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As the lawman loosed his horse, Evie walked away without another word, ducking back inside. She scooted around Dr. Black and moved to Ben’s side. He rested, eyes closed. She leaned down, brushing a damp lock of hair off his sweaty forehead.
“Is he going to be okay?” Her gaze went to the man next to her in the midst of drying his hands.
Dr. Black gave her a kind smile. “I need some wide strips to bind his ribs.” He waited until she moved to the table and started to cut the sheet before he continued. “I’ve stitched up the knife wound.” With swift, sure motions, he took the cloth from her and worked it around Ben. “He’ll likely have a nasty headache given the size of that goose egg and these ribs will take a while to heal.”
His neutral tone and carefully chosen words didn’t escape her notice. Evie put the scissors down, watching him finish the binding with her arms hugged around her waist. “So you think he’ll be okay?”
“As long as that shoulder doesn’t get infected, yes.”
Dread settled in her gut. Her mouth dry, she didn’t speak for a moment. She inched closer. “Is that likely?”
“All we can do now is pray.” His gaze held compassion.
“I will.” Evie moved back to the bedside. Her hand touched Ben’s arm for needed contact. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” The doctor started to repack his bag.
“What do I owe you?”
“It’s late. I’ll be back tomorrow to check on him.”
“But-”
He patted her hand. “We’ll settle up then.”
“All right.” She didn’t have the heart to protest further.
“The best thing for him is sleep.” Dr. Black shrugged into a light jacket and donned a narrow brimmed hat. He gestured to the bottle still covered with bits of flour. “If he wakes up in too much pain, give him more.”
Evie walked him to the door. The control she’d held so tight threatened to fall apart. Emotion inexplicable, tears gathered. She exhaled a shaky breath. “He could’ve died.”
“But he didn’t.” Gentle fingers cupped her chin, tilting her face up so Evie looked into his eyes. “The best thing you can do for Ben now is get some rest. You need it.”
“I will.”
Without another word, the doctor left. Evie sank down in the chair beside the bed. Weary, she laid her head down, resting her cheek on Ben’s arm. Her eyes drifted shut. Sometime later a touch on her hair startled her awake.
“Doll.”
“Ben?” She lifted her head and opened her eyes to look at him. At first, he didn’t respond. His eyes still closed, she thought perhaps he’d fallen back asleep.
“Hurts.”
“What hurts?”
“Head. Side. Shoulder. Everything.”
Evie pushed up her feet, poured some liquor in a cup. She slid an arm under his shoulders and helped him up enough so that he could drink. He never opened his eyes or spoke again. She settled Ben back down then eased away from him. His breathing deepened, in minutes it was clear he slept.
Unable to go straight back to sleep herself, Evie moved around the room, restless. She threw his stained clothing and towels in a basket then pushed it under the bed. Exhausted, her head throbbed. She started to clear the table and swayed. One hand reached out, pressed against the wood surface and steadied her. After a moment, she trudged back to Ben’s side, resigned to sleep again in the chair.
The night seemed endless. Every time her husband made a sound, Evie jerked awake, fear clawing her heart. It took long moments to calm each time. When morning arrived at last, she felt worse than the night before.
Her eyes burned. Muscles stiff and aching, Evie stumbled through chores then returned, collapsing onto her chair. Hours passed. Her hair went uncombed, face unwashed, dress unchanged, she did nothing but sit by Ben who mostly slept until the doctor arrived around noon.
As Dr. Black checked her husband over, he woke for more than a moment.
“What happened?”
Evie leaned close and spoke softly. “You were attacked.”
“I was?” Discomfort clear, he responded with effort. His eyes closed. For a second she thought Ben had fallen asleep yet again, and then he spoke again. “By who? Why?”
“I was hoping you’d tell us.”
“I don’t know. Sorry.” He took a breath. “So I’m at your home.”
“Our home.”
“Our home?” His eyes opened. He turned his head to look straight at her, brow furrowed.
A childhood memory of a man who’d fallen from a horse stirred and concern filled her. “Do you know who you are?”
“You called me Ben.” He took an audible breath. “But my full name is Benjamin, Benjamin James Rolfe.”
“Thank God.” Relief cascaded through her.
Swollen lips attempted to form a smile. “So what’s your name, sweet lady?”
A shiver went down her spine. His words pierced her bubble of cheer. Unease crept over her. She stared at him for a full moment. “That’s not funny.”
“Not trying to be.”
“It’s all right,” Dr. Black inserted. Evie started. She’d forgotten his presence. His low tone a clear attempt to soothe her, the doctor continued. “Go ahead tell him your name.”
“Evie, I’m Evie.”
“That’s a right pretty name,” his words slurred.
“So you said the first time you heard it,” she muttered but her words went unheard. He’d fallen asleep again. Evie turned her gaze on the doctor. His somber expression didn’t comfort her. “Is it normal to sleep like that?”
The doctor nodded. “His body needs the rest.”
“Okay.” Evie accepted that easily and moved on to the question that burned inside her. “Why doesn’t Ben know me?”
“Well, head injuries can rattle a person for a time.”
Worry sharpened her tone. “There was a man where I grew up who forgot everything, everyone, had to learn to dress and eat again like a baby. Is that what’s happening to Ben?”
“I’ve heard of such cases.” Dr. Black took her hand, patting it with his other one. “But Ben knows who he is and that’s a good sign. Give him time, let him recover.”
“Then you think he’ll remember me?”
“Likely.”
“But he might not?”
“Let’s not borrow trouble. Wait a few days. See how he does.” He squeezed her hand then released her and stepped back.
Dr. Black turned to the table, snapping his bag shut. Evie walked him outside. He waited by his buggy while she fetched a small bag of dried apples and a crated chicken.
