One of them said, “I’m Gabe. I’m part of the volunteer fire crew over in Deer Springs. We’re going to get you taken care of.”
“Hi, Gabe.”
Dee and our friends gathered round before the man with Gabe hollered out, “Everyone back. Give us some space.”
Then I heard what was likely the bartender shouting, “Bear Den’s closed. Bring up your tabs and cash out. Time to go home. We got an injured woman here.”
“Oh, don’t go to all this trouble for me.” I said as I tried to move my head, but it hurt too much.
“Nope. No, ma’am,” Gabe growled, holding my head still. “Whatever you do, don’t move your head. We’re going to get you to Fernwood to check over your injuries. The question is, do you want to wait for the official ambulance or go the country way?”
They were acting as if I was hurt way worse than I thought I was. “I think it’s just my arm. I’m going to be fine.”
The man grunted out, “And we’re going to get you to a doctor sotheycan tell you that. Now, answer me, should we go now or wait an hour for the real ambulance?”
I glanced at Dawson without moving my head. “What’s the country way?”
His hand looped into mine. “Gabe’s just being dramatic. The volunteer fire department doesn’t have a big enough budget for a real ambulance. So, the mountain has rigged up a cargo vanwe use in these situations. They’ll have you strapped on a gurney in the back. It’s safe. It just depends on whether you’d rather wait for a ride with all the bells and whistles or go a little more primitive.”
“I don’t think I need any of this,” I told him as I tried to sit up. But a jolt of pain shot through me when I shifted my back. “Oh, my god. That hurts.”
The men exchanged a glance that made me scared. “I’ll go the country way,” I decided on the spot. The faster they could get someone to look at me, the better. Maybe Ididneed a doctor.
The two men nodded and disappeared. Then it was only Dawson and Dee looking down on me.
Dee looked absolutely shattered. She was actually crying.
“I’m going to be fine, Dee. Don’t worry about me. But I may not need a ride home. Why don’t you get Ann to take you and Sharon home now, okay?”
“Are you sure? I can’t believe this happened. I feel so bad.”
“Don’t worry about it. Go on. I’ll see you at work.”
As they shuffled out, my ex showed up, kneeling down next to me. “Do you want me to go to the hospital with you?”
Even while I was lying here injured, he managed to annoy me. “No.Finish your date. I’ll be fine.”
“You don’t look fine.”
I couldn’t deal with Chris right now on top of being injured.
Dawson may have read my energy, or it might have just been a coincidence, because he went alpha on his ass right then. He leaned over me protectively and said, “Get out of here, dude. She’s in good hands with me.”
Chris blustered, “Iknowher, man. We’refriends.”
Dawson was undeterred. He growled out, “I’m taking her to the hospital. If you want to meet her there, you can. But Amy’s told you to go. You should listen to her.”
When Chris opened his mouth to rebut, Dawson yelled out, “Max! Come tell this cowboy the bar’s closed.”
Heavy boots tromped up, and I watched as Chris relented to the other men.
He looked at me one more time. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay?”
“No, please just go. They’ll get me to a doctor just fine. I don’t need any extra distractions right now.”
He looked offended at being relegated to the status of a distraction. But he’d had his chance with me and blown it. So I didn’t need to soften my words for him.
With an angry snort, he stomped out, his poor date trailing behind him.
