by Marla Monroe
“Okay, Gray. Hold the mirror behind her calf so she can see the reflection of the bite marks.” Scott directed them on how to show her.
“Oh—my—God! My skin is yellow. Is it going to go away?” she demanded.
Clint lowered her leg back to the bed. She kept it bent so the wound wouldn’t touch the covers. They all looked at Scott to see what he would say.
He sighed and shook his head. “It hasn’t from anyone else’s wounds. I think you’re stuck with it.”
“You could have lied,” she said with a pout. “What am I going to do with yellow skin?”
“Don’t worry about it, Elissa,” Gray said. “It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you get well.”
“Gray’s right, honey. Just concentrate on getting well and coming home.”
“Take me home now,” she said.
“We will tomorrow, baby.” Gray sat on the edge of the bed next to her. “You’ve got to get the rest of your antibiotics first.”
“I want to go home, Clint.” She looked over at him.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m with Gray. You’ve got to have the rest of your medicine. Then we’ll take you home.”
“Okay, roll over and let me put this medicine on your leg. It’s especially for burns, and since yours is burning some, we’re going to try it and see if it helps.”
Gray helped her roll over. Clint stood back and watched as Scott put a white substance on her leg. It coated her calf. Then he put another bandage back on and stood up. He pulled off his gloves and washed his hands in the sink across the room before picking up the little pill container and handing her a glass of water to take it with.
“These will help with the pain, but shouldn’t make you sleepy.” He waited while she swallowed the pills, then gathered up his supplies and left.
“How do you feel right now?” Gray asked her.
“I feel okay. I’m tired, but not really sleepy. My leg already feels a little bit better. I guess the stuff he put on it helped. It isn’t burning as badly.”
“Good, that’s really good, baby.” Gray leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. “I’ve got to go now. They won’t let but one of us stay the night, so I’m going to stay at the dormitory, but I’ll be back in the morning to see what the doctor says.”
“I don’t want you to go. Clint? Can’t you both stay?” She held on to Gray’s hand.
“Honey, if you would rather Gray stay, I can go.” He hated offering, and it would hurt if she said yes.
“No. I don’t want either of you to go.” She reached for his hand, too.
“I have to, baby. I’ll be back early. I promise.”
“I’m holding you to your word, Gray.” She let go of his hand and frowned.
“I think I’m going to rest a while.” She closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Clint and Gray looked at each other and sighed. So much for the medication not making her sleepy. Or it was the bite marks still driving the sleep.
“I’m going now. If you need anything, or if something changes, you send someone to get me,” Gray said.
“I will. Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on her. You get back over here before nine.”
“I’ll be here by eight. I doubt I’m going to sleep much knowing she’s over here like this, anyway.” Gray ran his hand over her hair and sighed.
“Try, because you’re going to have to drive us back. I won’t have had any sleep, so it won’t be safe for me to drive.”
Gray nodded and walked out the door.
Chapter Fourteen
Elissa woke with a start. She had been having some strange dreams, but couldn’t remember what they were about when she tried. She looked around the room and found Clint leaned back in the recliner, snoring. She grinned. He probably hadn’t planned on falling asleep. She moved her legs and sighed. She was terrified they would amputate her leg for some reason. Maybe one of her dreams had been about that.
“You’re awake.” Clint settled the recliner in the upright position and stood up, stretching as he did.
“I just awoke. What time is it?” she asked.
He looked at his watch and grimaced. “It’s only four. You’re up early.”
“I guess I woke you up, too. Sorry.”
“No, I wasn’t supposed to be asleep. Gray will kill me when he finds out.” He winked at Elissa.
“I won’t tell.”
“How is your leg feeling?” he asked.
“It feels fine right now. I haven’t moved it around, though. Should I move it and see if it hurts?”
“No, don’t do that. We’ll wait until the doctor gets here later in the morning. I don’t want you to stir it up.”
“Okay.” She sighed. “I’m tired of lying here, though. Can I at least raise the head of my bed up some more?”
“Sure, honey. Do you know how?”
“I think I can figure it out,” she said sarcastically.
She punched the button on the side rail that showed the head of the bed, and it began to rise. Once she was as high as she wanted to be, Elissa stopped it and adjusted her ass. She was sore from lying in bed so long. She really wanted to sit up in the chair, but knew Clint would never allow her to get out of the bed without the doctor okaying it.
“Does that feel better?” Clint asked.
“Yeah. I guess. I really want out of the bed, but I’m sure you won’t let me get up, will you.”
“Nope. Not without the doctor saying it’s okay, I won’t.”
She sighed and looked at the IV in her arm. “When can I get this out?”
“I’m sure they’ll take it out in the morning after you’ve had your last dose of medicine.” Clint sat on the edge of the bed and squeezed her arm. “Gray’s going to be glad to see you awake again.”
“Why do you say that?” she asked.
“You fell asleep on us last night. You’ve been sleeping a lot, and that’s worried us.”
“Oh, I guess I hadn’t realized I’d been sleeping that much.” She thought back and realized she couldn’t remember much of the day before.