“Would these cover what we owe you?”
“It’ll do.” The doctor accepted the offering. “I’ll be back out to check on Ben tomorrow.”
Arms crossed at her waist, Evie watched him set what she’d given behind the black leather seat. He climbed in, snapped the reins and drove off. Her shoulders slumped. Alone and solely responsible for Ben, she felt weighed down with worry.
Evie went back to the cabin on leaden feet. Once satisfied her husband rested easy, she sat down, closed her eyes but minutes later remained wide-awake. Though far past tired, she couldn’t settle down. She got up and changed into a clean dress of blue calico, tidied the room, fussed with Ben’s blankets then reached down, pulled out the laundry basket.
After she propped the door open, Evie carried the clothes outside. She soon had water boiling in a large pot hung above a fire and tossed in the stained items. The hot, unpleasant job took up a good portion of her afternoon. She yawned often as she hung the last of the laundry up to dry. The sound of a moan floated out of the cabin while Evie kicked dirt on the fire. She hurried inside straight to her husband.
“Are you all right?”
“Could I have some water?” he rasped.
“Of course.” She filled a mug from the kettle and returned.
His hands shook as he took it from her, which sloshed the lukewarm water over his fingers. Evie put her hands over his to steady them. Ben raised his head, took in a few long sips then pale, shaking, he laid back.
“Thank you, Evie.”
“You remember me?” Tense, hopeful, worried, she hesitated a second then took the mug from his slack grip, putting it down on the dresser.
Ben cleared his throat yet his voice emerged husky. “Of course, you’re the pretty lady who’s taking care of me.”
“So you don’t know who I am?”
“Other than your name, no.” He paused a moment, coughed, then continued in a soft, forced tone. “But I’m guessing I should.”
Evie couldn’t keep the words inside. “I’m your wife.”
“Oh.” He closed his eyes, his exhaustion obvious. “That’s … ”
Ben drifted off again. Evie stomped her foot so frustrated she wanted to scream. She needed him to stay awake more than a blessed minute and talk to her. Her fingers tangled with his as she sank down on the rocker. Tears filled her eyes then spilled over, trailing down heated cheeks. She needed him.
The remainder of the day passed in the same manner. When Ben stirred, they would exchange a few meaningless words. Evie gave him more sips of water and late in the evening, she managed to coax some broth into him. By the end of the very long day, little had changed.
The need for sleep at last overcame her shortly after dark and Evie nodded off in her chair. A glancing blow to her upper arm woke her some time later. She opened her eyes. In the low, flickering light from the dying lamp Ben flailed, not wildly but with soft jerks as if in his dreams, he fought.
“Ben.” Her tone low and pitched to comfort, Evie leaned over him. She captured one of his arms, holding it to the mattress. “Ben, wake up.”
Her husband quieted but didn’t respond. Still weary, Evie started to relax, and then what she felt sank in. Heat radiated from his skin. Panicked she jumped up, grabbed the pail and dashed down to the creek without pausing to take the lamp. She stubbed her toes, snagged her dress on a thorny brush and almost fell into the running water but the terror that so often paralyzed her in the dark simply didn’t register. She filled her bucket and hurried back.
Through the night, Evie soaked rags in the cold water then applied them to his heated forehead. His skin never stayed cool long before it burned again. Every so often Ben would mutter gibberish then thrash about until she soothed him.
Her back ached fiercely by morning light. Evie straightened away from the bed with her hands pressed hard against the base of her spine. She yawned so wide and long her jaw hurt. Noise penetrated her fog of exhaustion. She went to the window and peeked through the curtains. The little black buggy was a most welcome sight. She stumbled over to the door, eager to let the doctor inside.
After a quick exchange of information, Evie let Dr. Black take over Ben’s care. On the verge of collapse, she pulled her rocker across the room out of the way. She sat down, leaned her head against the high back, closed her eyes and slept.
The next few days passed in a blur. Evie rested whenever Dr. Black was there. Naps at odd hours became routine. At the end of the week, a touch on her shoulder woke her from one. She blinked up at the tall man for a moment until her wits gathered.
“Sheriff Green.” Evie sat up straight, pushing her hair out of her face. “Do you have news?”
“Well Doc just said he believes the fever broke.”
She sagged back against the chair. “Thank God.”
“I came out to speak to Ben. Clearly he’s in no condition for that now but … ”
An uneasy feeling knotted her stomach. “What’s wrong?”
“Perhaps we should talk privately?”
“All right.” Evie glanced over at the man who sat next to the bed and looked almost as tired as she felt. “I need to step outside with the sheriff for a moment.”
Dr. Black acknowledged her words with a nod. She stood and led the sheriff outside. Her gaze swept the area as she emerged from the cabin. She took a deep breath, enjoying the fresh air.
Sheriff Green moved in front of her. “Ma’am you’re aware your husband has … irritated folks?”
Evie could barely contain an unladylike snort. She arched an eyebrow and answered in a tone as dry as late fall leaves. “Yes.”
“In the time you’ve lived here he’s made questionable deals, caused trouble in town drinking and brawling, there’s more than one accusation of cheating and he’s suspected of-”
“Your point?” Her voice lowered to just above a whisper. That his words were true made them no less difficult to hear. “Are you trying to say Ben deserved what happened?”
“No ma’am, but I’m warning you some might see it that way.”
“Who? The person or people who hurt him? Do you know who did it?”
“The men Talbert fired were overheard celebrating that your husband was hurt. They also had his horse.”
“So you arrested them?”
“I did when they started a fight and tore up the saloon. But those are the only charges I’m holding them on.”
Evie shook her head, confused. “Not for attacking Ben?”
“I’ve no proof of that.”
