by Lynn Landes
Mrs. Stanton rushes back out, “Dayton, both of you stop acting the fool! Drink this!” She offers him a shot of whiskey to settle his nerves.
“Thank you,” Dayton shoots the drink back and glares at Eli.
“See to Savannah. She’s had a rough time of it, and right now she takes precedence,” Mrs. Stanton pleads.
“Forgive me. I’m not sure what’s got into me,” Dayton says glancing back at the room when he hears her soft weeping.
“Just what is your relationship to Savannah?” Eli demands.
“It’s complicated,” Dayton retorts.
“Savannah’s asking for you Dayton,” Mrs. Stanton calls saving him from having to answer.
“I’m taking Savannah back to my farm, Mr. Patrick. Until you answer my questions, you’re welcome to stay with us. We have plenty of room and Savannah will recover better in a place that she’s familiar with.”
Dayton looks up in surprise. “Don’t look at me like that,” Eli snaps. “We are… friends, of a sort.” Eli steps closer to Dayton, “I don’t know if he’s the only one after Savannah, and I can’t protect her here. No one will get near her on my farm.”
“I agree.” Relief flickers through Dayton’s soul, “Again, thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet, Kentucky, I have a lot of questions that I expect answers to.”
“I’ll wait outside until she’s ready,” Bubba offers.
Dayton returns to her room and greets the Doctor. “She’s feeling better now, the morphine’s kicking in. If you’re going to move her, take these drops with you, and she can have a few more in four hours. I’ll be by the farm tomorrow to check on her recovery. The arm is in a sling. Don’t let her remove it. It needs to rest and heal.”
“I can hear you know,” Savannah slurs.
Mrs. Stanton smiles and washes the tears from her face with a clean cloth. “Just rest now,” she tells her and covers her with the blanket.
“Good, then your ears are working,” Doc Stanton says patting her hand. “Be a good patient and let them spoil you. The Irwin’s are good people.”
“I know. Oliver was shot, you know,” Savannah says softly, “Six times in the chest. I couldn’t save him, Doc. Why couldn’t I save him?” she wonders.
Doc blanches and pats her good hand. “The weight of all those who try to heal is a heavy one to carry, Miss Ward. We are only the hands of the Lord.”
“I know, but he begged the Lord not to take him,” Savannah whispers.
“What did you do?” Eli asks from the doorway.
Savannah looks at him, “I held his hand and gave him comfort. I gave him the promise he needed to hear.”
Eli is unashamed of the tears rolling down his face when he walks forward and leans down to take her hand gently in his own. She says, “He wasn’t scared, Eli. You’d have been proud of the courage he showed in the face of death.”
Doc bows his head in a prayer of healing for this family, and his wife steps to him, slipping her hand in his.
“Dayton?” Savannah closes her eyes and waits till she feels his hand on her brow.
“I’m right here, Angel,” he whispers.
“Will you take me home now?” she pleads.
“Soon,” he says and watches them all filter from the room.
Chapter 28
The setting sun casts the room in a golden light. Savannah blanches and turns away from it, praying for the darkness that will soon bring relief. She refused the next dose of morphine when they offered it. “What if he escapes and comes back for me? What if he has a friend?” she asks Kristin. The pain is deep and throbbing, causing her head to pound with her every movement.
Kristin and Felicia helped her change out of her ruined gown and into a white cotton chemise and robe. They helped wash the blood off her body, carefully tending her scratched hands. Her hip is purple from slamming into the metal rail of the track. They braided her long hair over one shoulder to keep the hair from the contusion on her head. Luckily it wasn’t deep enough to need stitches.
“Thank you,” she mumbles as they slip from the room to let her rest.
Savannah is afraid to sleep, nightmares plague her with the morphine, and she’s desperately trying to figure out what Dayton is doing here. Why did Glenn send him? Kristin clears her throat and walks inside with Lucas.
“Mama said you need me to keep you awake,” Lucas calls out.
Kristin blushes and Savannah laughs before holding her head tightly with her hands. “Oh.”
