Page 70 of The Empire and the Wolf King

“I… I left him behind, so he can be rescued when I am much younger, because… ye ken…” While he spoke he tied his bags tae his horse. “I was goin’ tae return Stormy tae yer stable but now I hae sent Asgall tae Grandmother I might not need tae return…”

“We hae a great deal tae talk about.” I helped her ontae the pale brown horse, then mounted behind her, cradlin’ her against my chest. “Once we get her tae the physician, then we’ll talk over yer plan.”

Archie swung up onto Stormy with practiced ease, again causing my pride tae soar.

He urged his mount intae a canter, sayin’ over his shoulder, “Follow me!”

We rode swiftly through the streets of Charlottesville, keepin’ tae back alleys and less-traveled paths. The thudding of hooves seemed deafening in the quiet darkness. Kaitlyn’s head lolled against my shoulder, her breathing shallow. I could feel her blood seepin’ intae m’clothes.

“Stay with me, mo reul-iuil,” I murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “We’re almost there.”

We passed a large house with a sign in front. Archibald used a flashlight tae see it:

Dr. Charles Everett

Physician and Surgeon

We rode tae the back of the house, dismounted quickly, and Archibald tied our horses tae a post near the backdoor as I eased Kaitlyn down.

Archibald whispered, “We are gentlemen — they were highwaymen.”

I said, “Aye, I agree.”

We climbed the stairs and Archie pounded on the door urgently. It took a long moment and then a flicker through the window of a small light moving through the dark house, then the door opened and a middle-aged man with spectacles perched on his nose peered out. “What’s all this commotion?”

His eyes widened as he took in m’wife’s limp form.

“Please, sire,” I said, tryin’ tae hold m’voice steady. “M’wife, the Lady Kaitlyn, has been shot. We were set upon by highwaymen who tried tae rob us. She needs immediate care.”

The physician held the oil lamp up tae peer at our faces. “Ye are gentlemen?”

“Aye, I am the Duke of Awe, this is m’son.”

“Bring her inside, quickly now.”

We carried Kaitlyn into the physician’s front parlor where his office and examination room were. I placed her gently on a narrow cot. The doctor bustled about, lightin’ lamps, gathering supplies.

He sat on a stool beside her and asked me, “Where did it happen, Your Grace?” He began pushing away her bloodied skirts.

“We were set upon just outside of town, dragged intae the inn — I daena ken if ye heard the uproar there? The highwayman and his villainous men lost their lives in assaulting us.”

The doctor clucked his tongue disapprovingly as he examined the wound. “Nasty business, that. This is a shame, I am relieved Mister Jefferson was gone to the Continental Congress during this trying time, he does become vexed by disorder.”

I said, “Tis verra vexing, we shared drinks with Mister Jefferson at the Coachman’s Rest.”

“Wonderful, we are close associates, I am his preferred physician and am often invited to his home — Let us see what we can do for the lady.”

Archibald rummaged around in his bag and pulled out a red first-aid kit and whispered as he passed it tae me, “Grandmother sent this… I am nae certain what…”

I unlatched it on my lap and went through it, having had many lessons through the years. “Doctor Everett, we need ye tae clean with this cloth.” I tore the package open and passed it tae him. He looked at it quizzically. “Tis from home, ye use it tae clean.”

I pulled out a tube of antibiotic cream and cotton tae apply it. And I hovered anxiously as the doctor worked, cleaning the long open grazing wound on her outer thigh, and probing around tae make certain there was nae bullet. I gripped Kaitlyn’s hand tightly as the doctor cleaned the wound. She cried out, squeezing my hand so hard I feared she might break my fingers.

She winced and let out a small whimper, her eyes fluttering open. “Owie.”

“I ken, Kaitlyn, the doctor is cleaning it.”

“Stay still, my dear,” the doctor murmured. “My apologies for the pain... But there now, the worst is over,” he said soothingly.

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