Chapter 4
CHAPTER
FOUR
Phoebe
After breakfast, we go our separate ways, but not before I get a thorough kiss from Eli after he helps Brandon load extra supplies on our ATVs.
I mean, that’s what we’re calling them, but they’re actually Rangers, with enough room to haul us, our medical bags, and also things like water and blankets.
I don’t know how Thelma managed to get her hands on them, but she has contacts everywhere and I’m not about to look a gift horse in the mouth.
“Ready, Freddy?” I ask Ella as we both start our ‘cars’ for the day.
“Punch it, Judy,” she teases, grinning at me.
That’s definitely one of the pluses of working alongside my best friend.
We’re both highly skilled and even though neither of us would ever risk our license, we’ve both seen enough that we are often able to put our impressions in the notes as far as a patient’s situation and condition.
Thelma decided years ago when she started offering the disaster services that she wanted us to be able to do that, and after a lot of meetings, the powers that be decided to allow it with the caveat that we were not diagnosing, merely giving our clinical observations so that when we got the patient to a doctor they could scan what we’d done in the field and then complete their assessment.
I mean, some things we had yesterday were obvious, like the man who had a compound fracture and wasn’t able to get to his phone to call for help.
While I can mentally presume all day that he ended up having to have surgery, as well as a course of IV antibiotics, I didn’t verbally say anything.
Ella and I stabilized the leg, cleaned the wound as best as possible since we weren’t near running water, got an IV started with fluids since he was visibly dehydrated, then transported him to base to take an ambulance ride to the hospital.
I make a note to ask Thelma if she knows how he’s doing, since he’s like Elmer; elderly and alone.
As we drive to the next area we’ve been assigned, my thoughts drift to Eli. I’m not surprised that he read my letter. What did catch me off guard was him leaving Cami behind and coming to where I’m temporarily staying to see me and clear the air.
The pain wracking my body has me nearly vomiting as we head back to base after our last house visit.
Ella has the patient in her Ranger while I try to keep from passing out.
Leave it to me to smell like day old sewage with an open wound on my left arm.
After we got the latest patient stabilized and ready to transport, Ella and I cleaned it to the best of our ability, but I know I earned myself a trip to the hospital for professional debridement and stitches.
Once we park and hand off the patient, I shake my head at Ella when she attempts to get me to the treatment tent.
I need a shower first and that’s absolutely non-negotiable as far as I’m concerned.
As I walk toward the RV, my intentions clear at least in my own mind, she yells out, “Phoebe Alanna Cortez, you get your ass over here now!”
Without turning, I holler, “Miss Ma’am, you know why I’m doing what I’m doing.
Now, either shut up and help me or go find something else to do.
” I finally get back into the RV and head to the bathroom.
I’ll deal with getting a fresh set of laundered clothes after I get clean.
My soiled clothes go into a pile, and I step inside the shower stall, uncaring that my gauze is getting soaked.
I don’t take it off because it’s pretty bad, instead I focus on washing my hair and body as quickly and efficiently as I can.
“Stupid spike,” I mutter as dark spots dance in my peripheral vision. “C’mon, Fee, you can do this.”
Our last call plays on rewind as I pull on my inner strength to get what I need done. It should’ve been a simple job, but I’ve come to realize that nothing up here is that easy.
“Oh, my God,” Ella whispers as we make our way to the front porch of Otis Smith’s house. “How are we going to do this?”
“The way we do everything else,” I reply before calling out, “Mr. Smith, It’s Phoebe and Ella from Traveling Care. We’re here to help you, sir.”
“Y’all sure are a sight for sore eyes,” the elderly man replies. His voice is weak and thready, and Ella immediately gets busy taking his vitals while I assess the scene itself.
He was apparently clearing debris based on the pile of broken limbs off to the side, but it’s the structure next to it that has my eyes widening.
Who in the hell uses railroad spikes as nails?
I mean, the gazebo or whatever it originally was, is well-built, but seeing spikes instead of wood nails is a bit disconcerting.
However, one of the things I’ve noticed since being here is that the people are resourceful as hell.
They’re not preppers, per se, but each home we’ve gone to has evidence that they utilize everything they have to eke out a living.
