Read Online Risk of a Lifetime by Claudia Shelton - Free Book Online Page A

the chair by the window and leafed through the same magazine she’d been looking at for the past hour. “They smelled to high heaven. Betsy’s taking Mama to the house to pick up clean ones for you.”
    “Sadie had better be back soon, or I’m leaving this place the way I am.” JB kicked the sheet off the bed, tugging the gown’s hem down to mid-thigh. “Do you think there’s a law against walking out of a hospital wearing nothing but one of these?”
    “I wouldn’t know.” She tossed the magazine in the chair next to her. “You’re the big, fancy FBI agent around here.”
    “Ex-FBI agent.”
    “That may be, but you’ll always be a lawman. Just like I’ll always be a counselor. We don’t know how to do anything else.” She sighed. “Besides, you’re damn good at what you do. The world needs people like you who risk their own lives to save the rest of us.”
    JB needed to solidify his position. Make sure she didn’t get any ideas about him being her own personal hero of the moment. “I’m trained to protect people, among other things. It just happened to be you this time. Next time might be somebody heading into witness protection. All the same to me.”
    Dr. Crowley walked in, carrying a file. “JB, the trauma unit says you’re tied for first place as the worst patient they’ve encountered in the past ten years.”
    “What’s the prognosis? When can I get out of here?” Showered, shaved, and shampooed, JB still had the smell of soot and grime permeating his senses. Brought back memories of a drug bust explosion last year where the factory blew up right as they entered. Took forever to feel clean again.
    “If you pipe down and let me recheck your wounds, I might let you leave.” The doctor poked and prodded, pressed on JB’s ribs, hips, chest, and back. “Got any blurred vision?”
    “Nope.”
    “Headache?”
    “Nope.”
    “Ringing in your ears?”
    “Nope.”
    Doc looked at his paperwork again, then found the right spot to retest with his fingers, hard and to the point. Raw hellfire and brimstone cranked into JB’s lower back, shooting up his spine.
    “Any pain?” Doc asked.
    JB’s brow furrowed, along with the powerful clench of his teeth. “Nope.”
    “Would you tell me if you did?” The elderly doctor released his pressure point.
    “Nope.”
    Doc glanced in Marcy’s direction. “He still staying at the house?”
    She nodded.
    “I’m concerned about a possible concussion, but I’ll sign the release since she’s there to keep an eye on you tonight.” Doc sighed, flipping the chart closed, then he turned to JB. “And, don’t you think for one minute I believed your denial about pain in your back.”
    “Wait one minute.” She sprang to her feet, hands propped on her hips. “You forget. I’m not responsible for him anymore.”
    The doc raised his eyebrows and lowered his gaze on her. “Is that so?”
    She bit her lip and nodded. “That’s so.”
    “Marcy Marie Bradley, did you forget I’m the deacon in your church? Birthed both of you. Know most everything goes on in Crayton. And I’m not past divulging non-medical information when push comes to shove.”
    “Oh, all right.” She sat in the chair again and picked up the magazine, thumbing nonchalantly through the pages. “I’ll call the ambulance if he incapacitates himself during the night. But I’m not waiting on him hand and foot. He can make his own breakfast, scrub his own back, and take care of any other bodily needs by himself.”
    Took great restrain on JB’s part not to burst out laughing as doc’s face reddened. The old guy shook his head and stomped from the room, muttering something about “respect for a religious man.”
    “Now where are my clothes?” JB rolled to a sitting position and dangled his legs down the side of the bed. His body hurt more than he planned to admit to anyone else. The spot doc pressed might bear watching.
    A tap on the door caught their attention, and Marcy