Page 37 of The Jackpot Screwer
“That’s only temporary. Right, Bronte?” Before I had time to reply, he turned to Mom. “Anyway, I’m starved. What’s for dinner?”
As Shaw left for the kitchen, closely followed by Mom and Dad, I thought about his words. He was right, I was lucky to have found Carter even if he did drive me crazy from time to time.
So, I was decided I was going to get a good night’s sleep and then tomorrow I was going to see Carter and tell him I wanted him back. I just hoped he still wanted me.
When Delphine placed the plate of pancakes and bacon in front of me, I wasn’t even sure I had the energy to eat them. Problem was my stomach was growling like a bear who’d just woken up from hibernation.
“Oh honey, you look exhausted,” Delphine said, giving me a sympathetic smile. “Long night?”
“Yeah,” I said around a yawn. “There was an RTA involving an SUV and a horse trailer. The horse was pretty messed up.”
“Oh no.” She clutched her hands to her chest, her smile disappearing. “Did you manage to save it?”
“So far so good. Chase Cameron the equine vet was treating a racehorse in Saratoga, but he arrived back a couple of hours ago. He’s with him now, so fingers crossed.”
“That’s great, honey.” Delphine gave my shoulder a squeeze. “You eat up and then go home and sleep.”
Nodding, I popped a pain killer for my damned toothache and swallowed it down with a gulp of milk.
“They look great, Delphine.”
She left me to go serve a group of girls that had come in for coffee on their way to the high school. Ten minutes later, I was slowly getting through my pancakes. Slowly because every couple of minutes I felt my eyes closing. Lack of sleep and painkillers for my toothache were killing me.
“Carter, you okay?” It was Nancy Andrews, my neighbor.
She was a teacher’s aide at the Kindergarten and had no family to speak of after her folks died in a fire while on vacation a few years back. “You look awful,” she said.
Prizing my eyes open, I looked up at her. “Jus’ exhausted. Been up all night with a horse.”
She bent down to look me closer in the eyes and frowned. “Have you taken something?”
“Jus ma pain killers for ma tooth.” I could barely open my mouth to speak, everything came out slurred.
“Let me see them,” she said quietly.
So quiet and soft, like a sweet, sweet, lullaby.
“Carter, show me what you’ve taken.” Nancy shook my shoulder and gave my face a little pat.
Reaching into my pocket, I felt my head loll, like it was just too heavy for me to keep it upright.
“There ya go.”
I slapped a pill bottle onto the table and watched through half-closed eyes as Nancy picked it up and read the label.
“Carter, how many have you taken?”
“W-wha?” I tried to take it from her, but missed my aim, landing my hand onto the table. “Shit. I don’t think I can see.”
“God,” she groaned. “Okay, you sit tight while I call Doc Browning.”
“Nah,” I replied, waving her away. “I’ll jus’ sleep here.”
“Carter, these are Extra Strength Tylenol,” she said and put the bottle on the table. “How many have you had?”
There was an edge to her voice, like she was worried. I had no idea why and didn’t care. I just wanted to sleep.
“I dunno. I need to think about tha...”
