“She can’t walk from the parking lot,” Garrett growled. “I hit her with my truck. She needs a doctor.”
Two staff members came running with a wheelchair and helped her inside while Garrett parked the truck. Her hand shook as she filled out the paperwork, thinking about the cost of the ER visit. She left the insurance section blank since she didn’t have any. Garrett sat beside her and she glanced up at him.
“Hurry and fill this out. The hospital in a town over plans to send patients here because it’s at capacity. The faster we get you in there, the faster we have a chance at seeing a doctor,” he explained. When she finished, he took the clipboard up to the desk. She watched as he spoke, and the nurse noted it on the form.
Fifteen minutes later, they called her name. Garrett helped her up and escorted her to the cubicle. They took her vitals, and the doctor entered the curtained off area.
“Can you tell me where it hurts?” he asked.
“My head’s pounding,” she told him as she squinted from his bright light.
“Yeah, you have a nice-sized lump on your forehead and quite a gash. It needs stitching. We’ll send you down for a CT scan to rule out a concussion,” the older man said as he listened to her heart.
“Check her ribs, they’re bruised, too,” Garrett ordered.
“Oh, no. It’s okay. I bruised them from a fall earlier. It didn’t have anything to do with the accident,” she exclaimed.
“It still hurts you,” Garrett insisted. “You’re walking hunched over and holding your side. We’re here, let him check it out.”
“Then it’ll go on the same bill as the insurance and it’s not from you hitting me,” she ground out. “I don’t want your insurance to think I’m scamming them.”
“Let him check them out,” Garrett said softly, but the command seemed firm. Before she gave it a second thought, her hand moved away from the hem of her shirt as the doctor poked and prodded the bruised area.
“It appears you have some very bruised ribs, young lady,” the doctor exclaimed. “We’ll take an X-ray of those, too.”
Riley groaned. “Can’t you give me two acetaminophens and call it a day? It’s only a headache.”
The doctor chuckled. “I see you like hospitals. I promise we’ll get you done in a jiffy. We have a full load coming in and we want to clear this area. Do you have someone who can watch you at home if you have a concussion?” he asked.
“Yes,” she lied as another staff member entered and started unlocking the wheels to take her to radiology.
“I’ll wait for you here,” Garrett assured her as she glanced at him uneasily.
Thirty minutes later, they pushed her back into thecubicle and waited for the doctor’s diagnosis. He entered ten minutes later.
“It appears you have a small concussion and no broken ribs,” the doctor informed her.
“Oh, good. Can I leave now?” she asked.
“I’m giving you acetaminophen for the headache, and you’ll need to rest, young lady,” the doctor admonished. “The nurse will bring in your discharge papers and review the symptoms to watch for. Whoever’s staying with you will need to wake you every hour. Do you understand?”
“Yes. Thank you,” she added before the doctor left.
An uncomfortable silence fell between her and Garrett.
“I didn’t know your insurance information and left it blank on the forms. Will you please give it to them?” she asked.
“It’s already handled,” he said gruffly.
“Thanks. I appreciate you helping me,” she said wearily. “I doubt many people would stop once they heard the tornado siren.”
“Who’s staying with you?” he asked.
“Tara, my sister,” she said as the nurse entered, handing her two pills and a cup of water.
She swallowed them down and lay back against the pillow, hoping they’d kick in soon.
A few minutes later, the nurse brought her discharge paperwork and handed it to Garrett. Riley rose from the bed and he took her arm.
