Sherry.
Shut the door, Midge, and bolt it.
Midge hurried off to do just that.
Names Rutland. Blue Rutland. Born that way. Blue, that is. Dont know why, just know it was so. He bobbed his head. As a sign of deference to quality it lacked genuine appreciation. Pinch says youre a surgeon.
Physician, Harris said weakly. He remained half a step behind Sherry.
No sawbones, then. Well, well see what you know, wont we. Rutlands discriminating glance went to Sherry. Youre Lord Sheridan?
I am.
The one that gutted her.
Sherry didnt deny it. Is she here? Show us to her. There is always time later to assign blame.
Blue Rutland considered this. It struck him as true. He nodded once. This way, he said. Have a care. The stairs are steep.
Sherry saw their hosts shoulders filled the narrow stairwell. The steps made a tight curve as they climbed. Unused to the exertion, Harriss breath was labored. Sherry tried to ignore the puffing but knew that apoplexy was not outside the question.
Abovestairs, Pinch and Dash squeezed ahead of Rutland, then raced to the last door on the right and threw it open.
Have a care, Rutland called after them. It wont bother me to put you out, and shes in no condition to object.
Pinch caught the door before it banged against the far wall. He and Dash posted themselves with stiff, military bearing on either side of the threshold.
Sherry smelled the infection before he had fully entered the room. He heard Harriss steps falter and the man curse softly under his breath. To his credit, he did not hesitate. He brushed right past Sherry and went straight to the bed where his patient lay and the smell of putrefaction was the strongest.
Rutland hung back now. Sherry questioned the wisdom of approaching himself, then the matter was taken out of his hands because Harris asked for assistance.
Remove these blankets, he ordered. Theyre as dirty and infested as she is. He shot an angry, impatient glance at Rutland. Was nothing at all done for her?
The big mans broad face turned ruddy. Got the knife out, he said. Sewed the wound myself. Stitches are good, you can see that. I served on one of His Majestys ships. I know a thing or two about stitchery.
Harris grunted as he lifted his patients shirt. Blood stained the garment where it was rent. This is the same thing she was wearing the night she was injured, he said.
She wouldnt want me to ruin another.
The physician muttered something unintelligible under his breath. The stitches had been neat enough when applied, but they were stretched fair to bursting by the swollen discolored flesh. My bag, Sheridan. I will require the scalpel. To Rutland, he said, Whisky or something like it. Unopened if you have it. Nothing cut with water. When the barkeep hesitated, Harris snapped, Now, man!
Sherry almost felt sorry for Rutland. What would you have me do? He had already pitched the blankets in a corner.
Take her wrists. He gave Sherry a short strap of leather. If she tries to bite, put this bit in her mouth. Otherwise, keep her as still as you can. It will be a mercy if she doesnt wake. His tone made it clear he was not confident.
Sherry knelt at the side of the narrow bed near the head. The angle was awkward but he managed to secure her wrists. They were thin, fragile really. He was afraid that if she struggled he would snap them. The leather strap that he might require for a bit was tucked in his trousers where he could quickly reach it. He did not think he could be more prepared than that.
Shuffling at the door caught his attention, and he looked up. Pinch and Dash were no longer outside the room but in it. Midge was craning his neck between them. Their faces were grave, frightened. Sherry had not properly appreciated how important this young woman was to them until now. It had been on the tip of his tongue to tell them to leave. He did not. They had much more right to be here than he did.
He loosed a wrist long enough to remove his hat. When he bent his head again, a
Shut the door, Midge, and bolt it.
Midge hurried off to do just that.
Names Rutland. Blue Rutland. Born that way. Blue, that is. Dont know why, just know it was so. He bobbed his head. As a sign of deference to quality it lacked genuine appreciation. Pinch says youre a surgeon.
Physician, Harris said weakly. He remained half a step behind Sherry.
No sawbones, then. Well, well see what you know, wont we. Rutlands discriminating glance went to Sherry. Youre Lord Sheridan?
I am.
The one that gutted her.
Sherry didnt deny it. Is she here? Show us to her. There is always time later to assign blame.
Blue Rutland considered this. It struck him as true. He nodded once. This way, he said. Have a care. The stairs are steep.
Sherry saw their hosts shoulders filled the narrow stairwell. The steps made a tight curve as they climbed. Unused to the exertion, Harriss breath was labored. Sherry tried to ignore the puffing but knew that apoplexy was not outside the question.
Abovestairs, Pinch and Dash squeezed ahead of Rutland, then raced to the last door on the right and threw it open.
Have a care, Rutland called after them. It wont bother me to put you out, and shes in no condition to object.
Pinch caught the door before it banged against the far wall. He and Dash posted themselves with stiff, military bearing on either side of the threshold.
Sherry smelled the infection before he had fully entered the room. He heard Harriss steps falter and the man curse softly under his breath. To his credit, he did not hesitate. He brushed right past Sherry and went straight to the bed where his patient lay and the smell of putrefaction was the strongest.
Rutland hung back now. Sherry questioned the wisdom of approaching himself, then the matter was taken out of his hands because Harris asked for assistance.
Remove these blankets, he ordered. Theyre as dirty and infested as she is. He shot an angry, impatient glance at Rutland. Was nothing at all done for her?
The big mans broad face turned ruddy. Got the knife out, he said. Sewed the wound myself. Stitches are good, you can see that. I served on one of His Majestys ships. I know a thing or two about stitchery.
Harris grunted as he lifted his patients shirt. Blood stained the garment where it was rent. This is the same thing she was wearing the night she was injured, he said.
She wouldnt want me to ruin another.
The physician muttered something unintelligible under his breath. The stitches had been neat enough when applied, but they were stretched fair to bursting by the swollen discolored flesh. My bag, Sheridan. I will require the scalpel. To Rutland, he said, Whisky or something like it. Unopened if you have it. Nothing cut with water. When the barkeep hesitated, Harris snapped, Now, man!
Sherry almost felt sorry for Rutland. What would you have me do? He had already pitched the blankets in a corner.
Take her wrists. He gave Sherry a short strap of leather. If she tries to bite, put this bit in her mouth. Otherwise, keep her as still as you can. It will be a mercy if she doesnt wake. His tone made it clear he was not confident.
Sherry knelt at the side of the narrow bed near the head. The angle was awkward but he managed to secure her wrists. They were thin, fragile really. He was afraid that if she struggled he would snap them. The leather strap that he might require for a bit was tucked in his trousers where he could quickly reach it. He did not think he could be more prepared than that.
Shuffling at the door caught his attention, and he looked up. Pinch and Dash were no longer outside the room but in it. Midge was craning his neck between them. Their faces were grave, frightened. Sherry had not properly appreciated how important this young woman was to them until now. It had been on the tip of his tongue to tell them to leave. He did not. They had much more right to be here than he did.
He loosed a wrist long enough to remove his hat. When he bent his head again, a
Similar Books
