Page 202 of Conveniently Wed
The sheriff turned and reached for his hat from a peg on the wall.
Leah spoke up. “You’ll be needing a doctor for them. All three men have bullet wounds, and Mr. Walters has an arrow in his leg.”
The sheriff turned to her with one brow arched. “I’m afraid that won’t matter, ma’am. There’s not a doctor within four hours ride of here. We’ll take care of ‘em, though.”
Leah froze, her mind flashing back to the blood oozing from Jenson’s shoulder. “But they need medical care. Are you trained to sterilize wounds and stop bleeding?”
The man shrugged. “No formal training, but we’ve had plenty of practice.” With that, he settled his hat on his head and left the building with the man Tommy close on his heels.
35
“You sure you won’t eat with us?” Leah leaned against the wagon while Gideon clasped Ol’ Mose’s hand. “The least I can do is buy you dinner.”
“No, sirree. I need to get this wagon over to the dry goods store so they can unload before closin’ time.”
Gideon stepped back beside Leah and slipped his arm around her waist again. He’d not let her stray more than three or four feet since he’d first tied the men in the woods. She wasn’t complaining, though.
“All right then. But make sure you stop by the cabin next time you come through, and we’ll make sure you get a good meal.”
Ol’ Mose’s toothy grin flashed. “If Miss Leah’s cookin’, I’ll take you up on that one.”
The old man turned to climb back in his wagon, and Gideon guided her toward the café. Inside, the homey aroma of beef and gravy almost took the last bit of energy from her limbs. She was more famished than she’d realized.
Gideon spoke to a man near the door, who showed them to a table, then he helped her collapse into a chair. What she wouldn’t do to lay her head on the table right here. But that wasn’t an option, even in this uncivilized town.
Gideon ordered for them both. She needed to put forth some effort, but she was so very tired… Her mind slipped into a daze as their voices hummed.
“Leah.” Gideon’s voice poured over her like honey on a sore throat. “Leah.” His hand nudged her shoulder. It was more of a push, really, and not as gentle as she would have expected. She raised her head to frown at him. Why was her cheek wet? With effort, she forced her eyes open. What in the world?
He stared at her, his emerald gaze sympathetic. She touched her cheek. Her hand came away covered with a white blob and some kind of brown gelatinous substance. She looked back at Gideon. What was going on?
The sympathy was gone from his eyes, replaced by a twinkle as his mouth quirked. “It’s mashed potatoes and gravy. Try it.”
She gave him a dark look. He pulled his hand away and leaned back in his chair.
“You fell asleep at dinner. I was going to let you rest for a while, but then your head landed in your plate.” He leaned forward again and swiped a finger across her cheek, then slipped the lump of fluffy potatoes into his mouth. “Mmmm… You should have a bite.”
The corners of her mouth pulled. Was he actually teasing her? She scooped her own finger-full of potatoes from her face, then tasted. They were still warm and reminded her stomach she’d not eaten since breakfast.
She wiped her warm cheeks with the cloth, keeping her gaze averted from Gideon’s face. What must he think? She ate the rest of the food in front of her, forcing her eyes to focus on her plate so she didn’t doze again.
When all remnants of the meal had disappeared, she sat back in her chair and touched the napkin to her lips a final time.
He watched her, his face a mixture of emotions. Amusement mixed with…intensity? She would love to know what was goingthrough that mysterious mind of his. Another day. When she was strong enough to hold her head up.
“Let’s get you back to your room for the night.” Gideon rose and helped her from her chair. Pulled her up, really. The walk from the café to the boarding house was a long two blocks, and she was ever so thankful he kept a strong arm under her elbow.
They stopped to speak to Mr. Watson at the desk in the foyer, but they could have been discussing her gravestone, and she wouldn’t have cared. Not right now.
She was so tired…
Gideon watched the door to Leah’s room close, listening for the latch to click in place. The wall opposite the door beckoned, so he sank against it for a minute. He needed some time to gather himself.
Leah had been so exhausted. Had she heard him say not to leave her chamber until he came to get her? It was a huge relief that the boarding house had another room available for him, right at the end of this hall.
He released a long breath of pent-up air, then ran a hand down the front of his face, stopping to rub his chin. Three days’ growth of beard was starting to itch in full force.
What was happening to him? He’d been gone from the ranch for a day and a half now. Miriam was by herself at the cabin. No one had checked on the cattle and horses. And here he was in Butte, not about to leave town until he could talk this Easterner into going back to the ranch with him. Had he lost his mind? How had his priorities shifted so sharply? He pushed off from the wall and headed down the hall to room five. He needed to figure some things out tonight.
