Page 62 of Bear Creek Father's Day
Heart pounding, Crew informed both of his coworkers of the situation and made his way to the waiting room. An older human male, a young couple, and a mother with her little one looked up as he started speaking.
“Folks, we have an emergency situation on our hands with an injured patient being brought in. Doctor Hall may not be available for some time, so you’ll be seen by Jessica McKnight instead. Please accept our apologies for any delays and the last minute change. I’ll be happy to reschedule your appointment if you prefer.”
Minutes later, a battered red pickup truck pulled in with a bear laying in the back, followed by a Sheriff Deputy vehicle with the lights flashing. Crew hurried outside to wave them in the right direction and went back in to man the phone and keep everyone calm. What he actually wanted to do was observe the team inaction, but he’d have to settle for a verbal account later. So much for a quiet Wednesday!
Chapter 28
While Dixy continued preparations, Zak opened the back door of the treatment room which led directly to the fenced-in enclosure. Moments later, he heard a vehicle and spotted his patient in the bed of an older pickup. He hurried out to open the gate, and directed the driver to back in. With help from the deputy and the driver, Zak placed a portable steel ramp between the truck bed and the ground—making it easier for the patient to enter the building.
The bear was awake, left hind leg wrapped with an old shirt and secured with duct tape. Crude, but probably all the bear’s rescuer had available at the time. It wasn’t soaked through with blood, which Zak knew was a very good sign. Both men kept quiet as he climbed up to speak to the shifter and take a closer look. He appeared to be young and fit, though huffing in distress.
“I’m Doctor Hall. May I examine you?”
The bear nodded and lay his head down again. Zak quickly checked the leg, listened to his heart, and felt for other possible injuries. When he’d finished, he asked the patient another question.
“Can you walk?”
He received another nod of the head.
“Good. Once you’re inside, lay down on the rectangular tabletop embedded in the floor and I’ll be able to treat you from there.”
While Zak and the others watched, the injured bear struggled to get up within the confines of the truck bed while keeping pressure off his damaged hind leg. Huffing and moving slowly,he made his way down the ramp and into the building. Zak followed him, but paused to make a request of the driver and deputy.
“If you’ll wait up front, I’ll speak with you as soon as the patient is stable.”
They both agreed and Zak closed the outer door. The bear had managed to lie down on the steel tabletop as instructed, and Dixy activated the hydraulic lift with a push of a button, bringing it to waist height. Zak began with a blood pressure check—wrapping the modified cuff around an undamaged forelimb, and informed Dixy that a bear’s normal reading was 170.
“Anything less than a hundred is critical, but he’s weak and lethargic, so we need to confirm soonest.”
Meanwhile, Zak carefully removed the makeshift bandage on the bear’s left hind leg and checked the injury site. It was still oozing blood, but thankfully the bullet had missed a major artery. With no exit wound, it meant his first step was to locate and remove the bullet.
Dixy called out the results of the blood pressure check.
“He’s holding steady at 140. Do we need to start an IV?”
Zak showed her where and how, and opened the cupboard to grab what they needed. Since major surgery wasn’t necessary, the bear didn’t need to be unconscious—only feel so good he wouldn’t care. Zak paused to explain things to his patient, calmly stroking the bear’s head as he spoke.
“The bullet is still in your leg, near the hindquarter, so I have to take it out, clean the wound, and stitch you up. I’m going to give you a shot that may put you to sleep, but you won’t feel any pain.In a day or two you should be able to shift—just don’t try it until I tell you it’s safe. Do you understand?”
The bear nodded and gave him a thankful growl before settling down. He felt the needle go in, but after that, his brain went all warm and fuzzy and he forgot where he was or why it mattered.
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Zak found the bullet quickly, stopped by the bear’s upper femur, near the hip bone. The femur wasn’t broken, only nicked, but the projectile must have entered his body at an odd angle or from quite a distance. He preserved the slug as evidence, then cleaned the wound thoroughly before stitching him up. Shifters normally healed faster than humans, and with reduced pain, the bear’s body could now focus on repair instead of survival. He’d need a high protein meal sooner than later, and Zak called up to the front desk. Crew answered right away.
“What can I do for you, Doc?”
“Call the Honey Bear restaurant and order a to-go meal of five pounds of raw beef, cut into small pieces. Request delivery and offer to pay extra if they hesitate. We need it in thirty minutes or less if possible. Can do?”
Crew chuckled.
“Can do. How’s the patient?”
“Stable and resting. Send the Sheriff and driver to my office so I can speak to them, please.”
“No problem. I’ll bring the meal to you when it arrives.”
Zak gave Dixy further instructions.
