Page 39 of Safe With Me

After the last bandage was removed, the cut had indeed stopped gushing. Only trickles leaked out. “What did you cut this on?”

“A jagged soup can top.”

“Then you’ll need a tetanus shot, too.”

A knock on the door; it opened and Alice came in. “What can I do, doc?”

“Set up sutures for this cut. Then prepare a tetanus shot.”

Alice worked efficiently. She handed him the numbing agent first.Paxgave him a shot withlidocaine. “We’ll wait a bit for this to take effect. Meanwhile, I’ll give you the tetanus shot.”

After a few minutes, the bleeding stopped completely andPaxsaid, “I’m ready to suture.” Alice handed him the needle. Soon, Lester was all fixed up. “I want you to come back in five days so I can check this and maybe take out the sutures.”

“Yes, Doc. Thanks.” Again, the meekness.

There was a steady stream of people to be treated. After an hour, he checked on Noreen. “How you holding up?” he asked, after waiting for the patient to leave.

She leaned against the exam bed. “Whew! This isnonstop.”

“There’s still patients for a while yet.”

“I’m game.” She gave him a sexy smile. “You can buy me a drinkafterward.”

“We’ll all go out.”

“Aw, I’d rather just us.”

Uncomfortable with the remark, he said, “I’ll see you later.”

Jon sent the patients in.Paxtreated a broken finger, a dislocated shoulder, a knife wound (only gunshots needed to be reported to the cops), a rash, a bad cough, astomachachethat he diagnosed as an appendix that burst. He sent the person to the hospital in an ambulance. When all were treated, he went out into the waiting room.

Jackson,Gemmaand Caleb had sprawled out on chairs, and Jon was seated behind the desk looking dazed.Stephperched on a table. “Hey, everybody. Thanks so much for assisting out here. This should be the last day we have a mob.”

“I’m glad we could be here,” Caleb said. “We’ll try to schedule another day next week. Do you have other volunteers?”

“Yeah, some of guys who helped paint are coming tomorrow with their spouses.”

“Thanks. Let me see how it goes the next few days.”

Jon said, “It’s six,Pax. Is it okay if I leave?”

“Sure. Thanks Jon.”

“See you tomorrow.”

Stephsaid, “Where’s Noreen?”

“Must be in the back. I’ll go check. Then we can leave.”

Paxwent to the staff area in the back of the clinic. Noreen was packing up her bag. “Hey, thanks for today. You’re not on again till Saturday.”

She turned to face him. Her eyes narrowed a bit. “No drink?”

“No.”

“Why?” she asked coming toward him. She’d changed out of her scrubs. Her shirt had three buttons open which exposed a bit of cleavage. Her hair fell sexily to her shoulders.

He cleared his throat. “What are you doing, Noreen?”

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