“Soon as we get him inside, I’ll go for the doctor and let the sheriff know what’s happened.” Buck sounded angry, and with good reason.
Spuds turned back to look at Austin. “Sheriff has grounds to get rid of those miners now. I hope he puts them in jail and throws away the key.”
Mina shook her head. “Only one of them confronted us and shot Austin. I don’t think he can blame the second one for Ferguson’s crime.”
“We’ll see. I hope they both go to perdition.” Spuds was plenty mad, too.
They reached home with a lot of bouncing across the meadow. The sun was a little past overhead so the time must be after twelve noon. She wasn’t wearing her lapel watch so she had no idea of the exact time.
When they’d reached the house, Buck pulled as close as possible to the front door and set the brake.
Mina smoothed a hand across Austin’s brow. “How are you going to get him into the house and to our bed?”
Buck shook his head. “I can’t carry him that far. He’s a big fella.”
“I know he’s too big for one man to carry without hurting him. Is there a wide board in the barn that’s long enough? Or an old door would be good. No, it wouldn’t fit through the house doorways, would it?”
“Let me look and see what I can find quickly. I wish Chico and Dusty would come in. Two of us could get Austin to his bed without killing him.” Buck hurried toward the barn.
She held the slicker up to shade Austin while they waited but looked at Spuds. “Do you have any idea where Dusty and Chico are today?”
“Not precisely. If there’s only three going out then they rotate staying here, see. Austin doesn’t like them going out alone. This is Buck’s turn. I’ll try signaling them by firing into the air three times. If they’re close enough to hear, that’ll bring them fast.”
Spuds fired three times into the air. He waited a few minutes and repeated the action. “If they’re close, they’ll be here soon.”
Buck came from the barn carrying a door. “Couldn’t find a likely board. Took the tack room closet door off its hinges so we can use it. It’s narrow and will go through the other doorways.” He leaned the door against the side of the wagon.
Mina knelt over Austin. “He needs help. Buck, will you go for the doctor right away? He’s losing a lot of blood.”
He untied Star from the wagon. “I’ll ride your horse and go now.” He rode toward town.
Spuds went inside and came back out a few minutes later. “I turned down the bed so all we have to do is slide him on it.”
“We don’t even know if the doctor is in his office. He might be making a house call somewhere else in the county.”
Spuds examined the wound. “Can you sew up this hole?”
“M-Maybe, but there’s a bigger one in his back. I’ll do my best.” She couldn’t stop the tears streaming from her eyes. “We have to do something. We can’t let him bleed to death.”
Dusty and Chico came into the yard at a gallop. They were off their horses in a flash.
Dusty looked at Austin then at Mina. She recognized the question in his eyes.
She brushed tears her cheeks then shook her head. “That miner, Ferguson.” She explained again what had happened and that Buck had gone for the doctor and to report to the sheriff.
Chico shook his head. “Ayii, I was afraid something like this would happen. Now more shooting will follow. If those other ranchers hear about this, they will attack and kill the miners.”
Mina regretted the hate she felt but was unable to think compassionately about the guilty miner. “Right now I don’t care what happens to that Ferguson. Even if Ferguson didn’t intend to hit Austin, he shouldn’t have ridden over to confront us and point the rifle at him.”
She brushed away more tears and gestured to the door. “Buck got this door from the tack room so you can use it to carry Austin to the bed.”
Mina climbed out of the wagon. “Moving him will hurt him but we have to get him inside out of the sun. The bullet went clear through. I’m sure he needs fresh pads on both the wounds.”
The two cowboys removed the side from the wagon bed nearest the house. Carefully, they scooted Austin onto the narrow door.
She gasped and her legs almost gave way when she saw the wide swath of blood on the wagon and door where he’d been scooted. She grabbed the wagon to brace herself.
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