Lucas climbs up onto the bed and offers Savannah his blue silky blanket. “Here Miss Vanna, this makes me feel better.”
“Lucas!” She smiles and pulls him close with her free arm to keep him from falling. “Thank you, but I don’t want to get anything on it.”
“You mean, like blood?” Lucas asks glancing at her closely. “The bad man made me bleed too, but Mr. Eli said he won’t hurt us anymore.”
“I’m so sorry that you were hurt, Lucas.” Guilt beats at her, and she’s desperate to silence the voices in her head, blaming her for not talking to Eli before leaving.
“That’s okay, Mama says you need me to give you your medicine,” he grins at her. “I’m bigger now, and medicine makes you feel better. You got to try it. I just hold my breath, like this,” Lucas holds his breath, and Savannah smothers a laugh as she glances at Kristin.
Kristin nods but at least has the good grace to look guilty. “Lucas is right,” she says, “You need to take your medicine. Doc said it will take the edge of the pain off and you’ll heal quicker if you rest.”
“Is the patient being stubborn again?” Dayton asks from the door.
Savannah’s heart beats stronger when she glances at him.
“I’m taking care of Miss Vanna, so her hurts will go away.” Lucas holds the teaspoon of medicine to Savannah’s mouth with Kristin’s help and watches her closely to see that she swallows all of it. “Don’t spit!” he shouts causing Savannah to giggle and hide her face.
“I promise, I won’t spit it,” Savannah says after she swallows the medicine.
Dayton grins and walks into the room. He’s changed into a clean suit, freshly bathed and fed. Savannah stares at him closely, taking in the beard and the condition of his body, but it’s his eyes that draw her.
“I’m a great doctor,” Lucas announces causing everyone to laugh as he bounds from the room.
“Thank you, Kristin,” Dayton says.
Kristin nods and leaves the room to give them some privacy.
“I think you’re all ganging up on me.” Savannah lays her head back on the bed and prays for the pounding to cease. Every bone in her body hurts, her head is throbbing, and it’s only when she’s perfectly still that it stops. Until they wake her again.
“You look better,” Dayton says walking in to draw a chair near the bed.
Savannah glares at him and covers her face with Lucas’s blanket. “I would feel better if you’d let me sleep. Everything hurts,” she whispers.
“Not yet, Savannah,” he tugs the blanket away with a gentle chuckle.
Her stomach burns from the heat of the morphine and she keeps her eyes closed to avoid looking at him. It doesn’t seem fair that he looks so handsome. “I like the beard, Dayton,” she murmurs sleepily.
Dayton stares at her resting with her eyes closed. She’s beautiful with the thick rope of her dark red hair over her shoulder, peach lips and freckles sprinkled over her body.
“Thirty-two,” he says softly.
“Hmm?” she murmurs as the medicine starts to wash away the pain.
He stands and leans over her, staring down at her face. “Thirty-two,” he touches her face with his fingertips.
“What?” Savannah’s eyes fly open wide, and she stares up at him in surprise. His black eyes are full of an emotion that she must be imagining. Surely, it’s the medication.
His fingers trail over her nose and cheeks, down the side of her face to her collarbone. “Thirty-two stars, dusting
your body. I’ve heard them called angel-kisses, but they look more like little stars painted…”
Savannah slaps her good hand over his mouth, “Dayton!” she stutters. He laughs and steps back to sit down. Her eyes follow him, and a blush rushes over her body, and he laughs even harder.
“That was the last count,” he teases.
“Well, you better never let Glenn, or my Father hear that, or you won’t ever count again,” she stammers.
“You will have more faith in my abilities,” he declares.
“I will?” She stares at him, memorizing the way he looks in the darkening room. His eyes promise things she never dared to wish for. She glances away, uncomfortable with all the emotions he’s bringing up.
“Yes. I want you to rest in peace knowing that Fred’s in custody and you are safe,” he emphasizes.
Savannah touches her head where she struck the track and remembers, falling, screaming for him, and then darkness. She covers her eyes with her good hand, “Safe? I used to know what that was.”
