At the edges of his vision he saw her. Perky Betsy Hunter, ready to condemn him. No one was going to believe him, a man convicted of rape. Defeat curled around his soul and from a distance he heard the men shouting, the flare of lantern light on a rifle barrel as it aimed directly between his eyes. He felt stitches at his neck tear, felt the hot rush of blood.
No! Suddenly she was there, her calm touch against his face, she was splaying the flat of her free hand against his wound. What is wrong with you, Joshua? Put him down before you kill him.
Thats the idea.
Stop it. Didnt you see the bears dead in the road? Men. She would never understand them. Shed grown up in a houseful of brothers, shed been married, and all the time in the presence of the species she could never figure out why they were so downright bullheaded and pushy and all male temper. Whats wrong with you? I said, put him down.
Her oldest brother kept right on choking the dying man. Duncan might be the bigger of the two, but hed lost more blood than Charlie had, at least it seemed that way, and she couldnt bear it, she simply couldnt. James! You get over here and help me. His stitches are torn. Isnt that just like a man to rip out half an evenings work.
Joshua gaped down at her, some of the wild male protective rage leaving him. A small glint of intelligence came back into his eyes. But he hurt you. Dont try and defend him.
He saved me. Think, would you? Look at the wounds. Doesnt that look strangely as if a bear clawed him?
Betsy gave her brother a kick in the shins, and grabbed her other brother by the wrist. Thats no way to treat the man who nearly died for me. Ease him down gently Thats right.
Her heart was breaking, that was it. It was a lost battle from the start, she knew that, but now all her work was nearly undone and fresh blood wet his chest.
The image of him standing tall against the great black bearno man fought one of those creatures and lived to tell about ithed known he was forfeiting his life from the start. From the moment he must have heard her gunshot. And yet hed come anyway, to save her.
His hand flailed, thats how weak he was. His big fingers were cold as they closed over hers. T-thank you. He coughed, blood staining his bottom lip. For the truth.
Whatever could he mean? She watched his eyelids flicker. As silence filled the room, it seemed as if his life force was disappearing.
Youre my very own hero, she whispered in his ear. You cant leave me now, when Ive only found you.
But his breath rattled and his fingers went slack.
In the silence, Betsy waited for his chest to rise with his next breath. It didnt, but she kept waiting.
Come away from him now. Joshuas hand settled on her shoulder, a comforting weight in the darkness broken only by the lantern hung on a nail over Duncans bed. Youve done all you can.
It isnt enough. It could never be enough. She was banged up and bruised and bandaged, and without her favorite dress, but it was nothingnothingat all. The bear attack had been terrifyingbeyond terrifying.
Now, safe in the cabin with her brothers at her side, the shock had worn off and horror clawed at her soul. The images of the huge man battling an enemy at least twice his strength tormented her. Images of how the predators gathered, drawn by the scent of spilled blood. Duncan, his life force rushing out of him and pooling on the dusty wheel tracks. Duncan, so still that death hovered in the room above him like an invisible smoke cloud, draining the brightness from the lantern and making the night seem more hopeless.
She could have died, and in terrible pain. Shed seen the damage on Duncans neck and chest and shoulders. Hed saved her from that fate and chose it for himself. Shed never met a braver man. What did a person do for someone who had not only saved her life, but also sacrificed his?
Thanks was not nearly enough. Shed made a promise that she wouldnt leave himthe very least she could do was to keep her vow. No man should die alone, without someone to care.
The doctor will stay with him. Joshua, her sensible big brother, presented her with his coat. We need to get you home. You cant stay the night here, Bets. You have to think of your reputation.
Im thinking of my honor.
Folks wont understand. You know how some people can get. Quick to judge and quicker to condemn. I dont want you to be hurt, Bets.
You are the best brother a girl could have. She didnt take his coat. She squeezed his hand that remained on her shoulder, a comforting presence.
For as long as she could remember, Joshua had watched over her and protected her, and she loved him for it, but sometimes the right choice wasnt the easiest one. Some folks might hear about her staying the night with a mountain man. Then they would know what Duncan Hennessey did to defend her. They would have to see how noble he was.
It was that simple. How could this be mistaken for anything else?
Go home, if you have a mind to. She gently waved away the offer of his coat. And thank you, for fetching the doctor.
I cant leave you here.
You have responsibilities to tend to. Go home, get some sleep and see to them. Ill be fine.
Mother would box my ears if I did.
Mother isnt tall enough to reach your ears. It was an old familiar joke, grown fond through the years, of how their tiny Irish mother had birthed such a collection of fine, strapping and tall sons. All of her children had looked down on her since they were eleven years old, including Betsy. This is something I must do.
And how am I supposed to leave you? Joshua straightened, losing the argument. For all his deep booming voice and big hulking presence, he was really not so fierce at heart. I can see you owe this man the courtesy, but surely he has family.
I dont see any evidence of it, do you? She gestured at the bare walls and empty tables. Not a single tintype or photograph anywhere. No hints of birthday or Christmas gifts from a mother or sister. Do you know what would help? Send Liam tomorrow with a change of clothes. I cant ride back to town wearing naught but my drawers and Mr. Hennesseys flannel jacket.
Youd cause a scandal, thats for sure. As if relenting, Joshua ruffled the top of her hair, as he always used to do when she was little. Ill be back. Let me know if you need anything. You know Ill be ready to help with anyarrangements. His gaze traveled to the bed.
He meant for the mans burial. Betsy took a shaky breath. Joshua was only being practical, it was his way. But she couldnt give up hope. Not as long as Mr. Hennessey drew one breath and another. It seemed an eternity between them, but her tough savior was still alive and so there was hope.
Youd best go on with your brother, ma am, Doc Haskins told her as he packed his stethoscope into his medical bag. Ill stay on here until the end. It wont be much longer now.
No, I will stay with him. Sadness choked her. She said nothing more. There was nothing left to do but to hope her presence gave him some comfort. Hed never seemed to like her much. Wellto the pointhed been extremely clear how much he didnt want to be anywhere near her. But deep down, she didnt believe him. Why would a man who hated her trade his life for hers?
Already grieving him, knowing that even her most fervent, optimistic thought could not spare him from the inevitable. She could feel it, too, how still his big body was, taking up so much room on the bed. And now, the space between breaths seemed a longer eternity. The doctor was packing up the rest of his things. It would not be long now.
She lifted his hand, lying so still at his side, onto her thigh and covered it with her fingers. Felt how cool hed become. She moved away to find another blanket. She found a lined buffalo robe and added that to the top of his bed, smoothing it with care. When she returned to her chair to sit and took his hand in hers again, she was surprised when his fingers gripped hers. Strong. With need.
Something broke apart deep in her chest, like a shattering pain shed felt once when shed broken her wrist when she was eight. It was like that now, sharp and jagged pain centered so deep within her, it hurt to breathe.
There, where it had been as if dark, a small warmth glowed.