Shaking my head, I walk closer to where Otis is wedged in a hole with boards all around him, several spikes evident.
He’s got multiple lacerations from what I can see, but it’s what I can’t that has me concerned based on his physical demeanor.
He’s pale, cool, and clammy, so I suspect he has injuries on his lower extremities.
“Kind of got myself in a pickle here, girls,” he says as pain scores his features. “Been trying for a few hours now to get out, but I’m stuck.”
“Well, let’s see what we can do about getting you unstuck,” I reply, looking around to see if I can find anything to use.
“Got a crowbar? I’ll see if I can get more of these boards pulled away, then we’ll use the Ranger to pull you free.
Gotta say, though, you’re probably looking at a hospital trip. ”
“Y’know, I’m an old man, girlie,” he says, “but even I think you’re right on this account. Hell, I ain’t ever sick but they say you need new experiences to keep yourself young, right?”
“You’ve never been to the hospital?” Ella asks while I wonder if maybe there’s something else going on with him.
“Nope, was born right here in this house, just like my ma before me, and all my youngins,” he replies. “It’s just me now, though.”
I continue to pull the boards away, grateful that despite my size I’m strong enough to do this type of physical labor.
I’m struggling with the last one that’ll give us access to him when it happens; I feel a sharp, gouging pain on my left arm.
Blood immediately starts flowing and I hear Ella’s gasp when she hears me cry out.
“Well, that’s gonna leave a mark,” I grit out, the agony immediately causing me to want to puke. “Ella, can you wrap this up? We’ll get him out then head back to base.”
“Looks like you might be joining me at the hospital,” Otis teases just as my foot slips and I fall into a puddle of stagnant water. The smell alone makes me wonder if his septic tank is damaged and leaking, but I shake that thought off when I catch a glimpse of the offending spike.
It’s got so much rust that it’s practically a different color.
I relax slightly when I remember I’m current on my tetanus shot until it dawns on me that when I fell into the water, my arm slipped into the mucky, murky depths.
Dammit, I think I just bought myself a wicked infection, although I hope that the bleeding helped to minimize it.
“Alright, we’re gonna move you now, Otis,” I say, ignoring what he’s just said for the time being as I help Ella maneuver him out of where he’s been stuck. Once he’s on the back of the Ranger, she finishes her assessment. I ask, “Anything you want me to grab from inside for your hospital stay?”
“Don’t laugh, but I have a bag right inside the door.
I had planned to evacuate when the storm warnings first started, then decided to stay.
Got an extra phone charger already in it, but my phone is on the charger in the kitchen,” he replies.
“Power’s still out, but my generator has been keeping my fridge going, as well as my phone.
I think some towers might be down or something because the signal is horrible right now, though. ”
“Let me get all that together so we can get you some help,” I say, heading into the house.
Like Elmer’s, it’s well kept up, and I quickly do the same thing for him as I did at Elmer’s house, bagging up the trash as well as the items in the fridge that might not survive.
I know it’s probably a bit over the top, but these folks have gone through enough.
The last thing they need to worry about is coming home to a house that has rotten food.
It doesn’t take long and I’m back outside, the bag and his phone in my hands.
“Alright, I’ve got him ready to go,” Ella says.
“Let me take a look at what’s going on with you.
” All we’ve done is slap some gauze on it and wrap it and if I’m being honest, the last thing I want to do is unwrap it and see the damage.
It’s obvious it’s still actively bleeding based on the darkening wrap, so the sooner we get to base, the sooner I can get seen.
“No time,” I say, barely biting back a scream of pain as I get myself in the other Ranger. Those dark spots are still dancing around in my vision, but I’ve got a job to do before I can worry about myself.
I hear the bathroom door open and smile, knowing it’s Ella. “You about done?” she asks. “I brought you some clean clothes, and the shit you took off is already in a bag to go to the laundry.”
Stepping out of the shower, I grin when she wraps a towel around me.
I don’t care that she’s seeing me naked; it’s not the first time and probably won’t be the last. Being roommates in the past, we lost those inhibitions years ago.
“Will you braid my hair? I have a feeling I’ve bought myself a round of antibiotics and knowing Thelma, she’s not gonna let me go out for a few days. ”