“Won’t get any argument from me there.” A smile almost touched her lips, but a wave of lightheadedness washed over her again.
“Stubborn woman.” Riley leaned down and scooped her up into his arms as if she weighed no more than a small babe. The quick movement made her see stars and she tucked her face against his chest until the dizziness passed. When her head cleared, all she could focus on was the smell of spice and his maleness. It was with blessed relief Sassie lay back on the treatment table with her head on the pillow. Just the thought of needles made her weak at the knees. No wonder she’d passed out.
“Now that feels so much better.” With her eyes closed, she didn’t have to look at the blood running down her hand as Emily unwound the tea towel or at the man standing far too close for comfort at her side.
“That could do with a few stitches, I’m afraid. It’s cut down to the bone. I’ll have to give you a local. You okay with that?”
“So long as it’s you doing it, I don’t care. I’ll just lay back and have a wee sleep, I’m thinking. I don’t want to be a bother to you, Emily, but I’m not the best kind of patient to have. Happy to see blood so long as it’s not my own.” She closed her eyes again and swallowed down the fear dancing in her throat. Acting brave in front of her newfound friends might be her undoing.
Emily laughed and patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t let it bother you. Beth and Riley will stay and keep you occupied if you like. I’ll be back in a minute with that injection and we can get started.”
Sassie squeezed her eyes shut when Emily returned with the needle. “I’m afraid this is going to sting; nothing I can do about that.”
“Thanks.” She turned her head and gripped the hand Beth slipped into hers, wishing for a moment it was the work-hardened hand that had stroked her face earlier.
But she was done with men, regardless of how cute they might appear on the surface. She wasn’t prepared to give so much of herself ever again. The fallout was too painful.
“My pleasure.” Emily laughed and wiped at the cut with an alcohol swab before sticking in the needle. “Don’t move, there’s a good girl.”
When she’d finished poking her, Emily dropped the needle in the sharps container and Sassie breathed a sigh of relief. “Horrible freaking things.”
“You sure do cuss a lot, don’t you?” Beth patted her on the hand, her deep blue eyes twinkling with delight.
“I’m Irish, what were you expecting then?” She chortled. “I’ll not beat about the bush here, Beth. I’m not wearing fancy clothes and sporting pretty jewelry. I’m a hard- working girl, and what you see is what you get. Won’t find any lace and fluff around me.”
“Don’t expect I will, and, I’m okay with it. We prefer people to be themselves, don’t we, Emily?”
“That we do, that we do.” She wiped away the blood and placed Sassie’s hand on a sterile cloth. Looping the thread through the needle, she began to work. “Well, if nothing else, you did a fine job on this. Had a tetanus shot lately?”
Sassie scowled.
“I’ll take that as a no. Who knows what germs are in that old house? It’s been empty for around fifteen years, I think, apart from the wildlife making it their home, that is.” She looped the stitch and started another one. “Glad to see it’s getting some loving at long last. What are you doing with it, Sassie? Too big for one person, I would think.” She dipped her head and focused on her needlework while talking.
“Well now, I want to start a bed and breakfast. I’m used to looking after and feeding people, you know. I brought up my brothers when Ma died. Da had to work to support us, and me being the eldest, well, it was how it happened. I cooked and cleaned, and we all survived quite well enough.”
“Brilliant idea. This town could use extra accommodation. There’s only the Last Horse Hotel and that’s always full in holiday season.” Emily tied the last stitch and cut the excess thread. “That was a nasty cut. Guess you believe in doing things all the way, don’t you? I want you to keep that hand up for the rest of the day at least, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you find it too painful to use for the next week or so. Are you right- or left-handed?”
“Right.”
“Lucky for you or you’d be out of action for a couple of weeks. Let me get that tetanus shot and then Beth can take you home.” She hurried out of the room and came back moments later with a bottle in her hand. Choosing a needle from her set of drawers, Emily filled the syringe. “Okay, roll over toward Beth and let me get at that arm.”
Sassie obliged and gritted her teeth as the needle jabbed into her flesh. “Argh, blasted damned horrible thing. It stings.”
“They certainly do, but imagine what would happen if I didn’t give you one. That’s all for today. I don’t need to tell you to keep it clean and elevated, do I?”
“No, Emily, but I have work to do and people to see. No rest for the wicked here.” Sassie swung her legs over the edge of the bed and sat for a moment, getting her equilibrium back. No stars and no head swimming, thank goodness. Beth held her good hand as she shuffled her feet to the floor and stayed by her side as they exited the treatment room.
Riley helped her settle into the car and leaned across to click in her seat belt. “If you need help, give me a call, and I mean it. I’m not trying to drum up business or
