Dem sat Oser down; Rosie was with Egfor. What kept going through her mind was how do I ask him to be assigned to another doctor. But she couldn’t think of a way that wouldn’t force her to explain. She stared at her hands.
“Oser, I have done everything to rid you of the controls your old owner had over you. At least we got rid of the ones that were the most dangerous.”
Oser nodded. “Aye. And you know I have appreciated all you have done for me. But—”
Dem held up his hand, interrupting her. “Let me finish light of my darkness. One of those commands is not to let yourself love those you work for or with.”
Oser blushed. This was on her mind constantly since…but did he love her in return. He was once married to another man.
Dem nods; he could read a person and know more about them than they knew of themselves sometimes. Oser knew this, and she was one of those people.
“Here’s the thing. I know you have feelings caged inside you for a certain man. From what I have heard and what I have observed watching the two of you together, he shares those feelings. Therefore, I am reassigning Lindsie to be Raymond’s assistant. You will become one of the women who work strictly on those patients in the Estate.”
Oser started crying. She couldn’t help it. Dem walked to her and wrapped his massive arms around her. The man had the muscle to snap her like a twig, but he wouldn’t ever do it. He was her protector, friend, and family. His arms were a blanket of security around her shaking body. Slowly the tears ebbed, then stopped, and she stepped back. “I don’t know how to thank you yet again, Dem, but I will. Somehow, someday.”
He shook his head, “You have thanked me more than any deed I have ever done for you, giving me of your skills to nurse people back to health. And we mustn’t forget the child you have given to the Estate simply by staying to help us.”
His words caused her to blush yet again.
“I will tell Raymond of the reassignment.”
Oser laid her small delicate hand on Dem’s large arm. “Let me tell him, coming from you; he may take it as an insult.”
Dem studied her for several long minutes. Finally, he gave a curt nod and left the porch of the woman’s house and sending Oser back to her. He and Egfor walked off…most to comfort each other, for she too saw his hurt at having this talk with her.
