“Yup.”
I close my eyes and place my forehead on the armrest of her bed. “You’re making me crazy.”
“You’re making me stay in a hospital bed all night,” she replies.
“You got knocked down by a pig,” I remind her.
“I got knocked down by a freaking pig, Austin. This town is dangerous.”
“And you didn’t hit the thing back. I’m kind of proud of you.”
“I was unconscious. Don’t think I won’t be on the prowl for Betsy Blue when I get out of here.”
“Darlin’, I would not recommend beatin’ up a pig in this town,” I tell her.
“Why not? Is it like the town mascot?”
“No, but it’s a blue-ribbon-winning pig.”
“What?” she asks with shock. “Who the hell rates pigs?”
“This town,” I say as if the answer is obvious.
“Well, she should have her ribbon revoked for breaking out of her pen and almost killing someone.”
“That’s a little dramatic,” I tell her.
“So is having a pig with a ribbon.”
“Okay, fair enough,” I give in.
“I’m going back to sleep in this comfy, cozy bed,” she grumbles.
“Goodnight, darlin’.”
“Goodnight, Austin.”
* * *
I wake up in a hospital room with an ache in my neck, and no one in the bed next to the chair I’m still sitting in. I shake my head around to snap out of my grogginess and look around the room. What the—what time is it? I look up at the clock, waiting for the numbers to clear up from my blurry vision, and I see that it’s eight.
I get up and head down the hallway, wondering why no one would have woken me up, especially Scarlett. I move around the front desk and find Scarlett in a johnny, her good hand holding the thing shut on her behind, while she and Daisy are deep in a conversation.
“Uh,” I say, scratching my head. “Good-mornin’ … ”
“Did ya sleep well?” Daisy asks, snickering.
“Sure.” Something’s going on, and I’m not sure I like it.
“Your hair looks like you stuck your finger into an electric socket,” Daisy tells me.
“My hair may be standing up, but Scarlett here is wandering around the halls in a piece of fabric with no backside.”
“You can’t see anything,” she says.
I close my eyes and smile. “Sure, I can, darlin’.”
“Rude. No, you can’t,” she argues.
