Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 119764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 399(@300wpm)
“Dottie’s not,” Dottie says, opening her eyes. She gives us a smug look. “Dottie just doesn’t feel like talking to people today.”
Aggie bustles forward to her friend’s side, her cane thumping on the rug-covered floor as she moves. “You look like shit. Where’s the doctor?”
“Busy helping someone have a baby,” Jonah says. “He’ll be back soon enough.”
“Did you find antibiotics?” Dottie asks. Rabbit skirts around her bed, touching the older woman’s arm before squeezing her way past to sit with Jonah again. Murr and I remain near the entrance, mostly because there’s not much more room to move around.
Aggie puts a hand on Dottie’s forehead and frowns at the heat. “We did, but they’re for cattle,” she says, glancing back at me. “Ain’t been tested on humans. But they’re just as expired as anything else the fort would have, so we figure it’s a crapshoot any way you look at it. I know you don’t wanna be here, but you can’t go home sick, either. Figured we can ask the doctor if the livestock drugs are all right, and if he says yes, how do you feel about being a cow for a day?”
“Moo,” Dottie says, managing a smile.
CHAPTER 104
DAKOTA
I’m nervous as Samir gives Dottie a small dose of the antibiotics. He picked through the supply we’d brought, discarding one vial after another until he settled on one called “tetracycline.” The dose he’s giving her is subcutaneous and very small, and I wince in sympathy as she’s injected.
And then we all hold our breath and watch her.
She makes a face at us. “Y’all do know that antibiotics aren’t instant, right?”
Samir puts away the syringe and swabs her arm. “I don’t know if this will do anything. The dose is extremely small because I’m worried about giving you too much, even if it’s expired. It’s not formulated for humans.”
“I know all that,” Dottie says. It’s the same thing Samir has repeated to us a half-dozen times over, fretting over Dottie and her condition. He’d actually talked to the fort doctors to see if he could get medicine for Dottie, but they refused to even consider trading. The supply of life-saving antibiotics they have is too small and too precious.
“You’re going to need to stay here for several days for monitoring and daily doses,” Samir continues. “We’ll watch for improvement, and if there’s none, we’ll have to change tactics.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do,” I say, confident. “Dottie can take as long as she needs to feel better. We’re not going anywhere.”
Dottie eyes us all, crammed into the small living quarters. “While I appreciate the thought of everyone hanging out all day just to stare at me and see if I live, you’re better off doing other things. Those cats will need to be fed. The dogs, too.”
“Speaking of dogs,” Aggie says slowly, glancing over at Jonah.”Do you want to come and meet the puppies? See which one you get along with best?”
He stiffens, his shoulders going back. His hands twitch on his pants legs. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, I’ve got a bunch of puppies and I heard you like dogs.” She smirks at him.
Given that he’s the one who’s been handing out training tips? I hold back a snort of derision, because I know she’s going somewhere with this.
Jonah’s mouth twitches, a smile spreading across his face. “I do, yeah.”
“I also heard that you might be in need of a new friend,” Aggie continues. “One to train to help you out. Be your eyes and all that.”
His posture grows even stiffer, his hands flexing on his pants again. “I… Dad and I don’t have the ability to trade enough. It’s going to be more than we can afford.”
Aggie harrumphs. “Did I demand a payment? I’m looking for a good home for these little guys. Someone that would love him—or her—and give ’em a good life. Do you know anyone like that?”
Jonah swallows visibly. “I’d give him—or her—a great life. I promise.”
“Thought you might. But like I said, you’ll still want to meet them. Stella’s my girl but she ain’t the brightest bulb in the shed, if you catch my drift. Her kids might be worse.”
Jonah’s smile is so brilliant it’s painful to see. “I’m sure they’re fine. And I’d love to meet them. Dad?” He turns his head slightly, towards his father’s direction. “What do you think?”
Samir hesitates, looking over at Aggie. She gives him a quiet thumbs-up. After a pause, he clears his throat, and I could swear there are tears in his eyes. “I think we have room for a dog again, yes. Even a stupid one.”
The smile that lights up Jonah’s face is even bigger than before. “When can we visit?”
“Apparently we have some free time coming up while we wait for Dottie to get better,” Aggie says. “Want to come tomorrow? I bet Murr will fly us all back and forth.”