Nightingale Way: An Eternity Springs Novel by Emily March Page A

reckless, moronic, demented dunderhead wasn’t wearing a helmet?”
    “Dunderhead?” A slow smile spread across Cam’s face as Rose rolled her eyes. “Well, now, my brilliantpowers of deduction tell me you must be the ex-missus. I’m the black sheep cousin. Welcome to the family.”
    Cam took Cat’s hand and leaned down to kiss her cheek. Cat’s shocked expression faded, and Jack figured she must have concluded that his injuries weren’t too serious or else Cam wouldn’t be hitting on her.
    She addressed Cam. “You’re Sarah’s fiancé. She told me you’re a charmer. Her engagement ring is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”
    Jack scowled. What about that honking hen’s egg of a diamond he’d given her? “Excuse me, but I am in pain, here. Could you all take your dog-and-pony show somewhere else so that I can get medical treatment?” Glancing at Rose, he added, “Isn’t having all these people hanging around against the HIPAA law or something?”
    The doctor snapped her fingers and spoke in a droll tone as she pulled supplies from a drawer. “Oh, darn. I knew I was forgetting about something.”
    “Quit whining, Davenport,” Gabe said. “I’m the one who needs a shot. You’re being a pain in my ass. What’s up with you today? This sort of behavior is completely out of character for you.”
    Jack’s gaze met Cat’s and he silently requested that she keep his confidence before saying, “Rose? Can we clear the room, please?”
    Dr. Anderson sighed. “My dumb-as-dirt patient has made a request. Let’s allow him his privacy while I see to his injuries, shall we?”
    Colt snorted derisively. “I’m happy to go, but Rose, I don’t know how much luck you’re going to have. As the saying goes, you can’t fix stupid.”
    Expressing agreement with Colt’s observation, Jack’s friends left the clinic. Cat hung behind until Rose said, “Ma’am?”
    “Do you need some help? I don’t see a nurse or anyone else.”
    When the doctor smiled, Cat noted her resemblance to Sage Rafferty. “We’re shorthanded today, I’m afraid. I think we’ll be okay unless …” She glanced at Jack. “Do you want her to stay?”
    Yes
. “No. I’m okay.”
    “And I’m leaving,” Cat fired back. “You’ll want to use the big needles, Doctor. His hide is awfully hard.”
    She breezed out of the clinic, closing the door behind her with such gentleness that it felt like a slam. Alone now with Rose, Jack attempted to relax. He’d never been inside this clinic before—despite the fact that he’d donated half the money to open it—and he liked it. The place had butter-yellow walls and white curtains and a clean scent that wasn’t antiseptic-smelling.
    The doctor was pretty easy on the eyes, too. Even scowling at him like she was right now. “I admit I don’t know you very well, Jack, but I did believe you had more sense than this. Let’s take a look at you. Do you need help getting undressed?”
    “Wouldn’t hurt, I guess. I think my knee is screwed up. Something is stuck between my ribs, too.”
    Rose shook her head then turned her head and went to work. An hour and twenty-two stitches later, his road burn cleaned and dressed, his strained (but unbroken) knee wrapped in a tension bandage, and a two-inch-long shard of metal removed from his side, Jack realized he had a problem. The orderly had cut his clothes off.
    Just when he’d asked Rose if she had an extra pair of scrubs lying around, his cousin returned carrying a pair of gym shorts and a T-shirt with ES Auto & Sports Center tags still attached. “You owe me twelve dollars and sixty-seven cents.”
    “Thanks, cuz.” Jack gave a mellow smile, a product of the painkillers that saved the day because putting on his clothes proved downright painful.
    Refusing the wheelchair, he walked out on crutchesand wrestled his way into Cam’s truck. Cam turned on the ignition and asked, “Where to? Eagle’s Way?”
    “Yeah.”
    “You sure