“How did you do that, miss?”
“I cut it on a dumpster as I was throwing away garbage.”
“Ouch.” The doctor pulled on his gloves and probed around the wound. “Have you had a tetanus shot lately?”
“I don’t know, sir.”
“All right.” He told the nurse to get a syringe.
“Warrick.” Shelby tried to lift herself off the bed.
“Miss, you have to stay still.”
Warrick rubbed her back. “Easy, baby.” He turned to the doctor. “I want her to be sedated,” he said. “If you can put her to sleep, that would be better. I’m afraid she won’t deal with the sutures very well.”
“I understand.” He yelled out for someone to get him what he needed. “I wish we could glue it, but it’s in an area that flexes too much.”
The nurse came back in with a tray with a bowl of water to wash the wound, thread and needle, and several syringes.
The doctor lifted the one syringe.
“I’ll have to give this to her in the arm.”
Warrick nodded. He bent down and pressed his lips against her ear. “Hold steady, baby. It’s just going to be a little prick, and then you won’t feel anything.”
She sniffed and nodded.
Shelby gasped when the needle went into her arm but otherwise stayed still.
“I’ll give that a little time to take effect. The nurse will wash out the wound, and I’ll be right back.”
“Thank you,” Warrick said. He glanced down when Reid chuckled. “What?”
“She’s out.”
Warrick’s eyebrows rose. “All ready?”
The nurse laughed. “She’s what we call a lightweight. This happens when the patient isn’t used to drugs of any kind. It doesn’t take much to make them sleep.”
“Good, I’m glad.”
The doctor returned after the nurse cleaned the area and put in stitches. He could feel himself flinch inside each time the needle pierced her skin. At one point, Reid set a hand on his shoulder because he must have known how it was affecting him.
“Okay, we’re done. I’ll give her the tetanus and antibiotic shots, and then the nurse can discharge you.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
“If you see puffiness or redness, bring her back in.”
“We live a ways away, so we’ll have to find a doctor for her there, but we’ve also got Reid here who’s a medic, and he’ll be helping out.”
“Good to know. I think she’s in good hands.”
“Yes, she is.”
Brett tapped Warrick on the shoulder. “I’m going to get a bed made for you guys out in the truck. Do you want to sit up and hold her or lie down?”
“Lie down. I can hold her better.”