Chase watches Bronnah tend to the woman who tried to destroy her future, and he's struck with pride for her. Her heart is as beautiful as she is, and it will be an honor to claim it for himself. He grins, and she looks up at him and is shocked to see a beautiful smile.
“What?”
“I’ll tell you later,” he replies as the doctor pulls his wagon down a dirt road to a large two-story home in town.
"Let me just warn my wife," the doctor climbs down slowly and hurries inside as Chase leaps down and lifts Bronnah to the ground. Bronnah stares at him, getting a clearer glimpse of him for the first time and she's shocked by his condition. His hands are cut and bloody from the glass he scrambled across to get to her.
"Chase! Your hands are…" he stops her by pressing a soft kiss to her mouth. A sweet, gentle kiss that is nearly her undoing.
"You can tend to my wounds later. We are safe, and that's all that matters now."
Dr. Higgins returns with his wife at his side. “Mr. and Mrs. Rivers please meet my wife. Anna Higgins.” Anna is tiny at less than five feet tall, with dark brown hair and kind chocolate eyes.
“Welcome. Please come inside. We will get you cleaned up and fed.” Bronnah smiles as she gently guides them inside.
“I’ll help carry the patient inside. You go with Mrs. Higgins,” Chase tells hers.
“Thank you,” Bronnah is too tired to argue. Her muddy dried dress is hardening, and every bone in her body is hurting.
The next few hours pass in a flurry of activity. Mrs. Higgins is as good as her word. The large farmhouse has two bathing rooms, and they fill both bathtubs quickly for them to clean up.
Two of their daughters are ready to help. One readies the guest room while Anna helps Bronnah. “Did you have any bags with you?”
“Bags?” No! Bronnah’s hand flies to her mouth as she remembers the ledger. “All the baggage was burned with the car which contained it. The rest is resting at the bottom of the river. The destruction was complete.”
Anna comforts her quickly, reassuring her, “Don’t worry, you look to be my daughter’s size. I’m sure we can find something for you to wear while you bathe.”
“Thank you,” Bronnah whispered and follows her into the bathing room to clean up. After a hot soak and scrub, she’s happy to wear a clean dress, though large on her, it feels good. Her ribs are bruised, and she is positive that a corset is out of the question right now.
“If you don’t mind, Mrs. Higgins, I’d like to rest for a little while.” Bronnah is exhausted.
“Of course, the guest room is ready. I’ll show your husband to you after he is fed and cleaned up.”
Bronnah sleeps and dreams fitful dreams of fiery trains, explosions, and drowning. Chase joins her sometime later, and when he wraps his arms around her, she rolls into his chest and sleeps peacefully for a few hours. He watches her sleep grateful to have survived the wreck.
Tomorrow will come soon enough. He sleeps holding her securely against his chest.
Chapter 31
Chase wakes and watches her sleep fitfully. He traces the shape of her shoulder and jaw with his fingertips, and her eyes flutter open. Bronnah gifts him with a sleepy smile, "Good-mornin' handsome."
“Good morning, beautiful,” he replies and kisses her tenderly before climbing from bed to dress. Bronnah leans up to watch him pull on his denims.
“Are ya leavin me then?”
“Not hardly,” he turns to stare at her as he puts on his gun belt. “I have a lot to do.” He sits heavily on the edge of the bed and pulls on his socks and boots before turning to her. “Bronnah, it would make me feel better if you carried this with you at all times.”
Chase hands her a beautiful knife, and she gasps as she takes it. "It's exquisite, Chase. Where did you get it?"
“I’ve had it since I was a child. It was a gift from a friend. It’s carved bone and inlaid with turquoise stones.” Bronnah traces her fingertips over the leather cording, wrapping the handle and notices every detail down to the carved symbols that run beneath the cording.
“I can’t accept this. This is an heirloom,” she pushes it back at him, but he’s shaking his head.
“Bronnah, please keep it in your boot. It would make me feel better knowing you had some way of protecting yourself.” Bronnah smiles softly at him and clutches it to her heart.
“Tell me how you came by this and I will consider it,” she said.
"It was a gift from a gift. My best friend growing up was an Indian in the tribe on our land. My first hunt with the tribe I brought down a bison, and he carved this knife for me from one of the bones. The stones were set by his father, the Chief, and the symbols are supposed to hold a special prayer of protection. It has never failed me and now, I would like to know it's protecting you." Bronnah lets the sheet fall from her body and climbs onto his lap, sighing when he wraps his arms around her.
“I would be honored to carry your knife, Chase.”
“Thank you,” he whispered into her hair.
The next two days pass quickly as they heal and help with the injured and dead. Townspeople open their homes to tend to those who are too injured to travel. They bury the dead and Chase plans while Bronnah assists the doctor.
