The Turn of a Wheel (Kansas Crossroads Book 17) by Amelia C. Adams

Author:Amelia C. Adams [Adams, Amelia C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-03-20T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Alex had nearly wept with relief when the doctor and Mr. Brody had finally lowered him into his bed at the hotel. The pain of traveling on the travois had been overwhelming, but he’d known he had a chance for better care at the hotel, and so he insisted that he was fine and they should push on. By the time they arrived, his leg was on fire, and he was ready to lay hold of any sharp object and cut it off himself if it would end the pain. The opium dulled his senses and made his situation seem less real, but even it didn’t remove the pain entirely, and he begged God silently for deliverance.

Being in bed, covered with clean sheets and wearing fresh clothing, did a great deal to help his overall sense of well-being. He was grateful to Mr. Brody for helping the doctor get him situated. Now it was a matter of staying on top of the pain and the waves of nausea that accompanied it. He didn’t begrudge the doctor his meal in the slightest, but the smell of it had nearly done him in, and he was more than glad when Ruth had carried the tray from the room.

He smiled when he thought of her. He’d hoped she would be the one to bring up the tray, but he knew she was busy, and there were several other girls who could be assigned that task. Seeing her when she came in was like a balm to his soul, even if she did seem too shy to make eye contact with him at first. By the time she left, he felt that enough seeds of friendship had been planted that perhaps they might have a real chance at some sort of relationship.

He'd swallowed the bitter taste of the opium without complaint, even though it made his stomach roil, and now he lay quietly, waiting for the pain to abate. Dr. Wayment sat at the small desk in the corner, scribbling something on a sheet of paper, obviously planning to keep an eye on him for a while at least. That was comforting.

“Do you think Ruth will come back and see me soon?” Alex asked, waving a hand at the door.

“You’re supposed to be sleeping,” Dr. Wayment commented without looking up from his papers.

“I will. I just can’t stop thinking about Ruth. She’s pretty, isn’t she?”

“Yes, I believe I already shared my opinion on that.” Dr. Wayment turned in his chair and regarded him. “You realize she’ll still be here when you wake up.”

“Yes, she will. She lives here.” Alex closed his eyes, but they popped back open, even though he was drowsy. “She’s leaving, though. She won’t be here forever.”

“Young ladies have been known to change their minds about things. Now, are you going to go to sleep, or do I need to add a drop of laudanum to what you’re already taking?”

“I’ll go to sleep.” Alex took a deep breath and allowed himself to succumb to the foggy darkness that threatened to envelop him.

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