“Get in the car while I release Nelly back into the pen. I’ll be right behind you.”

She started scratching the side of her jaw. “Where are we going?”

“To the ER.”

Ginny drove her to the ER with her on the phone with the sheriff, explaining why her ankle monitor was going off. The sheriff was waiting at the emergency room entrance when they arrived and stayed with her during the doctor’s treatment. Alanna stared fixedly ahead, sitting on the exam table each time a new orderly or nurse entered the cubicle. Even the sheriff had started snapping at them for the made-up excuses they gave for entering. If she hadn’t been aware of small-town gossip before, she was before being released.

By the time she was back in Ginny’s car, the tiny fraction of pride she had left was put in a dumpster and set on fire when Deputy Porter parked behind them before Ginny could pull out. Alanna hid her face and refused to roll the window down when Greer knocked on her window. Ginny got out the car, explaining to him that Alanna wasn’t feeling well. Despite another attempt to get her to roll the window down, the deputy gave up when the sheriff ordered him back to the office.

Once back at Silas’, Ginny had walked her back to the trailer and wanted to come in with her.

“Thank you, Ginny, but I’m just going to sleep this medicine off. I’ll be fine.”

“Let me stay. The doctor didn’t want you left alone,” she had argued. “I’ll be as quiet as a mouse and sit in the living room.”

“The swelling is starting to go down. I can feel my lips again.” Alanna hadn’t mentioned she just wanted to be left alone.

Disbelief had shown on her face. “Are you sure? I really don’t want to leave.”

“I’m sure. I’ll even text you once an hour if that makes you less worried.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.” Alanna would have given her a reassuring smile, but it hurt too bad.

She had finally convinced Ginny to leave.

Wetting a cloth, she wiped the stinging tears away. Holding the cold cloth to her face, she was about to come out of the bathroom when she heard a firm knock on her door.

She reluctantly headed to the door. She was afraid if she didn’t answer, whoever was outside would come inside to check on her.

Standing behind the door, she only cracked it a small amount to peer outside.

Silas’ compassionate eyes stared back at hers.

“You might as well come out. I’m not leaving until I see the damage.”

She didn’t have any fight left in her after she had looked at herself in the mirror. Opening the door, she pulled the cloth away from her face.