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I glanced over at the chef, who nodded firmly from behind the barbecue. “Go, Stella. I’ve got this.”
Hesitating only a moment longer, I gave in to the inevitable. The pain was starting to make itself fully known, a sharp reminder of reality biting through the adrenaline. I pressed the now thoroughly red paper towels harder against my wound “Okay. I’ll go see Aiden.”
“Good. Hurry!” Grace gave my back a supportive pat before ushering me away from our booth.
My legs carried me toward the medical tent with more resolve than I felt. Each step beat a rhythm with my pulse, throbbing in time with the flow of blood. As I neared the tent, I caught sight of Aiden, smiling as he spoke to an ample, rather red-faced woman. He waved as she and a younger version of her walked away. He was the picture of professionalism, in his element as much I had been in mine. Until I’d made a rookie mistake.
“Excuse me!” I called out as I reached the entrance, doing my best to keep my voice steady. My other hand was still clamped down on the cloth, the red stain spreading ominously.
Chapter Eleven
Aiden
A fond smile remained on my face as Mrs. Reynolds slowly walked away, supported on one side by her daughter. Heat exhaustion had crept up on her during the hot afternoon, but at least she’d come to see me before it became serious. Now she was on her way home to spend the rest of the day in air-conditioned comfort.
“Excuse me?”
I knew that voice. The years might have passed, but some things remain forever. At the tension in it, I snapped my head around, heart hitching when I saw Stella. She stood at the tent entrance, clutching a wad of paper towels to her left hand—a blotch of crimson blooming through the white. And steadily growing.
“Maria. Kit,” I said crisply, already moving.
Maria nodded, understanding flashing in her eyes. She grabbed the supply cart just as I reached Stella’s side. “What happened?”
“Cut myself with my knife,” she replied, trying to mask her distress with nonchalance, but the tightness in her jaw betrayed the pain she felt. “I haven’t done that in years!”
“Let me see.” My fingers brushed against hers as I gently pried the makeshift bandage away. The sight of the deep gash brought a clinical clarity to my thoughts. “We need to clean this up and get a good look at it.”
“Can’t you just slap a Band-Aid on it? I’ve got?—”
“Stella, this is serious.” My tone left no room for argument as I led her to the back of my tent, where two makeshift examination tables were set up. Maria had laid out the necessary supplies, her efficiency a silent blessing.
“Sit,” I instructed, helping Stella onto the edge of the table Mrs. Reynolds hadn’t used. We hadn’t had a chance to clean it yet.
Her face was pale, a stark contrast to the vibrant red of her wound. “Thanks, Aiden.”
“Of course.”
I removed the paper towels to expose a fairly impressive laceration nearly two inches long on the outside of her palm. As I cleaned the cut meticulously, Stella hissed through her teeth. I met her eyes briefly, offering a silent apology before continuing.
“Looks like you’ll need a few stitches,” I told her, trying to keep my voice light. “You’re in good hands, though.”
“You’ve done this before, right?” Stella managed a smile, though her eyes couldn’t hide the discomfort.
“Flattery will get you everywhere,” I joked, hoping to ease the tension as I opened the suture kit Maria had laid out and prepared the needle. “Don’t worry, I’ve stitched up plenty of people. And one pot-bellied pig too.”
She laughed, and it had the effect I was going for. Her shoulders dropped and her hand relaxed slightly in mine. I reached for a syringe and a vial of one-percent lidocaine, preparing to numb her hand.
“Hold on a second,” she said as I glanced up at her. “I can’t have my hand numb. I need to go back to work.”
“Stella, this is going to hurt without the local anesthetic.”
She frowned, her brows drawing together. “It’s just a few stitches. I’ll be fine. Your pig-stitching experience has filled me with confidence in your abilities.”
I didn’t smile back this time. “You sure?”
“Yes. Just go quickly.”
“Let me know if it’s too much.”
