Page 65 of Prohibited

“You’re not fighting anyone with that bum shoulder,” Ryan said, settling against the doorframe with his shoulder.

“We’ll see about that.” Lindsay raised an eyebrow at him. “They say the cane is mightier than the sword.”

A rare smile cut through the tired stoicism of Ryan’s face. But it disappeared as soon as it arrived.

“We’ve things to discuss,” Alex said, abruptly.

“Yes.” Ryan inclined his head. He looked at Lindsay. “We’ve been talking.”

“Oh dear,” Lindsay said.

“We’ve decided that it’s best that we go to the Orchard.” Alex watched him, cold eyes empty of anything but purpose. “Who knows how much longer the house will be safe.”

“I don’t disagree with that.” Lindsay nodded as best he could against his pillow. “Staying in town doesn’t seem the safest place right now.”

“But if he does burn down my house, I will disembowel him,” Alex said in a voice that didn’t reveal a hint of jest.

“The Orchard?” Evie said, looking at Lindsay, and then turning her head to look at Ryan and Alex.

“My family owns an orchard outside of Tulsa,” Lindsay said. “Well, I mean, my brother runs it now. We move a lot of the cider he produces. Applejack, too.”

“It’s far enough away and well-protected enough that we’ll see Stanley coming,” Ryan continued. “If he’s stupid enough to come.”

“How soon can he travel, Dolly?” Alex fixed his unsettling stare on Evie. Lindsay didn’t blame her for quelling ever so slightly.

“As soon as he feels well enough.” She glanced at Lindsay. “He lost a bit of blood, and the injury will take some weeks to heal, but I got the bullet out. He’s very lucky to be alive. The main threat now is fever. Infection.”

Lindsay nodded, feeling a thrill of fear go through him. He tried not to dwell on the things in life that he couldn’t control. But during his time as a medic in the war he’d watched many men succumb to burning fevers and infections that caused wounds to swell and produce ghastly smelling pus and drainage.

“Let’s be certain that doesn’t happen, hm?” Alex said it casually enough, but the look he gave her spoke volumes about what he might do to her if she failed this directive.

Lindsay put his hand on her hand, causing her to flinch slightly, then look slightly embarrassed for being jittery.

“I’ll do my best,” she said. Her eyes met Lindsay’s. They didn’t have to tell each other that they had little control over that particular outcome. All they could do was keep the wound clean.

“Your best had better be good enough.” Alex put his hat on. His eyes shifted to Lindsay, cold as ever. “Rest, Pony. We’ll leave tonight for the Orchard.”

Evie turned her face toward Alex. He nodded to her and touched the brim of his hat. “Good day, Dolly.” He turned and left. Then Ryan and Evie met eyes and something passed between them that Lindsay couldn’t quite read, but Ryan quickly dropped his eyes and turned away, mumbling something about breakfast. Interesting.

Lindsay looked back at Evie, who was staring at the floor.

“Don’t worry, Evie.” He took her hand between both of his, making him grimace with pain at the effort of lifting his arm. “We’ll–”

“Don’t move your arm,” she scolded suddenly. Then she stood and walked to the small pile of clean linens. “I’m going to make you a sling so you can’t move it.”

“Whatever you say, boss.” Lindsay lay back on the pillows and watched her with a smile.

Chapter twenty-three

Evie

When Evie walked out onto the landing, she was expecting Ryan to be hovering nearby. But he was nowhere to be seen. The creamy carpet under foot was plush and deliciously luxurious under her bare feet. She walked carefully down across the landing, hoping not to draw attention from anyone. She was enjoying the illusion of freedom that she had, of being a guest in someone else’s home.

The house itself was magnificent, though she wasn’t at all surprised. Alexander Laurent had only ever demonstrated a propensity for the most exceptional taste. She trailed her fingers along the balustrade, marveling at how beautifully it gleamed. Though her house–or rather her husband’s house–was even more luxurious and beautifully appointed, she had always taken it for granted. She had grown up in a wealthy household, and she had married into one. But it had been weeks since she had been anywhere except for being locked in small, dim places with dirt floors.

The back of the truck was an exception with gravel biting into her back and her hips. Lindsay’s gorgeously skilled mouth and fingers had erased all of it, if only for a few moments…

The memory made her shiver and smile a touch with pleasure. The touch of his hand and the way he had just tenderly kissed her knuckles filled her with a heady giddiness that nearly floated her the next few steps across the landing.

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