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“Uncle Wells!”Jolene shouts just as he rushes inside.
“Stop!” I tell him, holding on to my bloody forearm. “Let me put her back in. She doesn’t need any more stimulus.”
“You’re bleeding!” Jolene yells, crying and hiccuping. Big fat tears are streaming down her face. The poor girl is a mess.
“I’m okay, Jolene. I promise, baby. I’m okay.”
“Poppy, let me do it,” Wells says, assertive and face all serious. “You’re hurt. Wade, go get your grandmother. Now.”
I’m already up on unsteady feet, hobbling toward Betty at a slow, measured pace. She’s in the corner, and her ears are back. I’m in pain, but my heart is shattering for this poor girl, who was just taken by surprise. She was terrified, and that’s no one’s fault but those assholes we rescued her from.
“Hey, baby girl.” My voice is quiet and calm. “I’m just gonna take that lead off of you, okay?”
My arm is dripping blood, and the sight of it is making me woozy. But I manage to get the lead unhooked and her bowl of food into her room. She looks at me with her big sad eyes, and I bite back tears.
“Hey, hey, whoa,” Wells says, grabbing me as my feet stumble and I fall into the wall. My ankle is throbbing, and my vision has floaters in it. I amnotgood with blood.
“What happened?” Katherine all but shouts as she comes running into the barn.
“It’s okay. I’m okay,” I tell her. “Betty just got scared. It isn’t anyone’s fault. But I think I might need stitches.”
Which is very unfortunate because my insurance here doesn’t start until the two-month mark, and emergency room visits are not cheap.
“Let’s get her in the car, Wells. Kids, can you be a big help and grab a bottle of water and open one of the car doors for us?”
“Maybe we could just go to the drugstore? I’m sure they sell those liquid stitches or whatever.”
“No, you need a doctor.” Wells’ voice is strong and commanding, and I see far too much of his brother in him for my liking. Makes me wish Rhett were here.
“I don’t have insurance yet.” My cheeks flame.
“No worries about that,” Katherine says. “We live in a small town, and that doctor owes us a favor.”
Before I can say anything, Wells lifts me up into his arms. My stomach turns, the sudden shift in my body making me feel like I’m going to heave. I swallow past the dryness in my mouth and take a few deep breaths.
“I can walk,” I manage to get out.
“Yeah, you look it,” he says, rolling his eyes. “Just let me get you to the car. Momma will have to take you. I’ll need to stay to take care of things. And…”
He trails off, side-eyeing me like he’s afraid to say what’s coming next.
“And…?”
“I’m gonna have to tell Rhett, Poppy.”
“No.” My voice is stronger than it has been for the past five minutes. “No way in hell.”
“We have to tell him, dear.” Katherine’s soothing voice comes up behind us. “It’s technically his ranch. He needs to know.”
“And there ain’t no way we’re keeping those kids quiet. They’re gonna run straight to him,” Wells adds.
I want to cry. I want to curl up in a tight ball and just cry. This isnothow today was supposed to go.
“Just…” I lower my voice, hoping only Wells can hear me. “Don’t let him come to the hospital? Please?”
His worried gaze looks down at me with eyebrows drawn together before he sighs.
“Fine, Poppy. I’ll try, okay? No guarantees. But I’ll try.”
