"Sorry to interrupt, but I have them ready. The, uh…" Bryan cleared his throat. "The tools for Miss Bryant."
Alex jumped to his feet, scooting the chair aside. "Perfect."
From behind the door jam, Bryan drew two long wooden poles with short pieces of wood attached crossways at the top. Recognition flashed through Miriam. They were almost the same as Gideon had made for Leah when her leg was broken.
"Walking sticks." A smile spread across her face, and she looked up at Alex. "Does that mean I can get out of bed?"
His brows lowered. "Only for a few minutes at a time. Don't put any weight on your left leg. And if it pains you, go right back to the cot. Agreed?"
"Of course." She would've agreed to cut her hair short if that would get her out of this bed.
Bryan lowered her bad leg to the floor, helping to keep the knee straight. She tried to shake out her skirts, but they were hopelessly wrinkled. As her bare feet hit the wood planks, she almost squealed and pulled them back up. Cold.
Alex frowned. "We'll need to get you new…" Blotches of red stained his cheeks. "I mean, something to cover your…er, to keep you warm." Even his embarrassment was charming, as he stumbled around trying not to mention her unmentionable clothing and body parts.
"Let me have them." She reached for the walking sticks. With one under each arm—and a doctor by each side—she wobbled to her feet. Make that foot. A surge of pain shot through her knee, and her whole body ached like she hadn't used it in a month. But she was standing. She didn't try to stop the grin from showing on her face.
Miriam shuffled the left pole forward and shifted her weight to move with it. This was harder than it looked that time Leah used them.
"Easy there. Steady." Alex crooned like a nervous mare with her first foal, his hand cupping her right elbow.
She ignored him, easing the other crutch forward with her right leg. That was it. Getting her balance and not putting weight on her bad leg would be the hardest part, but each step grew easier.
She'd almost made it to the door when Alex spoke again. "I think that's far enough. You don't want to overdo it this first time."
But she kept moving forward, pulling out of Alex's grip on her elbow. "Just let me go to the next room and I'll sit."
"Miriam."
She ignored him, progressing faster now. If she moved both walking sticks ahead at the same time, then swung her body forward, she could get a good rhythm. Out in the hall, then into the examination room next door. She paused to take in her surroundings like a starved baby. How wonderful to be out of that little chamber.
Swinging forward again, she aimed toward a chair on the far wall. "See, I'll just sit here for a while."
Neither man had left her side, except when the doorway forced them to walk single file. When she reached the chair, Alex caught her elbow in a grip strong enough to slow her down. "Let us help you turn and sit." His voice held stern tension she'd never heard from him.
Had she pushed too far? Made him angry? A niggle of guilt tugged in her chest. "All right." They each took an arm and swiveled her as she pivoted on her good foot, then eased into the chair.
Sinking against the straight wood back, her body sagged. Just that little bit of activity had her working to catch her breath.
But now was the time for recovery of a different kind. She turned her most charming smile on the men who stared down at her like palace guards. Alex had both hands perched on his hips, brows knit so close they almost looked like a continuous line.
"That was dangerous, Miriam." His chest heaved with the words. "You could have fallen or reinjured the tendons." He threw up both hands. "Who's to say you didn't?"
Miriam couldn't hold his gaze. She'd really scared him. Not what she'd meant to do. Of course, she hadn't been thinking about anything other than the joy of getting out of that room. "I'm fine, Alex. I promise."
"Let's get you back to bed."
Her head jerked up. "No."
His face slipped again into the scowl.
"I mean, may I just sit here for a few minutes? You can go about your business, and I'll enjoy the new scenery. If I grow tired, I promise I'll call you for help getting back to bed."
Alex's gaze flicked from her face to his brother's, his mouth twisting with the question.
Bryan only raised his brows at his brother, as if to say, It's your decision.
Alex finally turned back to her. "All right. Five minutes. And don't go back to the other room without one of us. Understood?"
"Thank you." If he'd been closer, she would have pulled him down into a hug.
He held her gaze a moment longer, and his mouth twitched as if he could read her thoughts.
