Shit.
And Noah? Did I know that?
“You mean Ranger Rick in the corner snooping through my bag?”
Ranger Dan raises his eyebrows and chuckles. “Ranger Sullivan saved your life.”
He did? Was I close to dying? I have a concussion and a couple of stitches. Surely, I wasn’t going to die. Although, left on the trail in terrible conditions, unconscious …
I sigh, staring at Ranger Dan with aso what?look. Isn’t that his job? Like theonlything law enforcement is good for?
“He carried you miles down the trail when the communications weren’t working.”
I shrug, but inside something squeezes at my chest. I ignore it. “What? Ranger Noah couldn’t build a boat for the floodwaters?”
Even the doctor stops his annoying tests to stare in shock at me. I chew my lip, avoiding eye contact with Noah. I’m being rude, but I’m still sour over his peeking at my notebook.
Several more seconds of silence tick by before Noah clears his throat.
Ranger Dan blinks and approaches with my license. “Is there anyone we can call for you, Lily Parker? I made a call to the Ruin sheriff and spoke with one of the deputies. They were very familiar with your name. Say you haven’t been around those parts in some time.”
The rhythmicbeep, beepof the monitor turns to a runningbeepbeepbeepgiving away the thundering of my heart. “You, you called Ruin? Did you tell them where I was?”
Noah steps closer, tilting his head to the side and placing a thick, deft hand on the footboard of the bed.
Ranger Dan looks at me like I’ve lost my mind. Which, maybe I have. I have a head injury, after all.
“I told the deputy that you’d been in an accident and hadn’t woken up yet. That we were trying to get in touch with any family members. Is there someone specific you’d like me to call for you?”
I swallow. “No. There’s no one.”
Noah’s knuckles tighten on the rail of the bed.
“I-I have to go.” I struggle to sit up.
“Whoa now,” Dr. Young says. “Easy does it. I really should recommend you stay here overnight for observation.”
I snort. “Overnight? Listen, Doc, I don’t have insurance.”
Unfortunately, he doesn’t miss a beat. “Well, we can work with that. The hospital has programs for those who can’t afford their stay. I can send someone up to help you file some paperwork.”
I have to admit the thought of sleeping in my car with the knife-like pain stabbing through my head has me wanting to curl up in the fetal position and cry. Maybe sleeping in a normal bed would be good, refreshing, but … I seriously can’t afford any of it.Have-to-scrounge-around-the-dark-recesses-of-my-car-for-change, can’t afford it.
“I need to get back to my car,” I say.
Dr. Young shakes his head. “Even with a mild concussion, I must recommend against driving for one to two days.”
I glare at him. “I’m fine.”
“Listen, how about you stay overnight tonight to make sure everything is okay, and I will come back tomorrow to drive youhome,” Noah speaks up, studying me from his annoying perch at the end of the bed.
It’s like he’s glaring down at me, and I narrow my eyes at him. “One good deed for the day just isn’t enough for you, huh?” I snap.
I don’t want to appear desperate, but Idefinitelydon’t have anyone I can call to bring me to my car. Maybe my boss, but he’s at the diner all the time and never takes a break, not even for his own kids.
There’s no home for me to return to, but I don’t say that. Instead, I keep my mouth shut, weighing my options.
Noah steps back, like I’ve struck him. It isn’t new for people to look at me the way he’s looking at me. Like I’m so screwed up in the head any decency I’ve acquired in my younger years is now sparse enough to act like a total bitch. I’m used to it.
