Page 57 of Little Bits of Daddy (Montana Daddies)

“That was an hour ago.”

“Roll her onto her side facing away from me, Macca. Then try to distract her. Littles tend to get a bit upset when I take their temperature. Don’t know why, perfectly acceptable way to take a Little’s temperature. Always gotta make a fuss.”

She ignored Doc’s grumbling, as Macca rolled her over and slipped down her panties. Her legs were curled up to her chest.She whimpered but was too tired to put up a protest as the thermometer was slipped into her bottom once more.

“Shh, baby girl. It’s going to be okay. You feel pretty bad, huh?” Macca sympathized.

She nodded, wincing as it hurt her head. Macca grabbed hold of her pacifier again, putting it in her mouth. “Don’t be embarrassed. Doc’s seen it all.”

“Sure have. I’m a doctor, ain’t nothing that embarrasses me,” he replied. Sometimes she thought he sounded more like he was eighty than somewhere in his late-thirties.

The thermometer was slid out and Macca quickly raised her panties up and settled the covers around her once more. Then he laid a soft kiss on her forehead.

“How’s her temperature?” Macca asked.

Doc grunted. “Not good. 102. Right, little girl. Let’s hear your lungs. Think you can sit up for me and lean forward?”

She nodded. Macca helped her sit, raising up her pajama top so Doc could listen to her lungs. Then he checked her pulse, throat and ears before letting her lie back down.

“Good news is her lungs sound fine. Bad news is she’s got a very red throat. I need to take a swab to check for strep throat. Got any popsicles?”

“Ahh, don’t think I do.”

Doc grunted again. “I’ve got some. Will drop them over. Sucking on them will help her throat.” He drew something out of his bag that looked like the pacifier she was sucking on, except it had a bulb at one end. Then he got out a bottle and a syringe and unscrewed the bulb. He used the syringe to extract some medicine then placed it in the bulb.

“This is adult liquid acetaminophen. I got a supply of these pacifiers the other day. When they’re sucked on, the medicine is released gradually. Now, you’ll need to follow the amounts I’llwrite down for her. But seems might be a good option for her rather than anal suppositories.”

Ahh. Yeah, she’d agree with that.

“Take her temperature regularly. Plenty of rest and fluids. If it continues to climb or is still over 101 by tonight call me again.” Doc handed her the medicine-filled pacifier. She swapped it with her old one. The feel of it was different but not bad.

“Follow my instructions, little miss. No getting up unless it’s for the toilet. Drink lots.” He turned to Macca. “You might want to use a bottle as she’s going to be pretty tired. Any questions?”

“No, I think I’ve got it.”

“Good. I’ve got other things to do.” He packed up and left.

That was abrupt.

“Hmm, he was quite friendly today,” Macca commented.

She pulled out the pacifier. “How could you tell?”

“Well, Doc has two modes. Grumpy and grumpier. Today he was just grumpy.” He pushed the pacifier back into her mouth. “Keep that in there, sweet pea. You heard what Doc said. I’m going to go and get you a bottle. You just rest and let me take care of you.”

She sighed. She might feel utterly miserable but at least she had people around her who cared.

7

Gigi did a quick check of her outfit in the mirror.

Cowgirl boots. Check.

Cowgirl hat. Check.

Macca’s shirt half-unbuttoned so that it showed a lot of skin. Check.

Nothing else. Check.

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