‘I’m really fine,’ I said, standing cautiously and finding it didn’t hurt anywhere near as much as it had before. ‘See, it’s feeling better already.’

‘That’s because the local anaesthetic is still doing its job at the moment. Try and rest it for a few days.’

‘Oh, that’s not possible.’

‘But she’s going to do her best, aren’t you, Maddie?’ Lorcan caught my gaze and widened his eyes meaningfully.

‘Yes! Yes. Absolutely. Of course.’ I smiled at the doctor, nodding for emphasis. ‘Thank you so much for all your help.’

He smiled back, seemingly satisfied. ‘You’re welcome. I’ve been on at the powers that be to get that bit of road and kerb repaired for ages. Would you be all right with me using the photos I took of your injury to help further the case?’

‘Of course. I definitely wouldn’t want anyone else hurting themselves. It could be someone more elderly and be a lot more serious next time.’

‘Exactly.’

‘If you’d have just called me like I told you to, you wouldn’t have hurt yourself either.’

‘That’s not the point.’ Doctor McGinty and I responded at the same time and Lorcan held up his hands in surrender.

‘I was just saying.’

‘Well, stop just saying and make yourself useful and help Miss Hart here back to the car.’

‘Yes, Doc.’

‘And take those painkillers once the anaesthetic starts to wear off. It’s going to be a bit sore for a while. Two every four hours but not more than eight in a twenty-four-hour period. They may make you sleepy though, so no driving, or operating machinery, so no JCB driving for a few days.’

‘Oh, drat,’ I replied, laughing. ‘And I had several holes to dig this afternoon. I guess they’ll have to wait now.’

The doc patted my arm, his kind brown eyes crinkling with amusement. ‘Good girl. Now, come on, Lorcan. Help her back to the car.’

Lorcan stepped closer as Dr McGinty crossed the room to open the door, momentarily distracted as his phone rang. ‘If you don’t let me carry you now, it’s going to be all over the village what a selfish eejit I am, letting an injured woman struggle alone.’

‘I’m not struggling!’ I whispered back.

He shook his head. ‘That is entirely beside the point. It makes a good story.’

‘And you want to be seen as the hero, I suppose?’

‘Not at all. I don’t care what most people think. I’d just rather my mam didn’t get to hear that I’d been acting like the opposite.’

‘Your mum?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Right, here we go. Sorry about that,’ the doctor said, opening the door.