Stitch by Jaime Lewis (ebook reader online .txt) 📗

full of hope. He would have loved to look over her body, but for different reasons.

“Mia, you need real medical attention.  I’m trained for combat injuries when we don’t have the luxury of professional doctors and nurses at our sides. The Sheriff called the town doctor as a favor. Once he heard the situation, he came right over. Let him look at you, please. You can trust him.”

He thought she would try and resist, but surprisingly she just nodded her head in acceptance or defeat.  He wasn’t exactly sure which one.

The doctor stepped in, and Stitch gave her an assuring hug before excusing himself and joining the others downstairs.

Chapter Eleven

Mia gasped as the doctor pressed on a tender spot near her hip, and the older man frowned. When the Sheriff had called him and explained Mia’s situation, he was glad he had been on his way home and could make the trip over. Seeing her cringe in pain each time he touched her upset him.

“It hurts that bad, honey?”

“Well, when your ribs and back take a size thirteen boot beating, it is bound to be a little uncomfortable.” She tried masking her agony with a little humor, but she failed miserably. He took a deep breath and exhaled, wondering how this woman managed to survive and escape the hands of such evil bastards. Mia was close in age to his own daughters, and imagining either of them in a predicament like Mia’s angered him. He dug into his bag and pulled out an ace bandage, and began to wrap her ribs. She wasn’t going to be doing much at all for the next couple of days except for resting.  He wished she would let him take her to the hospital to get an x-ray.  Whomever she was running from, she was extra careful not to make her whereabouts known.

He stepped back from the bed and surveyed her. “Well, my dear, you are going to be very sore for the next week or so. Don’t be surprised if you feel worse over the next couple of days before you start to feel better. Your orders are to rest, rest, and more rest. No moving around if you don’t have to. And, keep icing that ankle, the ribs, and your cheek. I’m going to leave some pain medicine to get you through tonight. I’ll leave a prescription with Stitch for you to fill. Make sure you take them. It will help with your recovery. Let those men downstairs help you.”

His eyes traveled to her legs, specifically the bruising on her inner thighs. He had noticed the discoloration when he arrived but avoided asking that question from the start, but it was something he needed to know.

“Mia, I need to ask you something, and I want you to be truthful.”

“Okay.”

“Honey, were you sexually assaulted?”

A tear slid down her cheek, and immediately he thought the worst. This poor young woman had been through hell and back. He couldn’t help it as his fatherly instincts kicked in, and he leaned down to pull her into a gentle hug while she cried. Obviously, the frightened woman needed to vent her emotions, and he would certainly hold her while she did.  Hell, he needed to calm himself down. After letting her cry for a bit, he asked, “Mia?” He pressed, needing an answer.

She looked up at him with those brown eyes that were now red and glassy from crying, and his heart broke. But seeing her shake her head no before she answered helped bring his temper down a notch, and he gave her a soft smile. He still had his arm around her and gave her another hug as he thanked the lord above.

He pulled away and stood. “Get some rest. I will leave both my office and cell number with Stitch. You call me at any time, okay?”

She gave him a small smile. “Thank you, Doctor O’Neal.  I’m sorry that my situation pulled you away from your family.”

“Oh, honey, with the houseful of people that followed me home from my brothers, your call couldn’t have come at a better time, although I wish it would have been under different circumstances.”

She painstakingly slid under the covers, and he helped tuck her in nice and tight.

She smiled up at him. “Could you please let the guys know I’m going to lie down? I’m really tired.”

“I will, but take this first.” He handed her one of the pain pills. “That will ensure you sleep. Something you need a lot of right now.”

He couldn’t resist. She needed all the love and comfort right now. He bent down and kissed her forehead, and she smiled up at him before closing her eyes.

◆◆◆

Stitch sat on the arm of the sofa. His leg bounced in anticipation of hearing what the doctor had to say. Not much was said between the guys since Doc O’Neal had arrived, which was about 45 minutes ago. Tink and Derek sat talking amongst themselves about who they knew up in New York that could help. Ace, on the other hand, was back to pacing the living room.  He knew this was hard for his friend.  Hell, it was hard for himself.  He cared for Mia so much.

Moments later, Doc finally emerged from the bedroom and walked downstairs.

“What’s the verdict?” Stitch asked as the doc walked further into the room and took a seat in the empty chair.  He gestured for everyone to sit.  Stitch was reluctant to. He felt restless, and sitting would only make him fidget more.

The older man removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes.  Obviously, this had been hard on him as well.

“She’s in a rough state right now, but I expect her to make a full recovery.  She has a lot of bruising, but I don’t think anything is broken; however, I can’t be a hundred percent without taking x-rays.  Did she mention to you that she was drugged?”

From the blank expressions on everyone's face, it was apparent that this was