Page 62 of Unrest
“Come on, big guy.” I patted his cheek. “We’ve got you. Hang with us.”
Captain Ward had begun cleaning the wound, and he frowned. “Bone particle.”
“Get it all out,” I told him.
“I’ve never done this.”
We switched places so I could clean the wound. The bullet went clean through, but it hit bone and made a disgusting mess of things. If we could get the worst of it cleaned and closed, the muscle and bone would heal themselves over time.
“We have to get his body heat up,” I said. They threw blankets over him and found a beanie hat to pull over his head and ears.
Devon and a petite woman I recognized as Linette’s roommate, Shavonta, stopped in the doorway. “You need A-positive?” Devon’s hand went to the top of his head, and his voice wavered. “Ah shit, Harris?”
I looked at the dentist. “Can you take blood?” He nodded and took Devon and Shavonta to the next room.
“Make it quick!” I called after them.
“What can I do?” Remy asked.
I shook my head. He really needed blood and to have his wound closed. Sewing skin was not my specialty. “Stand by his head and talk to him. Rub his chest and his other arm. We need to try to get him alert. Keep checking his pulse.”
I shuffled past Ry and grabbed a sewing kit from the drawer. Poor Texas Harry was going to have a killer scar when I was finished with him. I was halfway done with the front wound when the dentist came back in with bags of blood.
“Can you take over the sewing?” I begged.
Captain Ward moved to my place and I quickly began prepping Tex for the blood infusion.
“Come on, Big Tex,” Remy murmured. Her steady hands ran over his face, down his neck and to his chest, massaging the stronger muscles. “We’ve got you. Stay with us.” She checked his pulse and moved her fingers around, pressing into his neck harder, frowning. “I can’t feel anything!”
Shit!“Don’t panic.”
The blood was moving into him now. I reached for his pulse. Nothing. I turned and grabbed the defibrillator off the wall with a hard yank.
“Back!” I ordered. Everyone flew away from him with their hands up. I stepped onto the stool and placed the handheld paddles over their correct areas, then pressed with all my might. Texas Harry’s body jolted under my hands and I heard him suck in a short breath.Yes!
I tossed the hand paddles to Rylen, who stored them away again while I felt for a pulse. It was back, slow, but steady. I felt my own thundering heart slowing back to normal speed.
Remy kissed his cheek and said, “Quit trying to scare us, you big grizzly.” Her voice was choked with emotion.
Within five minutes of fluids, blood, and closing wounds, I said, “I think he’s stabilizing. He won’t be able to do much for the next two months, though.”
“He’s going to be all right,” Rylen said behind me. I turned and saw that he wasn’t talking to any of us. Linette stood in the doorway with her arms crossed as she looked at Texas Harry. It was the first time I’d ever seen her look vulnerable. She gave a terse nod and walked away.
Rylen let out a deep breath and ran a hand over his head.
“Can you let everyone else know?” I asked him. “No visitors tonight.”
He turned to go and I grabbed his arm, making him look at me. This could have so easily been him who was shot and dying. “I’m glad you’re back safe. Thanks for your help.”
He gave me a solemn nod and left. Remy watched with a small smile. We stayed with Texas Harry, holding his hand and talking to him while Captain Ward finished sewing him closed.
“Thank you,” I told him when he finished. He looked wiped out, so I sent him on his way until his shift.
Remy pulled Texas Harry’s hat off so she could smooth back his hair, finger-combing it. Then she took a damp cloth and cleaned the blood splatter from his neck, beard, and face. “Wakey, wakey,” she said softly. “Time to open your eyes.”
“What’ll you give me if I do?” he asked in a weak, scratchy voice.
My face split in a smile and Remy laughed. She kissed him right on the mouth for five seconds and pulled away, beaming.
