Kari (Walker Creek Brides Book 1) by Minger Miriam

Author:Minger, Miriam [Minger, Miriam]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Walker Publishing
Published: 2019-07-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Kari gasped and Seth stiffened, both of them looking up as an older man dismounted from his horse and came running toward them.

“Lord help me, were either of you bitten?”

“We’re fine, Pa, at least I hope we are. Kari took a hard fall from the carriage, but I don’t think anything’s broken.”

“Lay her down, son, let me see to her,” came the urgent command, Seth releasing Kari though he stayed close to her side.

Seth’s father! Kari watched wide-eyed as Dr. Charles Davis knelt on the ground to feel her limbs for any broken bones. He looked every bit a distinguished physician with his side whiskers and moustache, his expression intensely focused as he examined her. Only when he came to her right ankle did she gasp in pain.

“I fear you’ve suffered a sprain, Miss—”

“Kari Hagen, Pa,” Seth interjected. “Uncle Caleb’s daughter.”

Charles glanced from him to Kari, but his dark brown eyes held no surprise or censure, only concern. “We need to get you home, Miss Hagen. Not only a sprain, but a terrible fright, I’m sure. Thank God my son’s an expert marksman.”

As Charles rose to his feet, Seth gathered Kari into his arms and carried her to the phaeton, but carefully so as not to jostle her.

Walking behind him, Charles for the first time sounded shaken. “You gave me a scare, too, Seth. I had just turned onto the road from the Fletchers’ ranch when I heard the gunshot. That’s the biggest rattler I’ve seen in some time, a six-footer easy. Must have spooked those mares out of their wits.”

Seth didn’t say anything to correct his father’s impression of what had happened, but focused on lifting Kari onto the seat as gently as he possibly could. Even so, she winced in pain, which made him feel sick inside. He was to blame for her tumbling from the carriage, his sense of guilt nearly choking him.

She looked so pale, her dress all dusty and her shawl askew—and where the heck was her parasol?

Seth saw it then, lying in the road and broken from being trampled upon by the horses. Just as Kari could have been trampled if she’d pitched forward instead of to the side—blast it, why had he yanked up so hard on the reins when she’d asked him if he was courting her to spite his uncle? Just like she’d said, after everything she had heard today, it made perfect sense that she might be troubled.

“I’ll drive her to the ranch, Seth,” said his father, climbing into the phaeton. “Untie Henry and bring along my horse.”

Seth nodded, his disappointment acute that he would have to wait to assure Kari of his intentions.

She looked crestfallen, too, as the carriage rumbled away, leaving Seth to grab the reins of his father’s horse and to mount Henry for the ride back.

He still felt shaken by the tragedy so narrowly averted, a fresh wave of guilt overwhelming him when he glanced at the dead snake on the side of the road.

Kari’s query had struck a nerve and he couldn’t deny it.

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