A movement in the corner of her eye ended the moment. Miriam turned as Bryan stepped to the stove. "I'll get the coffee heating." When he'd refilled the firebox and moved the kettle forward, Bryan turned to clap Alex on the shoulder. "Can I get your help for a minute, little brother?"
"Sure." Alex gave her one more warning look before turning to follow.
Miriam feasted her eyes on her surroundings. The work counter and long row of cabinets on the side wall, where most of the medicines and supplies stayed. The high examination table in the center. She had a faint memory of it being extremely hard, almost like lying on a piece of wood. Even the window behind her offered a different view of the large icy flakes still gliding from the clouds.
A hazy moisture crept over the window, both where she breathed on the glass, and around the edges. Must be the warmth from the fire. Miriam pulled at the collar of her shirtwaist. It was toasty in here. The wood Bryan loaded in the stove was doing its job.
Her eyes fell on the open heater vent, wide enough that she could see the orange flames dancing inside. The stove was too far away for her to reach from the chair, but if she stood, one step would bring her close enough to shut the vent. Positioning the walking sticks under her arms, Miriam pulled herself up. She stopped to steady her balance, then rocked forward on the poles, landing an easy distance from the stove. Keeping the pole under her left arm for support, she leaned the other stick against the wall. With a few flicks of her wrist, she had the vents closed, drowning out the crackling of the fire along with the heat.
A gurgling sound drifted from the top of the stove. The coffee. With the towel hanging from the stove handle, she moved the kettle to a cooler part of the iron surface. The aroma was tantalizing. How many hours had it been since she'd finished her cup that morning? Taking a tin mug that hung from the stove's upper shelf, Miriam set it on the side counter then reached for the kettle. Its handle was hot to the touch, so she wrapped the towel around it again.
The pot was heavier than she expected, and Miriam's wrist strained under the weight. Her body tilted forward to compensate, and she brought her left hand down to brace herself against the warming counter. The supporting crutch under her left arm slipped.
And then everything seemed to happen in slow motion, yet she was powerless to stop it. The kettle clattered against the stove top, her hand still clutching the handle. Her midsection hit the edge of the stove, and she hovered over the surface.
A searing pain exploded over her left arm. Like fire burning her skin. She tried to cry out. To scream. To claw the burning pain away.
Strong hands gripped her shoulders, pulling her back. Her vision blurred and voices buzzed around her, but nothing made sense. She had to get away from the agony blazing across her arm.
And then her arm was submerged in a blessed coolness. Icy bliss. She blinked, forcing her eyes to focus through the pain. The first thing she saw…Alex.
"Shhh, love." He stroked the hair from her face. His wide brown eyes glistened as he met her gaze.
Something tugged at her arm, reigniting the burning sensation. She looked over. Bryan bent over her arm, a long shiny knife in his hand. Miriam gasped and jerked back.
"Steady now. He's cutting your sleeve so we can get to the burn." Alex's voice crooned in her ear as he moved to her
side, wrapping his arm behind her. Did his hands shake? Or was that the chatter of her teeth?
She bit into her lower lip, doing her best to not react to the pain of the fabric pulling her skin. She shrank into Alex's chest, and he held her securely there. The cloth of his shirt was damp against her cheek, and only then did she realize tears streamed down her face.
As Bryan's knife cut through the last of the fabric, the cloth fell apart. Miriam blinked, but the mottled red skin didn't change. Was that her arm? He cupped her elbow and lowered her hand into a basin of snow, scooping more slush over her forearm.
Heavenly relief flooded her, and she inhaled a deep breath. The biting cold of the ice almost masked the burning in her arm. As her muscles relaxed, she sank deeper into Alex's arms.
~~~
Alex cradled Miriam against his chest, willing his heart to stop racing. He closed his eyes, but the memory rushed back. Hearing her scream. Finding her crumbled on the floor, holding her arm and whimpering. He forced his eyes open. Inhaling a deep breath, he rocked the woman in his embrace. She still smelled like coffee, but her hair was soft against his cheek.
Beside him, Bryan rose to his feet. "I'll get more snow."
