He grabbed an elastic bandage, holding it in his hand as he rolled the heart monitor over toward Morgaine.
“Can you lie down for me…”
“Morgaine,” I suppled when she didn’t for herself.
“Morgaine,” Dr. Price said. “I want you flat in case we do need to do a small shock. You seem stable enough right now,” he added, tone soothing, as his hand went under her shirt to place the little electrodes on her skin.
“Okay,” she agreed, sounding suddenly tired and scared.
“Is there anything I can do?” I asked, shuffling my feet, feeling completely helpless.
“Morgaine, sweetheart, are you feeling hot or cold?” Dr. Price asked.
“Both,” Morgaine said, and the doctor didn’t debate her on that.
“Maybe you can go into the hall closet and grab a blanket for Morgaine? And perhaps a washcloth to wipe her forehead.”
Happy to have a purpose, as small as it might be, I followed his instructions.
When I came back, he was hooking her up to a banana bag and Morgaine was sipping water and taking little black pills.
Activated charcoal.
Like he’d done for me.
“Your heartbeat is a little fast,” Dr. Price explained as he watched the monitor. “Not so fast that I’m worried, but fast enough to make you feel really crummy,” he said, giving her arm a pat. “Unfortunately, I don’t want to give you anything right now. I want to see how this goes over the next half an hour,” he explained.
“Okay. I’m… okay,” she said, but it sounded like she was trying to assure herself more than him.
“It’s okay to admit you feel like shit, Morgaine,” he told her, giving her a knowing smile.
“Okay. I feel like shit,” she said, her lips wobbling like attempting a smile. “Oh my God!” she hissed, trying to shoot up, but Dr. Price was fast enough to push her shoulder until she was flat again.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“The chickens!” she said, eyes huge. “My chickens didn’t…”
“I put your chickens away, baby,” I assured her, trying to keep my tone calm and soothing. “When I went to your place, one of them greeted me on the front porch, so I put her away, made sure the others were in the coop, and closed them up.”
“You did?” she asked, eyes looking a little glassy.
“Yep. Don’t worry about them. If you’re still here then, I will have someone go over and let them out at first light too,” I said, hoping that easing any of her anxiety might help let her heart rate even out.
“Thank you,” she said, nodding, then reaching up to try to discreetly wipe away the tear that had slipped from her eye.
“I’m going to go… grab some shoes,” Dr. Price said, giving me a knowing look, figuring we needed a moment alone.
“Hey, baby,” I said, moving to the side of the exam table, reaching down to press a hand to her shoulder. “How are you feeling really?”
“I’m okay… really. I mean, my heart feels like it is trying to bust out of my ribcage, but I know it will pass. I like him,” she said, nodding toward the door. “He’s very soothing.”
“You’ve never been to see him yet? He’s the only doctor in town.”
“I don’t get sick.”
No, she wouldn’t, would she? She never comes in contact with anyone.
“How’d you swallow some of the poison? Did he spit it at you?”
“No. Well, yes, but no. I only had one good hand,” she said, waving down at the one placed softly on her chest. “But I needed to get the cork out…”
Oh.
The poor fucking thing.
“I mean, my plan was to swallow it if I had no other choice,” she said. “But then he brought me in the room, and Bayleigh was there. I had to do it.”
“Yeah, you did. Don’t worry about that now. The guys are handling Kyle. And Bayleigh is with her sister. Let’s worry about getting you well, yeah?” To that, she gave me a shaky nod. “I’m so fucking sorry, baby.”
“Sorry? For what? You didn’t do anything. This was on me. I had a weird feeling. Weird stuff happening. And I didn’t say anything about it.”
“I shouldn’t have left you.”
“You’re going to need to leave me sometimes.”
“Wanna bet?” I asked, getting a tinkling little laugh out of her. “I want you to come back to the clubhouse with me for a few days to recover. Think it is smart to be close to the doctor until we’re sure you’re well again.”
“Okay,” she agreed, looking a little relieved.
“I can take care of the chickens. And water the plants. Or have Coach do it.”
“I’m starting to see the appeal of prospects,” she said as the doctor knocked and opened the door.
“Crow, you have a friend out front,” Dr. Price said.
“Go ahead. I’m okay,” Morgaine said, giving me a nod.
“Let’s wrap up that wrist, shall we?” Dr. Price asked as he moved in at her side.