Page 18 of Stables

When she looks down, a lock of her auburn hair falls and shadows the bruises on her face, revealing the glimmer of beauty hiding beneath the marks.

It’s hard to not feel anger when she turns back and there’s fresh blood staining her lip where the scab split.

“Can you help me get her out? She’s almost too big for me to carry tonight.” Char shakes out the cloth she’s holding to reveal a cartoony princess embossed on the fabric.

“Where’s your blond friend? Will she be able to come back and help you?” When I roll forward onto my knees, my shoulder brushes hers in the narrow space.

Paisley scoots a hair away from me, then glances up at her mom.

“Libby had to work. Her folks own Taylor Dairy.” Char leans over me, holding her hands out to Paisley. “Come on, baby girl. Time to get out. The nice doctor is going to help, okay?”

Char’s arm burns against mine as she reaches down and half lifts Paisley into a standing position. “Here’s your Princess Paisley towel. Can you be Mommy’s princess and stand up straight?”

The toddler gives her a serious nod and extends her pudgy arms over her head.

Char wraps her and pulls a corner over her curly hair that has a crown illustration on it.

“I’m going to lift you up, okay?” I try to lighten my tone to mimic the patterns in Char’s.

Paisley drops her chin, and I take that as a “yes”, then whisk her up and over the edge, landing her on her feet on the rug in front of me.

“Good job, Paisley. Can I look in your ear?” I catch the look of doubt on Char’s face as I say it. “I mean, in your royal ear, your majesty?” My mustache twitches as I try to keep my composure.

Paisley reminds me of my niece with her big eyes and dark hair.

Sophia and Sawyer, twins, but in every way different. Sawyer would have already been streaking through the house, where Sophia was more reserved like Paisley.

Hard to believe they’re both nearing twenty.

But now, my brother has a new baby, and told me he wants a houseful.

Paisley lifts her chin and tilts the side of her head towards me. “Princess Paisley.” She manages to lisp out through the terry cloth she buries her face into.

I get a fast look into each ear, long enough to confirm my suspicions. “She has slight swelling in the left side.” Moving back in front, I tilt up the little girl’s chin. “Paisley, can you open your mouth for me? Nice and wide.”

She purses her tiny lips and looks at me.

“Like this, baby.” Char tries to open her own, but stops with a wince.

Fuck, that makes me twinge seeing her.

“Watch me.” I make an “O” and then drop my jaw as she parrots me.

I’ve dealt with enough children through the years, all I need is a glimpse. “Thank you. That was perfect.”

Rocking back on my heels, the leather in my boots creak. I thread my stethoscope out of my bag. “Last thing, Princess. I just need to listen to your lungs. Do you think you can take a big breath for me?”

I’m only inches from Char, so close the heat of her body warms my arm in my short sleeved scrub top.

After Paisley rapid fires some long inhales, I peel the earpieces out.

“She has a slight ear infection. Keeping the fever down, it should resolve itself in a few days.” I reach behind me to my duffel, inadvertently brushing Char’s hip when I twist.

“Sorry,” I murmur before turning back. “Here’s the Tylenol. Do you have a current weight on her for dosing?”

Char nods as the pink corner of her tongue darts out and dabs at the split on her lip.

I guess I’m done.

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