Clover Village

Chapter 18 - Medical Tourist

JESSE

"Sue," I say, almost in a whisper.

My sister turns to look at me. Her eyes are bloodshot and swollen. She got stitches in her head, and her hair is still bloody.

"I just spoke with the doctor. He said that Eric, Ellen, and Harry were under heavy painkillers. They will sleep until tomorrow. You should come home with me and rest."

Sue lets go of Harry's hand and kisses his lips softly. I place my arm over her shoulders to comfort her.

The last six hours have been the most chaotic of our lives. Ten people got injured at the food festival, three of them got gored by the bull. The stupid kid from the protest group opened the bull's pen and then scared it with an air horn.

The confused and scared beast rampaged through the streets. It got Harry under the ribs and Eric on his thigh. My brother fell over Ellen, who got back injuries. A festival visitor got gored on his leg as well. The rest of the people suffered minor wounds.

The bull ran towards the egg stall of Donna and Evan. Evan managed together with Tom to lure the animal to a dead-end alley and move a trash container in front of it to block the exit.

I take a quick look at Sue while waiting at a traffic light. Her face shows what I feel, exhaustion.

"Are you hungry? I can stop at a drive-thru and get you something," I say.

"No, thanks."

"Do your stitches hurt? We can stop at the pharmacy if you want anything."

"They don't. My arm hurts more. I won't be able to work for a while."

Another worry, one that didn't even cross my mind, the store and the carpentry business. We arrive home, and I walk together with Sue into her room. Sierra and I are sharing a room now. It is quiet in the house, so she must sleep already.

"Jesse, can you get me an aspirin?" Sue says, sitting on the bed.

I get her medication and fill a glass with water. As I come back, I find Sue hugging a pillow and staring into space.

"They will be alright," I say, sitting next to her and comforting her. "Take a shower and try to sleep. We will head early tomorrow to the hospital."

"When we were in the ambulance, I heard the paramedic calling the hospital and saying that Harry had gone into shock. He is still alive by a miracle."

"He is alive because of what you did. The doctor said that the bandage that you made with the tablecloth helped."

"He told me he loves me. Those were his last words before he fainted."

"And you don't feel the same way?"

"I don't know if I'm in love with him. I only started feeling interested in him since the night at the club, but the thought of losing him is too much to bear."

"That is love," I say, kissing her temple. "Try to rest. He will need you in the next weeks. You can show him how much he means to you."

I leave Sue to her evening routine and head to the kitchen, as I also need an aspirin. I find Sierra in the kitchen wearing a pajama.

"I was changing clothes when I heard you coming inside. How are things?" She says, giving me a small kiss on my lips.

"Stable. They are all resting. I called my parents. I didn't want them to find in other ways and think the worst. They wanted to find flights and come here. I told them that is unnecessary and that I will keep them posted on everything."

"I called the Colfield head office like you asked me. They put me through to the secretary of the secretary and left a message about Harry. I hope it gets to his family."

"It is sad, isn't it? My parents want to run and comfort us and his don't even care where he is and if he is okay. Thanks for everything you did today. With the complete chaos, I didn't even think about the merchandise we left behind or Ellen's bike."

"It was the least that I could do after what you and your family have done for me. She had some groceries in bags. Whatever things didn't get ruined, I placed in the fridge. Any word on the kid that opened the bullpen?"

"He was arrested. The ranch owner came to the hospital to tell us and also to check on the people wounded. I felt sorry for him. It isn't his fault, but he feels responsible."

"I bet he does. Let's go to bed and we will see what tomorrow brings," Sierra says, holding my hand.

I discard my bloodied clothes and, after a hot shower, I get in bed. Sierra cuddles against me and the stress of the event finally catches up with me.

"Jesse, are you crying?" Sierra says, lifting her head to look at me.

I can't talk. I have a big knot in my throat and can't stop the tears. Sierra holds me, and I bury my face in her neck. She rubs my back as I cry.

"What are we going to do? Eric will need a lot of care. He won't be able to work for a while, and we need the money. The store doesn't generate a lot of revenue. I don't know how to do carpentry jobs."

Sierra cups my face and caresses my cheek with her thumb. Her hand moves then down my arm until she reaches my hand.

"Jesse, be your brother's hands. If he instructs you, you can do the job. Now it is the time to show your family that you can provide for them," she says while holding my hand and I nod.

"I don't know what I will do when you leave," I say.

"Let's not think about that now. Let's focus on the right now and we will see what the future brings. Be sure of one thing: I care a lot about you. I've never met anybody who is as sincere as you. We have fun together, and you don't find my writing hobby weird."

"Your hobby is not strange. You are a historian. We are all grateful for the interest you took in Clover. You are making something that we will share with future generations. That is treasured, Sierra."

"You make it tough to leave."

"Then don't. I admit I have little to offer you, but if you consider staying, I will do my best to be the man for you."

"I will think about it," Sierra says, kissing my lips and cuddling against me again.