Page 14 of Harley
I gagged. Doc Paul carried on ministering the infection, and Harley remained near the window.
“Sorry,” I whispered.
“Not your fault,” Harley said.
Doc Paul just shrugged and continued.
Half an hour later, he’d finished and wrote a prescription out. “This is for painkillers and antibiotics. Finish the course. Please remember that if you’re on birth control, the antibiotics will invalidate that!”
I blushed bright red. “Oh no, we’re not like that.”
“That would make a change for Rage. But it’s something you need telling. Harley, there’s a late-night pharmacy you can fetch the medication from. They are also aware of the Trust code of using numbers instead of names. Oakley, I’ve wrapped your feet for now to absorb the remaining infection and blood.”
“Okay,” I replied.
“In the morning, soak the bandages before removing them, otherwise you’ll be ripping the stitches out. That was some nice work, Harley. Try to keep your feet dry. I’ve also prescribed a numbing cream. Even cleaning them will hurt, Oakley, so use it. If you need more, Harley can contact me. You can’t walk for at least a week. If you do, you’ll injure them further and possibly cause nerve damage. I cannot stress that enough,” Doc Paul explained firmly.
I nodded and resigned myself to movie marathons and being bored stupid. Doc Paul called a goodbye and said he’d return in three days.
After he left, Harley turned to me.
“Oakley, I’m going to fetch you some clothes, magazines, and shit. It’s pretty obvious you can’t go anywhere. Were the sizes I chose, correct?”
“Yes,” I answered, and Harley jerked his chin and disappeared out of the door.
What on earth was that? I wondered.
Harley
Now I knew Oakley couldn’t move around for a week, she was my responsibility. Which would play mayhem with work. I had a sword to complete and a dagger. The collector was coming two days before Christmas, which was six days away. Four days to finish the pieces wouldn’t normally be a problem. But I’d have to stop in and check on Oakley morning, noon and night.
Unless… I was owed markers. Lots of markers. I started wracking my brains for which brother I could tap for help with Oakley. I needed someone who was medically skilled and who’d keep their mouth shut. Klutz was the logical one—he’d trained as a surgeon.
So be it.
“Yo,” Klutz announced on answering the phone.
“Bro, I’m calling in a marker,” I stated, and Klutz snorted.
“What?” he asked, worried.
“Listen up, I’ve got an issue,” I said and explained the situation. Once done, silence met me.
“What do you want from me?” Klutz finally inquired.
“I’ll clean Oakley’s feet in the morning and evening when I finish work. But I need someone to help lunchtime and say around five,” I stated.
“Harley, I can do five, but I’m at the veterinary during the day. Gunner is around, and he’s a decent medic. He’ll be able to do the noon cleaning,” Klutz offered.
“Thanks, I’ll call Gunner and use a marker. And Klutz, no telling Aurora Victoria. Oakley is on the run, and until I know what from, I want her kept on the down-low,” I stated.
“Okay.”
“Could you meet me at the hotel at eight tonight so I can introduce you? Oakley won’t open a door to a stranger.”
“If she’s hiding out, I can’t blame her. See you then,” Klutz replied and hung up.
I dialled Gunner and had a similar conversation and then headed into Windfells. I was halfway round and in the lingerie department when I felt someone staring at me.
