Chapter 21
Jesse got off early to take his volunteer shift at the first-aid tent. He dropped by his cabin and grabbed a quick bite to eat then drove into town. Scarlet Springs had doubled in population, SUVs and pickup trucks parked every which way along the roads, every parking lot downtown full.
He ditched his vehicle and made his way toward the first-aid tent in the center, the wooden walkways crowded with people who shopped and ate and listened to music despite the cold temperatures. He knew from the schedule that Ellie had worked seven to three-thirty p.m. today. He wished their shifts had overlapped. Even though they’d be working, it would have been nice to spend some time with her. Maybe he could stop by her place tonight and …
She stood just outside the tent, bundled in a parka and scarf and sipping something hot from a paper cup, steam rising into the air from between her hands. She smiled and waved when she saw him, then walked back inside.
He stepped into the tent and was surprised by how warm it was—and how complete and well organized. “Wow. It’s like a mini-ER.”
She sat on a metal counter stool, still sipping her drink. “It’s warm enough to take off your parka—most of the time. When we get a lot of traffic, the heat escapes. They’ve got coffee and hot cocoa across the way if you need something warm.”
“Thanks. How about water?” He’d had enough caffeine today to kill an elephant.
She pointed to the bottom shelf. “There.”
He grabbed a bottle, ripped off the cap, and drank. “How has the day gone?”
He knew she was troubled by the fact that he wouldn’t stay with her at night, but how could he explain it? He needed to know that he was right in the head, that he was worthy of her, that he wouldn’t hurt her or the kids, before he let this relationship get any more serious. Not that it wasn’t already serious…
The horses are out of the barn on that one.
“It started bright and early with one of the workmen running a drill bit through the pad of his thumb. We’ve had four cases of hypothermia—three from the polar bear plunge. A woman tripped over one of the wooden walkways and twisted her ankle. We transported a man who was having shortness of breath. All in all, a pretty quiet day.”
Jesse found another stool and sat. “I thought you were off at three thirty.”
“I knew you were on this evening, so I traded shifts with someone else. I took a break in the middle of the day, spent some time with my mom and the kids. That’s the kind of thing you get to do when you’re in charge.”
So, she had wanted to see him. “I like the way you think.”
Her gaze narrowed. “Are you growing a beard?”
So, she’d noticed. Damn.
He lied. “I just haven’t had time to shave.”
Bear stepped into the tent, and Jesse could see he was unwell. “Jesse Moretti of the Team. Ellie Rouse Meeks.”
How he knew their names, Jesse didn’t know, but Hawke had told him once that Bear remembered the name of every person he’d ever met or heard about.
“Hey, big guy. Why don’t you come over here and sit down?”
Wearing his bearskin coat, Bear walked to one of the cots and sat. He took a furry mitten off his left hand to reveal large gash that was badly infected. When he finally spoke, his words and manner of speaking were like that of a child. “I hit myself with my ax. Stupid, stupid, stupid.”
Jesse patted him on the shoulder. “Accidents happen. Let’s see what we can do to help you feel better. How long ago did this happen?”
“Seven days,” Bear answered. “Stupid.”
Jesse met Ellie’s gaze, both of them thinking the same thing. It was too late for a tetanus shot.
With Ellie’s help, Jesse coaxed him out of his coat and the buckskin beneath it so they could take his vitals.
“You’ve got a fever, Bear,” Ellie told him. “That means your body is fighting hard to stop this infection. We need to clean your wound and stitch it. I think you’re going to need intravenous antibiotics, too. Do you know what that means?”
Bear shook his head.
Jesse got out an IV kit and showed him, explaining what everything was for. “We can’t give you the stitches or the antibiotics you need here, but we can get the IV going and get you to the hospital.”
Bear’s eyes went wide with fear. “The hospital?”
Ellie rested a hand on his shoulder. “We care for everyone there. That is our job. ‘For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord.’”
This seemed to make the big guy relax.
Jesse called for the ambulance, leaving the IV to Ellie, who had more experience than he did and would probably cause Bear less pain. But when the two EMTs walked in with the gurney, the fear returned to Bear’s face.
Ellie took his hand. “Do you know Lolly?”
“Lolly Cortez,” Bear answered.