Sam walked in and stopped. Ginny had a knot the size of an orange on her head and her eyes were showing bruises. “Oh my. What on earth happen? You get in a fight with an elk?” Sam asked.
“No, her paw slipped on the railing and she face planted on the deck,” said Patrick.
“Oh damn. Which paw?” Sam asked.
“My right one,” Ginny said softly. She pulled the blanket away from her foot.
Sam gently poked at it and checked it out as gently as she could. “Yeah, you twisted that a good one,” Sam said. “Now, did you bust your nose too?”
“I don’t think so,” Ginny said. “My head hurts though.”
“Well Doc Rogers will be here in a few minutes,” Sam said. “And before you panic, he’s treated shifters plenty of times. I swear that damn bar across the street attracts them like flies.” Sam put the ice on Ginny’s ankle and gave her the hot water bottle to snuggle.
“Not surprised. The food’s good and the name is a tease,” said Patrick. “So, what gave us away if you don’t mind me asking, because you certainly weren’t surprised.”
“Hon, I been running this place for nearly thirty-five years. Ain’t a lot that I haven’t seen to be honest, and I’m not the kind to get my feathers ruffled. This has always been a real remote spot, and I think I’d been open a whole week afore I saw my first couple sneak out and shift inta wolves. A real nice newly wed couple from back east. Next morning at breakfast, I asked him to come into the office for a minute. Scared as hell I was, but figured I better see if I was crazy. I wasn’t. We had a nice long talk. He’s the one that helped me fix up the rooms to be more shifter friendly,” she said. “As to what gave you away? Just the way you handle yourselves, and after a while, you just sorta know. Plus, ol’ Buster sorta whined when you came in.”
“Buster?” asked Patrick.
“Yeah. He’s an old wolf. Lives here and he hangs out near the kitchen. He came here four or five years ago. Decided he was gonna kick off out in the woods. Even left me a note telling me what to do with his stuff. Three days later, this big ol’ mangy looking husky thing scratched at the back door. I didn’t know what to think, so I gave it some water and a blanket to lay on. Ten minutes later, there was Buster, sitting on a chair wrapped in a blanket,” said Sam.
Patrick took this information in and just blinked. “What happened then?” he asked.
“We talked. He was old, tired and wasn’t coping well in human form. Had trouble changing. His ears and whiskers don’t always go back. So, we came to an agreement. Buster can live here and acts as sort of a guardian. ‘Specially at night. He gets room and board. I made him up a real fine place to stay outside when he wants and he has a room too. Most days, he stays on four legs,” said Sam.
“When this is all over, I’d like to meet Buster,” said Patrick.
“Fine. I’ll bring him up. Now I’m wonderin’ where Doc Rogers is,” said Sam. She walked over to the door and out into the hall. “Doc, I said we’d be up here,” she shouted over the railing.
There was some mumbling out in the hall and then footsteps on the stairs. A moment later, a rather sleep older gentleman in jeans and a flannel shirt walked into the room.
“Howdy, I’m Doc Rogers,” he said holding out his hand to Patrick.
“Hi. I’m Patrick and this is Ginny,” he said and pointed to Ginny on the bed.
“Well, let’s get a look see at you,” said Doc. He put his bag down on the bed next to Ginny and began to check her out. Patrick and Sam watched as Doc checked her eyes, examined her nose, ankle and the bump on her head. He also checked her ribs and other leg.
“You sure made a fine mess of yourself,” Doc said.
“Yeah. Is my nose broken?” Ginny asked.
“Cracked, but not broken. You’re gonna have a nice bruise on your face, but you shouldn’t have too black of an eye. There’s a bit of concussion which will make you feel like hell, but the worst is the ankle. Not one hundred percent sure, but I think you tore a tendon and maybe cracked a toe or two when you slipped,” Doc said. “You’re gonna have to stay in bed today and maybe tomorrow. At least until your head stops hurting. Don’t fuss, otherwise I’ll have Patrick there growl at you,” he finished with a smile.
Ginny just shook her head. “Tag teaming me eh?” she said.
“Sure will ma’am,” said Doc. “Do you have a primary doctor I can call?”
“Yes, his name is Jeff Hayes. Here’s his number,” said Patrick handing Doc a business card.
“Oh yeah. Had to call him a few years back about another patient,” said Doc. He stuck the card in his pocket. “Now, I’m going to wrap your ankle and give you some pain killers. Stay in bed as best you can and don’t go getting all antsy. Sam here will get Patrick to bring food up and we’ll get this taken care of now.”
“Okay. It isn’t like I’m going to go anywhere. I just feel so damned stupid for slipping and bashing my face,” said Ginny. “Oh, and I do better with just aspirin. The rest of the stuff just makes my stomach ache.”
“Okay, Aspirin it is,” said Doc as he wrapped her ankle and put the icepack back on it. “Try not to blow your nose if you can avoid it. We don’t want that crack to become a break.”
Ginny nodded. She took the aspirin that Sam brought to her with some water.
“I’ll let you know what Dr. Jeff has to say,” said Doc.
“Would you do us a favor and ask him not to tell the family?” asked Patrick.
“Afraid they’ll laugh or come get you?” asked Doc as he smiled.
“The latter,” said Ginny. “Laughter I can cope with. Last thing I want is Sara, Ivan and Joe sing-songing ‘Aunty Ginny fell dowwwwwwn!” as they bounce on the bed.
That made everyone laugh.