HEALING HER HEARTS

ient in room four for you

l ER charge nu

finished documenting on

computer. The hour was w

usy on this Memorial Day

day m

four but then stopped a

of her patient. Annie Hink

an she should, was seated

against

irs lifted on the back of

been here over the past mo

ore was not caused by h

his time? Larissa took a

tering the room.

barely met hers bef

arm?” Larissa asked, ke

he distinct impression th

itate to fle

orch—you know how klutz

ng down at her arm as if the

ntrated h

utzy at all,” Larissa mu

rt

removing her left hand t

Larissa felt a little sick

y this had happened from

and squeezing hard enoug

’t a few broken bones hi

lored

u a cold pack for that, an

kept her voice calm wit

ing fo

in a half-hearted shrug.

e

the poor woman needed f

plessness aside. “Are yo

ou hit your hea

ust my

heck in with Dr. Allen, an

erked away, causing La

nfu

ns and symptoms of abu

reatened to overwhelm her

to keep her emotions under

k and then went searchin

rge of the patie

ng to the inpatient hospi

ed nearby, waiting until h

hed a warm smile. “Hi

active, an effect she’d be

as hiding her feelings pr

om four,” she said in a

’s being phys

e faded. “A

ere at the Hope County Ho

ed her competence by now

su

ll right, let me finish u

be righ

k over to Annie’s bedside

to activate the chemical re

ay?” she instructed. “Dr.

say anything as she plac

is

nd the right words that

Annie, you don’t have to

rams that can hel

ie swiftly denied. “I told

ation, and instinctively,

the woman

on’t like the idea of anyo

e such a nice woman, and y

Oh, look, here co

e?” he asked. “I unders

wri

Annie said, repeating

as he removed the ice

n a dark frown when he saw

his expression serious. “

this wrist

to the computer. “AP and

ntered t

ice pack and gave Annie

en from a fall,”

e’s voice was beginning

I fell off

cked on Larissa’s, and sh

tiny nod, acknowledging

, just relax for now. The

get the X-rays. Dr. Allen,

ercocet for

cour

to the automated drug￾dispensing machine and pu

rawer popped open, and sh

en she spun around, she

sheriff’s department,”

tate statutes were pretty

knew that doing the right

d her. There’s no way sh

’m afraid that he’ll only

t if he takes that

hrough his dark brown hai

ice do w

ted, hating the feeling o

ictims, but more often tha

e broken unless the victim

“Let me talk to the soc

mphlets on domestic viol

frown. “We have to c

a sinking heart that he

through to Annie better than

prayed that Annie wouldn

far worse than a black

rd, keep A

____

in disbelief. “You’re tell

n

up his palms in a helpl

ul Kurt Hinkle down to jai

’ll be out

Surely there’s enough evi

en without he

he grabbed her too hard

ed?” The deputy sighed

his could be made to look

nal act of abuse. With

e him, and he was annoyed

he kept his attention foc

there wasn’t something th

rom hurting hi

ck eye from a few w

. “I don’t r

t shift,” Larissa pointe

den

his lips. “We could maybe

t a black eye myself playin

My daughter Elis

deputy was saying, but

“So what

h Kurt if you want me to

n to hi

interrupted ha

glared at h

d take his anger out on

ruster. “If you can’t arr

on

at he was hearing. What

atient? “I think it would do Ku

green eyes sparking fire

he bruises

step back. “No

aded. “I’ll talk to Annie

e polic

gged. “Okay, let me kn

over here,” Merry called.

ting w

talk to Annie,

nd hurried over to where

clearly in distress. The

hat were steadily declin

y n

s other patients vanished

ife. He placed the breath

upply, giving him seve

cent,” Merry announc

came over to secure the

ssured that he was holding

p to the ICU and let them

em

,” Merry

check on the other patie

e Larissa was sitting bes

’d ordered to be placed on

’d suffered two

y been far worse. The

t need

’d have to discharge her

sb

orway, listening as Lari

e number,” Larissa said,

uninjured hand. “Call me i

I’d be happy to hel

ered. “But really, I’m f

I told you?”

gaze to meet Larissa’s

ost like an

time,” Laris

wil

a long moment, wishin

two women. He’d sensed

h Annie on a level that he

ER experiences? Or from

flash of anger at the th

ri

e orders, unable to get th

st met Larissa, they’d c

tracted to her, not just be

ut because they were both

me interests, like running

k to the running trails,

ut never stop

keep his distance from

son he’d learn

a year ago, his pride ba

’d gained the respect he’d

on of medical director for

ast away once

r a personal relationship,

rs

give Annie a brief hug a

that he’d met Larissa und

nurse working in

liked her,