Page 44 of Heart of Mystic Valley
“Josh,” Faith whispered as they walked, “I hope this doesn’t interfere with my ability to write. Those who live in Mystic will want to know what happened at the bank.”
Joshua’s lips quirked into a half-smile. “Always the intrepid reporter, aren’t you? Even with an injured shoulder, your first thought is your next story.”
Faith felt a blush creep up her cheeks. “Well, someone has to keep this town informed. Speaking of which, did you notice anything unusual when we were coming here?”
Before Joshua could answer, the doctor appeared in the doorway of the examination room. “Right this way. Josh, if Faith doesn’t mind, you can help me with this.”
“I’d rather he stay, Doctor.”
“Good,” Wainwright said as he examined her left shoulder.
Faith and Joshua’s eyes met for a brief moment. The intensity of his gaze made her breath catch, and she found herself wishing this moment of closeness could last a little longer. The moment was interrupted when Wainwright cleared his throat.
“Faith, it appears you’ve dislocated your shoulder. We’ll need to reset it in order to ease the pain and prevent further complications.”
She swallowed hard. “I suspected as much.”
The doctor turned to Joshua, who was hovering nearby. “Josh, I’ll need your assistance. Please stand on Miss Goodell’s right side and provide support.”
Joshua moved into position, his azure eyes filled with concern. “What do you need me to do?”
As the doctor explained the procedure, Faith’s thoughts drifted to what was coming. She’d heard stories of shoulder relocations, and the thought of the impending pain made her stomach churn.
“Faith.” Joshua leaned in close. “You’re the strongest woman I know. This will be over before you know it.”
His words, spoken so close to her ear, sent a shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with her injury. She met his gaze, drawing strength from the warmth and admiration she saw there.
“All right,” Wainwright announced, positioning himself. “On the count of three, I’m going to manipulate your arm. It will be painful, but only for a moment. Are you ready?”
She nodded, gritting her teeth. “As I’ll ever be.”
“One… two…”
Before he reached three, he gave Faith’s left arm a sharp, sudden tug. The pain was immediate and intense, causing her to cry out. Her vision blurred, and for a moment, she thought she might faint.
Then, as quickly as it had come, the worst of the pain subsided, leaving behind a dull ache. She blinked rapidly, aware of Joshua’s strong hands steadying her, his touch both comforting and electrifying.
“There,” the doctor said, sounding pleased. “The shoulder’s back in place. How does it feel?”
She took a shaky breath, realizing the excruciating pain from before had indeed lessened. “Better,” she managed, her voice hoarse. “Thank you.”
As the initial shock wore off, she became acutely aware of Joshua’s proximity, his hands still gently supporting her. Their eyes met, and something seemed to shift inside her. The air seemed charged with an unspoken intensity, leaving Faith feeling both exhilarated and terrified.
Anxious to leave and believing the worst was over, she slid from the examination table, sucked in a short breath, and fainted.
Chapter Seventeen
If Joshua hadn’t been holding her, Faith would’ve dropped to the floor. Instead, he lifted her up and laid her back on the examination table. When she awoke a moment later, both the doctor and Joshua were staring down at her.
“What happened?”
“You fainted,” Wainwright said. “I want you to stay down for a while. I’ll check on you in a few minutes. Josh, perhaps we should give her a few minutes to collect herself.”
“Of course. Faith, will you be all right?”
“I’ll manage.” She attempted a smile. As the men left the room, she closed her eyes, taking deep breaths to calm her rapid heartbeat.
In the waiting room, Joshua paced while Wainwright jotted down some notes. He glanced up, his brow furrowed. “Quite a night we’re having, isn’t it? First the bank robbery, now this.”
