the middle of the night.”
“Why- ” the voice began again, faltered, and then said facetiously, “We wouldn’t want to make you nervous .”
Another man snorted quietly, but said nothing.
“Now that you’ve finished giving me your regards,” Jesse said in a voice that was now like tempered steel. “You can be on your way.”
It was not until Hetty heard the sound of horses riding away that she realized she had been holding her breath for most of the exchange. She released it as bootsteps crossed the porch. The door opened and Jesse stepped back into the room.
He regarded her for a moment in the moonlight before he said, “I’ll need your help.”
Chapter 6
Concealed by heavy brush, John Forbes lay against the base of a tree in the woods behind the cabin. His entire shirt front was darkened by a blood stain. A woman leaned over him, holding a makeshift bandage over the wound in his chest.
Jesse got down on his knees beside the man. He spoke some words to the woman and she nodded. As gently as possible, with Jesse on one side and the woman on the other they helped the man to his feet. With difficulty, they got him into the cabin and onto the bed.
Three children had also appeared from the shadows. There was as young girl holding a baby and another small child, a boy. They huddled together on the opposite side of the room, frightened and silent.
John Forbes was badly wounded, possibly dying. The woman was white-faced and trembling as she did what she could to stop the blooding. Jesse had gone outside to get the family’s wagon ready so that they could get him to the doctor in Eminence.
It was dangerous to move him anywhere but his wound needed immediate attention. He probably would not get the best of care in Eminence. If he survived the long, rough trip. Hetty was convinced that the best place to take him was to her uncle’s ranch which was much closer than the long drive to town.
After talking it over with Rachel Forbes, Hetty left the cabin. She found Jesse in one of the outbuildings. He listened to her reasoning as, with sure, swift fingers, he worked with the harness of the Forbes’ small wagon.
He glanced once at the cabin and then nodded, agreeing with her. Frowning, he said, “I expect you’re right. Even if he survived the trip to Eminence, I was wondering what we would do if that fool doctor was passed out cold from his usual Saturday night drinking spree.”
The decision was made and soon the old, dilapidated wagon was pulling the family up the trail towards the Parrish ranch.
Hetty held her breath at each jolt of the wagon. While Rachel Forbes cradled her husband’s head and shoulders in her lap, Hetty held a bandage tightly against the wound. She bit her lip, outraged at the bruises that marred John Forbes’ face. Apparently, he had also been beaten by the men who had shot him.
The sooner they got him to the ranch the better. Hetty had some experience with injuries. A ranch hand’s life was hard. Working with cattle and breaking wild horses was always risky. Her Aunt Isabel had had some nursing experience and so did her Aunt Delia.
But Hetty didn’t have much experience with gunshot wounds and she admitted to herself that she was afraid, afraid that John Forbes wasn’t even going to make it to the ranch alive. He was so pale and so weak. And there was so much blood. A terrible amount of blood.
It was still dark when they pulled up to the front porch of the ranch house. The front door opened immediately. “Hetty!” she heard her Uncle e xclaim. “What in hell- Why- ” he sputtered as Jesse jumped down from the seat of the wagon.
Zebadiah was already at
“Why- ” the voice began again, faltered, and then said facetiously, “We wouldn’t want to make you nervous .”
Another man snorted quietly, but said nothing.
“Now that you’ve finished giving me your regards,” Jesse said in a voice that was now like tempered steel. “You can be on your way.”
It was not until Hetty heard the sound of horses riding away that she realized she had been holding her breath for most of the exchange. She released it as bootsteps crossed the porch. The door opened and Jesse stepped back into the room.
He regarded her for a moment in the moonlight before he said, “I’ll need your help.”
Chapter 6
Concealed by heavy brush, John Forbes lay against the base of a tree in the woods behind the cabin. His entire shirt front was darkened by a blood stain. A woman leaned over him, holding a makeshift bandage over the wound in his chest.
Jesse got down on his knees beside the man. He spoke some words to the woman and she nodded. As gently as possible, with Jesse on one side and the woman on the other they helped the man to his feet. With difficulty, they got him into the cabin and onto the bed.
Three children had also appeared from the shadows. There was as young girl holding a baby and another small child, a boy. They huddled together on the opposite side of the room, frightened and silent.
John Forbes was badly wounded, possibly dying. The woman was white-faced and trembling as she did what she could to stop the blooding. Jesse had gone outside to get the family’s wagon ready so that they could get him to the doctor in Eminence.
It was dangerous to move him anywhere but his wound needed immediate attention. He probably would not get the best of care in Eminence. If he survived the long, rough trip. Hetty was convinced that the best place to take him was to her uncle’s ranch which was much closer than the long drive to town.
After talking it over with Rachel Forbes, Hetty left the cabin. She found Jesse in one of the outbuildings. He listened to her reasoning as, with sure, swift fingers, he worked with the harness of the Forbes’ small wagon.
He glanced once at the cabin and then nodded, agreeing with her. Frowning, he said, “I expect you’re right. Even if he survived the trip to Eminence, I was wondering what we would do if that fool doctor was passed out cold from his usual Saturday night drinking spree.”
The decision was made and soon the old, dilapidated wagon was pulling the family up the trail towards the Parrish ranch.
Hetty held her breath at each jolt of the wagon. While Rachel Forbes cradled her husband’s head and shoulders in her lap, Hetty held a bandage tightly against the wound. She bit her lip, outraged at the bruises that marred John Forbes’ face. Apparently, he had also been beaten by the men who had shot him.
The sooner they got him to the ranch the better. Hetty had some experience with injuries. A ranch hand’s life was hard. Working with cattle and breaking wild horses was always risky. Her Aunt Isabel had had some nursing experience and so did her Aunt Delia.
But Hetty didn’t have much experience with gunshot wounds and she admitted to herself that she was afraid, afraid that John Forbes wasn’t even going to make it to the ranch alive. He was so pale and so weak. And there was so much blood. A terrible amount of blood.
It was still dark when they pulled up to the front porch of the ranch house. The front door opened immediately. “Hetty!” she heard her Uncle e xclaim. “What in hell- Why- ” he sputtered as Jesse jumped down from the seat of the wagon.
Zebadiah was already at
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