Page 243 of Mountain Daddy
I think she’s forgotten about Joe. But I won’t deny her.
Not this. Not anything.
Not ever.
I wrap my fingers around hers, setting our joined hands on my thigh. And I keep my eyes forward, away from Joe.
“Will he have a cast?” Kendra asks, her voice sounding shaky again.
I rub my thumb over the back of her hand.
Ethan nods. “He’ll have a hard plastic brace that attaches with Velcro. There’s a chance the—Buddy can chew off the straps, but it’s better than him chewing on a plaster cast. And it won’t matter if he gets this one wet.”
“He won’t chew it off,” Joe says like he knows it for a fact.
Kendra nods in agreement.
They’re probably right.
“He had a scrape on his head, but it’s small enough that the doc just cleaned it. No stitches needed. She x-rayed his whole body while looking at his leg, and there are no other breaks. No cracked ribs. So the chance of internal organ damage is minimal.”
Kendra sniffs, and I rub my thumb over her knuckles again. “He’ll really be okay?”
“A broken leg isn’t nothing. I’d like him to keep the cast on for at least four weeks. Longer if he’ll leave it alone. But if he keeps his weight off it, it should heal back to normal.” Ethansighs. “I feel required to add that wild animals can be dangerous. And?—”
“Yeah, yeah.” Joe waves off his concern. And again, I think he’s probably right. Buddy might be a furry little maniac, but he’s not going to bite these two. “Can he have some painkillers or something? Even with the cast, I gotta think that leg will hurt.”
Ethan nods. “Yeah. He’ll have some meds for a bit. Foxes usually eat things pretty fast, so if you stick the pills into some sort of food, he should take them just fine.”
“One of us’ll stop for some more meat on the way home,” Joe states.
Ethan’s jaw works. “He won’t be able to hunt with a cast. So, if you want him to stay strong and healthy, you’ll have to feed him. And if you do that, he will become dependent on you, and you’ll have to continue to feed him. Which”—he holds up a hand to punctuate the importance of this next part—“I do not recommend. Wild animals are not pets.” He drops his hand. “But I have a feeling none of that will deter you.”
“Thank you,” Kendra says earnestly.
I shake my head.
She and Joe will absolutely ignore the last part of Ethan’s little speech.
“In normal circumstances, we’d probably keep the animal overnight for observation, but I think Buddy would do best in familiar surroundings. It’s gonna be a bit before he’s awake enough to go, but we’ll send him home tonight. Though I will insist you transport him using one of our travel crates. You can return it next week.”
“We can do that. And truly, we really appreciate the help.” Joe pulls one of the cups free from the carrier. “I brought this as a thank-you.”
Ethan looks uncomfortable accepting the gift. Like he’s not used to another man buying him a latte.
I smirk.
He takes a sip, then nods to Joe. “Tastes like thirty grand.”
My smirk drops, and I mouth,Fuck you. Again.
Ethan dips his chin to Kendra, then turns and heads back down the hall.
“I don’t get it,” Joe mumbles. “Is that a thing people say?”
Kendra leans forward to look around me. “Is one of those for me?”
“Huh?” Joe’s eyes move to our joined hands.
