Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 95756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
The thermometer slid inside easily and he rubbed her lower back soothingly as they waited. When he drew it out there was a moment of silence where she guessed he was reading it.
He sighed. “Hundred and two.”
Well, bummer.
“Right, back to bed for you. I’m going to get you some medicine and a shake. You can try and eat some breakfast later. Anything else you need?” he asked as he tucked her back under the covers.
“No, Daddy.”
“Just rest, little darling. I’ll take care of everything else.”
She blew her nose. Urgh. So gross. She was stuffed up. She was tired. Two days had passed since she’d woken with a temperature and sore throat. She still felt like she’d been run over by a truck, but she was also itching to do something. She no longer wanted to sleep, drink, pee, and repeat. But at the same time, she didn’t have the energy to move.
The door to her bedroom opened and she reached for the remote, turning down the television.
Charlie glanced with interest at the big container Clint was carrying into the room. “What’s that, Daddy?”
“This is Doc’s entertainment box for sick Littles,” he replied.
“I’ve never heard of it before.”
“Apparently, he’s tired of Littles trying to push themselves too far when they’re not well, so he’s been working on this. He said when Caley injured her hands, it was difficult to get her to rest and relax. This idea came to him. But you’re the first to receive one.”
“That was nice of him.” Which wasn’t something one could usually say about Doc.
“Doc gets a bad rep. He does care.”
She immediately felt bad for her thoughts. Of course he cared. He looked after the health of everyone on the ranch. He’d just always been gruff and distant.
Clint set the box on the bed and she moved onto her knees to look in as he opened it.
“Ooh.” She pulled out a new coloring book that had an ice-cream sundae on the front. Inside were lots of outlines of different desserts to color. “Wow. This is cool.”
There was also a pack of new pens that were scented. She wished her nose was clear enough for her to smell them. She opened one up and tried to sniff it. Nope. Nothing was getting through.
“Still all blocked up, huh, little darling?” Clint asked, watching her.
“It sucks, Daddy.”
“I know it does. I’ll rub some stuff on your chest for you.”
She loved when Clint did that. He got up to go grab the vapo-rub.
Reaching in again, she pulled out a small hand-held game. One where you had to press the buttons to get the balls in the hippo’s mouth.
The next item was a flat, fluffy unicorn that had a weird-feeling tummy. She looked at Clint in confusion as he walked back into the bedroom.
“It’s a heat pack,” he explained, opening up the back and pulling out a pouch. “You take this part out and heat it then put it back in the unicorn and you can hug it.”
That was genius.
“Will you heat that up for me, Daddy?”
“Sure thing, baby. I’ll do that in a moment. Let’s get this stuff on your chest first.” He sat on the bed behind her, leaning back against the headboard. She rested against him, her back to his chest. He opened the vapo-rub and scooped a bit out then pulled her nightgown away from her chest, to rub it gently on her skin.
She sighed with pleasure as he massaged it in.
“How does that feel, little darling?” he asked in a low murmur.
“Great, Daddy. Thank you.”
He kissed the top of her head before slipping out from behind her to go wash his hands. She attempted to blow her nose again. She knew she had to look a fright. She probably had a bright red nose and no doubt her hair was in a state. But she didn’t much care right then.
She drew out the next item. A pack of go-fish cards with pictures of mermaids on them. “Will you play this with me, Daddy?” she asked as he returned.
“After your nap, I will. I’m just going to go warm up your heat pack. I’ll be back soon.”
Nap, schmack.
But she sighed, knowing she wouldn’t get out of it. As he left, she explored the rest of the box. There was also a pack of clay and a soft, fluffy blanket. The last item was the best, though. It was a toy medical kit. Complete with stethoscope, thermometer, injector, tongue depressor, a tool to check reflexes and a blood pressure cuff complete with the thing that you squeezed to puff it up. She didn’t know what that was called but it looked like fun.
When Clint came back in with her heat pack, she showed him the kit.
“Daddy, I can check to make sure you’re not sick.”
Clint eyed the medical kit warily. Like it might bite him. He put the pouch back into the unicorn and handed it to her. She held it against her chest. It was quite nice to cuddle.