why you’re shaking.”
She nodded, fighting the violent tremble in her body that rattled her jaw hard enough to break teeth. It was more than the drugs though. She didn’t really know much about arrow wounds, but her guess, infection was the biggest worry at this point.
“Are you okay?” Sarah barely managed the words as she locked her gaze on Micah.
He squeezed her hand, panic edging his eyes. “I’m fine. He only hit muscle. I’ll heal fast.”
She nodded, glad he understood exactly what she wanted to know.
True to her word, the woman drove them to a motel and parked them on a remote side. Micah got out and looked all around, went in the room and came back with a towel. He wrapped it around her shoulder, hiding the arrow as he helped her into the room.
When the door was shut, he turned to the woman. “I need you to go to a pharmacy and get some things. Can you do that?”
She nodded and hurried to the table and returned with the motel paper and pen. “Shoot.” She waited to write the list of supplies.
Sarah forgot the items he whispered to her the second she heard them. The pain was getting difficult to bear. She sat in the chair, body locked and rigid, fighting to hold herself together. She wanted to cry but was afraid to; she might not stop.
Sarah lost track of time. She opened her eyes and Micah was there, talking softly and carefully. He gave her medicine. A lot of it. She took it without question. The next time she came to, Micah spoke the same way. “Sarah. I’m going to have to remove the arrow now.”
Fear jolted her.
“Shhh, okay, you’re fine sweetheart. Listen to me love. I’m going to lay you on the floor because I need a solid surface. I want you to remember who you are. You’re a doctor. A strong woman.”
Dear God, t his was going to hurt. She wanted to nod but she couldn’t. The most she could do was comply with her transport to the floor with Nancy’s help.
Had Micah t alked to Nancy? Explained what he was going to do? Where was the boy? He didn’t need to be there. She tried to find him.
Again, Micah seemed to read her mind. “He’s sleeping.”
Sarah went back to fighting the pain, her body rigid again as she trembled on the floor now.
“I need you to sit on her upper legs. Right here.”
At feeling the weight of the not so small woman on her legs, a sob of terror escaped Sarah. Micah’s mouth was next to her ear. “I love you. I need to check to see if the arrow is in bone. I’m going to try to twist it just a very little. I want you to hold on here.” He moved her hands to the bed rails on the left and right of her. “Hold tight Sarah and do not let go.”
Micah looked around and snatched the pad of paper from the night stand at her head. “Bite on this.”
Sarah obeyed his demand, desperately needing his fierce strength and resolve. She bit down on the pad of paper and stared at him, panting through her nose. She gave him several hurry and do it nods and Micah firmed his mouth and focused on the arrow.
Pain exploded in her shoulder and Sarah let out a close-mouthed scream, gripping the bed and biting down. The agony came in slamming waves and reduced her to sobs as she thrashed her head.
“Fuck!” Micah wiped his arm on his mouth then locked tear-filled eyes on Sarah. “The arrow is embedded in your shoulder bone. And I have to pull it out.”
Sarah bit down on the paper as wailing shrieks escaped her. Like her body knew it was something bad even if she didn’t. She shook her head, begging.
“I have to,” he gasped, crying openly. He looked back at Nancy. “Hold her good.”
Sarah fought to calm down but her body screamed and thrashed with dread. She gripped the bed and clenched her eyes tight. Micah put one hand over her chest, his fingers splayed wide, and pressed her firmly to the floor. Sarah’s shoulder jolted forward with the force of his yank on the arrow and pain obliterated her body and mind. The last thing she remembered was peeing
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