Read Online Oriana and the Three Werebears by Tia Fanning - Free Book Online

started pulling him toward the door. “We’ll go make them for you and bring them in here. You can have breakfast in bed.”
    “Jordan, wait.” They both came to an abrupt halt at Jack’s order. “Before you go, take a look at Oriana’s back.”
    “No, Jack,” she said. “Jordan, I’m fine, really. I just—”
    Noting his brother’s concern, Jordan immediately pulled out of Jon’s grasp and went to the bedside. “Let me see.”
    “No, it’s fine—”
    “Let me see,” he reiterated sternly.
    With a roll of her eyes, she clutched the blanket to her chest and leaned forward.
    He was not prepared for the sight. His throat tightened as she fell back on the pillow. “You must be in a great deal of pain.”
    “It looks worse than it really is. Promise.”
    He placed the back of one hand on her cheek. Her skin was not clammy or moist, nor was she overly warm or feverish, and her eyes were clear. He then placed his index and middle finger on her neck, lightly palpating the carotid artery, checking her pulse against his watch. All seemed normal.
    Jordan looked over his shoulder. “I want to check her abdomen for signs of internal hemorrhaging. I’ll only need a minute or two.” Catching the hint, his two brothers turned and headed for the door. As they left, Jordan called out, “Please get my medical bag and bring it with you when you return.”
    He looked back to Oriana, who was smiling and shaking her head. “I’m fine. I’m not coughing up blood, I have no problem breathing, I have no fever, or any signs of setting infection or shock.”
    “I believe you, but there is no harm in getting a second opinion.” He rolled the sheet down to her pelvic bone. With gentle, yet firm pressure, he pressed on her stomach and circled around her abdomen, feeling for any signs of swelling or hardness. He found none.
    “See? I’m fine. Really. I just need some rest.”
    He pulled the sheet back up. “I think you need to go to the hospital and get X-rays done.” Sadly, you might not be staying long after all.
    “I hate doctors, especially people ones. And I wouldn’t go to a hospital now, even if there was one located next door. Rest and hydration is all I need. Trust me, I’m a doctor.”
    “Really?” Jordan was surprised to hear this. “What field?”
    “Animal,” Jack offered, entering the room with the med kit in hand. He laid the bag on the bed. “She’s a vet, or at least she was one.”
    “How did you know? —Oh, wait, that’s right...computer hackers.”
    Jordan slid a glance at his brother as he pulled out a stethoscope and the sphygmomanometer to measure her blood pressure. A veterinarian. How intriguing.
    “Where’s your other brother?” she asked.
    Jack shrugged. “He said something about making pancakes.”
    After taking her vitals, and checking over her once more to be sure he hadn’t missed anything, Jordan looked over to Jack. “I think she’ll be okay.”
    Nodding, Jack left.
    “Is he always so stoic?” Oriana asked.
    Jordan sighed. “If I had to categorize him by one of the Hellenistic schools of thought, then yes, he’d be a Stoic.”
    She burst into laughter.
    Her audible merriment did strange things to him. He could easily, and happily, sit there and listen to her express herself in such a way all day. Hmm...maybe he should check into that. Perhaps he had developed some kind of psychological disorder.
    Oriana wiped moisture from her eyes. “And what about you, Jordan? What would you be?”
    “As in what philosophy would I have followed had I been born in the ancient world?”
    She nodded.
    “Due to my skeptical nature, I assume I would have been a Pyrrhonist.”
    Holding her stomach, she asked, “And Jonathan?”
    “Oh, definitely an Epicurean.
    “God, please stop making me laugh like this—it hurts.”
    “Laughter is the best medicine, so the saying goes.”
    “Not in my case. My muscles are too sore.”
    Jordan was about to explain that some Gelotology research