“Sorry. The steak is for Murphy, not you.”
“The dog? I need steak to help replace the blood I lost.”
“No, you’re still running quite a bit of fever. This is all you get for a while…unless you want to see a doctor?”
“No!” he protested, though his voice was weak.
She’d left Murphy’s door open, and he jumped into the seat and put his head over the back of it.
“Damn it! He’s big enough to be a horse!” Steve exclaimed.
“No, he’s not. Murph, you’re drooling on our patient. Sit!”
As always, Murphy obeyed her at once and disappeared from Steve’s view.
“Now finish your broth so we can get on the road again,” she said, trying to be patient.
“I don’t want anymore,” he grumbled.
“Don’t be a baby just because you didn’t get steak.”
“That’s not it. I—I need to use the facilities.”
“Oh.” After a minute she said, “I need to stop for gas. You can take care of things then. But first we’ll need to take off that bloody shirt.” She rummaged in the back of the vehicle and found an oversized zippered sweatshirt that had been her favorite on a damp morning.
With assistance from her patient, she carefully took off his bloody shirt, which she tossed in a trash can, and zippered him into the sweatshirt.
Steve was stoic through it all.
Next she put away his broth, ignored her own lunch and got back on the road. At what she thought was the last gas station outside town, she pulled in. After she stopped, she shook Steve.
“I’m awake.”
“I’m going to put in the gas. Do you need help getting out?”
“No, but the dog’s in the way.”
“I’ll move him.” When she got out, she motioned for Murphy to come to her seat. She’d left her window down, and Murphy hung his head out while she pumped the gas and Steve slowly ambled over to the restroom. She thought everything was going well until the station attendant stuck his head around the back of her SUV.
“Howdy,” the man said, grinning too broadly.
“Hello.” Her hand loosened on the gas handle and she almost spewed gasoline everywhere. She looked over her shoulder to see if she could see Steve returning.
“You headed to Wyoming?”
She stiffened. Even without Steve, she didn’t like to tell strange men where she was going.
“I saw your plates and guessed,” the man added, still grinning.
“Yes, I’m going back to Cheyenne, my hometown.” She patted herself on the back for coming up with another good story. But then that had always been one of her few talents.
“I been there once. It’s a nice city. Lots smaller than Salt Lake.” He moved closer.
“That’s true. Are you from Salt Lake City?”
“Naw. I move around. Don’t like to stay in one place all the time.” He kept staring at her.
Through the windows, she saw Steve coming back. She smiled at the man, wanting to keep his attention on this side of her vehicle so Steve might be able to get in unobserved. “I like Salt Lake City, but I have to leave because my mother is sick. She wants me to come take care of her.”
“Aw, that’s too bad. But you’ll be coming through a lot to visit your friends, I bet. Will you stop by here again?”
“Probably. This is a good location.” She replaced the nozzle in its holder and opened her purse, taking out some bills. “May I pay you?”
“You sure can. I’ll go get your change.”
“Oh, just keep it. You’ve been very kind.”
She opened her door and jumped in, moving Murphy over to make room. Unfortunately, Steve hadn’t gotten in the back. He was sitting in the front passenger seat. She shoved Murphy in the back so they could get out of there.
“Do you think it’s wise to sit up in the front? I can’t hide you if you’re up here.”
“We’re almost in Wyoming, aren’t we?
“In an hour or two. But I’m afraid that man was suspicious. He asked where we were going.”
“He was just hitting on you,” Steve said.
“I hope that’s the reason, because you look like you’ve gone through World War III.”
“I don’t think he even noticed me, right, Murphy?”
Murphy had hung his head over the seat, almost resting on Steve’s left shoulder.
“I can’t believe he didn’t bark when I first put you in the car. He growled at the policeman,” Jessica said, frowning.
“He probably realized I was injured and couldn’t hurt you.”
Jessica didn’t answer because her attention was focused on the rearview mirror.
“What is it?” he asked quietly.
“There’s a car coming up on us fast. I’m worried—” She broke off as the car roared past them. They could see two teenagers in the car laughing hysterically.
She breathed a big sigh of relief. When she turned to look at Steve, he scarcely seemed aware of her panic. Pain was visible on his face.
“I’m having trouble sitting up,” he managed to say.
She eased the car off the road. “There’s a button that will lower the seat for you.” She released her seat belt and leaned over him to find it, which put her very close to him, a fact she noticed at once. Fortunately, she got the chair lowered quickly. Then she reached in the back seat for the pillow and put it under his head. Feeling his forehead told her his fever was still high. She pulled one of the blankets over him.
“Better?” she asked.
“Yeah.” His eyes were already closed and she didn’t think he’d be awake for long.
Jessica pulled back onto the road and pressed down on the accelerator. She wanted to be in Wyoming as soon as possible.
WHEN SHE NEXT STOPPED for food, they were in Wyoming. She’d headed north, working her way across the state. The sun had set and she’d considered stopping somewhere to sleep, but she’d decided to keep driving until she reached Rawhide.
Beside her, Steve hadn’t uttered a sound since she’d gotten him settled hours ago.
She
