Chapter 25

Agonizing pain snapped Beth into full wakefulness before she could settle into a good solid faint.

Dakota examined her shoulder.

Jake looked like he wanted to kill his old friend.

"Appears the shoulder joint's been reseated." Dakota leaned over to get her to look right at him. "It's not broken, Beth, but it's still gonna hurt for a while. You'll need to wear a sling until it's healed up."

Mama came and looked at the shoulder a few seconds longer, then gave Jake a firm nod. "It's a nasty injury, but it looks like it's been well treated. Jake, you take care of her."

Jake leaned down and gave Ginny a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks, Mama."

Ginny gave him a weak smile, then got busy. She found another basin, divided the water between the two pans, and wrung out a rag. She turned to tend Joseph.

Oscar and Bruce, with Mama helping, crowded around Joseph. The door creaked open, and Donal O'Toole stood there looking worried. Little Conor and Bridget were beside him.

"Is there anything we can do?" Donal asked.

Beth glanced at them and shook her head. "Go see if your ma and Maeve need a hand with the babies. And there's a meaty bone simmering on the stove. Maybe Fiona could turn it into a stew."

"Keep an eye out for Yvette," Oscar said without looking away from Joseph. "But for heaven's sake, don't touch her. And don't let her get near any knives."

That sounded like plenty for Donal to do.

"Yvette ran off. I saw her run deeper into the canyon," Conor said.

"Yvette?" Bruce pulled off one of Joseph's boots. "That woman who almost killed Rutledge last year, who's now almost killed Joseph?"

"His leg is cut up," Oscar said. "Tend to it, Bruce, while I see to the cuts on his head."

"It don't look broken." Bruce frowned as he worked over Joseph. "Sorry we spooked that herd, Oscar. I knew we were close to the canyon, but I'm not sure I'd've found it. It don't look at all like I remember."

Mama washed the blood off Joseph's face, humming a single note. "It's his head that worries me."

"Did she stab him like she stabbed Rutledge?"

"He's so battered, it's hard to say." Oscar worked over his brother. "I'm afraid he may have a broken arm—it doesn't look straight. And there are bruises on his chest. He could have broken ribs or even a rib so badly shattered it might pierce his lungs or his heart."

"Does anyone know how to set a broken bone?" Beth waited, but only dead silence greeted her question.

"I'm going for the doctor," Bruce said.

Mama gasped and looked up from where she bathed Joseph's face. The fear in her eyes was terrible to behold.

"If we can't set a bone, then we need help," he said.

"Dakota, have you set broken bones?" Oscar had a frantic expression on his usually calm face.

Grimly, Dakota shook his head.

"If there's no one here to handle this"—he looked at Mama—"I could take him to the doctor. We don't want anyone knowing we're in here."

"Moving him might kill him." Jake's jaw was set in a tight line.

"Maybe. Well, we could take him south while you run for the doctor, Jake. We could meet you on the trail."

Bruce nodded. "How about we take him to the O'Tooles? If we're moving slow and Jake rides to Alton and back like the wind, it might be better than just waiting here, making Joseph wait so long."

Beth saw the concern on everyone's faces. No one wanted to make the decision before them, so she did it. "Go, Jake. We'll take the O'Tooles along as guides to find their house. Go. Quickly."

"I'll go." Dakota strode toward the door. "I've got a fast horse. You build a sledge, Jake, and bring Joseph to the O'Tooles."

Jake jerked his chin in agreement.

"Dakota!"

Bruce's shout had Dakota skidding to a stop. "What?"

"I heard the doctor there's a drunk, but as long as he don't start to sober up, he does okay. Get him even if he's sow-drunk, even if you have to hog-tie him and throw him over his horse. Bring with you a bottle of whiskey."

Dakota looked at Jake and said, "You handle the sledge, then get Beth's arm in a sling and get her settled in bed somewhere." He then ran from the room on his way to Alton.

Beth was glad to see him go, even though he did his rough medicine rather well. "Help me pull my dress back on my good arm, then get a sling fashioned. I can get back to my cabin while you help Mama and Oscar with Joseph. I'm not worth much right now."

Beth heard hooves thundering away and knew Dakota would make the ride as fast as he could.

Jake slid the dress up so gently, Beth felt tears burn her eyes. She whispered, "You really are a fine husband."

He kissed her gently on the forehead, then took the towel Dakota had draped over her when her dress had to be pulled down and got a sling arranged.

"Oscar, Ginny, I'll help Beth to the cabin. I'll be back to help with Joseph."

Bruce left to help Donal work on the sledge.

Mama came and looked over Beth, touched the sling as if to adjust it slightly. "You're going to be all right, Beth. I'll stay here and tend you while Oscar and Bruce and Jake and Donal—oh, who knows who all?—take Joseph to the O'Tooles." Mama took a solid hold of Beth's good hand. Tears flooded her eyes. "Then you and I are going to have a serious talk about what I need to do to fight my husband. We've come to a beautiful place, but I'm not going to live out the rest of my life like a gopher afraid to pop my head above ground anymore."

"Ginny, no." Oscar left his brother's side for the first time. "You know what he's like. You know we can't trust him. A judge can be bought. A jury too."

"Then we'll just have to be careful to find a judge who can't be bought."

Bruce came to the doorway. "We're ready to move him. Donal had the travois almost done before I got out there to help. Let's get moving."

They all turned to look at Joseph, who was out cold and still as death, his face pale with the crimson of blood marking his ashen skin.

Beth wondered if moving him would kill him and had to bite down hard to keep from insisting they bring the doctor all the way here. Going out to meet him would shorten the time until he got a doctor's attention, so it might balance out the danger of the move.

"We'll all talk about my troubles later." Mama stepped aside as Jake, Bruce, Donal, and Oscar, with aching gentleness, lifted Joseph and carried him out to take him on the long trip to get help.

Jake looked hard at Beth. "You stay right here. I'll be back once we get Joseph settled."

Since Beth was afraid she'd collapse if she sat up, she didn't even consider disobeying him. Mama stood at her side, tears flowing down her face, taking all the blame for the danger on her own shoulders.

Jake returned then and lifted Beth into his arms. He carried her to the house. "I'm going along to take Joseph to the O'Tooles. Fiona, Maeve, and the youngsters are staying here with you to help tend the babies while the men are gone. Fiona is asking questions. I think it's time we took them into our confidence."