“Move.”Evan pushed Tyler up and away from the backhoe.The chain pulled taut, and one end of the pipe glanced off the ground.Evan rolled to avoid it as it crashed, the vibration coursing through him.A small section clipped his hard hat, knocking it askew and him sprawling toward the backhoe.A sharp burst of pain lanced through his arm as he connected with the stabilizer leg.His head pounded, and a bright flash crossed his vision as the scenery blurred.Crap.
Evan tried to clear his head, but shaking it only made the pain worse.As he pushed himself onto his knees, his hard hat tumbled off and rolled away.The ache in his arm was killing him.
Joe knelt next to him and tapped his shoulder.“Are you okay?”
The crew were all versed in signing those two letters, OK, to indicate things were good.
“I think so,” he mumbled, not really sure what was wrong.He was hurting in a few spots, though.
Joe pointed to his left arm.There was blood seeping from a three-inch gash right below his elbow.That’s why it hurt so much.Taking a deep breath, he leaned against the backhoe legs and pushed himself to his feet.The world tipped a bit, then righted.When he looked around, he saw that the entire crew were all gaping at him.Great.He was the center of attention and not for a good reason.
Frank, one of the crew who had medical training, trotted over with the first-aid kit in hand.He waved for Evan to hold up his arm.
“It’s fine.I’m fine.”
Frank bent down and grabbed Evan’s hard hat.There was a dent the size of a dinner plate in the side.Frank frowned and dug through the kit.When he poured the hydrogen peroxide on the wound, Evan sucked in a breath and bit his tongue.Man, that stung.Still, he’d done enough first aid training to know infections could start quickly if dirt got into the wound.There was plenty of dirt out here.He sucked it up and stared at the rest of the guys.Thankfully, most of them had gone back to their jobs.Except Tyler.
Phil, the foreman for this job, stomped their way.He’d be ticked off that there was an accident.He prided himself on his great safety record.He stopped at Tyler, and Evan couldn’t read his lips from here, but he could tell Tyler was getting an earful.And it wasn’t pleasantries.Would Evan get the same?
Another slash of pain shot through his head, and he squeezed his eyes shut to see if that helped.It didn’t, though the lack of brightness from the noontime sun felt a little better.Tyler’s expression of remorse and guilt did, too.The kid stared at his feet and … was his lower lip trembling?Had he never been reprimanded before?Evan didn’t have the energy to care.
Frank finished tying a bandage around Evan’s arm.“You need stitches.The cut is deep.”
“Really?Are you sure?”He hated the thought of going to a doctor for something like this.
Frank pointed to the bandage that was already turning crimson.“Yeah.”
Phil headed his way with Tyler in tow.Vince, the big boss, hurried along from the administrative trailer.Both of them frowning, Vince and Frank exchanged a few words.Tyler didn’t seem any happier.Evan actually felt bad for the kid.Kind of.Maybe if he wasn’t such a know-it-all.
When they got to him, Vince pointed to Evan.“He’ll be your new mentor.”Vince was always great about facing him and speaking clearly.
Evan frowned.“I thought I had another new guy coming.A Deaf one.”
Tyler rolled his eyes, which made any sympathy Evan had for him disintegrate.“How am I suppose to understand him?”
Evan read his lips easily.
“Same way everyone else does.Listen carefully or use your phone.”Vince scrolled through his phone and tapped away.Evan’s phone vibrated in his pocket, and he pulled it out.
—Sorry about this.You saved his life.He should be down on his knees worshiping you.His dad is friends with the owner, so I can’t exactly fire him.—
Evan bit his lip to keep from laughing.He’d wondered why Vince hadn’t used his voice-to-text app.He held his phone to his mouth now.Evan’s phone vibrated again.
—Or you can use voice-to-text.And learn sign language.—
Evan coughed to hide his amusement.Obviously he’d been speaking to Tyler when he’d sent the text.
“I’m not deaf,” Tyler complained, again speaking so Evan could lip read.
—None of us are.But with the noise of the construction site, we all need to learn some signs to be able to communicate.If you have a problem with that, you’re free to go.— Evan wasn’t sure if Vince realized his voice-to-text was still on.He’d guess that he was aware.It was one of the reasons he liked his boss.
Tyler sent up a small glare but nodded at Evan.“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome,” Evan said as pleasantly as he could muster with his arm burning and his head pounding.
—Your next job is to take Evan to the walk-in clinic in Medford.— Vince was still using voice-to-text to let Evan know what was going on.He appreciated it.
Tyler’s eyes widened.“But I’m working.”
