Emma Jane moaned, and her face was paler than he’d ever seen it. Too pale.
“It’s going to be all right, sweetheart,” Jasper told her. He looked at the doc for confirmation, and he nodded.
“I’m pretty sure the bullet didn’t hit any vital organs. But she looks pretty torn up. It wasn’t a clean shot.”
Jasper closed his eyes. This was the second time a woman had taken a bullet for him. When they were in the brothel, Mel had died stepping in front of a bullet meant for Jasper. It had been that lifesaving action that had brought about Jasper’s quest to find and rescue Daisy.
He’d failed to save Daisy, but the cry of a baby in the next room reminded him that he still had a promise to keep. Though he’d told Emma Jane finding a family for Moses would be enough, she’d been right in insisting on keeping him.
Seeing Emma Jane lying on the bed, wounded and in pain, he knew the debt he owed both women was far greater than he could ever repay.
In truth, this was the second time Emma Jane had kept Jasper from harm. When they were trapped in the mine, she’d shoved him out of the way of a rock slide, injuring herself in the process. Typical Emma Jane. Always thinking of helping others before herself.
How could he ever be a man worthy of such a woman?
The doctor’s assistant arrived. A young man who barely looked old enough to be shaving, let alone taking care of patients.
“This is my nephew, Augustus. He’ll be assisting me in the surgery. I’m going to have to ask you to leave the room while we get out the bullet, as you’ll only be in the way.”
“Of course.” Jasper pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “I’ll be back soon,” he said softly as he shut the door behind him and went into the sitting room to wait.
Abigail was already in there, rocking a fussy Moses and cooing to him softly.
“I think he knows something’s happened to his mama,” she said softly.
“Probably,” Jasper said gruffly, reaching for the baby. “Let me try.”
The knowing smile Abigail gave him made Jasper wonder why he’d spent so much time fighting the inevitable. He held Moses in his arms and gazed down at the little boy.
“Your mama is going to be just fine. But it doesn’t hurt to ask God to make sure.”
Jasper cradled Moses and began to pray.
Chapter Eighteen
Everything in Emma Jane’s body ached. Well, not everything. But what didn’t ache burned, and she felt like her entire head was stuffed with cotton. Nausea rolled in her stomach as she struggled to breathe normally. The best she could do was take a few shallow breaths, and even they hurt.
“Emma Jane?” Jasper’s voice was soft, gentle and as welcoming as a fire after being out in the cold all day.
No, all night. The last thing she remembered was being cold. So cold. Yet her back had been on fire.
She opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him. Dark circles rimmed his eyes, and he was clearly in need of a shave, but she’d never seen a more welcome sight.
“Good. You’re awake. The doctor gave you something for the pain, and he said it would help you sleep, but I’m glad to see you’re all right.”
Then his eyes examined her face in a funny way. “You are all right, aren’t you?”
She closed her eyes. Then she remembered. After taking a deep breath, she looked at Jasper again. “I was shot.”
The few words took so much effort it felt like she’d already done a day’s work, even though she’d just woken up.
“But you’re going to be fine,” he assured her. “The doctor got the bullet out, and he said it didn’t hit anything serious. Just tore up the muscles in your back and shoulder. You’ve lost a lot of blood, so you’ll need to take it easy for a while, but you’ll be fine.”
Fine. He kept using that word, almost as though he didn’t believe it. Emma Jane looked around the room.
“If you’re looking for Moses, he’s in with Abigail. He and I have been sitting here, waiting for you to wake up, but he was starting to get fussy and I didn’t want him to disturb you.”
Emma Jane blinked. Moses? Jasper had never willingly used the baby’s name before.
“I can get him if you want.” He jumped up before she could answer. Then, just as quickly as he left, he returned, carrying Moses as if holding the baby was the most natural thing in the world.
“There she is,” Jasper said in a voice so sweet and tender, and clearly aimed at the baby, that Emma Jane hardly knew him. “See? I told you that your mama would be fine.”
Her eyes filled with tears. Not only was Jasper calling her son by his name, but he referred to her as Moses’s mama.
“Emma Jane? Are you all right? What’s wrong? Is your shoulder paining you?”
The worry scattered across Jasper’s face made her stomach flip-flop. Who was this man?
“I’m fine,” she said, her throat scratchy. “I could use some water, though.”
Keeping Moses cradled in one arm, Jasper poured her a glass of water. “You’re supposed to sip it slowly. Doc Wallace says you may not tolerate much for a while, but it’s good for you to drink as much as you can.”
She sipped the water, marveling at how comfortable Jasper seemed to be with the baby. When she was finished, he took the glass. She’d only managed a few small sips, but at least her throat wasn’t so dry.
“So you remember being shot?” Jasper studied her face intently, making her feel ill at ease. She’d never seen such concern in him before.
“Yes.” Emma Jane took a breath. If only it didn’t hurt so much to breathe, let alone talk. But so
