The Color Of Courage. Patricia Davids

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СКАЧАТЬ well, it was the signs of pain—in animals and in humans.

      A second later her fellow soldiers reached them. Shane swept Lindsey up into his arms without a moment’s hesitation and Brian had no choice but to let him. Seeing how easily and gently the man lifted her made Brian acutely aware of his own physical shortcomings. Years ago he had carried Emily just as effortlessly. He thought he had come to terms with his disability a long time ago, but obviously he hadn’t.

      His limp was only a small reminder of the tragedy his carelessness had brought about. In one night he had lost both his wife and their unborn child. His mistake had cost him everything he held dear and he had only himself to blame.

      Lee quickly retrieved Brian’s cane and handed it to him. Taking the polished wooden staff, Brian nodded his thanks and ignored his feelings of inadequacy. He extended one hand indicating a door a few steps down the hall. “My office has a sofa in it. You can lay her down in there. Do you want me to call nine-one-one?”

      “No.” The weak murmur came from Lindsey.

      “Are you sure?” Shane asked, looking uncertain.

      She nodded as if more words were beyond her.

      “This way,” Brian said, and moved to open his door. Inside his office, he swept up a few papers and books from the brown leather sofa to make room for her.

      Shane lowered her gingerly, then stood back. None of the men seemed to know what to do next. Brian cleared his throat. “Would you like a drink of water?”

      “Yes, please,” she whispered. She still hadn’t opened her eyes.

      Brian grabbed a paper cup from the dispenser on the wall and filled it from the bottled container beside it. Moving back to her side, he settled himself on the edge of the couch. He lifted her head and held the cup to her lips. She took a sip then sighed. He lowered her head back to the cushion.

      She opened one eye. “I thought you didn’t do humans.”

      “I make exceptions for women dressed in Civil War uniforms.”

      For an instant a smile tugged at the edge of her lips before she winced in pain again. “How fortunate can a girl get?”

      “Are you sure you don’t want me to call nine-one-one?”

      “Two rides in an ambulance in one day would be more than my ego can take. I don’t suppose you have some really good pain medicine handy. The pills they gave me at the hospital don’t seem to be doing much.”

      “I’ve got a ton of good stuff here.”

      She opened both eyes. “Really?”

      He nodded. “I’ve got drugs that will knock out a horse.”

      “Ha-ha. What does a girl have to do to get some?”

      He was pleased to see her smile return, along with a bit more color in her cheeks. “She would need to grow two more legs and a tail.”

      “Are you telling me I don’t measure up as one of your patients?”

      “I never said anything of the kind. It’s actually nice to be able to ask a patient where it hurts and get an answer.”

      “It hurts exactly where my horse landed on me.”

      “From my vantage point that looked like almost all of you.”

      “You are so right. If you aren’t going to supply me with drugs, can you help me sit up?”

      Brian didn’t have a chance to help her. Her comrades were more than happy to oblige. He moved out of their way. When she was sitting upright she waved them aside. “I’m okay now. Don’t hover.”

      The men backed up, but they didn’t look ready to leave her to her own devices.

      Brian filled the cup again with more water and handed it to her. To his relief, he saw that her color was almost back to normal. “If you won’t go to the hospital, at least go home and lie on your own sofa so I can have mine back.”

      Taking the offered drink, she sipped it and nodded. “Once I see Dakota, I’ll do just that.”

      All of the men began to protest together, but she ignored their scolding and stood. Cradling her arm, she winced but remained steady on her feet. “Show me the way, Dr. Cutter.”

      “He’s down the hall, through the doors at the very end and in the first stall on the left.”

      He felt slightly cheated as he watched her fellow unit members guide her out the door, one on each side with her captain close behind. It wasn’t that he wanted her to fall into his arms again. Of course not. He simply wanted to make sure she was all right. But that was what her friends wanted, too, he reminded himself. And they certainly had more of a right to care for her than he did. He was nothing but a stranger.

      The thought brought back his frown. He was more than that. He was the man who might have to put her beloved horse to sleep.

      Early Monday morning, Lindsey begged a ride to the Large Animal Clinic with Shane. When they arrived, they saw Lee and Avery just going in. It seemed that all of them wanted to check on Dakota before they started their duties for the day.

      As she approached Dakota’s stall, Lindsey was surprised to see Captain Watson had arrived before them. He was deep in conversation with Dr. Cutter.

      When her captain caught sight of them, he smiled. “I’ve been talking to the doctor and he has a way to do surgery on Dakota at a reduced cost to our unit.”

      Lindsey’s heart jumped as happiness surged through her. “How is that possible?”

      Dr. Cutter cleared his throat. “Using a new surgical procedure that I’ve developed—I told you about it the other day. Dakota’s break is exactly the sort I’m hoping to trial this repair on.”

      “But you said it wasn’t an option.” Shane frowned at the doctor.

      “I received notice of my grant acceptance this morning. It is an experimental procedure. If Dakota is entered in the study, it will mean I will have total control of his care. My fees and much of his care will be covered, but that will still leave the bill for his boarding and supplies that the army will have to pay. Unfortunately, the grant isn’t a large one.”

      “We can raise the money if we have to,” Captain Watson said.

      “Absolutely,” Avery chimed in. “He’s one of our own. We won’t let him down.”

      “Of course not,” Lindsey added. She had a little in savings. She would gladly give the money to help pay for Dakota’s care. “When you say experimental, Dr. Cutter, do you mean there is a chance that this won’t help him?”

      “There is that chance, but I have every confidence that he will do well. If my procedure works, he could be out of his cast in as little as six weeks.”

      Six weeks. That meant Dakota would be able to travel to Washington, D.C., in time for the Inaugural parade. Lindsey’s joy danced like a soap bubble in the wind.

      Thank СКАЧАТЬ