Hi all, and welcome to another day of blogging! Today marks six days straight for me, which is a big deal. Since I started writing my books I have had little brain power left for my first realm of creative writing as an adult. But, here I am again to join Linda Hill’s #SoCS weekly event . Today’s prompt is the phrase just do it , used anyway you like.
Let’s return to my tale of the disillusioned lovers from present day big city life. I believe we left our young travelers on a hillside in 1850’s Rome, just beyond the gates of the Vatican’s Gregorian Tower.

”Oh, god, Dech, I don’t know if I can go much farther. My ankle feels wretched,” she groaned and they stopped to rest. Dechlan could see they had just about two hundred yards to reach the gates to the city where he hoped he could find help for her. Noni leaned against the stone wall and he knelt beside her, gently pushing up her jeans leg to check her ankle. When he gasped involuntarily, she tried to look down but even that movement sent sharp splinters of pain up her leg. It was worse than she’d thought.
“Give it to me straight, Dech. How bad is it?” she asked, not really sure if she wanted to know. She held her breath and put her hand on his head, needing to feel the warmth of him. He said nothing for a few minutes, trying to think of a delicate way to tell his love that her ankle had tripled in size and was not sporting various shades of green and purple. Then there was the odd angle her foot had taken on.
“We have to find you a doctor now,” he was as honest as he could be while teying to mask his concern.”
“Okay, well, it doesn’t look much farther. Now I’ve rested, I think I’m good to go… oooh ouch!” she cried and leaned against him.
“No, I think not,” he insisted as he hoisted the bags up and strung them across his back.
“Dechlan Patrick Healy, what do you think you’re going to do now?” she began, but when he stooped and lifted her up over his shoulder she couldn’t resist the urge to giggle. Not even the pain could smother her delight at his chivalry.
“Not another word, now, Noni Marie Leone. We’re finding a doctor now,” he huffed as he carefully navigated the hill. “By the way, I hope you can remember some of your Nonna Sophia’s phrases because I know zip Italian.”

”I… I might know how to…” her words came in bursts as she bounced up and down with his long strides. “to say ‘no more sweets!’ Or maybe… umph… ‘good dreams’. But… I doubt I can manage… ouch! My ankle is… broken.’

”Well, think fast because here we are.” Noni couldn’t see where ‘here’ was from her angle, but she heard the clanking of a gate when Dech opened it and they passed through. “I’m going to put you down under this tree for a minute, love.” She wanted to protest but was halfway to the ground. He was careful not to lean her weight on the bad foot and she was glad for the shade. They were situated to one side of a building, well out of sight of the city streets. When he turned to go she was suddenly panic stricken.
“Wait, don’t leave me here alone,” she whispered loudly. He just put a finger to his lips and motioned for her to settle down. Then he mouthed ‘Be right back’.

lyNoni took a deep breath and leaned against the rough bark of the tree and closed her eyes. Images of the strange unkempt man who shoved the ticket in her hand and the axe wielding conductor on the time train flashed through her mind. She wasn’t sure if she’d fallen asleep, but when a heavy cloth landed across her face, Noni jumped and cried out.
“Shhh… Dechlan warned. “We need to get into these clothes before anyone sees us. We have to sort of blend in if we don’t want to be chunked into some dungeon tower before we get you some help.” After he’s pulled the open necked cloak over his head, Dech surveyed his look. Only a short bit of his pants were visible and luckily he’s worn his vintage boots. Yep, this would do. “Here, let me help you,” he said and knelt beside Noni. She didn’t care for the rough feel of the dress he’d brought, but once he helped her get it over her head, it seemed long enough to his her jeans. He began helping her up but stopped, eyeing her feet. No, those thrift store Nikes would stick out worse than the blonde highlights in her dark hair. He looked at her apologetically before slipping off, first the left shoe, then the offending right. Noni held her breath and was relieved when it came off easily. Dech stuffed them in one of their bags and smiled.
“Ready now.” When she nodded he lifted her up. “Wait. I’ve an idea.” She watched curiously as he picked up their bags and took them to the wall, walking up behind the stand of trees to where a large stone box with a slatted door stood. Knowing there was not likely a lock, he pulled open the door and peered inside. Then he dropped the bags in and closed it again.
“There. That will keep prying eyes and unanswerable questions at bay for now. Now let’s do this more gently, shall we.” He winked and lifted her in his arms. She wrapped hers around his neck, feeling very well kept, but wondering how far he could carry her.
“Dech, you’re going to get tired like this,” but he quickly assured.

”Oh, didn’t I tell you? I spotted a physician’s sign hanging outside a building just across the square. There was no name, only that emblem, you know the one I always forget.”

”Caduceus,” she said. From ancient Greek. “I swear, college boy, I wonder about your powers of retention at times.” He chuckled.
“Well, all things medical are in your realm of education. I only have toom for so much in this jumbled brain.”

”Here we are” he declared, and she peered up at the crude wooden sign swaying slightly in the breeze. When Dechlan knocked, it took a few minutes before the door creaked and groaned from its own weight and slid open slowly.
The bearded man in a dark gray robe looked at them quizzically until Dechlan turned around so that Noni’s bright purple swollen ankle was nearly in his face. Hoping this was the doctor, he stepped inside when the man motioned. He pointed to a table where Dechlan gently put her down. The man spoken in quick bursts of Italian. But neither understood any of it, so Noni just pointed to her foot and gestured with her hands, showing how she’d rolled down a hill. When she made a painful face and pointed to her ankle the man nodded and pulled up a chair. Neither spoke for fear of alarming this helper. Better for him to think them dumb peasants than to be brought before a council of judges.Noni knew what happened to beings that dropped from the sky in America, and she knew their ancestors originated across Europe.
When the would be doctor touched her ankle, she cried out softly, but he had a gentle touch and didn’t press. He looked at her sorrowfully and spoke again Italian, and this time she could make out a few words. There was ‘rotta’ (broke) and ‘fare bene’ (make right). She nodded and he got up, returning with what looked like a chunk of peeled ginger root. When he handed it to Noni she looked at Dech, terrified. The man shrugged and spoke again. Although she didn’t understand his words, she knew that lookin a doctor’s eyes. It was a look that said, “Now this is going to hurt.” She grabbed Dechlan’s hand and bit down on the ginger, nodding.
“Just do it,” she muttered through clenched teeth. Dech squeezed her hand and the physician sort of grabbed her ankle and with both hands and twisted. Noni didn’t actually feel the pain, but the room swirled around her as she blacked out.

To be continued…

Cheryl K Pennington, copyright 2024