The Desires of Her Heart by Lyn Cote

Author:Lyn Cote
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins

Eleven

Though her knees felt crushed like storm-flattened grass, Dorritt managed to finish untying Amos’s wrists. Then she stood taller while her strength was draining from her limbs. She shivered with weakness. Please, Father, don’t let me faint. Don’t let violence break out.

“Reva, please help me get Amos near the fire. I may need to cauterize some of his bites and cuts.” Just speaking these few mundane words, Dorritt found herself panting as if she had been racing.

With cautious steps as if crossing a brook, stone by stone, Reva left the circle around the scene and moved toward Dorritt. “We better get some coffee into him. He look pretty done in.”

Dorritt glimpsed the terror in Reva’s eyes, which belied her friend’s matter-of-fact tone. Dorritt drew a quick breath and continued behaving as if only she, Reva, and Amos were present. “Yes, and I think we better let him ride today in the back of one of the wagons. Let’s be quick. The sun is getting higher. We need to get on the trail for the day.”

Eyes downcast, Dorritt and Reva half carried Amos toward the nearest fire. No one fired. But the hardest test faced them now. Approaching the circle of people, they came to the Andersons. She and Reva did not look up and did not pause. They just pushed through. Forcing the newcomers to give way.

The Andersons swung away with audible disgust. Their disdain strained Dorritt’s nerves like cloth stretched in an embroidery frame. Still, she kept her head down as she and Reva laid Amos down near the fire. Dorritt went on caring for Amos with Reva’s help. Staring at the ground, she heard the Andersons getting ready to leave for the day. And was glad. She took a cautious breath.

Muttering hot words, Kilbride stalked over to her. He leaned down and said with palpable menace, “You have ruined our reputation here in Texas. You will pay for this day. I will not forget it.”

Dorritt looked up, intense dislike and disrespect gushing through her. You have ruined our reputation here in Texas. You will pay for this day. “I will not forget it either.”

He raised his hand to slap her for this insolence.

A gunshot rang out. Kilbride jerked around.

“Oh, pardon me,” Ash said with exaggerated courtesy, “I mis-fired.”

Kilbride turned and stalked away.

“Sorry to disturb you, ladies,” Ash said, pushing back the brim of his hat.

Reva turned and grinned at him. “You didn’t disturb me.”

“Oh, the lady finally speaks to me. My lucky day.” Ash turned and sauntered off toward cattle and horses.

“Well,” Reva said in a low voice, the smile in her eyes fading, “we all came through with our skins. I didn’t expect that. We’re going to have to watch Mr. Kilbride. He’ll make you pay. Make us all pay.”

“If he can,” Dorritt agreed. Her confident words did not reflect her own deep uneasiness.

From the corner of her eye, she watched Quinn wait until all the others had dispersed. Only then did he leave his post, guarding her.

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