"Laudanum first?" Alex spoke softly so he didn't disturb Miriam, who had finally calmed in his arms.
Bryan paused mid step. "Good thinking."
As Bryan stooped to give Miriam a hefty dose of the medicine, Alex caught a glimpse of her face. Anguish pooled in her eyes. It pressed his chest so tight, breathing became painful.
Burying his mouth in the blonde curls near her ear, he whispered, "I'm sorry, love. If I could take this pain for you, I would."
While Bryan left to gather more snow, Alex ran his eyes over the situation before him. They needed to get Miriam back in bed. Both legs lay straight in front of her, as far as he could tell with her skirts covering them. Maybe God had been merciful and kept her from reinjuring her knee in the fall.
The burn on her arm was a bad one. Before Bryan covered it with ice again, he'd glimpsed blisters rising on the surface. If they didn't get her arm medicated and wrapped with bandages soon, the blisters might burst. And the infection that would surely ensue could easily take either her arm or her life. Alex tightened his hold. A burn like this was serious.
When his brother reappeared, Alex carefully pulled away from Miriam, while keeping an arm at her back to keep her upright. "Miriam, I'm going to carry you back to your room. Bryan will walk beside to hold the ice for your arm. All right?"
She nodded once, her teeth starting to chatter. Was she cold? Going into traumatic shock?
He touched two fingers to her neck. The blood flow there pulsed fast but not very strong. Getting her warm was priority now.
With careful balance, he cradled Miriam and rose to his feet. Bryan gripped the basin of ice on her other side, and helped position her injured leg so Alex's arm supported it properly.
Within moments, he laid her on the bed and pulled both the quilt and the gray wool blanket up around her chin. He eased the burned arm and basin to a safe place on top of the blankets. "We need more quilts."
Moments later, Bryan thrust two blankets in his hands. They worked together to apply a strong healing ointment to the burn and wrap it in clean cloth strips. The scalding liquid appeared to have burned through two layers of skin. By the time Alex tied the bandage ends together, Miriam had stopped shivering and her eyelids drifted shut.
"I'll clean up the other room," Bryan murmured as he slipped away.
"Feeling better?" Alex spoke softly as he stroked a lock of curls from Miriam's face.
"Mmm." Her voice was barely a whisper, and her eyes remained closed.
"Sleep now. I'll be here when you wake."
She didn't answer, but her breathing drifted into a steady rhythm. Before he could stop himself, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
Miriam murmured something, as if from a dream. Was that his name? Or wishful thinking?
"Alex." Louder this time, so there was no doubt.
"Yes?" But again, no answer. Her lashes fluttered, as if her mind was busy under those delicate lids. Was she dreaming about him? Warmth flooded his chest.
Chapter Eleven
Miriam struggled to force her eyes open. This fogginess in her mind was worse than wading through waist-high snow. As her eyelids cracked, harsh white light set her head to aching again.
"Aww…" She moaned, raising her hand to shield her face from the brightness streaming through the window. A throbbing ache enveloped her arm, leaving her gasping through the pain.
The burn. It all came back in a torrent of anguish. Memories of pain everywhere—in her arm and her knee. So strong she could only thrash and moan. Cool cloths on her face, gentle fingers stroking her hair. Alex, soothing in that rich, magical voice of his. They helped, but nothing took away the pain.
But waking up now, the throbbing in her arm wasn't quite as strong. Had it been a full night then, and now they were into the next day? A wagon rattled by outside, and she craned her neck to see through the window. Snow still packed several inches higher than the window sill, but muddy slush covered the road, and men and horses passed in steady succession. The red door of the legal office across the street winked through the traffic.
Murmuring voices drifted from the other room. Alex's deep tenor was unmistakable. A woman's voice sounded, too. Older maybe. Alex chuckled, and even muffled by the wall, the sound washed through her in warm ripples.
Miriam lay there, listening for several moments, as the voices rose and faded. When the hinge on her door creaked, she startled. "Yes?" Her voice was still groggy from sleep, and from the cotton that seemed to cling inside her mouth.
