Escape from Fire River by Ralph Cotton

Author:Ralph Cotton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group

Chapter 14

By the time Shaw, LaPrey and the twins had gotten Jane Crowly settled into a bed in one of the brothel rooms of the cantina, the people of Mal Vuelve had the burning adobe under control. Sipping from a water gourd, Jane said to Shaw, who stood at the side of her bed, “That sneaking son of a bitch meant to burn me alive.” Her voice sounded stronger than it had earlier. Malina had changed the bandage on her chest.

On the other side of the bed, LaPrey said through smeared purple lipstick and melting makeup, “I cannot tell you how many times I have stayed awake at night, in fear of River Johnson wrapping me in my blanket and burning me up in my sleep.”

“Well, he’s out of business now,” Shaw said. “I have to admit he slicked me good, standing out front, looking as much like a doctor as any I ever saw.”

“What put you wise to him?” Janie asked.

“Lucky for both of us, Clute here happened to mention that the doctor is away right now,” said Shaw. “Otherwise, you’d be burned to a crisp and I would’ve walked into a load of buckshot.” He gave LaPrey a nod of gratitude.

“Obliged,” Jane said to the Frenchman.

“I am only too happy to be of assistance to you, Fast Larry, and you, Jane Crowly,” said LaPrey with a hint of a French accent.

“Okay, Dr. Shaw,” Jane said, feeling better enough to take on her skeptical attitude, “what’s the verdict? How bad am I hit? If I drank whiskey, would it pour out quicker than I can pour it in?” She started to sit up on the side of the bed, but Shaw stopped her with a firm hand on her shoulder.

“Lay back and settle in,” said Shaw. “You’re doing good, but you lost enough blood to keep you off your feet for the next few days.”

“The next few days?” Jane protested. “That’s no clear answer. How many days is ‘the next few days?’ ”

“Three days,” Shaw said.

“Bull, you made that up,” Jane said as Falina stepped in from beside her sister and adjusted a thin pillow beneath her head.

“Maybe so,” said Shaw, “but three days it is. I want your wound healed enough to not start bleeding all over again. We can’t have you out there weak and sick and getting yourself hurt.”

“Well, hell, all right, if you say so . . . ,” Jane grumbled, but gave in and relaxed, staring up at the cracked adobe ceiling.

Shaw had looked at Jane’s wound closely before Malina covered it with fresh cotton cloth bandaging. The bullet had broken the skin but traveled around a rib without going into her chest. It had struck her at an upward angle, but had cracked the bone and took a downward turn around her side cage and exited from her lower back. Shaw traced its path by following the purple bruise line it drew around and down her rib cage.

“I’m leaving you here with the

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