“He’s about to blow, Eli, and I don’t blame him. She’s beat up, scratched and bruised, not to mention the headache. It’s a miracle he got to her before the train.”
“Train?” Bubba asks hoarsely. Guilt is pushing him hard. He should have stayed to make sure she was safe.
“I’ll explain in a minute, Bubba. Can she be moved after Doc? I’m taking her home with me. Bubba brought a carriage to make the ride home comfortable.”
“I suppose so. Once you get her settled, someone has to sit with her for the next few hours to keep her awake. It’s not safe for her to sleep just yet.”
“I don’t think he’ll leave her willingly, Doc,” Eli explains.
“Yeah, I figured as much. The silent ones worry me more than the ones who rage.”
“I know what you mean. I, myself, find it healthier to pound out my frustrations. I may have to let him do that before we leave,” Eli grins.
“I prefer whiskey,” Doc snaps.
Mrs. Stanton checks her bandage and steps out to get a clean dressing. “I’ll be right back.”
Dayton sits quietly, staring at her. Savannah turns her head to look at him and frowns. “You don’t have to stay, I’m fine alone.”
“You don’t look fine to me,” Dayton grumbles and softens his tone as a tear breaks free from the corner of her eye and rolls back into her hair.
“Thank you for noticing,” she teases.
“I notice everything about you, Miss Ward, I always have,” Dayton utters.
Savannah turns to look at him in surprise. “What?”
Mrs. Stanton returns, “She’s ready.” Doctor Stanton walks in behind his wife.
“Mr. Patrick you sit behind her and wrap your arms around her,” Dr. Stanton says. Dayton climbs behind her and pulls her back against his warm body.
“My Daddy is going to kill you, Dayton,” Savannah giggles.
“Maybe so Miss Ward, but I will die knowing what it feels like to hold heaven in my arms.” He presses a kiss to her temple.
Mrs. Stanton looks at her husband and wipes a tear from her eye.
A few minutes later, Eli jumps when Savannah starts screaming. She begs and pleads for Dayton to help her before finally succumbing to the pain and blacking out.
Eli accepts the shot of whiskey from Mrs. Stanton with a trembling hand and shoots it back. Bubba paces and runs a hand over his face. Guilt is pressing him hard.
Dayton explodes from the room, “I’m going to kill him...” only to be stopped by Eli. “That’s the second time you’ve stopped me,” Dayton shouts and shoves Eli, rocking him back on his heels.
“Dang, Kentucky, you’re stronger than you look,” Eli blocks him again from leaving.
“Move,” Dayton snarls.
“No, Savannah…”
“Don’t say her name again,” Dayton barks and stares at Eli, taking in his size, he’s big and muscular. “I may be smaller than you, but I guarantee you will wish you’d not stopped me if you don’t step aside.”
Eli stops smiling, “She’s not the only one he hurt, Mr. Patrick. He hurt my fiancé and her three-year-old son before going after Savannah.”
Bubba growls, “I have information you may need.”
Both men stop moving as they listen to Bubba tell how he met Savannah earlier that day.
“He said that he was her husband?” Eli gasps.
“Yep. I didn’t believe it. She insisted that he wasn’t,” Bubba growls.
“Talk, Patrick! Why is this man trying to kill, Savannah?” Eli shouts.
Dayton’s hands are shaking from holding Savannah. He’ll never forget the sound of her screaming and pleading with him to help her. “It’s complicated,” he says hoarsely.
Mrs. Stanton rushes back out, “Dayton, both of you stop acting the fool! Drink this!” She offers him a shot of whiskey to settle his nerves.
“Thank you,” Dayton shoots the drink back and glares at Eli.
“See to Savannah. She’s had a rough time of it, and right now she takes precedence,” Mrs. Stanton pleads.
“Forgive me. I’m not sure what’s got into me,” Dayton says glancing back at the room when he hears her soft weeping.
“Just what is your relationship to Savannah?” Eli demands.
“It’s complicated,” Dayton retorts.
“Savannah’s asking for you Dayton,” Mrs. Stanton calls saving him from having to answer.
“I’m taking Savannah back to my farm, Mr. Patrick. Until you answer my questions, you’re welcome to stay with us. We have plenty of room and Savannah will recover better in a place that she’s familiar with.”
Dayton looks up in surprise. “Don’t look at me like that,” Eli snaps. “We are… friends, of a sort.” Eli steps closer to Dayton, “I don’t know if he’s the only one after Savannah, and I can’t protect her here. No one will get near her on my farm.”
“I agree.” Relief flickers through Dayton’s soul, “Again, thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet, Kentucky, I have a lot of questions that I expect answers to.”
“I’ll wait outside until she’s ready,” Bubba offers.
Dayton returns to her room and greets the Doctor. “She’s feeling better now, the morphine’s kicking in. If you’re going to move her, take these drops with you, and she can have a few more in four hours. I’ll be by the farm tomorrow to check on her recovery. The arm is in a sling. Don’t let her remove it. It needs to rest and heal.”
“I can hear you know,” Savannah slurs.
Mrs. Stanton smiles and washes the tears from her face with a clean cloth. “Just rest now,” she tells her and covers her with the blanket.
“Good, then your ears are working,” Doc Stanton says patting her hand. “Be a good patient and let them spoil you. The Irwin’s are good people.”
“I know. Oliver was shot, you know,” Savannah says softly, “Six times in the chest. I couldn’t save him, Doc. Why couldn’t I save him?” she wonders.
Doc blanches and
