Page 32 of Legacy of Danger
All right, Mr. Grumpy Expert. Let's play ball.
She popped a fist on her hip. "Mr.Taggart. Being that you live in New York City and all, you're probably used to big city medicine, but this is aruralhospital." She emphasized the word with the perfect amount of snark balanced with professional confidence. "We're not exactly flush with specialists, so we all wear multiple hats around here."
"Well, then how'd you have an orthopedics guy around for Shelby?" Vaughn lifted his chin. "He's a specialist."
On the edge of her field of vision, Mariah spied dual horrified expressions on Shelby's and Garrison's faces. Really? They were surprised that big brother was a surly mess?
Time to educate.
She stepped close enough to feel his heat and smell that clean scent of shaving cream that made her mouth water. And no, she didn't miss how he stuffed his hands into his jeans pockets. The tight, worn jeans fit so well on his lean hips.
Not caring about things like pride, she went on tiptoes and pinned him in place with some surliness of her own. Emotions from the hectic pace of work, the fear of practicing far outside of her comfort zone, her personal carry-on baggage that she lugged around every day, and the stress of caring for critically ill patients with little backup all wadded into a messy clump. Might as well smear her own issues on top and bingo! Crap cupcake, complete with rich and tasty defensive frosting.
She forced a slow, deep breath in and out of her lungs and tried to count to ten. Made it to five. Close enough.
"We were very lucky," she bit out, somehow managing to stay this side of professional. Barely. "Our orthopedist happened to be in town after his outreach day in the clinic. He canceled his weekend plans so he could stay and patch Shelby up in the OR and then check on her over the weekend, and we appreciated him doing so. Didn't we? Yes. You're welcome."
She lifted her hands as a warning for him to keep his mouth shut. "Anything else you want to discuss, like how I schedule my day? Or maybe how we obtain prior authorizations from insurances? Please let me know." Swiping her palm over her cheek, she tried for another count of ten. Nope. Still couldn't get past five. "No requests? Then let me tell you about the way we pulled together every last damned resource in the county to keep your friends and family alive. What? Big talker suddenly has nothing to say?"
She didn't miss how Garrison exhaled the wordshit.
For Mariah's part, her lower back was damp with sweat. But way to go with the standing up part.
"Uh, no. Nothing else," Vaughn mumbled as he broke eye contact. The sensation of being hit with a wall of danger ebbed away, along with that stupid stress headache.
Shelby grabbed Mariah's hand. "Even if my boneheaded brother is too stupid to say it, thank you for making sure we all got patched back up. This time and also a few weeks ago when my nephew came in." She peered at Mariah. "And thanks for taking care of our dad when he had the stroke."
"And taking care of my girlfriend," Garrison added.
Vaughn's mouth twisted like he'd sucked an entire lemon. Good.
"My pleasure." She managed to smile sweetly at Shelby and Garrison but slid an almost-snarl past Mr. Big and Suddenly Silent.
"So, how's Eric doing?" Shelby asked.
Mariah stepped back and let go of the woman's hand. A foot away from Vaughn, the temperature dropped ten degrees. "Stable. I've been in contact with the specialists in Casper, and we've done all the tests and treatments they recommended. We talked about sending him to Casper, but neurology said it's more a matter of giving him time to wake up."
"How much time do they think he needs?" The shimmering worry in Shelby's eyes triggered a lump in Mariah's throat.
"It varies from person to person."
Shelby pinched the bridge of her nose. "He should be awake by now, right?"
"Well. Yes." She added, too quickly, "But every patient is different."
"Geez. Okay."
The men studied the floor while Shelby sniffed.
Finally, she looked back at her brother. "Garrison, could we go in now? If it's okay with Dr. West."
Mariah paused and studied Shelby for a few seconds, weighing the woman's very human need to be close to a loved one against taking a medical risk. "All right. But after you're done, I want you resting again." She stepped aside.
Garrison propelled her forward as Vaughn followed, like a big, docile puppy.
That is, if a big, docile puppy radiated barely restrained danger and smug satisfaction.
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