“You can’t arrest him, Sheriff.” Amelia forced her tone to be professional as always. “I’m the one who caused the accident. I stepped off the curb without looking. I was not in a pedestrian walkway. I was in a hurry and rushing through rain. Take me in if you must. I caused the wreck. I hurt him.”

Dr. Hudson and the sheriff squared off like two mismatched boxers beginning round one.

“You’re not taking Miss Remington out of my hospital, Sheriff. She needs care now and will require round-the-clock help when she gets home.” The doctor’s tone left no room for discussion. “Her left leg is broken in two places and may need surgery to heal correctly. She can put no weight on it. Her shoulder has hairline fractures, and her left arm must remain stable against her side. The head wound is also problematic.”

LeRoy didn’t look like he cared.

The old doctor continued, “I have no room here to keep her for more than twenty-four hours and I’m short at least one nurse on every shift. Because of the head injury, she needs to be watched, not just checked on. To top it all, now I have to deal with you, Sheriff, coming in to arrest her. I suggest, if you want to help, you contact her next of kin to take over her care.”

“Someone is to blame for this accident.” LeRoy backed a step closer to the door as if he feared the doc might have rabies.

The big lawman might be past his prime, but he looked ready to run away from this mess. No one would care if he arrested Harrison Norton, but the whole town would be in his office yelling if he jailed the librarian.

Amelia leaned her head sideways, gazing at the sheriff from another angle. “Maybe you should be in charge of me, Sheriff? I can’t go home alone, and everyone knows both nursing homes are full. I have no kin. In jail I’ll have round-the-clock care. The doctor thinks someone needs to be responsible for me. It is obvious my brains are scrambled. I can’t walk or use one arm. Maybe I’ll go with you.”

Hank grinned, clearly loving how she fired back at LeRoy.

Amelia hadn’t allowed anyone to boss her around in years. “I’ve changed my mind. Take me in, Sheriff. Have the hospital send all the supplies to your office. I’ll need a wheelchair, a walker, and probably a potty chair. And, of course, three meals a day and sponge baths.”

LeRoy looked like he thought she was serious. “We only have one holding cell, miss.”

She noticed Hank was now choking down a laugh as she continued, “One cell is fine. If you want to arrest someone for the accident, take me away.”