"Hey," she said. He looked at her. "Can you wiggle your fingers for me? " A pause. Then slowly his fingers moved. Not all the way, not without a sharp intake of breath, but they moved.
"Good," she said. "That's good. Does anything hurt besides the arm? " "My side," he said. Small voice. Careful.
Okay, I'm going to look at your side in a minute. First, I need to know if you hit your head. I don't think so. Do you know what day it is? Wednesday.
Do you know my name? Another pause longer this time. Not because he'd forgotten. Because he'd never said it before. Not once in 6 weeks.
Tessa, he said. That's right. She sat back on her heels. You're going to be okay. Your arm is broken and your ribs might be bruised and it's going to hurt for a while, but you're going to be okay.
Hollis was behind her, she said without turning around. Can you ride to town fast? Yes. Get Dr. Puit.
Tell him it's a broken arm. Possible rib involvement. No head injury. Go now. She heard him leave.
She heard Warren's voice from outside. Someone had gotten him. And then the barn door and Warren's boots on the floor. How bad? And said broken arm.