Dayton leans over and tugs her hand down away from her face. “Look at me, Angel.”
She turns to look at him, ignoring the tear that tracks its way down her cheek. “Rest now, Savannah.”
“You’ll stay?” she wraps her hand around his and squeezes it.
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”
Savannah smiles a wobbly smile, “I don’t know why you’re here, Dayton, but I’m glad you came.”
“Me too,” he squeezes her hand and watches her eyes drift shut. “Thank you,” she whispers and welcomes sleep.
He leans his head back and sleeps.
Eli closes the door, leaving it slightly cracked. Answers can come later, they need to rest, and he needs to hold Kristin. Watching Savannah almost die at the hands of a crazy man drove home how close he was to losing Kristin.
Chapter 29
Savannah wakes with a start in the early hours the next morning, she glances at the empty chair and sighs. What did you expect, Savannah? She rolls to her side and tosses the covers aside. Her hip is throbbing, needing to move she unslings her arm and drops it on the bed. Immediately her shoulder rebels against the weight on it.
She hisses in pain and decides to ignore it. “Hot,” she mutters. The medicine makes her sweat she thinks, and removes her robe dropping it on the bed. Someone gave her another dose of morphine in the middle of the night. Dayton? She can’t remember. Savannah walks to the end table to get a glass of water and jumps when a noise sounds behind her.
“Do you ever stay where you are put?” Dayton yawns from the corner of the room. He moved to the couch after she fell asleep.
“Dayton, what are you doing in here?” she whispers.
“I made a promise, and I always keep my word.” He swings his legs down and stands up, walking towards her, backing her to the bed. “Savannah, your stars are showing again,” he murmurs.
“What?” she presses a hand to his chest, unable to think with him so close to her.
“Thirty-three,” he points touching her shoulder, causing her to jump. Dark eyes trace her heart-shaped face and drop to her peach lips. “Thirty-four,” he touches her bottom lip and moves closer.
Savannah grabs his hand and glares at him, “I don’t know what kind of game you,” she starts to say, but he stops her with a look. His eyes glance down at her in the firelight of the room. Standing in her white spaghetti strap chemise, she gasps realizing how little she’s wearing.
Dayton grins and grabs her robe, offering it to her. “I wanted to be near you, in case you need help.” She lets him help her and shudders when he lifts her thick braid and glances at the wound on her head. “It’s stopped bleeding.”
“Doc said I was lucky. I’m sure I will be fine, Dayton. You can go now.” She struggles to lower her arm and tighten the belt on her robe. A whisper of frustration sounds, and he turns her slowly to him.
He ties the belt with a quick twist and smiles, offering her the sling. “Back on.”
“I don’t need it,” she mutters but lets him slip it over her head and supports the arm while she settles it around. The relief is instant, and she sighs.
“Thank you, again.”
Dayton grins, and she smiles in response to the white of his teeth flashing at her. “I need a favor, Savannah,” he asks.
“Of course,” she replies instantly.
“I need to see your bag of tintypes.”
Savannah’s eyes fly open wide. “Why?”
“Do you trust me?” Dayton asks suddenly.
She stares into his dark eyes for only a second, before she nods. “Yes, I do.”
“Good. I promise to explain, but first I need to see them,” Dayton says.
“My bags and trunk were loaded on the train,” she explains.
“Right. I guess I’ll go ask Eli where they put your things.” He walks to the door and turns back, “Is he always so...”
“Annoying, irritating, pushy, insulting,” she replies without thinking. “Yes, he is.”
His dark eyes flash, “How insulting, exactly,” he demands.
Savannah looks at him with surprise and smiles, “Dayton, despite how this past day appears, I can take care of myself. I don’t need a hero,” she teases.
“Maybe, but I’m finding I like taking care of you. Go back to sleep, you need your rest.” He leaves as quietly as he came, and she sits heavily on the side of the bed.
“Thirty-four?” she stammers and wonders what he’d say if she told him her body was starred with hundreds of freckles.
She can still feel the warmth of his touch, and she smiles behind her hand. At that moment she feels hope flame to life. Hope for the future, a family and a life. “When did I give that up?” she murmurs.
