A thin line of discoloration extended beyond the injury.
Ellie’s pulse quickened.
Infection spreading.
She leaned closer.
Jasper opened one eye.
“Bad?”
“Yes.”
“Lie better.”
“No.”
His mouth almost curved.
“I like you.”
Ellie’s hands paused.
“You have a fever.”
“Still like you.”
Samuel looked away to hide a grin.
Ellie continued examining.
“Did the bear bite?”
“Claw.”
“Any bite at all?”
“No.”
“Fall?”
“Rock.”
“Where?”
“Right hip.”
She checked.
Bruising.
No obvious fracture.
“Did you lose consciousness?”
“Maybe.”
Samuel interrupted.
“He was alone.”
Ellie looked at Jasper.
“You stitched yourself?”
“Wasn’t pretty.”
“No.”
His eyes opened.
“You insult all patients?”
“Only those who nearly kill themselves before calling me.”
Jasper watched her.
“Didn’t call you.”
“Samuel did.”
“Smartest thing he’s done.”
Samuel pointed from the stove.
“I can still leave.”
“No,” Ellie and Jasper said together.
A faint laugh moved through the cabin.
Then Jasper grimaced.
Pain.
Ellie’s tone changed immediately.
“Don’t move.”
She prepared warm water mixed with antiseptic.
“Jasper.”
“Yes?”
“This is going to hurt.”
His eyes closed.
“Most good things do.”
Ellie frowned.
“That is a terrible philosophy.”
“Mountain philosophy.”
“I intend to improve both your wound and your philosophy.”
That time he truly smiled.
Small.
But real.
Then Ellie began cleaning.
The smile vanished.
Jasper’s hand gripped the blanket.
His jaw tightened.
Ellie worked steadily.
She irrigated the wounds.
Removed debris.
Cut damaged sutures.
Cleaned around the inflamed tissue.
Jasper never cried out.
But sweat formed along his forehead.
Ellie noticed every change.
“Breathe.”
He inhaled.
“Again.”
He obeyed.
Samuel brought clean water.
Ellie continued.
At one point Jasper’s hand lifted.
Not toward her.
Toward nothing.
Searching.
Ellie understood.
She placed her palm in his.
His fingers closed.
Strong even now.
Painfully strong.
Ellie did not pull away.
“Easy.”
Jasper opened his eyes.
They were clearer.
He looked down at their joined hands.
Then at her.
“Strong.”
“What?”
“Your hand.”
Ellie continued cleaning.
“So is yours.”
“No.”
His voice was faint.
“Yours.”
He squeezed gently.
“Steady.”
Ellie felt warmth rise beneath her skin.
“Hold still.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Hours passed.
She drained infected fluid.
Reopened part of the deepest wound to clean it properly.
Re-stitched where necessary.
Used packing in another.
Controlled renewed bleeding.
Monitored Jasper’s breathing.
Forced fluids into him.
Measured fever.
Listened to lungs.