“I guess I have been sleeping a lot. I don’t remember much about yesterday at all.”
“Well, mostly you slept. Do you remember about what your leg looked like?” He looked as if he hoped she didn’t.
She frowned and nodded. “Yeah, I’ve got a yellow calf now. I’m not too happy about that.”
“It’s okay, honey. As long as it heals and you get back to normal, it doesn’t matter if it’s red, white, and blue.” Clint squeezed her hand this time.
Elissa and Clint talked until seven when Scott knocked on the door and came in.
“You’re awake, great. How are you feeling?” he asked as he took her vital signs.
“I’m fine. Nothing is hurting, so I guess I’m feeling good.”
“Good is great. How about the burning pain in your leg?”
“It’s gone right now. I hope it doesn’t come back.” She waited while he listened to her lungs. “Are you going to take the bandage off now?”
“Not until the doc gets here. He wants to see it first thing. What time did you wake up?” Scott asked her.
“Um, Clint? Wasn’t it around four?” she asked.
“Yeah, about that time,” Clint said.
“So you’ve been up for three hours now. That’s good.”
“When will the doctor be here?”
“He’ll be here to check on you at nine. I’m going to hang your last bag of medicine and he’ll get here about the time it’s finished. How does that sound?”
“So I can leave after he sees me?” she asked.
“That’s the plan. We’ll just have to wait and see what he says after he looks at your leg.” Scott patted her arm. “I’ll be back in a few minutes with your last bag of antibiotics.”
Once he was gone, Elissa settled back on the bed and frowned. She wanted to go home. She wanted to sleep with her men and work in the garden. There was no telling how bad the w
eeds were in her and Lacy’s gardens by now.
“What are you frowning about?” Clint asked.
“Just thinking about the garden and how much work I have ahead of me since I’ve neglected it.”
“You don’t need to worry about the garden. We’ll take care of it until you can get out in it again.”
“I want to do it.” Elissa was keeping a close eye on her plants. She still thought they were way ahead of schedule based on the books.
“I know, honey, but you can’t right now.”
Scott walked back in with her medicine and set it up. When he left, she looked up at the bag and stuck her tongue out at it. She really wanted to go home and have everything be back to normal.
She and Clint talked until Gray showed up at eight. He hugged her and took Clint’s place on the edge of the bed.
“How long have you been awake, baby?” he asked.
“Since four. Poor Clint has had to keep me company.”
“Poor Clint was supposed to keep you company.” Gray tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “How are you feeling?”
“I feel fine, Gray. I want to go home.”
“She’s already fussing about getting in the garden,” Clint said.
“I don’t know when you’re going to get to work in the garden, Elissa.” Gray looked over at Clint.
She figured they were going to try to come up with some excuse to keep her in the house longer. Well she wasn’t going to let them.
“While we are here, anyway, we need to get a gun so you can teach me how to shoot.”
“I’ve already thought about that,” Gray said. “We’ll take you to the store and find one that will fit your hand.”
“Gray, do you think it’s a good idea for her to carry a gun?” Clint asked.
“We can’t stay with her and work the fields, too. She needs to be able to protect herself.”
“I can handle it, Clint. If I had had the gun the other day, I would have shot it when it took a step toward me. Then it might not have bitten me.”
“She can’t have the gun until she can hit what she’s aiming for.” Clint was adamant about that.
“I agree. Won’t do her any good if she just pisses the thing off.”
They discussed gun types and safety for the next thirty minutes until Jeff and Scott knocked and came in.
“It’s good to see you doing so well, Elissa. How are you feeling?” Jeff asked.
“I’m fine. My leg doesn’t hurt or burn, but then the guys won’t let me move it around, either.”
“Well, let’s turn you over and see how it’s doing today.”
She rolled over with Gray’s help. He held her gown for her. She wanted to see her leg again but refrained from asking since they were already working on taking off the bandage. She could look at it all she wanted once they got home. She had a hand mirror there.
“So? How does it look?” she asked as soon as the bandage was off.
“Looks good, Elissa. There’s no swelling or redness…”
“That’s because the damn thing is yellow,” she said sarcastically.
Jeff and Scott chuckled. She looked over at Clint and realized he and Gray weren’t smiling.
“What else?” she asked.
“The discoloration hasn’t changed. But, it hasn’t spread, either. I think it’s gone as far as it is going to. The puncture marks are scabbed over as well. I think the topical medication helped. I’m going to send some home with you. Clint, you and Gray can apply it twice a day for two days, and then once a day after that.”
“How long before I can walk on it?” She wanted to find out how long she was going to be confined to bed. She was tired of being in the bed.
“Let’s see how you do putting pressure on it right now,” Jeff said. “Let Scott put another bandage on and then we’ll stand you up and see how you do.”
As soon as Scott finished with the dressing, Clint and Gray helped her sit up on the edge of the bed.
“Any pain, throbbing, or burning with it hanging down?” Jeff asked.
She thought about it and shrugged. “Nope. Nothing.”
“Okay. Help her stand.”
