Make No Bones

'Now you just hold your horses,” Sauer told him, pressing him back. “Sorry, I'm not much on metaphors,” he said with a laugh, and continued his prodding. “Let's just make sure you're all in one piece before you get going.'

Gideon lay back without resistance, swept by a billow of nausea. Julie reached for his hand.

'I'm fine, really,” he told her weakly. “A little queasy, that's all.” He squeezed her hand.

'How many fingers am I holding up?” Sauer asked.

'Two,” Gideon said. Below, near the stream, he could hear a horse stamping nervously, and the voice of one of the wranglers trying to soothe it.

'And now?'

'Three. Is that Rosebud down there?'

'Yes, she's fine.'

'Did she fall on me?'

Sauer laughed. “If that thing landed on you, you wouldn't have to ask. No, you got out of its way, but apparently you hit your head on a stump.” He probed some more, gently moved Gideon's limbs, asked a few questions. Then he leaned back. “Well, it looks like he'll live,” he told Julie.

Getting up was easier than he expected. The queasiness was uncomfortable, but he seemed to have suffered nothing worse than some abrasions on his back and shoulders. They were only now beginning to sting, and he thought he could feel a few small tracks of blood. The back of his head hurt, but the skin didn't seem to be broken. There was going to be a hell of a lump, though.

Sauer brushed pebbles from him. “Going to be able to walk? We're only five minutes from the lodge.'

'Sure.'

'Good. When you get back I want you to take a bath, get into a pair of pajamas, and climb into bed. Then I want to have another look.'

'Vern, I appreciate it, but I'm fine now. I don't need a doctor.'

'Be a sport, Oliver. When do I ever get a chance to work on a live body anymore?'

'I'll have him ready for you,” Julie said.

'I have to finish that reconstruction,” Gideon said. Sauer shook his head. “Not today.'

'I just—'

'I'll have him ready for you,” Julie said again, this time more firmly, for Gideon's benefit.

He was too unsteady to argue. With their help he climbed slowly back up the slope.

Tracy, taut-faced and anxious, ran to them from a knot of people comforting a noisily distraught Callie.

'Are you okay?'

'Fine,” Gideon said. “How's Callie—the other rider?'

'All right, I think. She never—she never fell off. Oh, God, I knew we shouldn't have come back this way!” Tracy was close to tears. “I was supposed to have people sign waivers before we started out. I—'

'Don't worry about it, Tracy,” Gideon said. “I don't think anybody's going to get sued.'

Sauer cut in. “Do you suppose we could start back, please? I'd like to get this man off his feet.'

Tracy practically snapped to attention. “Absolutely. Right now. Sir?” she said to Gideon. “Did you want to mount up again, or would you rather walk?'

Gideon managed a smile. “I think,” he said, “I'd just as soon walk.'

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CHAPTER 12

* * * *

'I can't find anything to be concerned about,” Sauer said, sitting back. “I'd take it easy for a day or so if I were you. And let me know right away if you have any vision problems or anything of the sort. Need anything for the pain?'

'No,” Gideon said, “the scrapes sting a little, that's all.” He buttoned his shirt and gingerly felt the lump behind his left ear. “My head's not too bad. I'll take a couple of aspirin if it bothers me.'

'Good thinking. Well, then, I'll be on my way.” He zipped up his bag and stood. “Julie, those dressings can come off tonight. They're just to sop up any bleeding, of which there shouldn't be much. Just stick on some Band- Aids if you think he needs them.'

'Thank you, Doctor,” she said.

'Vern, thanks a lot,” said Gideon.

Sauer grinned at them. “Believe me, the pleasure's all mine. Autopsies are no end of fun, but one gets bored after a while.'

As he left the cottage he passed John Lau coming in. “He's perfectly all right; nothing to worry about,” Gideon