The Irish girl’s face was paler than when he’d seen her earlier that day, and her freckles stood out across her nose like chocolate spots on a white shirt. Her dark red eyelashes contrasted against her cheeks as she squeezed her eyes shut.
“This is all my fault. Grady’s going to have kittens when he hears about this.” His mom’s face was pinched and anxious. “We had an accident in the kitchen. The range hood fell. Sassie tried to push it out of the way before it hit me and got a bad cut on her finger. I want to take her to Emily.”
Riley eased his mother out of the doorway and crouched. “Sassie, look at me.”
She opened her eyes. “R.P., I thought you’d left already. What are you doing back? Trying to make me change my mind?”
“No. Maybe another day. I was looking for my mom and just happened to see her car, but let me have a look at your finger. If it’s really bad, you might need to go the hospital. If it only requires stitches, you can go to Emily’s surgery.”
She held it away from him, fear filling her eyes. “Don’t go touching it.”
“I won’t, I promise. I only want to look at it.”
It took her a few seconds, but eventually she held out her hand to him. Riley unwrapped the tea towel and did a quick assessment. His medical training for the first responders came in handy even when there wasn’t a crisis in town.
“So, what’s the verdict, R.P.? Will I live?” Her voice was shaky. She’d been so feisty this morning. She might be tough on the outside but when in pain, people changed.
“I think a few stitches will fix that.” He wrapped it again and she pulled it close to her chest. “Mom can take you to Emily; I’ll give her a call so you don’t have to wait too long.” He stood and said to his mother in a quiet voice, “I’ll follow you. I doubt she’ll make it inside on her own two legs. Looks like she’s going to pass out any minute.”
“Thanks, Riley. I feel so bad about this; it’s all my fault.”
“Mom, stop it. Accidents happen, and you know that. Drive carefully; I’ll be right behind you.” He took his phone out of his pocket and pushed the buttons as he walked back to the truck. “Emily, you busy?
“Nope, having a quick bite to eat before the rush. What’s up?”
“Mom’s bringing in the lady who brought the old Barker house. She’s got a bad cut on her finger; we think it needs stitching. I’ll follow them in and see you in a few minutes.”
“Sure.”
He pulled out into the road and followed his mother back into town. By the time she’d parked in the lot in front of the surgery, Riley was striding toward the passenger door. He pulled it open and held out his hand.
Sassie brushed his hand away, a scowl on her still pale face. “Stop fussing. I’m fine.” She swung her legs out and pushed herself to her feet. She stood swaying dangerously in front of him. She closed her eyes and cursed up a blue streak he didn’t understand before going back to English. “Freaking mother, give us mercy.”
Riley slipped his arm around her shoulders and turned her toward the clinic, ignoring her protests that she could manage alone. His mother held the front door for them to enter and then hurried toward the reception desk.
“Emily, I need help here. We have a bleeder.” Her voice carried up the corridor and into the surgery.
Riley pushed Sassie toward a chair and guided her to sit, but she didn’t let go of his hand. Beads of sweat sat on her top lip. Poor thing was more terrified than she was letting on. He called out to his sister-in-law as she came down the corridor, “Want me to carry her into the surgery before she passes out?”
* * *
Sassie leaned her head back against the wall, her stomach roiling and a distant roar of waves thumping in her ears. The sound of voices faded and everything went blissfully black.
The darkness cocooned her away from the pain. If only she could stay here, enveloped in the oblivion. No pain, no blood, nothing to do but just be.
“Sassie, honey, wake up. Come on, come back to us.” A hand stroked her cheek and then tucked her wild curls behind her ear. The urge to turn her head into the warm skin touching her was strong. Her tongue felt thick in her mouth and her eyes were heavy. Still the voice prodded at her.
“Come on.”
She blinked and moved her head, trying to get away from the voice. Leave me be. Her cheek pressed into the rough grey of the industrial carpet on the floor of the doctor’s office. She forced her eyes open and looked up. A lady crouched, watching her. In one hand, she held Sassie’s wrist. “What a way to make an entrance. Do you think you can sit up? Just take your time.” The stranger held her arm, and Riley bent down on her other side, clutching her good hand to help her up. They sat her up against the leg of a chair, never taking their gaze off of her as Sassie gained her composure.
“Bloody hell, I’m sorry about that. Don’t know what came over me.” She shuffled until her legs were underneath her bum, and wiped a hand over her brow.
“I’m hazarding a guess here and saying shock. It can affect even the strongest among us.”
“You could be right, Doctor. I don’t usually do something so damned stupid as hurt myself. Too painful, if you understand my meaning.” She leaned her head back against the chair and breathed until her body felt like it belonged to her again.
“The name’s Emily, and it’s nice to meet you. Riley and Beth seem to think you need stitches, so, when you’re ready, we’ll help you up and take you
