Read Online Stavewood (Stavewood Saga Book 1) by Nanette Kinslow - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nanette Kinslow
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The young woman was thrilled with any container that might hold her and some water as well and thanked the boy profusely in her usual manner. Mark spent most of the afternoon heating water for her bath and, once the tub was filled with the steaming liquid, Rebecca’s excitement was engaging. The boy sat her in a chair beside the keg, concerned she might fall and handed her a cowbell to ring periodically so he’d know if she drowned. Rebecca thought it hysterical, yet delightfully thoughtful, and shooed him away from her chair beside the tub. Mark gathered the blankets he had pulled from the bed, finished replacing them with fresh ones and slipped out of the room timidly.
Rebecca carefully pulled the filthy, mud encrusted clothing from her aching legs. Although she had been convalescing for days she was shocked to see that she was deeply scratched and bruised. One ankle had what looked like a nasty burn and both of her knees were nearly black with discoloration. Her abdomen was swollen and distended on one side and her arms were spotted with blotches.
“Are you alright in there?” Mark called through the heavy door.
“Oh yes, fine,” Rebecca replied weakly. “I’m sorry I forgot the bell.” She had to laugh in spite of the ache in her side and her dismal discovery of her condition. The swelling in her side alarmed her most of all, sending a shiver up her spine.
She rang the cowbell loudly and could hear the boy’s chuckle outside. Lifting her weight carefully and slowly she lowered herself into the keg and slid into the steaming water. Her head began to pound instantly and she realized she still had much healing to do before a bath, even one in a rough old keg, would be at all enjoyable. She rang the bell again and painfully lathered herself with the soft soap the boy had given her. After several excruciating attempts to wash her hair well and much ringing of the cow bell she decided she had done enough when she could barely focus as she watched a thin trickle of blood drip into the hot water from her forehead. Fearful she might need to call out to the boy for assistance should she linger much longer, she pulled herself painfully from the keg and wrapped the blanket he had left for her around herself. Dressing in clean clothes would have to wait as Rebecca fell to the mattress.
No longer hearing the bell Mark called out to her.
“I’m alright,” she whimpered back.
Mark was alarmed at the tone of her voice and announced that he was coming in. Before Rebecca could protest he burst into the room and found her faint and bleeding on the bed. Throwing another blanket over her bare legs he arranged her as carefully as possible and pressed a clean cloth to her head. Rebecca shivered violently and it was clear she was feverish. The boy cursed at how the bath may not have been a good idea and contemplated, as he had several times since finding the woman, riding down the mountain for help. No one would come looking for her he hoped, but if he left her alone and someone did, he would never forgive himself.
“Damn it, Pa,” he cursed aloud. “Why aren’t you back yet?”
Rebecca whispered a weak thank you for the wonderful bath and drifted off to sleep. When Mark was sure she slept peacefully and that the bleeding had stopped on her forehead he stepped outside the cabin to catch his breath.
He thought he heard the hooves of an approaching horse for a moment, but it passed quickly. He listened tensely for several minutes to the wind in the trees. He’d spent every night beside the door and concluded that he could not leave the woman alone. He would have to wait until his father returned.
Chapter Ten
O nce her fever broke Rebecca regained her strength quickly, joining the boy guardedly outdoors. When Mark’s father did not return as promised,
The young woman was thrilled with any container that might hold her and some water as well and thanked the boy profusely in her usual manner. Mark spent most of the afternoon heating water for her bath and, once the tub was filled with the steaming liquid, Rebecca’s excitement was engaging. The boy sat her in a chair beside the keg, concerned she might fall and handed her a cowbell to ring periodically so he’d know if she drowned. Rebecca thought it hysterical, yet delightfully thoughtful, and shooed him away from her chair beside the tub. Mark gathered the blankets he had pulled from the bed, finished replacing them with fresh ones and slipped out of the room timidly.
Rebecca carefully pulled the filthy, mud encrusted clothing from her aching legs. Although she had been convalescing for days she was shocked to see that she was deeply scratched and bruised. One ankle had what looked like a nasty burn and both of her knees were nearly black with discoloration. Her abdomen was swollen and distended on one side and her arms were spotted with blotches.
“Are you alright in there?” Mark called through the heavy door.
“Oh yes, fine,” Rebecca replied weakly. “I’m sorry I forgot the bell.” She had to laugh in spite of the ache in her side and her dismal discovery of her condition. The swelling in her side alarmed her most of all, sending a shiver up her spine.
She rang the cowbell loudly and could hear the boy’s chuckle outside. Lifting her weight carefully and slowly she lowered herself into the keg and slid into the steaming water. Her head began to pound instantly and she realized she still had much healing to do before a bath, even one in a rough old keg, would be at all enjoyable. She rang the bell again and painfully lathered herself with the soft soap the boy had given her. After several excruciating attempts to wash her hair well and much ringing of the cow bell she decided she had done enough when she could barely focus as she watched a thin trickle of blood drip into the hot water from her forehead. Fearful she might need to call out to the boy for assistance should she linger much longer, she pulled herself painfully from the keg and wrapped the blanket he had left for her around herself. Dressing in clean clothes would have to wait as Rebecca fell to the mattress.
No longer hearing the bell Mark called out to her.
“I’m alright,” she whimpered back.
Mark was alarmed at the tone of her voice and announced that he was coming in. Before Rebecca could protest he burst into the room and found her faint and bleeding on the bed. Throwing another blanket over her bare legs he arranged her as carefully as possible and pressed a clean cloth to her head. Rebecca shivered violently and it was clear she was feverish. The boy cursed at how the bath may not have been a good idea and contemplated, as he had several times since finding the woman, riding down the mountain for help. No one would come looking for her he hoped, but if he left her alone and someone did, he would never forgive himself.
“Damn it, Pa,” he cursed aloud. “Why aren’t you back yet?”
Rebecca whispered a weak thank you for the wonderful bath and drifted off to sleep. When Mark was sure she slept peacefully and that the bleeding had stopped on her forehead he stepped outside the cabin to catch his breath.
He thought he heard the hooves of an approaching horse for a moment, but it passed quickly. He listened tensely for several minutes to the wind in the trees. He’d spent every night beside the door and concluded that he could not leave the woman alone. He would have to wait until his father returned.
Chapter Ten
O nce her fever broke Rebecca regained her strength quickly, joining the boy guardedly outdoors. When Mark’s father did not return as promised,
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