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“TJ!”
He snapped out of it and raced from the car before bending to grab the woman’s feet. Belle directed him into the back seat of her car.
“Let’s get her to our place and I can check her over there,” she said, driving towards their destination.
When they got home, TJ helped her carry the unconscious woman across the wet grass and into the house where they laid her carefully on the couch.
TJ’s hands raced across his phone screen as she took the woman’s pulse. Too fast. “Stop messing on your phone and go get my kit.”
You’d think a kid who wanted to be a doctor would be more helpful in this situation. TJ disappeared upstairs. Minutes passed by. Belle huffed and followed him. “What’s the holdup?”
“I can’t find it,” TJ said, coming out of her bedroom.
“Because it’s in the bathroom, not my bedroom.” She grabbed the kit and ran down the stairs.
After pulling out the thermometer, she checked the woman’s temperature. One hundred and three. Next she used the stethoscope and listened to her lungs. Not good.
“I’m going to go upstairs and get out of these wet things and get her a change of clothes. Keep her covered for now and then we’ll take her to the hospital.” Belle didn’t wait for her brother’s reply as she ran back up the stairs.
Belle changed and grabbed another set of dry clothes. The woman was a lot taller than her, but they’d have to make do.
A knock sounded at the door. Who could that be? She grabbed a towel on her way down, freezing halfway.
Bently Evans was in her house, in uniform. Fear wound around her. How had he known to come here? Was he watching her? TJ’s earlier questions and the sheriff’s sudden presence made the hair on the back of her neck stand up.
“Mia?” Bently gasped, rushing over to her now awake patient’s side.
“What is he doing here?” Belle snapped, focusing on her brother’s guilty look.
TJ shrugged.
“Don’t act like you’re not happy to see me,” Bently said frostily.
Had Bently used her brother to get to her? She rolled her eyes. “Has hell frozen over?”
“TJ called and let me in. Seems he rescued my friend.” Bently turned his attention back on the woman lying on Belle’s sofa. “What happened?”
“I just need to go home,” Mia rasped, before coughing.
Putting her distrust for this man aside because someone else needed her, Belle interjected, “No, she needs a hospital. Her lungs sound like they have some fluid and she’s running a high fever. She was passed out in the freezing cold, soaked to the bone. No idea how long she was exposed to the elements, but she could have pneumonia.”
“Let’s go, Mia. Doctor’s orders.” Bently took her hand as she stood up.
“I’m a nurse,” she deadpanned.
“Home. No hospital.” Mia coughed again, seemingly unable to stop before she went limp in Bently’s arms.
“She needs to go to the ER,” Belle commanded. “TJ, take my keys and meet me there.”
Bently hooked his arm under Mia’s knees and carried her out while Belle held the door open. She ran to his truck and climbed in the extended cab seats, opening her arms for Bently to hand Mia over. He obliged, shutting the doors before climbing in the driver’s side.
The rain had let up, only sprinkling now as he pulled onto the road and raced towards the hospital.
“She’s a friend of yours?” Belle asked, regretting the tinge of jealousy in her voice.
He glanced in the rearview mirror, meeting her eyes briefly. “She’s my best friend’s girl.”
“Oh.”