Alex's head appeared in the doorway. "You're awake?" At first his eyes widened, then his brow lowered into a worried furrow as he strode across the room to her bed. "Would ye be feeling better, now?" His hand touched her forehead.
"Much better." She tried to offer a smile, but it must have been a weak one.
He stepped back, eyes roaming over her face. "Your fever is gone. Let me help our Mrs. Malmgren out, then I'll be back."
While she waited, Miriam's eyes drifted shut again. How much could one sleep in a day? Surely she'd napped enough this past week to last for several months.
She jerked awake to find Alex entering her room, a tray in his hands with steam wafting from a bowl.
"Hungry yet?"
With the savory aroma of soup filling the air, the cramping in her stomach gave her a decisive answer to that question. "I am."
As he placed the tray on the bedside table, he gave her one of those crooked grins. "I imagine so. You haven't eaten in two days."
Her eyes jerked to the window, where the sun still shone brightly. Two days? Finding Alex's gaze again, she was almost afraid to ask the question. "Is something wrong with me?"
His brows rose. "You mean besides a torn patellar tendon and a second degree burn covering your wrist?"
"Would that make me sleep so much?"
Alex sank into the chair beside the bed. The smile left his face, and for a few moments she could see through his perky façade. He'd been worried. And now he was exhausted. "You kept a high fever after the burn. You weren't actually unconscious, but very feverish. We gave you plenty of laudanum for the pain, so that also contributed to your sleeping so much." He ran a hand through his unruly hair. "It's good to see you awake now. And without the fever."
As if coming awake, he lurched to his feet and reached for the tray. "Now, you need nourishment. Would you like me to feed you?"
Heat warmed her neck. Surely she was capable of doing that herself. "I can."
After positioning the tray across her lap, Alex settled back on the edge of the chair. Less than an arm's reach away. Was he worried she'd make a mess of this like she had the coffee?
The beef stew tasted better than some of the other meals Alex had served. Her eyes raised to meet his, as he watched her. "Did you make this?"
His brows gathered. "Is it that bad?"
"No, actually. It's quite tasty."
Red stole up his neck. "I'm learning."
Poor guy. She hadn't meant to embarrass him. "Is this your mum's Irish stew you told me about?"
His face flushed a deeper crimson. "Not exactly. More like Aunt Pearl's recipe she was kind enough to share."
Miriam couldn't hold back a chuckle. As her upper body shook from the laugh, the tray tilted to the side, and she grabbed it. Best focus on eating before she triggered another disaster.
Eating was a little awkward with her left hand bandaged, but not too bad. Raising the bound arm, she asked, "How long will this need to stay wrapped?"
"At least until the blisters are gone. Several days, probably. We'll check it later today and see how it's healing."
When she lowered her arm to the bed, the loose, tattered edge of her sleeve flopped. "Looks like I'll need a new shirtwaist." She sighed. And a bath. Maybe she could ask for a bowl of water and a rag. Every part of her felt sticky and dirty.
Drawing forth her nerve, along with a deep breath, she didn't meet his gaze. "Would it be too much trouble to ask for a basin of water and a towel?"
"No trouble." He jumped to his feet and strode out of the room.
She hadn't meant right this minute. Still, the sooner the better. After scarfing down the remaining stew, she moved the tray to the side table before he returned.
Boot thumps sounded his coming, and Miriam ran a hand over her hair to push wayward curls behind her ear.
A wide smile stretched across Alex's face as he entered, giving him a school-boy look. He set down the basin and pulled a brown paper package from under his arm. Like a lad bringing flowers to his mother, he presented the bundle. "I thought you might be in need of this."
Miriam could feel her eyes widen. A package? A gift? But why?
He couldn't quite meet her eyes, and red ears peeked out from under his dark brown locks as he turned to the table. "I'll take this tray and give you some privacy." Then his gaze flicked back to hers, his face growing serious. "Call if you've a need. I'll be close by. Don't…do anything dangerous."
Mountain Dreams Series: Books 1 - 3: Mountain Dreams Box Set 1 Page 33
