Peete and Repeat (The Frannie Shoemaker Campground Mysteries Book 3) by Karen Musser Nortman Page A

cart.
    “Yoohoo!” she called, beaming with relief. “You made it—I’ve been worried!”
    Larry tried to gently coax the canoe up to the slope, but even a slight bump caused sharp jabs in Frannie’s side. Mary Louise’s expression changed from outright joy to concern as she saw Frannie’s face.
    “You are hurting! Time to get you looked at!” She sidestepped down the slope to the canoe, steadied the bow, and reached out a hand to Frannie to help her out. It wasn’t a pretty dismount.
    “I’ll give you a ride in the cart to your site,” Mary Louise continued, and then looked back at Larry. “You can take her to the ER right away, can’t you?”
    Larry grinned. “That’s the plan. Besides, I wouldn’t dare say no to you, Mary Louise.”
    “Well, look at her! I should have insisted on bringing her back with us.”
    Frannie thought she’d better step in and defend her husband before Mary Louise really took him on. “Thanks for your concern, but it really hasn’t been that bad—most of the time. Don’t blame Larry; he can’t do anything with me when I’ve made up my mind. I will accept the offer of the ride, though.”
    Mary Louise tried to gently hustle her up the slope and into the cart. While the others hauled the canoes and paddles to the top of the little hill, Mary Louise chatted about who had already arrived and who hadn’t. Frannie noticed that Richard and his companion were among the yet-to-arrive.
    Frannie appreciated not having to walk from the takeout to the campsite, but the golf cart was not exactly a smooth ride. Mary Louise kept up a constant commentary on previous injuries she and her children had suffered, who provided the best medical care in the area, and what the extent of Frannie’s injuries might be. At least Frannie didn’t feel obliged to reply at any length because speaking was becoming more of an effort.
    When they arrived at the campsite, Ben and Nancy were back from the high ropes course and helped her to one of the reclining lawn chairs. By the time Mary Louise had given them a detailed account of the accident, Larry, Mickey and Jane Ann were rounding the corner. Larry went in the camper to get his keys and billfold. Using a small folding step-stool, the hand holds inside the truck, and several hands, the others helped Frannie into the passenger side of the truck.
    The nearest emergency clinic was small and enjoying a fairly quiet afternoon. “The rush will come this evening, with sunburns and injuries that people don’t think are that bad until they try to go to sleep,” the nurse told the Shoemakers.
    After a short wait and a recap of her medical history, Frannie was subjected to x-rays and some poking and prodding that didn’t make the injury feel any better. Another wait, and a young physician’s assistant, Dr. Havek, told her that the x-rays did not show any fractures, “although there could be one so small that it isn’t showing up.” Great.
    He recommended an over-the-counter pain reliever and rest.
    “How long?”
    “How long what?”
    “How long do I have to rest? Just today?”
    The young man looked at her suspiciously. “What did you have in mind?”
    “Can I go hiking? Or biking?”
    “What kind of hiking? Up and down cliffs?”
    “No.” Frannie let out a snort. “I don’t do that when I’m well. Just on the bike path.”
    Larry, standing to the side of the examining table, rolled his eyes. Dr. Havek put down his clipboard, leaned against the counter, and folded his arms.
    “You can walk slowly , but don’t do anything that could bring another fall. You are going to be very sore for weeks—maybe months.”
    “Months?!?”
    “Told you so,” Larry muttered.
    “This kind of injury doesn’t heal fast, and especially in older people,” Dr. Havek said.
    “You don’t have to be mean about it,” Frannie said. “I’m not that old.”
    “Just giving you the facts. Do you have any other questions?” So much for bedside