Sanitary?I understood then what the doctor had said about us, and where and how we lived. And whatever the doctor had said had obviously not come as a surprise to Rosalie, who had been judging us from the moment she’d seen us. And now she’d mustered enough goodwill to extend to me, but not enough to include Amir. I wondered how the Langfords would have reacted if it had been Amir who had been bitten by their dog instead of me.
“I’ll be fine at Horseshoe Cliff,” I announced. “Can we go now?”
The doctor, irritated, began to stuff his ointments and bandage kit back into his bag. He stopped suddenly and faced Amir.
“Talk some sense into her,” he said in a low voice. “She’ll listen to you. It’s safer for her to stay here. An infection would be very serious. Surely you don’t want to see her in any more pain than she’s already in?”
Amir chewed on his lip. I hated to see him look so unhappy; it bothered me more even than my aching leg. “Merrow, they’re right,” he said quietly. “You should stay here and let your leg recover.”
“But Amir!” What would Bear do to him if they were alone for the night at Horseshoe Cliff?
“I’ll be fine.”
“If Bear—”
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, cutting me off. He nodded at Doctor Clark. “Let’s go now, if you don’t mind. You’re right; Bear will be worried.”
I tried to stand and released a growl of frustration when pain shot through me. I grabbed Amir’s shirt. I could feel everyone in the room watching us, but I did not care. I hated the thought of him alone with Bear.“Please...”
He took my hand. “Just rest.” His eyes were so dark and soft they looked as though they were made of velvet. “Everything will be okay.”
His expression implored me to not say anything. He squeezedmy hand again, and then let it go. I watched, stunned, as he left the room.
“Well, good,” the doctor said, sounding somewhat uncertain now. He shook his head as though clearing it, and—after dispensing pain medication, antibiotic ointment, and extra bandages—he, too, strode out of the room and then the house, leaving me alone with the Langfords.
