The Bartered Bride (The Brides Book 3) by Lena Goldfinch

Author:Lena Goldfinch [Goldfinch, Lena]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Indigo Road Publishing
Published: 2015-12-08T08:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-SEVEN

In the days that followed, Jem kept close to the main house and checked in often on Mae. And Sugar too. That cut on her back paw had begun to worry him. He’d sutured it and bandaged it, but she wouldn’t leave it alone. It didn’t help that she was so young and excitable. It also didn’t help that something had gotten into Mae lately and she was always running around the house—upstairs, downstairs, all over. And Sugar wanted to follow, thinking it was a game. He worried about infection.

But it was Annie’s guilty expression day to day that haunted him, and his anger toward her gradually faded. She’d made a mistake. A big one, but she shouldn’t have to pay the rest of her life for it. That wasn’t fair. He’d made plenty of mistakes in his life. Some in particular he couldn’t allow himself to think about.

She couldn’t speak.

The more he thought about that, the more it bothered him. No wonder she’d been fascinated by Lorelei’s typewriter. He hadn’t even known Annie could read, let alone spell. How on earth had she ever learned that? Amazing.

He said as much to Ray, who’d helped him create a temporary “surgery” in a stone shed near the house, a neat affair with a swept plank floor and shelves for winter dry goods and preserves. It was cool and quiet here, the roof overshadowed by trees. Just what Sugar needed-- undisturbed quiet. Jem rested his hand on her side, hoping she’d settle into the nest they’d created for her out of clean blankets.

“What am I supposed to do?” Jem asked Ray, continuing an early conversation about last night.

“About Annie?” Ray straightened and brushed off the seat of his denims. “How should I know?”

“You know everything, Ray.”

Ray just chuckled.

Jem gave Sugar an encouraging pat when she finally relaxed and closed her eyes. Maybe she’d sleep now.

“Well, it seems there ought to be a place she could learn,” Jem continued. “Perhaps she could learn to sign. Maybe there’s a school in Denver.”

Ray shrugged. “You could check on that.”

“I think I will...” Jem’s gaze rested thoughtfully on Sugar. Familiar feelings of self-doubt rose to the surface. “And I’d like to take Sugar here down to the local veterinary office.”

“Why?”

“I’d like a second look at that leg, and advice on preventing infection. Ask about the best pain medicine for a dog her size and age. The recommended dose.”

“You want a second look at her leg...”

“Ray,” Jem warned. “Leave it.”

Ray scratched the side of his nose in that way he sometimes did when he wanted to say something, but was holding it back. “Well, all right,” he said finally.

“I just hate leaving Mae. It doesn’t sit right. Not after what happened.” Jem looked at Ray, willing him to offer to take the pup. Ray had mentioned earlier he was going down to the mill this afternoon.

Ray pressed his mouth closed and looked down at his fingernails as if examining them for dirt. There wasn’t any, of course. Ray forever had his hands in soapy water.

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