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“Dr. Rowland said you hit your head and were unconscious.”
Amanda insisted, “I’m fine. I feel fine.”
“You may have a concussion, and usually the hospital would want to keep you overnight under observation after a head injury like that.”
“No, thank you.” Amanda backed away. “I really don’t need a night at the hospital.”
“Ma’am, you really should—” Amy reached for her.
“Don’t waste your time on me.”
Amanda retreated, but her back hit something firm.
“What’s going on?” Gene stood behind her and put a steadying hand on her elbow. “You really shouldn’t be on your feet, Amanda.”
“She’s refusing to go to the ER, Doctor,” Amy said. “As you said, there’s a possibility of a concussion.”
Dr. Rowland assessed Amanda critically. “They’re right, you should go.”
He doesn’t recognize me.
“What’s the worst thing that could happen if I don’t go to the hospital?” Amanda asked Gene.
“If you have a concussion, you could experience major headache, nausea, blurry vision, balance issues, memory problems,” Gene explained.
“Except for the headache, I don’t have any of those symptoms.”
“Some symptoms may not appear for hours, hence the need for observation,” Gene replied patiently.
“Fine, but do I need to be observed at the hospital?”
“If you have someone at home who knows enough what to look for, then they can observe you at home,” Gene said. “Do you have anyone we can call for you?”
Crap.
Jo, her best friend, was the only person she would ask to do something like this. But she was out of town with her fiancé, Ash. She hated to ask her other friends and take them away from their family just because she had a headache. There was Miss Lydia, her next-door neighbor, but she was elderly. She couldn’t possibly ask her to stay up and watch her. She needed her rest.
“No, it’s alright.” Amanda turned to see what the cops were doing. “I’m not leaving until they find her, anyway.”
Gene’s hand rested gently on her shoulder. “They didn’t find anyone, Amanda.”
Amanda shook her head. “She’s gotta be here somewhere.”
“If she were, she’s long gone,” Gene said.
“To where?” Amanda’s voice was barely a whisper.
“I don’t know. But you need to take care of yourself right now, Amanda.”
Gene stared at the woman in front of him. She had a two-inch laceration by her hairline, her temple was showing signs of bruising, and her wrist was most likely twisted. Instead of being concerned about her condition, she was worrying about a girl nobody could find.
He hadn’t seen a girl when he’d gotten there. But he’d been at least half a mile from her when the accident had happened. The girl—if there was a girl—could’ve gone anywhere. They weren’t that far from town, though it would still be a long walk.
“Amanda, let the police deal with that, okay? You really need to get off your feet and rest.”
Gene was worried she had a worse head injury than he’d thought.
“She may be injured, lost somewhere in the bushes and needs help,” she said, as if she didn’t hear him.
