“Need to plug the hole. Losing too much blood.” He took his handkerchief from his hip pocket and stuffed it inside his shirt. “Can’t… catch my… breath.”
She leaned over and ran her fingers over his back. “He was close. Let me see if there’s an exit wound.”
She let out her breath. “Oh, Austin, thank heavens there is one. Shall I ride behind you on the saddle to help you sit upright?”
“I-I can… make… it… home….” As he spoke, he felt himself falling then the world went dark.
Mina got off her horse and rushed to her husband. If he was conscious he didn’t let her know. There was no way to lift him onto Thunder. What could she do? Think, think.
She pulled the rifle from the saddle and dug out the box of bullets from the saddlebags. She kept the canteen. A slicker and bedroll were tied behind the saddle and she removed those.
“Go home, boy. Get help.” She slapped Thunder on the rump.
She prayed the horse would go to the barn where Spuds or Buck would see him and know something was wrong. In the meantime, she had to protect Austin.
She checked the bedroll and unfolded it beside her husband. Then she scooted and rolled and eased him onto the bedroll. He groaned but didn’t speak.
“I’m so sorry, Austin. I know you’re in pain. Help will come but I don’t know when.”
The sun was too hot beaming down on him as it was. She ran to the trees and picked up broken branches and carried them to where her husband lay. Using them as tall stakes, she made a lean-to of his slicker to shade him.
She tried to give him a drink from the canteen but he didn’t swallow. She moistened her handkerchief and bathed his face. Then she opened his shirt to look at the wound. Dear heavens, there was so much blood.
She untied his neckerchief and made a pad from it that she pressed to the entrance spot. How could she pad the exit wound? She pulled his shirt from his britches and managed to get strips of it by tearing it in several places.
The fabric was soaked in blood on one side. From the other side she tore off a strip. After folding the cloth, she rolled him enough that she could reach his back injury.
How long would it take help to reach them? She continued bathing his face frequently. The sun climbed and soon she’d need to rearrange the lean-to to keep him in the shade.
Between prayers she talked to Austin. She wasn’t certain he’d know. But if he did, she didn’t want him to think he was alone.
Chapter Twelve
After what seemed like days, Mina heard the sound of a wagon. She stood and looked toward where she thought the house was. Sure enough, a wagon was headed their way.
As the vehicle drew closer, she saw that Buck was driving and Spuds sat beside him. Their faces were grim. She was so relieved she was almost in hysterics.
The wagon pulled up close to where Austin was unconscious. Both men were out of the wagon and by her side in seconds.
She brushed away tears and wanted to hug both of them. “Apparently Thunder made it home.”
Spuds looked at Austin. “What happened? Did you shoot him?”
She shook her head, unable to blame them for thinking she’d caused this. “That miner, Ferguson. He was angry because he thought Austin had sent the sheriff to try and stop them. Please, let’s get him home. I’ll tell you all about it on the way.”
Buck folded a blanket double and spread it on the wagon bed. “Won’t be easy getting him in the wagon without hurting him.”
“I know. He fell off his horse while he was telling me he could ride home. I simply couldn’t figure out how to get him on his horse so I sent Thunder home. I hoped he’d show up when you could see him and know that there was trouble.”
Spuds put his hands on his hips. “Thunder came in and made an awful racket whinnying and pawing the ground. You did some good thinking to send him home. Didn’t take a genius to figure out Austin needed help.”
Mina glanced at Buck. “I’m glad you came, Buck. I think you’re the strongest of you three men. Do you think you can get him into the wagon without hurting yourself?”
He gave a nod. “Reckon I can. Can you lift his feet and legs?”
“Yes, just let me know when.”
Buck bent and slid his arms under Austin. “Now.” He strained some but managed to lift Austin into the wagon.
Austin moaned but didn’t open his eyes or speak. She thought it was best he remained unaware of the trip. This was bound to be painful for him.
Spuds gathered the things on the ground and dumped them in the wagon. “Clever of you to make shade for him. Sun’s hot today.”
“I don’t know how to shade him in the wagon.” She climbed up beside her husband.
Buck got onto the seat. “Won’t be long until we’re at the house. You need help, Spuds?”
“I’m just making sure we didn’t leave anything.” He clambered up beside Buck.
On the way to the house, she explained what they’d done and how Ferguson had shown up and confronted them.
“I don’t think he meant to hit Austin. He acted surprised he had. I think his intention was to scare us. Austin tried to draw his Colt but he couldn’t quite manage. I pointed the rifle at that horrid man and he left. I remember I said some mean things to him but I don’t
