Eye of the Falcon (Psychic Visions #12)(24)

“I’ll get you another change of clothes. Be right back.” He returned soon enough and left something for her to wear in the bathroom.

When her nose twitched, she realized he’d put something into the bathtub. She wasn’t sure that was the best idea, given all her scratches, and she knew getting in would hurt like crap. Something she hadn’t thought about when she’d asked. Not to mention the stitches on her head and shoulder.

He walked back toward her. “I put a bit of tea tree oil in the water. It’s strong, not terribly nice smelling, but it has antiseptic properties, and all the scratches would benefit from a very good soak.” He paused. “But I’ve got to warn you, it’ll hurt like shit when you get in.”

Her gaze went to the bathtub and back to him. “I was just thinking that.”

He shrugged. “We can give you a bed bath?”

“No, that would hurt also. A real bath would be lovely. The stinging will go away soon enough.” She pulled the blankets back and slowly sat up. She’d been making some headway with moving a little more each time. She rested her feet on the floor and studied them. “Do you think I can put weight on them?”

She was plucked off the bed, held in midair as Eagle said, “Drop your feet to the floor now.”

She slowly stretched her legs out and realized he held her just above the floor. He lowered her until her feet touched the floor.

“Now, with just one foot, try to stand.”

Her feet was swollen, puffy, and felt like there were great big cushions underneath, yet the minute she put her weight on one, she cried out.

“That answers that,” he said, lifting her back up again.

“No wait.” She closed her eyes. “I have to get used to it at some point.”

“Hell no, you don’t. Another few days and we’ll try again. A week, ten days at the most. You don’t have to walk on them when they’re bad.” He walked over to the bathtub, sat her down on the edge, and said, “You might be able to manage this from here.”

Sitting on the edge of the tub, she realized there was a bar on the far side. She glanced at him. “Actually I think I can.”

He frowned, hesitating.

She waved him away with her hands. “Let me try. I promise I’ll call if I get stuck.”

“You have to call anyway when you want out,” he warned. “We can’t risk you falling.”

She nodded. “Let me try first, please.”

As if hearing the sincerity and the need for privacy in her voice, he nodded and walked away.

She slipped the big heavy socks off, hating to leave the warm cocoon. She didn’t realize just how cold she was until she stripped off her clothes. Clothing which was obviously his because the shirt went down to her knees and the pants went up to her armpits.

When her bare bottom touched the edge of bathtub, she gasped. She kept her voice low, but, Lord, it was cold. She pulled her arms inside the T-shirt and carefully pulled it over her head. With all the clothing on the floor, she pivoted gently and slowly dipping her feet into the hot water. Tears filled her eyes. It felt wonderful and terrible at the same time. Every slice, every scratch, every bruise screamed as soon as it met the water. But a few moments later, after the initial pain, everything started to cry with relief.

“It’s a start,” she murmured.

It took another twenty minutes to fully seat herself in the hot water.

When she was stretched full out, she lowered her head to just below the stitches. She lay that way letting the heat soak into her bones. Even though she’d been warmly dressed and under covers, there was such a chill inside.

“Are you okay?” Eagle called out from the hallway.

“I’m better than okay,” she answered. “I’m warm and feel great.”

“Good, watch out for that head injury.”

“It’s the only part of me that’s out of the water.”

She heard him chuckle.

“The tea tree oil … I don’t know how good it is for my hair. It’s probably not the best, but most of the scent is gone anyway. I don’t know if you have any shampoo, but my hair is in rough shape.”

“Soap and shampoo are on the side.”

Twisting slightly she could see both. “Okay. I’m good. I don’t plan on moving until the water turns cold.”

“Good enough. I need to check on the raptors. If you think you’ll be okay, I’ll probably be outside for a good hour.”

“Go,” she called out. “Go look after those that need you more than I do.”

“Will do.”

She heard his boots walking across the floor. And then he was gone. She sank into the water and let her eyes drift closed.

Once again images of wastelands, clefts, oceans, and lakes flew across her mind. She could see the sides of the cliffs, snow dappling across the crags—akin to memories of a flight a long time ago. Yet the only flight she remembered taking that had gone over an ocean would’ve been when they had traveled to America from Ireland. She’d been so young that she didn’t think she remembered anything of that trip.

The more she tried to remember, the more her head pounded. She didn’t know if it was from her head injury or a mental block.

No doubt what she’d been through was horrific, and the details would hurt all that much more when she did recall them. For the moment, she was content to just lie here and rest.