Geordie laughed and then sat down on the edge of Robbie’s bed. “No pain?”
“No,” Robbie whispered. “As I let my weight rest on it, I kept waiting for the pain, braced myself for it, but nothing. Just the discomfort of the wood and wrapping. And after? Not a twinge to tell me I was doing something I haven’t done for a long time. It is hard not to just bellow with joy because I think she did fix it. Feels strange to be grateful one fell and broke one’s leg, but I do feel that way.”
“It seems as if it was just what it needed.”
Abel ran into the room and stopped beside Robbie. “Have you already stood up?”
“I have.”
“And it didn’t hurt or anything?”
“Nope. Not even a pinch.”
“So now you go swimming. I will come with you.”
“You can swim?”
“I can, but Belle will probably make me wear my cork vest.”
“Well, your da did, didnae he?” said Geordie.
The boy let his shoulders slump. “Yes. But I can swim pretty good even when I wear it. It will be great. I’ll go tell Belle.” He ran off.
“He really has taken to ye,” Geordie said.
“Probably because I let him tell me stories and read his kid books to me. He actually tells some truly fantastic stories, has a very inventive imagination.”
“Oh, Lord, yes, he does,” said Will, and then he laughed.
“Very fond of dragons, too.”
“Sorry I missed that,” said Geordie.
Belle walked in with Abel and looked at Robbie. “I think we will not be trying swimming out tomorrow as it will be raining, according to Auntie’s bones and her headache. So later today I will take out your stitches. Just thought you might want a warning.”
“Thank ye,” Robbie said, then sighed as she left.
“Dinnae ye want the stitches out?” asked Geordie.
“Oh, aye, fair sick of them but”—he took a deep breath—“it is a foolish thing, but I just cannae shake the fear that something will go wrong when they are finally taken out.”
“What, like your bones will fall out once she unties the stitches?” Will asked, and then shook his head. “Nonsense. What Belle stitches together stays stitched together.”
“As I said, it is a foolish worry. Unfortunately, I looked at my leg before she stitched it and it is hard to get that image out of my head.”
“Yup, I can see getting upset at that sight, but it isn’t going to open up. They don’t open when they are in, and she seems to know just when they can come out. None of us have had the wound break open after.” He smiled a little. “Of course, Belle usually tells us very firmly what we can or cannot do once those stitches come out and no one ignores her rules.”
“Ye make her sound very fearsome,” Robbie said, and grinned.
“Like Emily or Mrs. O’Neal?” Geordie asked wryly. He laughed when Robbie just frowned, then grimaced.
Will laughed. “Strong women, huh? Yup, that’s Mehitabel Ampleford.”
“Have any of you with Bennet done this swimming thing? Does it work?”
“Worked for me a few years ago when I broke my leg. Hoping it will do as well this time. If I remember right, it worked just fine for Jonas. I have no idea why it works, though. You can move easier when in the water as it carries some of the weight, and some say the ocean water has some healing quality.”
“Well, I hope it works again,” said Geordie as he stood up. “Ye do need to build your strength. That leg hasnae even let ye try. I’ll come back when she takes your stitches out.” He started out of the infirmary and added, “So I can be there to pick up the bones that fall out.” He grinned when Robbie cursed him and Will laughed.