Gray and Clint each took an arm and helped her stand up on her good leg. She then added her bad leg and slowly let her weight even out over both legs. Nothing. It didn’t hurt, and she could stand on it. Relief spread through her. She’s been scared she wouldn’t be able to stand any weight on it.
“Looks good. How does it feel?” Jeff asked.
“Fine. It doesn’t hurt or burn. Can I walk around some?” she asked.
“Go ahead.”
She looked at the guys, and they let go of her arms so she could walk, but they hovered close by. She walked around the room some as far as the IV line would let her, then sat back on the edge of the bed. She grinned up at the guys.
“I’m fine. I can go home now, right?”
“I don’t see why not. I’ll send home a couple of the pain pills in case you have some pain later, and the cream that has helped as well. Let me finish your paperwork, and then Scott will discharge you.” Jeff looked over at the men. “If there are any questions once you get home, just call us up on the radio and we’ll talk to you about them.”
“Thanks, doc,” Clint said.
All four men shook hands, and then Jeff and Scott walked out. She stood up on her own and searched around for her clothes.
“Hey, easy, Elissa. What are you looking for?”
“My clothes. I’m ready to get dressed.”
“You’re going to have to wait until Scott takes your IV out first. Then we’ll get you dressed.” Gray smiled and shook his head.
“Don’t be laughing at me until you’ve been in the hospital.”
They waited for about thirty minutes until Scott returned with some papers and a small bandage. He removed the IV and applied the small bandage.
“Hold it for a few seconds to keep it from bleeding,” he said.
“Here, I’ve got it, baby.” Gray applied pressure to it.
Scott went over the paperwork with Clint about how to keep it dry for three days. Then she could take showers for another week. He reminded them about how often to change the dressing and about her needing to take the iron pill once a day.
“Do you have any questions?” he asked.
“I think we’ve got it,” Clint said.
“Okay, I’ll leave you to get dressed. Then you can leave through the front door on the left whenever you get ready.” He shook their hands and left them alone.
“Clothes!” she fussed and began stripping the gown off.
Clint rushed to hand her the T-shirt and pants. She pulled the shirt over her head, then let Gray help her with the pants and her shoes and socks. Her leg didn’t hurt or burn, but it did give a pulling sensation when she stretched it. She figured that was from it healing. She still wasn’t really comfortable with the yellow skin. She’d check it out again once she got home.
“Ready to see about a gun, baby?” Gray picked her up.
“Hey, I can walk, remember?”
“No reason for you to yet. Wait until you have to, honey.” Clint opened the door for them.
They walked out to the transport and loaded her up in it. Then they stopped at the store that handled everything from clothes, to snowshoes, to guns. Clint carried her this time. Once they entered the store, he let her down to walk on her own. He stopped someone and asked where the guns were.
“Come on you two, they’re back here.” He pointed toward the back of the store.
She and Gray followed him to the back where there was an extensive display of all types of guns. She had no trouble walking, but the pulling feeling quickly got on her nerves. She might let the guys carry her around just to avoid that feeling.
A clerk walked up and asked what they were looking for. Gray explained they wanted something that would fit Elissa’s hand that she could shoot. They had her try several different handguns until they found one that wor
ked for her. They added bullets to the gun, and the clerk boxed it all up for them.
“Next stop is the grocery for more meat. Then we’re headed home.” Clint kissed the top of her head and squeezed her shoulders. “How are you holding up?”
“I’m fine. But I’ll be glad to get home. I’m ready for my own bed with my men in it with me.”
Gray and Clint exchanged smiles. Men were so easy to read. She knew they were thinking about sex. Then again, she’d been thinking about it, too.
Once they had everything loaded in the transport, they headed toward home with Gray driving. Clint dozed next to her. Right then, she wasn’t tired or sleepy. She kept up a steady conversation with Gray about when she could start practicing with the gun.
“Once you’re healed up good,” Gray told her.
“And who gets to determine when that is?” she asked with a scowl.
“Clint and I do, of course.” He grinned over at her.
“Not fair. You’ll never let me be well.” She pouted and crossed her arms over the harness.
“Not so, baby. I promise as soon as your leg looks healed we’ll let you outside and practice with your gun.”
“Oh, God! I forgot all about Lacy and the baby. How are they doing? Have you talked to them since I’ve been hurt?” Elissa felt terrible about dragging the men away when her men needed to be with Lacy and the baby.
“I talked to them last night before I went to bed. I was able to use the base station at the hospital. They’re doing fine. They were worried about you.”
“I feel terrible, because with you two gone, someone had to tend to the fields, and that took them away from Lacy.”
“There was nothing you or anyone could have done about it, baby. Don’t make yourself sick over it. We’ll be home in another hour and I’ll check on them again when I take the transport back.” Gray reached over and squeezed her hand.
They talked about the strange things they saw the rest of the way home. Gray pointed out the red rocks that cropped up out of the deep-green grasses. She pointed at the giant trees with the yellow-and-red trunks.
“Do you miss Earth?” she asked Gray.
