“What about STDs? Do you have any way to test for those, too?”
Beau hesitated before replying. “Ro, I’ll be straight with you on that—as far as I know, Graham and Zach have never been with a woman without wrapping their shit up. It’s standard operating procedure for all of us, and quite frankly, I’m pretty fucking surprised they weren’t doing the same with you. It’s not like there’s a shortage of condoms here to be concerned about. We prepared a little … over-zealously on that score. Even so, I hit you pretty hard with broad-spectrum antibiotics, so I’d say you’re probably good. If you notice anything, let me know, and we’ll figure it out.”
Ro laughed maniacally. “How did pregnancy tests make the list of necessary supplies?”
Beau smiled, his eyes sympathetic. “Allison and Jonah were trying to get pregnant before everything happened, so I stocked up just in case.” He stood and headed to the cupboard and pulled out a plain white rectangular box. He nodded toward the tiny bathroom. “I’ll help you move the IV pole.”
“If I’m pregnant, would the infection … hurt the baby?” she asked, starting to freak herself out.
Another sympathetic smile. Which, coming from Beau, just added to her freak out. “It shouldn’t have any effect, especially not this early.”
Ro took the test, trying to ignore the fact that Beau was in the next room. He helped her maneuver the IV pole back to the cot and tried to distract her with funny stories about the team while Ro sweated through the next three minutes.
It was negative.
“That’s what I expected, given the timing we’re talking about, but you should really take another one in a week or so,” Beau said.
“I’m not going to be here in another week,” Ro replied, her words quiet and directed at her lap.
“Zach told me he’s going with you.”
Ro looked up, meeting his blue gaze. “Does everyone know?” How would they react? Would they be pissed? The thoughts only added to her fatigue.
Beau shook his head, one side of his mouth quirking. “I think he was waiting to tell you first.” He rolled his stool to the desk and pulled open the skinny center drawer and held up a deck of cards.
“Would you like to play?”
“Why are you being so nice to me?”
Beau frowned. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“One, you were kind of prick to me before, and two, I’ve done nothing but cause trouble since I got here.”
He grinned, and they both turned as Erica opened the door.
“Hey, sister, how’re you feeling?” Her focus shifted to Beau. “Damn, you do know how to smile.” She plopped onto the edge of Ro’s cot. “So, when you going to spring her?”
Rowan had been wondering the same thing.
“Will it matter what I tell you this time? Or are you going to ignore everything I say?”
Ro squirmed. “I’ll take it under advisement. How about that?”
“Good enough, I suppose. I’d like to see you stick around the clinic with the IV for another night, and not head out for at least a few more days, although a week would be better. You need some good home cooking from Allison and a shit ton of rest. You have to take every injury more seriously when you don’t have a trauma center a few minutes away.”
Erica pointed to the deck of cards. “We playing, or what?”
Beau nodded, and Ro settled in as he dealt. Then she proceeded to watch Erica hustle them both at five-card draw.
The next morning she awoke to find a note from Zach crumpled under her face on her pillow. It was a little drool-smeared, but it said he’d slept in the cot next to hers, but had to take a shift in the command post and would be back as soon as he could. Beau had shown up shortly after, removing her IV and unwrapping the gauze from her wrists. He commented that the red streaks that were the telltale sign of infection had already receded, and the wounds were starting to scab over again. He started to apply a new dressing, and all Ro wanted to do was go back to sleep. As he worked, her thoughts wandered. Other than the cot in the clinic and the bunk in Erica and Lia’s cabin, she’d only slept in one other bed at the ranch. And that bed might as well have a giant “Do Not Enter—Trespassers Will Be Shot” sign above it. Even if it didn’t, she wouldn’t be too eager to crawl into it; she hadn’t forgotten how easily Graham had ejected her from it. Her next option: Zach’s bed, which wasn’t a viable choice. Ro couldn’t imagine laying there, knowing that Graham was sleeping a wall away. It would be cruel and unusual punishment. Erica helped her make a decision when she’d brought Ro some freshly laundered clothes.
“Your stuff is still in my cabin. You cool with staying there? You’re more than welcome. But, as much as I’m sure you’d like someone to cuddle with, I don’t think having a guy in the cabin is that great of an idea. Lia … well, it’s just not a good idea.”