“Ready?” Blake asked, nodding at the vehicle.
“Yeah.” She took a deep breath when he stood and reached down, lifting her up. The movement made her foot shift, and stars swam in front of Delilah's eyes. Her stomach rolled.
“I feel sick.”
“Close your eyes and breathe through your mouth. It helps.” Blake held her close while she tried to control the lurch of a traitorous stomach.
One, two, breathe slowly, you can do it, Del. Don't throw up here. That would be too much. What a way to ramp up the embarrassment.
“Better?” Blake's warm breath rolled over her cheeks, making her wish they were anywhere else but standing in the middle of stockyards with people around them.
“Yeah, thanks.” She breathed deeply through her mouth, intent on keeping her breakfast were it was.
“Okay, the next part. I'm going to sit you on the back of the truck and climb in behind you. Then when you think you’re ready, I'll lift and pull you back far enough so you can lay down.”
She blew out a breath and bit her lip. “Go.” Delilah closed her eyes and breathed through her mouth, pushing back the urge to cry out.
“Hold onto the door. I'm going to climb in behind you.” He took hold of her hands and placed them on the door frame before getting in through the door behind her. “Bluey, lift her foot and go with us, please. Okay, I've got you. Lean back and try to relax so I can pull you back.” Blake clasped his hands under her arms and lifted her.
She cried out and a cold sweat broke out on her forehead and her stomach rolled. “Ow, hell, that was awful. Sorry, Bluey, I know it wasn't you. Shit.” A big sigh escaped her lips as Blake pushed her back onto the pillows, and a tear trickled down her cheek.
He threw a pillow down to Bluey who placed it under her foot before piling a couple of blankets around it for more support.
“There, that should keep you pretty stable for the ride in. Don't worry about anything. I’ve got the kids under control. If you could just give us a call and let us know what's going on if you can't get back tonight. Don’t worry about us.”
“Sure. Be good kids.” Blake gave them both a hug before shutting the doors and hopping in the front of the truck. He looked over his shoulder and smiled reassuringly at Delilah. “Okay, let's get this show on the road. Try to relax as much as you can. The road is pretty rough in places but there’s not much I can do about it.” He started the vehicle and spun the steering wheel, driving out of the stockyards and down the driveway. He slowed when it came to the cattle grid, apologizing again when she cried out.
When he turned onto the highway, he looked over again. “Okay?”
“Yes. I’m so sorry about this, Blake.”
“Not your fault. I told you to stop worrying.”
“Yes, but that doesn't make me feel any better, I'm afraid. You are so busy and I was supposed to be here to help you, not hinder the running of the farm.”
“Delilah, just breathe and try to rest until we get to the hospital.” He turned back to the road and she tried to relax. The throbbing in her ankle was intensifying and the nausea was rolling in again. She closed her eyes and breathed through her mouth, forcing the sensation away and concentrated on even breathing.
With each bump and dip in the road, the pain shot through her ankle and she tried not to cry out. After a couple of hours it was too much, and she let the tears fall fresh with each jolt of pain. The thought of putting up with her abhorrent seating partner crossed her mind and she almost wished she hadn’t been so impulsive, and willed herself back on the bus. For the next couple of hours, she alternated between crying in pain and biting her lip to stifle the sounds. It was a huge relief when Blake finally spoke to her.
“Nearly there. Hang in there, Delilah.” The sound of his voice soothed her and she swallowed hard, mentally kicking herself for the wayward thoughts. In her pain, the only thing she wanted was Blake' arms around her, and his soothing voice in her ear.
“Okay.” Her voice came out broken and filled with tears.
The vehicle slowed and turned—the road smoother now. Opening her eyes, Delilah looked around. The walls of a building came into view and she breathed a sigh of relief.
When they came to a stop, Blake got out and opened the door closest to her head. He reached in and wiped his hand over her clammy brow. “I'll just go and get someone to help get you out.” He raced off and, within minutes, returned with a nurse and an orderly pushing a gurney.
“Let's see what we have here. Hi, Delilah, my name is Helen and I'm the Emergency Nurse Manager. Let me have a quick look at your ankle before we try to move you.” She ran her cool fingers over the raised ankle and nodded to the orderly. “Swelling up and discolored already. We need to get her into x-ray before we can do anything else. Blake, do you want to get in and lift her shoulders for me?”
He climbed in and positioned himself behind her. With a gentle hand, he tucked her hair behind her ear and dropped a soft kiss on the top of her head. “Ready?”
She nodded her head and they lifted her down to the end of the vehicle before moving her onto the bed.
Chapter 5
By the time they got her inside to a cubicle, Delilah's face was ashen and she held her
