Born 01 - Born

sneer at Will. "I can wait."
    Will crosses his arms and shakes his head. "No, we leave tomorrow and she has infections."
    The older man smiles at me and kneels in front of me. "What's the problem?"
    "Besides him?" I ask quietly and hold out my infected quill pokes and open my shirt a bit to show the others. I slide my sleeve up gingerly and show the bandage. "Gunshot and a porcupine and an asshole."
    He winces. "You are a mess, and those are infected. Let's go. In the tent."
    I'm sweaty and filmy from the muggy spring air. I pull off my over shirt and walk into the tent in my tank top. My bandage is soaked again.
    He unties it and whistles. "This is bad. It doesn’t look very good."
    Will's face flushes from the entrance. "That’s because an asshole kept sticking his fingers in her cuts and dragging her around the woods like a madman."
    I chuckle. The doctor looks lost, but I know I look softened. He looks at me under his lashes and I melt. I hate him. I want to, anyway.
    "That’s great. Maybe try not to let assholes touch your wounds. Try not to get shot, too."
    I don’t listen. I stare into the beautiful blue eyes that are watching me from a humble face. I shake my head. He nods. I look away. Jake's smile fills my mind.
    I wince a couple times but mostly I ignore the doctor and the things he does. I have a new bandage and ointment everywhere. He bandages my chest and hands. I look at my hands and laugh. "I can't fight like this, doc. You have to figure out a different way to make me better."
    The doctor points a meaty finger in my face. "Twenty-four hours like this. Then you can go traipsing all over Hell’s half acre."
    I grin. "How did you know that’s where we're going?"
    He laughs. "Drink plenty of water and take these pills."
    I look at them. I've never taken a pill in my life.
    "Antibiotics. You need it. The quill infection holes are actually starting to show signs of blood poisoning."
    I remember Jake having it, and I drop the pills in the back of my throat. Will hands me his water. I drink huge gulps.
    "Thanks."
    "Send the next lady with an infant in."
    I feel badly for him. It's going to be a rough night for the doctors.
    He looks at Will. "Be a good asshole and make her rest, okay?"
    Will grins and looks at me. "Doctor’s orders."
    My stomach flips. "You're still an asshole."
    He takes my padded hand and holds my arm. He drags me gently through the tents and small structures until we reach a tent. He opens the door and climbs in. There are blankets and bedding everywhere. I step in and feel my stomach twist when I hear him close the door. We are alone. I still hate him. Sort of.
    "Leo."
    He looks at the wolf through the screen. "You sleep outside."
    I look at Leo and shake my head. "He sleeps with me."
    Will closes the tent door. "No, he'll bite me in the night."
    I laugh and lie down on the bedding and kick off my boots. Every inch of me hurts. "You can't sleep in here with me."
    He lies beside me. "But I'm going to."
    I can feel the heat coming off of him. It makes me shiver. I feel my body melting into the bedding when he speaks. "Is watching Star come running up and hug me as annoying as watching my brother do it to you?"
    "Too tired, Will. Ask me tomorrow."
    "I'm serious."
    My eyes are closed, but I can imagine exactly how his face looks. "Yup."
    "Wow, that annoying, huh?"
    "Yup. Except your brother is a sweet and kind guy who wants nothing but to make me happy and make me smile. He never wants to hurt me or make me jealous."
    He sighs and touches my arm. "You're killing me."
    "No, but I'd like to."
    "Emma, I'm being serious. I don't know how to be with a girl like you. I don’t know what you want."
    I open one eye. "I want to have this conversation after, like, a week of sleep? I'm exhausted, and Marshall has me invading the farms for the next year."
    He rolls over and wraps an arm around my waist. "No. I need this conversation now."
    I groan, "Sleepy. Doctor said sleep." I pull away.
    He kisses my nose. "He said resting. This is relaxing."
    I shake my head and close my eyes again. "No, it's not. Please don’t touch me."
    His lips brush mine. "I have made a grave mistake."
    "You've made a few. You're making one right now."
    He brushes his lips against my lips again. "You've made some too."
    I know I have. I just don’t know how to say it. I am making one by not stopping him.
    "My biggest mistake is falling in love with a girl who doesn’t need me. I know I should probably be with someone