and loosens the straps before lifting the lower half of my leg and placing it inside.
“You will need to wear this for at least four weeks. It’s sprained pretty bad so put as little pressure on it as possible. When you must walk, baby it, okay?”
“Alright.” I surrender, rolling my eyes.
“Chris, switch off giving her ibuprofen and Tylenol every four hours. I’ll check in on you guys in a week or two, but until then…” He looks directly at me. “Do as your boss tells you. I’ve gotta run.”
My gaze shifts to the man he’s referring to. There’s a devious smirk on his face as he winks at me… That son of a gun is acting likehejust won the fight we started up on the mountain. The insatiable urge to stick my tongue out at him is consuming. “Thanks, Caleb.” He calls, as the doctor strides quickly out the door.
Chapter Twelve
“Alright, blondie. The only room in the house on the main floor is mine. Where do you wanna kick that leg up? I’ve got a recliner, a full length sofa or a bed—pick your poison.”
“What if I have to pee first?”
