Page 38 of Loving Justice
“See you then, beautiful.” He clicked off. Things were coming full circle. Soon everyone would know his name.
Chapter Eleven
“Can I come in?”
Jinx craned his neck from where he stood at the sink shaving. “Come on in, Doc Lafferty. I didn’t expect to see you this morning.”
The doc came in and closed the door. “I had a visit with Sam and thought I’d stop in to see you on my way out.”
After rinsing his razor and dropping it back in the bag, he used the washcloth to clean the remaining shaving cream off his face.
“Looks like you’re getting around just fine,” Doc Lafferty said when Jinx stepped out of the bathroom.
He reached for his T-shirt from the bottom of the bed and pulled it over his head. “Where there’s a will there’s a way.”
“Don’t overdo it. I know you’re biting at the bit to leave, but you need to be careful.”
“Does that mean I’m released from your care?”
“Well, Sam said if you’re able to sit in that bed you should be able to sit in the passenger seat.” Doc pulled up the chair and sat down.“He said you should take as long as you need with pay.”
“That’s very generous.” Jinx sat on the bed.
Doc Lafferty shrugged. “Sam’s known to be generous on occasion. Stubborn as an ox though. He’s not taking the cancer seriously.” Doc grabbed his gloves from his bag. “I’ll go ahead and examine the wound but I’m betting it’s coming along fine.”
Jinx narrowed his gaze. “Doc?”
“Yeah?” He snapped his gloves into place.
“Sam has cancer?”
Surprise flashed over Doc’s face. “I think I just said something that I shouldn’t have.” He looked frazzled.
With a moment absorbing what he’d just heard, Jinx ran his hand through his hair. “Has he told anyone?” It made sense why he seemed preoccupied lately.
With an exasperated sigh, Doc shook his head. “I can’t talk to you about it.”
“That’s a little too late, isn’t it?”
“Well, technically, Sam isn’t my patient, but as his friend, he’d kill me if he knew I said something.”
“I’m assuming none of the sisters know?” Jinx couldn’t imagine Justice had any idea.
Doc shook his head again. “He wants to hold off as long as possible.”
“Damn. Is he getting treatment?”
“Says he doesn’t want it. It’d be easier to chop down a maple tree with a plastic knife than convince Sam Rose to do something he doesn’t want to. Sit back and let me look at the wound.” Jinx slid back and lifted his pant leg, watching as Doc peeled away the bandage. “You’re coming along fine, son.”
That’s what Jinx wanted to hear.
After hearing the news about Sam, Jinx felt a bit off-kilter. He didn’t know the man well, but what he did know he respected and admired. And his thoughts wandered to Justice. He knew how much she loved and cared for her father.
“How about we switch out that thick obstructive gauze for something you can get your jeans over?”
“I’d be much obliged, Doc,” Jinx answered.
“Let’s see what I have in my bag.” He searched through his bag and brought out an unopened package of bandages. “You still need to change it twice a day. Keep the salve on it each change. The stitches will need to come out in a week.”