Outlaw's Bride by Maureen McKade

Author:Maureen McKade
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins

Less than half an hour later, Clint returned with Dr. Murphy and a block of ice. Clint sat down at the table to chip pieces of ice into a bowl.

Kevin checked Andy first, removing the cloth Mattie had placed on his ankle. He probed and shifted the ankle, making Andy grimace. Mattie knew her son was hurting, but he didn’t cry out. Her little boy was growing into a man and she hadn’t even noticed.

“It’s not broken, is it?” Mattie asked.

Kevin shook his head. “Just twisted.” He squatted down so he was eye level with the boy. “You won’t be able to put any weight on that ankle for a few days, which means no running around or fishing.”

Andy scowled. “What can I do?”

Kevin’s spectacles caught the lantern light, winking brightly as he turned. “What do you think, Mattie? Maybe some early school lessons?”

The boy moaned as if in agony. “Is that my punishment for gettin’ too close to the well?”

“Be glad it’s not any worse,” Mattie said. “And when that ankle heals, we’ll be having a little discussion about listening to your mother and helping out more around the house.”

Clint raised his head and caught her eye. She read approval in his slight nod and smile, and warmth suffused her cheeks.

“I’ll even come by and bring some of my medical books if you want to look at the pictures,” Kevin said, gazing at Mattie hopefully.

Kevin hadn’t been around much since he’d come back to town, but it appeared he wanted to make up for lost time. A month ago, Mattie would have eagerly welcomed his attentions, but now …

She looked over at Clint, then back at Kevin. One man tall and lean with the keen eyes of a predator, the other slightly built with compassion written in his pale complexion and gray eyes.

One man would leave and the other would stay.

She managed a smile for the doctor. “I think Andy would like that.” She paused and forced herself to add, “And I’d like that, too.”

Kevin’s smile was almost puppylike. “Then I’ll stop by tomorrow.”

He stepped over to Herman next and pressed the stethoscope to the old man’s chest.

Herman jerked away. “You keep that thing on the ice?” he demanded. “It’s cold enough to make a man go into a fit.”

Kevin ignored his complaints and, after a minute of listening to the man’s heart, he straightened. “He needs to stay in bed for a day or two,” he said to Mattie.

“What’s wrong?” Herman demanded.

“Your heart is beating faster than it should.”

Herman snorted. “Course it is. I pulled that big galoot from the well.”

Clint glanced up from his task. “You talking about me or Andy?”

Mattie smiled at the twinkle in his eyes as relief made her almost giddy. Andy’s ankle wasn’t broken and Herman’s color and familiar grumbling had returned. If they only needed a couple days’ rest, then they’d come out of this calamity much better than she had feared.

“You should check Clint out, to make sure he didn’t reopen his wounds,” Mattie suggested.

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