Courage in the Mountain Wilderness by Misty M. Beller

Author:Misty M. Beller [Beller, Misty M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Misty M. Beller Books, Inc.

Chapter 15

Otskai slid a glance at the man issuing ragged breaths beside her. Caleb had been feverish much of the night, which had twisted her stomach into a tight worried knot. She’d awakened often to check on him and wipe his brow with a cold-water cloth. She’d only done so when the heat within made him restless, but finally this morning, he seemed to sleep easier.

She’d known riding all day would be too much for him. If only she’d pushed harder to wait. Most of the claw marks seemed to be healing, but one on his right shoulder and one on his belly had turned a festering pink.

She pressed down the fear that tried to rise in her chest. She’d applied a new poultice of witch hazel leaves a while ago. Since only those two marks were worsening, maybe he would recover yet. The breaking of the fever had to be a good sign.

French had taken her son hunting—not actually hunting he’d assured, more like looking for animals. But River Boy’s smile had bloomed wide when they’d sauntered down the valley, the boy perched atop the man’s shoulders.

Most of the others were moving in and out of camp as needed to accomplish what had to be done. Susanna had succumbed to a late morning nap.

Before lying down, she’d given Otskai a treasure. Something she called a needle and thread for sewing—exactly the things used to stitch Caleb’s blanket before.

Now, Otskai worked to make the same tight stitches to close the loose flaps on the material. The cloth was still frayed, but it possessed a softness to rival the finest rabbit fur.

Caleb’s breathing quieted, a sign he might be waking. At first, his body didn’t move, but then one eyelid lifted. It seemed as though that eye was a scout sent to discover the surrounding area, then report back before the rest of him came to life.

When that eye caught sight of her, his entire face seemed to relax. The eyelid closed, and a hint of a smile played at his lips. She’d never seen a man so generous with his smiles. He couldn’t know what a gift each one was, easing the tightness inside her every time.

She worked to keep the emotion from her voice. “How are you feeling?”

His eyes stayed shut and his lips seemed to stick as he tried to part them. She should find some bear grease to keep them from paining him.

“Fine. Feeling real fine.”

Even in a foreign tongue, she knew a lie when she heard one. But that was Caleb, always seeing things a few shades better than they were.

“Good.” She set the blanket she was working on to the side. “I will get bear grease for your lips and bark tea to drink. What else? More stew?”

He gave the tiniest nod of his chin, eyes still closed. “That would be nice.” His head must pain him, along with everything else.

Adam’s scramble to catch Caleb from falling off the horse had kept his head from striking the ground, but the tumble couldn’t have helped his existing injuries.

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