Dueling the Desperado by Mimi Milan & Brides of Blessings

Author:Mimi Milan & Brides of Blessings [Milan, Mimi & Blessings, Brides of]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Eaton House
Published: 2018-03-06T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Muffled voices were followed by shadowy figures. Why did Miguel feel like his head had been pounded on by a few dozen men?

“My head hurts,” he mumbled.

“It’s the medicine,” a familiar voice explained. “The doctor gave you some laudanum for the pain, and said that we’re to give you another dose should it become unbearable, but no more than six doses in a day.”

“How many have I had today?”

“None.”

“None? But you just said—”

“I know, but that was two days ago. You’ve been asleep ever since.”

“Two days?” Miguel rubbed at his blurry eyes until things came into focus. Araceli stood at his bedside. “Why’d you let me sleep so long?”

“We figured you needed the rest after everything you had been through.”

He tried to sit up. “And what exactly have I been through? What did the doctor say?”

“That you’re very fortunate. There were no breaks, but your legs are still fairly mangled. They were bruised and swollen clear up to your—”

His eyes grew wide. “How would you know what they look like?”

“I don’t. I’m just quoting the doctor,” she admitted. A sly look crossed her face. “Although, I could have sworn a certain someone said he wasn’t shy about such things.”

“I’m not,” Miguel countered. “It’s just that no man wants a woman seeing him at his worst.”

“I don’t think it was your worst,” Araceli offered. She sat down on the bed beside him and gingerly reached out, taking his hand in hers. “In fact, I think you were at your best. My father told me what happened. The other men confirmed his story, too. His not quite in peak form anymore. With his age and physical condition, he probably would have died had that log hit him. Michael, I don’t think I can thank you enough. You saved him. You saved me, too.”

“I did?”

She nodded. “Yes. That day in the woods when you taught me how to shoot? Well, a cougar came shortly after you left.”

“What?” Her words startled Miguel, forcing him into nearly sitting upright. He groaned.

“Cuídate! You’ll hurt yourself again if you’re not careful. Sit up slowly.”

Miguel did as instructed and she quickly snatched up extra blankets she had brought in earlier, placing them behind his head to keep him supported.

“Would you like some more of the laudanum?” she asked.

“Actually, I would prefer something to eat if you’ve got anything. Then I think I’d like to hear exactly what happened.”

“Of course,” she said and excused herself from the room. She returned several minutes later, carrying a tray. “I’ve been making caldo de pollo each day—in case for whenever you awoke. I know some people would not want to eat a hot dish like this on such hot summer days, but my mother always said it was a healing dish.”

“I don’t mind at all,” Miguel smiled. “I love chicken soup.”

“Then you’ll really love this recipe. It’s one of my special—”

She fell silent.

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

A strange look passed over her face. “How did you know it was chicken soup? I told you what I made in Spanish.

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