Betsy (Rescued Widows, Spinsters, and Brides Book 3) by Elaine Manders

Author:Elaine Manders [Manders, Elaine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Betsy’s eyes fluttered open. Joel’s handsome face was so close she could smell the fresh, clean outdoors on him. She must remember how he looked, how he smelled. His voice. The tender way he doctored her. Oh, Joel, how can I leave you? Tears burned her eyes and slid out the sides.

She felt his hand under her head and the rim of a cup touching her lips. No more willow bark tea, please.

“It’s just water, Betsy.”

She drank thirstily. “Thank you. I’m still weak.”

“And you’ve had a shock.”

Strength surged through her and she sat up. “I couldn’t have killed that man—Munson.”

“I know you didn’t.”

They stared into each other’s eyes for a long moment as she tried to process what he said. “Then who?”

“I don’t know, but whoever it was came in while you were on your way to town. He may have been watching the house and seen you go, for all we know.” Joel pulled up a chair close to her and sat. “When I went over there to get your trunk, I found blood splatters everywhere and holes in the wall—even in the floor. The strange thing was, there were no spent shells. No bullets.”

“That’s impossible.”

“I know that, but unfortunately, Munson held a lot of sway in the town. His ranch supported a lot of the businesses. A lot of the folks worked for him.” He took her hand and his fingers rubbed her knuckles. “My cousin is a lawyer and former detective. He and his wife are coming the week of Christmas. I think he’ll be able to help us find the murderer. In the meantime, you’ll have to remain hidden here.”

She caught his hand. “Why are you doing this? You hardly know me.”

“I know you well enough to know you need protection. Ma feels the same.” He surprised her by lifting her hand to his lips and kissing it. A dart of electricity ran up her arm and she shivered.

“Cold? I’ll build up the fire as soon as I treat your injury. I got some new medicines from Dr. Woods.” He turned from her and took a bottle of dark liquid from the table behind him, along with a spoon. “Speaking of the doctor, do you think he’d recognize you if he saw you again?” He pivoted, facing her with the bottle and spoon in hand. “The livery boy said you were bundled up, so he didn’t see much of your face. You didn’t take off your coat and hat at the doctor’s, did you?”

“No, I was only there a few seconds.”

Joel nodded, pouring the liquid into the spoon. “Was there anyone else there who saw you?”

“Just a nurse who opened the door. It was after office hours, but the nurse fetched Dr. Woods.” She opened her mouth to receive the foul-smelling liquid. Wrinkling her nose, she swallowed. “Oh, there was another woman who came up as I was speaking to the doctor. She seemed…interested in what I was saying, but I don’t think she was a nurse.

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