Chapter 9: Busted Ankle

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Maggie sat me down on a couch as Hershel bent down to take off my boot and examine my ankle. Maggie had walked off to the kitchen. I let out a small groan as he touched it and he tutted.

"You've fractured it. If you fell on it slightly different I'd say you would've broken it, consider yourself lucky." He lectured, like a disappointed father.
"Lucky would be not riding a horse at all" I joked, and Hershel stood.

Maggie came back into the room with some bandages, water and a rag, placing it down besides my foot.

"There's not much I can do about your ankle." Hershel sighed.
"Best we can do is bandage it up and try and get the swelling down."
I nodded and Maggie dipped the rag in the water, then placing it on my ankle.
"Cold" I gasped and both she and Hershel chuckled.
"Cold water helps swelling." Hershel explained, patting my shoulder. Maggie stood and hugged her father.
"Daddy, why don't you go rest? I can help y/n out."
"Are you sure?" He asked, she just nodded and ushered him out the room.

Before Hershel left he turned to face me and pointed his finger.
"Rest your ankle. Don't over exhurt yourself." He ordered.
"Yessir" I replied, making him chuckle.

After he left, Maggie came and sat beside me on the couch and unwound the bandages. A huge grin was on her face.

"Thought you didn't ride horses?" She asked. I let out a huff.
"I don't. Didn't want to either."
She laughed, then bent down to my ankle, beginning to wrap it.
"Have a fun ride?"
I rolled my eyes.
"Do you think I had fun?" I questioned, she looked up at me and smirked.
"Well, sure looks like you had a blast with Nelly."
I let out a groan and leaned back into the couch.
"I never want to ride that horse again"
"I did tell you.."
"It was the only one left! Besides I wasn't too keen on sharing with strangers" I muttered the last part.

She finished wrapping up my ankle, making sure that it was tight and supported. Then she sat back next to me.

"I could give you lessons." She offered.
"No way. Not on that demon horse." I shook my head.
"I'd end up dead."
Maggie snorted.
"Not on Nelly. Another horse."
"Still no. It's uncomfortable."
She rolled her eyes.
"Course a city girl would say that."
"Course a cowgirl would say that" I fired back. She scoffed.
"You're just scared of falling off"
"Am not!"
"You are." She grinned.
"I'm not!"
She raised a brow and gave me a doubtful look.
"Fine! FINE! When my ankle is healed you can teach me to ride a horse."

Maggie gave me a triumphant smirk, and wrapped her arm around my shoulder. I don't know what it was about her but I was quite comfortable with her.

I sighed and nudged her off.
"You do this with everyone?" I asked, turning to her. She grinned and shook her head.
"Just you."
"And why is that?"
"It's fun to tease you." She joked, then stood from the couch. She offered me her hand and I took it.

She helped me up and led me to a bedroom on the ground floor. When she opened the door, I noticed pictures of her family were in frames round the room. She sat me down on the bed.

"Is it okay for me to be here? Who's room-?"
"It's mine. Figured you can't get up the stairs like that, so we can share."
I stared at her confused.
"I'd be fine on the couch, or even a tent." I tried to persuade her.
"You hate me that much?" She joked, hands on her hips.
"No, I just...don't wanna intrude."
"You're a patient, a floor wouldn't do you no good" Maggie instructed.

She then turned her back to me and looked through her drawers. She pulled out some shorts and a tank top, chucking them at me.

"Besides. Gotta make sure you don't run away" She joked, leaning against the drawers.
"Righttt, okayy" I rolled my eyes.
"And what are these for?" I asked, holding up the clothes she threw.
"To wear, obviously."
I let out an 'ah' in realisation. Maggie seemed to laugh.
"Cowgirl clothes." I joked.
"You can always walk around naked" She argued, walking back over to the bed and sitting down. I let out a gasp.
"You'd like that wouldn't you?" I joked, putting the top to my chest. She scoffed and looked away. I couldn't tell if she was mad or embarrassed.
"Well, sorry to disappoint, but I've always wanted to try being a cowgirl" I said smugly.

She moved to sit fully cross-legged on the bed, taking off her boots and throwing them to the floor, in the process. She looked me dead in the eyes and rested her head on her palm.

"A cowgirl that can't ride a horse? I'd like to see that" She joked. I rolled my eyes and went to stand, using the wall as support. Maggie was about to help, but I shook my head.
"I'm going to get changed."
"You don't need to move, I can just leave for a few." She offered. I shook my head, not wanting to trouble her but she got up and left. Just as she was about to close the door she popped her head in.
"Don't take too long, I think dinner is ready." She instructed, then left.

I sat back on the bed and slowly and carefully changed my clothes, careful not to put too much weight onto my ankle. Maggie's clothes were a perfect fit. It seemed we were about the same size. I sighed.

Even if I wanted to leave now, I wouldn't be able to till my ankle healed. I couldn't tell if that was lucky or unlucky. I would just have to make the most of the situation. At least it was safe here, from walkers, anyway.

After I was done I stood. I used the wall as support to walk out of Maggie's room and headed to dinner.

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