After Midnight Read Online Free Page B

didn’t spend more than a few seconds on his exam. “The bullet took out a strip of flesh and a little nick of ear, but it should heal just fine. Another inch to the left, and we probably wouldn’t be having this conversation.” He scribbled a few notes on the chart.
    “When can I leave?”
    “Maybe tomorrow. I’ll check back in the morning.” The doctor snapped the clipboard shut and, for the first time, looked directly into Sam’s eyes. “You’re right-handed, aren’t you?
    Sam nodded.
    “You’re going to be out of commission for at least a month,” the doctor continued. “Don’t push it. You could do permanent damage to those muscles and lose much of the use of your right arm. We’re going to finish your IV bag, then you’ll be on oral pain meds. Just let the nurses know when you need them.” He handed the clipboard to the nurse and left.
    “Warm guy,” Sam commented.
    The nurse smiled and shrugged. “Maybe not the greatest bedside manner, but he’s the best orthopedist in Denver.” She fiddled with the wires and tubes and finished applying ointment and new bandages to his wounds. Finally, hands on hips, she looked down on him. “It’s time to get you up and moving.”
    It took more help than his masculine pride allowed, but he was able to shuffle, one slow step at a time, to the bathroom. It wasn’t that there was anything wrong with his legs; it was just that he felt so weak. Once inside, he transferred his weight from her shoulders to the lavatory. “I can take it from here,” he assured her, hoping he didn’t fall on his face in his own urine.
    Minutes later, he had to admit he felt better having been able to splash some water on his face and succeed with his bathroom duties, even though it was pretty awkward using just his left hand. It took all his strength to keep on his feet as he repeated the slow shuffle back toward his bed.
    The nurse intercepted him halfway and wrapped a strong arm around his waist. She was young and pretty, which had not gone unnoticed by him. He gave her his best cocky grin. “Are you looking at my ass?”
    “You wish,” she said with a chuckle, not the least bit shocked at his question. “If you only knew how many asses I see every day, you’d know how unlikely that is.”
    “Too bad. It’s a nice one.”
    She helped him ease down on the cool, clean sheets. In his absence, she had changed his sheets, plumped his pillow, and laid out a fresh gown.
    It took a lot of maneuvering to get the old gown off and the new one on, and by the time Sam was settled back in bed, he was shaking with pain and exhaustion. He noticed a dinner tray on his bedside table, but the bowl of soup and chunk of green gelatin held no appeal.
    The nurse, noticing his gaze while she was tucking the sheet and light blanket in around him, said, “You really should try to eat a little. It’ll help you get stronger.” Without waiting for a response, she wheeled his table around, so that the tray was directly in front of him. “You’ve had a lot of visitors.”
    “A lot?” He remembered only two.
    “At least a dozen boys in blue have dropped by, and, of course, your brothers, but you were still sleeping. Most of them promised to come back this evening.” She readjusted the IV bag and heart monitor and pulled up the side of his bed. “Here’s the TV remote, and this is the call button for the nurse’s station. Just let us know if you need anything.” She picked up the bags holding the old bandages and dirty sheets and headed toward the door. Pausing at the threshold, she glanced back at him. “By the way, it
is
nice.” She gave him a very unprofessional smile and closed the door behind herself.
    Sam obediently took a couple of spoonsful of soup and nibbled on the soft roll. Gelatin. Yuck. He wasn’t
that
sick. He pushed the tray away and clicked on the TV. After a quick run-through of the channels, he settled on a Rockies game. But his mind kept wandering back to the woman: