Desperate In Delaware

by Caroline Clemmons

  Dear Lord in Heaven, protect him.

  Taking a deep breath, she straightened her spine. She had to be strong for Austin. They were partners in sickness and in health. He deserved the best she could give.

  Spuds held open the house door and the two ranch hands carried Austin into the house and down the hall. Mina followed but veered into the kitchen.

  She took a bowl from the cupboard and filled it with water. “Spuds, you must have bandages and medicines, don’t you?”

  “Go on and I’ll bring them.” Spuds gathered supplies.

  “I’ll get out my sewing kit. You were right and I don’t think we can wait an hour until the doctor gets here. He’s bleeding too much.”

  She raced after Dusty and Chico. When she reached the bedroom, they were trying to slide him onto the bed. Spuds had placed something—she guessed it must be a ground sheet—to protect the bedding from blood. That realization hit a hard blow in her stomach.

  Dusty glanced at her. “Would you get on the other side of the bed and pull on him so he doesn’t fall off this edge when we move away the door?”

  She went to the opposite side of the mattress and reached across to grab his waistband. “I’ll tug if you can scoot him. Would it be better if I held one edge of the door and one of you came over here?”

  Dusty shook his head. “Trying to change we might drop him. This will work. Hold him steady while we set down the door.”

  Bracing herself against the mattress, she held tight to his waistband. Dusty and Chico laid the door on the floor. The three of them got Austin safely centered on the bed.

  Chico went to Austin’s feet. “I’ll get his boots off him. Then we can get rid of his britches.”

  The two men got the boots and then the pants from Austin but left on his underwear.

  She covered him with a sheet to his waist. “Thank you. I’m so grateful you heard the shots Spuds fired and came back to the house. Spuds and I needed your help.”

  Dusty acted embarrassed. “We think a lot of Austin. He’s a good boss—wouldn’t ask us to do anything he wouldn’t do.”

  Chico nodded. “Sí, he is a good man. Once I was injured and missed almost a month of work but he paid me anyway. Made sure I was taken care of and never grumbled about being short handed.”

  After washing her hands, she’d opened the trunk that contained her sewing supplies and laid them on the bed. “I think you may have to hold him while I sew the wound together.”

  Dear Lord, help me do this without passing out. Guide my hands.

  She didn’t want the men to have to pick her up off the floor. She grasped her scissors and cut away what was left of her husband’s shirt. He wasn’t wearing anything under his shirt.

  Spuds had set out a bottle of whiskey, ointment, and some other things she couldn’t identify. “You’ll want to clean the wound with the whiskey.”

  “I’ll also use some on the needle before I use it.” She found her strongest thread and prepared her needle. “All right, men, can you restrain him for me? If any of you have experience with injuries like this, please feel free to give me advice.”

  Spuds poured the alcohol onto the top wound. “I’ve seen it done. You take a little gunpowder and flour and mix it to staunch the bleeding.” He passed her two containers.

  She met the cook’s gaze. “How much of each?”

  Spuds shook his head. “No idea.”

  “I’ll go for half and half then. When the doctor arrives, he can correct the procedure.” With a spoon she mixed together a small amount of the two. Carefully, she pressed the mixture into the wound.

  Spuds handed her a jar. “Then put some of this on top of that. It’ll be greasy so don’t get it on your hands or you won’t be able to hold the skin together to sew.”

  Using the spoon again, she scooped a small amount into the wound. Now came the hardest part. She took a deep breath.

  “Now, hold him down.” She tried to pretend she was darning a sock or dress. The ruse didn’t work. No one’s imagination was that strong.

  Poking the needle into her husband’s skin was a terrible job. Austin jerked with each stitch. Before she was done, sweat poured from her forehead. Spuds blotted it dry. She pulled the thread as tight as she dared for fear of the stitches tearing out when he moved.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Mina finished sewing together the first bullet hole and leaned against the wall. “That was the easiest one. His back is a mess. And we have to turn him without pulling out the front stitches.”

  Dusty studied Austin. “You don’t have to turn him completely. If Chico and I hold him kind of on his side, would you be able to stitch him?”

  “I think so. Then he wouldn’t have to be completely turned twice.” She helped roll him to his side, making certain to protect his shoulder.

  Chico met her gaze. “We have him steady. Go ahead.”

  Spuds shook his head. “That is one mess, isn’t it? No way that’s not gonna leave a big indented scar.”

  Mina went through the steps again, starting with cleaning the shoulder. When she got to the point where she needed to push the skin in place, she stopped. “Spuds, could you wash your hands good and help hold the flesh together?”

  “I washed them good in the kitchen.” He held them out for her to inspect. “You tell me where to press and I’ll try to stay out of the way.”

  The four of them huddled around Austin so close their heads could touch. She climbed onto the bed and worked kneeling. Spuds’ help was needed with Austin in this position. He could jerk more.

  “I’m working as fast as I can. I wish the doctor would get here.”

  Spuds didn’t look up. “Like you said, we don’t even know if he was in his office. He could have been on another call. We can’t count on him coming today.

  Dusty said, “The bleeding has slowed. Guess the gunpowder and flour helped.”

  She focused on her task. “What kind of ointment is that?”

  Spuds said, “General purpose. We use it for everything, including the animals. Before you ask, not the same jar. This one stays in the house.”

  Dusty glanced up. “This is what Buck used on the heifer he doctored after that coyote nipped her. I don’t know what’s in it, but it seems to work.”

  Chico said, “Besides, it’s what we have. I don’t know what a doctor would use.”

  She tied a knot in the last stitch. “I hope we find out soon. Poor Austin has lost a lot of blood. He’s not going to bounce back right away from this.”

  After folding a clean bandage on his back, she slid a roll of bandage under him. “When you lay him down, I’ll reach under him from the other side and pull the bandage through. Then I can fold a pad on the front and tie them in place.” She folded a length of bandage for a pad on the front wound.

  Spuds walked around the bed and eased between the other two men to reach for the roll of bandage. “It’ll take more than once around to hold them in place. I’ve seen how it’s done.”

  He handed her the roll and they repeated wrapping him again and then once over his shoulder and around again.

  Spuds stood back and watched as the two cowboys gently released Austin. Spuds laid a clean spoon beside a bottle he’d set on the bedside table. “This here’s laudanum. He won’t want to take it but he’ll need it for sure. He’s sure gonna hurt like a sonofagun when he comes to.”

  Mina nodded. “Thank you. He likely hit his head on the ground pretty hard. I mean, I checked and he didn’t hit a rock but he sure fell hard.” She made a gesture with her arm of a fall. “Just toppled off Thunder with a loud thump.”

  Chico stepped back from the bed. “He has a powerful build. He would not float to the ground like a feather.”

  Dusty picked up the door. “Guess we’ll re-hang this. You need us to spell you watching him, let us know.”

  Mina held Austin’s hand. “Thank you for all you’ve done. I’ll take care of him with Spuds’ help. I know Austin can depend on you two and Buck
to keep the ranch running properly.”

  Dusty nodded. “We’ll do our best, you can count on that.”

  The two cowboys left with the door.

  Spuds picked up the basin of blood-stained water she’d used to sponge off Austin’s wounds. “I’ll bring some fresh water then reckon I’d better rustle up some grub or we’ll all be ailing.”

  She moved the chair so it was touching the bed and sat in it. “Surely there’s something left over or dried you can prepare quickly and easily. I’m sure you’re bound to be as worn out and drained emotionally as I am.”

  He nodded slowly. “I’ll see what I can find. Need to put some beef on to boil for broth.”

  Later, Spuds returned with clean water and fresh towels. “He’ll likely have a fever soon. You’ll have to bathe him.”

  “I’ll be watching. I’ve taken care of my sister and her children when they had a fever. My niece gets a high fever from the slightest thing, poor little girl.” She missed seeing Darla, Billy, and Danny. She missed Lily and even Will.

  “You did real good sewing up his wounds.” Spuds left the room.

  His praise brought tears to her eyes. She hadn’t known enough without his help. What if she’d been alone? That didn’t bear thinking about. Life on a ranch could be isolated. She gave thanks Spuds stayed at the house with her.

  After feeling Austin’s forehead, she wrung water from the clean towel and smoothed it over his exposed skin, especially his head and neck. He was a nice looking man, ruggedly handsome. His skin was too pale, though. He’d lost a lot of blood. How long would it take him to recover? He’d hate being a patient.

  Spuds brought in a plate and a cup of coffee. “You have to eat or you can’t take care of him. This isn’t much but it’ll stick to your ribs.” The plate contained a steak and cottage fried potatoes.

  “Looks and smells good, Spuds. Thank you. I hope you had the same meal. Everyone depends on you.”

  She wasn’t interested in food with Austin laying there unable to eat or speak. But Spuds was right so she ate everything on her plate and drank the coffee. Knowing the doctor was headed this way sometime, she changed into a dress and folded Spuds’ pants on a trunk. She hadn’t been finished long before she heard voices.

  A man she remembered from Cindy’s party came into the room carrying a doctor’s bag. “You probably don’t remember me but I’m Dr. Ross. The man who came for me told me to tell you he was riding with the posse if there was one.”

  “I remember meeting you and your wife at the Kennedy home, Doctor Ross. I had hoped there was a posse. We were on Austin’s ranch property at the time that miner Ferguson shot Austin.”

  He loosened the bandage and looked at the front injury. “Looks like you did a nice job. Spuds said you mixed flour and gunpowder and then topped it off with ointment.”

  “That’s right. I didn’t know what to do but Spuds told me. Two of the cowboys helped get Austin in here and then held him while I sewed.”

  “You hold him like this while I check his back.”

  Mina did as Dr. Ross asked.

  He pressed around the stitches. “Looks as if it hit the top of his lung. That means he’ll require longer for recovery.

  That sent her stomach crashing to her feet. “How long does healing from this sort of wound take?”

  “Knowing Austin, I’d be surprised if you can keep him down as long as he needs to be. He should lie around the house for at least three weeks. Shouldn’t lift anything with that arm for longer.”

  “I’ll try to keep him inactive. I have a feeling to accomplish that I’d have to tie him to the bed. Spuds might be able to help press him to take it easy.”

  The doctor took an envelope from his bag. “When he wakes make a tea of this packet and give it to him three times a day. Make sure he drinks beef broth and water as soon as he can take liquids. Need to make sure he drinks a lot of liquid. Not alcohol. Wait a couple of days before he gets any solid food.”

  “I haven’t seen him drink alcohol. I imagine keeping him on broth and liquids will be as hard as keeping him still. Although, he’s probably going to feel pretty rough when he regains consciousness.”

  “If his fever goes up, keep bathing him. As soon as you can get it down him, make him a warm drink with this second packet. Directions are written on each.” He laid the two envelopes on the table. “Spuds said he hit the ground hard?”

  “He landed with a loud thump. I searched to see if he’d hit a rock but it was just grass and packed dirt. Still, the sound was loud.”

  Dr. Ross pried open Austin’s eyes then carefully felt of his head and neck. “Might have popped his neck. You know, when people fall hard, they bounce. I suspect sometimes the second landing hurts them as much as the first because it snaps their neck.”

  The breath left her body. “Y-You don’t think his neck is broken, do you?”

  The doctor waved aside her concern. “No, but that doesn’t mean it won’t hurt when he regains consciousness.”

  “I hope he wakes soon. I want to know he’s all right even if I have to dose him with laudanum afterward.” Drat, her tears started again.

  “I understand, Mrs. Wright. Well, I think you have things in hand here. I’ll come around tomorrow and see how the patient and you are doing. Spuds didn’t look too perky either.”

  She smiled through her tears. “Spuds treats Austin as if he were Austin’s parent. I know he’s terribly worried, as am I.”

  When the kindly doctor had left, Mina resumed her periodic bathing of her husband’s upper body. She was surprised when she started counting the days since she and Austin had met. To her, it seemed they’d known each other for months, maybe years. In reality, she’d known Austin just eight days.

  How could she care this deeply for him after such a short time?

  Chapter Fourteen

  Mina sat with Austin, willing him to open his eyes, but he remained unconscious. After sending up another prayer, she heard voices from the kitchen. Spuds could handle guests but she remained by her husband’s side.

  Cindy rushed into the room. “I came as soon as I heard what had happened.” She leaned over and hugged Mina.

  Mina stood and wept on her cousin’s shoulder. “Oh, Cindy, thank you so much for coming. You don’t need to stay, but having you here even for a few minutes helps more than I can say.”

  Cindy held both Mina’s hands. “All I heard was that one of the miners shot Austin. Tell me how all this happened.”

  Mina explained, starting with the first time Austin visited the miners and was threatened. “We were on our property today.”

  “I knew he’d teach you to fire a gun. I hardly suspected that he’d be shot.”

  “We were shocked when that man approached.” She sat on the bed so Cindy could have the chair. “Did you come by yourself?”

  Her cousin nodded then sat on the chair. “Ben went with the posse but before he left I told him I’d come here. Of course he wasn’t surprised.”

  “Did you come in your new buggy?”

  Cindy laughed, and that made Mina feel better. “Wasn’t that a nice surprise? And it’s so nice, but I rode my horse because that’s so much faster. Dusty put him in the barn for me. I brought a change of clothes so I can stay and help.”

  Mina laid a hand at her throat. “Oh, Cindy, we don’t have a place for you to sleep. Neither of our spare rooms has a bed.”

  Cindy appeared resolute. “Don’t worry. I’ll work something out if you need me. Mrs. Coats is with the twins. They like her and I trust her. She’s really like a grandmother with them.”

  “Just having you has helped me. I didn’t realize how much I’d come to care for him in the short time I’ve been here, but I have. Of course, I’d be upset regardless.”

  Cindy looked at Austin. “I’m glad to know you’re falling in love, Mina. He’s a good man. The second best man in Texas.”

  Mina gazed at her husband. “He certainly didn’t deserve this. I hope they capture that
awful man who shot Austin.”

  “Have you eaten anything?”

  “Yes, Spuds brought my supper in here. Have you eaten?”

  “Mrs. Brown insisted I eat before I left. Aren’t we both lucky to have someone to look after us? I depend on her a lot. When no one else is there, I call her Hazel and she calls me Cindy. Does that shock you?”

  “Not at all. I wanted to tell all the men here to call me Mina but I didn’t think Austin would approve. I’ll ask him… when… when he wakes.” Mina couldn’t help sobbing.

  “Dear Mina, it won’t be long.” Cindy squeezed Mina’s hand.

  “He lost so much blood. You can see how pale he is even under his tan. I was so afraid he was going to bleed to death before we could get him home and inside.”

  “You’ll see how tough he is. He’s not going to fade away.” Cindy stood and hugged Mina’s shoulders. “I’m going to go see what I can do about a bed. Then I’ll come spell you for a while.”

  Mina held Austin’s hand. “I’m so glad you’re here, Cindy, but I’m not leaving Austin’s side.”

  “I’m sure I’d feel that way if it were Bert lying there. I’ll bring you coffee or something else. Do you have a request?”

  “A cup of coffee would be nice.”

  Cindy left and soon Mina heard voices from the kitchen then silence.

  Her cousin appeared with two cups of coffee. She gave one to Mina and sipped the other one. “There are a couple of unused beds in the bunkhouse. The men are bringing in one for a guest room and one for in here. Are any of your trunks empty?”

  “The tan one is. The largest one has household things in it and could be emptied. The third one I’m using for clothing storage.”

  “Excellent. The empty trunk will make a good table for the guest room and allow more room in here.”

  “Organize things the way you wish as long as you clear it with Spuds first. Tread easy, Cindy. He’s as worried as I am, though I doubt he would admit it.”

  “He almost did. When I tried to get him to rest, he said he needs to keep busy.”