Standing in the morning sun on the banks of an unnamed river, Bronnah's smile could rival the dawn. "Aye, I'll marry you, Chase Rivers," she sobs and throws herself into his loving arms. Chase lifts her from her feet, oblivious to the noise around them. His kiss holds the promise of a lifetime of joy, passion, and dedication.
Chapter 30
"She's alive!" A female voice screams out, drawing their attention. Chase slowly lowers her to her feet, and they turn to watch two men drag a female body from the edge of the river to the shore.
“Let me through,” a doctor ordered. He drops to his knees beside the Asian female and flinches. “Dear God, half her body is burned.” What once was a silk dress, is now melted into her scarred body. Rippled flesh and silk are now part of her skin.
“No,” Bronnah utters. Panic sets in and she whirls around to face Chase. “That’s the women who drugged me. We need to go now!” She grabs his hand and drags him when he stops, she releases his grip and keeps going.
Chase follows quickly, grabbing her by the shoulders.
“I need to question her, Bronnah.”
"No, she doesn't work alone, Chase. If she's here, there may be more of them. We have to go!"
“I need to question her and find out. You don’t have to come with me.”
Bronnah glances back at Eve. When she starts to scream, Bronnah gasps in horror and turns away from the sight of Eve's badly burned body. Her beautiful black hair is completely burnt off on one side of her head, leaving only hot red ripples of flesh. One-half of her face and body is completely melted, and she is trying to scream through half-melted lips.
"I'm not leaving you," she snaps.
"That's my girl." He takes her hand, and they hurry back to the doctor.
Bronnah moves closer and Eve reaches out a hand to her.
“Hep... me…” Eve groans.
“Do you know her?” The doctor asked as he demands blankets to cover her with.
“Only by her first name, Eve.”
“Eve, can you hear me?” The doctor asked, laying a woolen blanket over her body. The moment it touches her body a guttural scream of agony rips from her melted mouth. Immediately they remove the blanket and the doctor snaps. “Bring me some morphine.”
“Please, Chase, can we go?” Bronnah turns into his arms.
He squeezes her arms gently and pulls her away carefully. “You go with the Higgins family and get cleaned up. I will join you as soon as I can.” Bronnah is shaking her head no before he finishes his sentence.
“I’ve already told you, I’m not leaving you,” she snaps.
“I want to question her, Bronnah. It won’t be pretty. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Of course. Get to work Marshall,” she pushes him away. “I will continue helping with the wounded. I am a trained nurse.” Chase doesn’t argue as she returns to the doctor.
“Eve, take this,” Dr. Higgins offers the morphine.
Eve moans and thrashes about pushing at his hand shoving the morphine away. “No! Drops! Where… drops?” She groans.
“What is she talking about?” The doctor asked Bronnah.
Bronnah frowns, "I believe she's talking about Opium. I don't know her very well, and the only time I did know her, she was supplying opium."
The doctor frowns, “Well, I don’t have that in my bag, I can assure you.” Eve moans and tries desperately to sit up and crawl away.
"Give me the medicine, I can get her to take it," Bronnah demands. The doctor hands it over, and they sit back to watch. Bronnah balls the small bottle up in her hand and leans over Eve.
“Miss Eve, look, I found your drops.” She holds the bottle over her nose and Eve stops moving and glares at it with wild eyes.
“Drops!” she mumbles and reaches for them. Bronnah gently pushes her hand away.
“I can help, open up,” Eve sobs out but does as asked. Bronnah drops two full droppers of morphine and looked at the doctor who nods.
“That will help calm her, I’ll get a stretcher, so we can get her out of here.” Dr. Higgins leaves quickly, and Chase drops beside them.
“Eve, I have some questions to ask you.” Eve moans and closes her eyes turning her face away from him.
“Jonas? Where’s …Jonas?” she murmurs.
“Who’s Jonas?” Bronnah asked.
"Ch…Chen sent him," Eve opens her eyes and stares at Bronnah, fully lucid for a moment. "I killed them all, and I kill you!" Eve lunges at Bronnah, and Bronnah leaps backward away from her. "Kill you! Die!"
When Chase pushes her back down, she screams out in pain just as the doctor returns. “Damn, keep her still! Eve, this is going to hurt, but we are taking you to safety.”
Chase pulls Bronnah out of the way as Eve murmurs, "No… such… thing," she murmurs, and her words begin to slur as the morphine hits her.
A makeshift stretcher is placed beside her and when they lift her onto it, Eve screams. It echoes out, sending birds scattering to the sky. When Eve passes out from the pain, it's a relief to all trying to help her.
“I’m taking her to my home,” the Doctor states.
“Doc, I am a U.S. Marshall. This woman is a witness in a Federal case, I need to question her,” Chase demands.
“Then come with us, but I warn you, she must remain calm.” They both nod and follow quietly behind them. After they load her in a wagon, it's a long and strenuous ride back to town. Eve wakes up twice screaming, only to faint from the extreme pain. Bronnah is struck by sympathy for this creature,
