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“Yeah, be a jerk,” Bridget muttered.

“Why is she a jerk?”

“She’s really not.” Bridget sighed. “She thinks she’s helping.”

“Helping with what?” Now Jerica was intrigued. She’d never seen a dynamic duo quite like them, and she could tell they must have had a close relationship for a long time. They talked like they knew everything about each other.

“Nothing important.” Bridget shifted in the wheelchair. “She insisted I use this thing.”

“It’s a good break while you’re traipsing the hallways. It takes a bit to get from one side of the hospital to the other.”

“I could have used the scooter,” Bridget argued.

Jerica put her hands out, straightening her back. “Hey, I didn’t make you sit in it.”

“Right. Sorry. I guess…I hate being such an invalid.”

“NowthatI can understand.” Jerica chuckled lightly. “It’s never fun to have to rely on other people for help, but at least it seems as though Eli keeps it interesting.”

“That she does.” Bridget looked around for her friend, but when there was no sign of her, she turned back to Jerica, effectively stuck in place until someone pushed her. It was somewhat useful for Jerica.

“How long have you two been friends?”

“Since kindergarten.” Bridget eyed Jerica. “We were in school together through college and then moved home. I became a sheriff’s deputy, and she’s been working her parent’s ranch.”

“Sounds interesting. I can’t imagine working on a ranch.”

“No? It’s a quiet life, that’s for sure. She doesn’t talk to a lot of people so when she gets someone around, she won’t shut up.”

Jerica laughed lightly. “In other words, you’re all talked out after a week.”

“I am.” Bridget grimaced. “Don’t tell her I said that though.”

“Your secret’s safe with me.” Jerica smiled broadly. “I’d ask how everything is going with recovery, but I imagine you’re also tired of that question.”

“I am.” Bridget shifted her shoulders as if she was suddenly uncomfortable.

Jerica took the sign for what it was and changed the topic of conversation. “Then we won’t talk about that. Since you’re obviously out of work for a bit, are you finding any time to read those steamy books Eli gave you?”

Bridget scoffed. “No. Reading is really…not my thing. I’d like it to be, but I’m so bad at it. Eli was always the one who had the brains.”

“You are the brawn, then.”

Bridget opened her mouth as though she was going to retort but stopped. “I suppose that’s true.”

Jerica’s cheeks heated with embarrassment. She wasn’t sure she wanted to admit to Bridget that she had looked at her arms, the strength in the muscles in her body, proven every time she had to get up when she was half-broken. But she had looked, more than a time or two, and she wasn’t about to try and forget those moments.

“Eli did get into sports with me for a bit there. We even did intervarsity in college for a few years before we got too busy with studies.”

“What did you major in?”

Bridget pursed her lips. “Communication. It was an easy A. I needed the degree to do what I really wanted.”

“Police work?” Jerica took a guess.

Nodding, Bridget stared up at Jerica. “Yeah. I always wanted to be Sheriff, though I never thought it’d happen as soon as it did. But when the previous Sheriff resigned and I was undersheriff, I was put in the position temporarily until there was a special election the following year.”

“How long have you been Sheriff then?”