Savannah crawls back into bed and sleeps as ordered.
Dayton follows the scent of bacon and coffee to the kitchen and finds Eli and his mother, Felicia, working.
“Good Morning, Mr. Patrick,” Felicia says and offers him a cup of hot coffee.
“Thank you, Mrs. Irwin. Call me, Dayton. I’d like to thank you both for your hospitality. You’ve been very kind to Savannah and I.” Dayton closes his eyes, savoring the strong brew.
“Okay, enough of the pleasantries. Who are you and what have you to do with this mess, Oliver’s gotten us all into?” Eli grumbles and slams his cup down on the table.
Dayton grins, “She said you were difficult, but I’d be the same under the circumstances.” He sits at the large wooden farm table and sighs. “First I need to know if you have the tintypes. Oliver’s and Savannah’s.”
“Of course. Why?” Eli glares.
Dayton sighs with relief. “It’s a long story, Eli. I’m a family friend of the Ward’s.”
“It looked like more than friendship out there on the tracks yesterday,” Eli pushes.
“That’s none of your business, Irwin,” Dayton retorts.
“Stop it, Son.” Felicia places a plate on the table with biscuits in front of her son. “Let’s have a civil conversation for once.”
Kristin walks into the kitchen, carrying Lucas. Eli’s disposition changes instantly. He jumps up and immediately plucks Lucas from her arms. “Good morning, beautiful,” he says and kisses Kristin in front of everyone.
“Eli,” she gasps, and Lucas lays his head on his shoulder.
“I’m hungry,” Lucas yawns.
“A boy after my own heart,” Eli teases.
“Let me help, Felicia,” Dayton says and jumps to help cook breakfast.
Eli carries Lucas over to the table and holds him while Kristin butters a biscuit for him.
“Is the bad man gonna come back, Mr. Eli?” Lucas asks with a mouthful of biscuit.
Dayton turns with narrowed eyes and takes in the condition of the child. Bruises and healing mouth. Then looks at Kristin, noting the busted lip and teary eyes.
“No, son. He’s not.” Eli glances at Dayton and nods in acknowledgment.
Savannah w
alks into the family room four hours later, dressed in a light green day dress and finds both men going through the two bags of tintypes. Dayton jumps up and guides her to a seat.
“What are you doing up?” he demands.
“I’ve slept enough, I needed to eat and walk,” she explains.
Felicia hears and comes in, “Savannah! Sit and get comfortable. I’ll make you a hot cup of tea.” She hurries from the room.
“Thank you, Felicia.” Savannah looks at Eli and points, “If you are looking for something specific, you should ask me. You’ll get them all mixed up,” she snaps and reaches for her bag.
“No, you’ll hurt your arm!” Eli grumbles and pulls the bag out of her reach.
Dayton laughs when her eyes narrow and she replies, “I might hurt something, alright.”
“Savannah,” Dayton says, “Glenn showed me the pictures you mailed to the publisher in Washington. Do you have the originals?”
Her eyes fly open wide, “Why would he do that?”
Dayton pulls out the letter and the check from the publisher and gives it to Savannah to read, while Eli drags a wooden table over for her to sit her tea on when Felicia returns.
“Thank you, Felicia,” she whispers and hands the check and letter to Dayton. “That’s a lot of money isn’t it, Dayton?” she whispers.
“Yes, but it wasn’t until I looked at the copies you left with Glenn that I realized why. Can you show them to me?”
“Of course,” Savannah replies and groans when she tries to use her arm to scoot to the edge of the seat. Both men jump to help, and she leans back in shock.
“I’m fine, gentlemen, just sore. Doc said I would feel better in a few days. I keep forgetting not to put pressure on it.”
Dayton moves the bag she gestures to and with his assistance she digs through her bag. “I kept the originals just in case they said no.” She offers him the four tintypes.
“The man in this picture is Senator Buren. He’s running for Secretary of State,” Dayton explains and shows the image to Eli.
“Seriously?” He glances up at Dayton and shakes his head.
