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)
Saying that you’re fine and actually being fine are two very different things. “Do you know if she has any ongoing medical issues? Anything we should be aware of?” When Aggie shrugs, I try a different suggestion. “What if we all go to the fort to meet the boy, and the doctor just happens to be there to look her over? What do you think?”
The look on her face is disgusted. “I think she’ll hate you for tricking her.”
She might. But is that better than watching an elderly woman slowly die in front of me because she doesn’t want to speak up, for whatever reason? Or is this my anxiety running away with things again? I can’t tell. “Should we ask her to see the doctor, then?”
“You know her answer as well as I do.”
Ugh. I do. “Then I might have to be the bad guy. Let’s watch her for the next day or two and see if she seems better. If she’s back to her old self, we’ll table it and forget we ever brought it up. We’re supposed to meet Thess again in two days to talk about coordinating things.”
Aggie nods. “I’ll keep an eye on the puppies and see if I can tell which one is the smartest. Just in case. I ain’t promising shit, though!”
“Of course not.”
She pats her wig. “Maybe I’ll break Shakira out for our visit to the fort. She’s my fancy wig for when we have visitors.”
God help us. “Sounds great.”
“Even if we do decide to go to the fort, how’s Big Meat here going to carry us all?” She thumbs a gesture at Murr, who’s still resting a hand on her shoulder.
That’s a great question, and one I haven’t figured out the answer to just yet.
CHAPTER 86
DAKOTA
After the two days pass, we head out to meet Thess again.
By this time, I’m even more determined to get Dottie to a doctor. She never complains about anything, but I notice that she’s quieter than usual. She sits in her chair and knits and lets Aggie do all the talking, and she takes lots of naps. Any time we ask her how she’s feeling, she snaps at us, as if we’re being ridiculous.
It just reaffirms my decision. She can hate me, but I’m going to get her looked at. I won’t have anyone getting sick on my watch. Even the smallest cold can be deadly when there are no doctors and no medicine in the area, and all the stuff I’ve gleaned from pharmacies is haphazard and older than the hills.
Someone’s got to be the adult around here.
“More scavenging?” Rabbit asks as I tie Murr’s kilt to my neck like the saddest superhero cape. It’s morning on the day we’re supposed to meet Thess again and I’m getting ready to head out. My daughter looks disappointed. “I guess I can’t go?”
I pull her in for an apologetic hug, tucking Rabbit close. “I wish, baby. But Murr might need to carry something and he’s only got two front legs.”
“I could ride his back, like a horse.”
The thought terrifies me, and my brain is suddenly filled with images of Rabbit slipping off a nonexistent saddle and crash-landing to Earth. “Not right now. We’ll get it figured out, but not today. We’re meeting up with Thess again to talk about the fort stuff.”
She looks disappointed, but nods. “Okay. I’ll stay behind and keep an eye on things.”
“Any requests?” I ask, smoothing her hair back from her face.
“Hit up a pet store? Maybe some toys for the cats and the puppies?”
A pet store? Of all the things… But I should have known. Rabbit lives for the menagerie in our home. I give her a quick kiss. “I’ll see what we can find.”
Dottie’s sleeping in and Aggie’s with the puppies (and secretly watching over Dottie), so I don’t check in on them before heading out. I slip out the heavy doors of the bookstore and pause by the morning fire, pouring myself the last few sips of pale coffee and chugging it. Then I set my cup down again, brace myself for another flight, and head over to Murr.
My handsome dragon-husband is in his dragon form this morning. He left bed early to check on his cats, and when I find him, they’re tearing apart what looks like what’s left of a wild turkey, judging by the feathers everywhere. Two of the bonded tuxedos are curled up against each other, tucked against the side of his head. It’s the cutest picture, and I hate to disturb them. Murr opens one whirling eye, the color changing to a rich gold the moment I stroke his scales. “I’m just about ready. Rabbit wants us to look for a pet store if we have a chance.”
He blinks once, and I know it’s a quiet acknowledgment. Maybe it’s my imagination, but I can feel love and affection radiating from him today. I drape myself over his enormous head and hug him, giving him a kiss right on the horns.”I told you that you’re my favorite husband today, right?”