“Good morning. Dr. Higgins, I can sit with her while you rest,” Bronnah offers.
“Mrs. Rivers, you are a Godsend, any doctor would be thrilled to have such skilled help.” Dr. Higgins climbs slowly to his feet and hesitates as he looked at his patient. “The morphine isn’t working very well, she’s due for another dose in about thirty minutes.”
“I understand, how’s her respiration?” Bronnah asked, looking over at her with a critical eye. Eve groans and thrashes about in her sleep
“Rapid, I’m afraid. The lungs were damaged in the explosion. Infection is already setting in.” He stifles a yawn and smiles at Bronnah. “If you’re sure you don’t mind, I could use some sleep before seeing to my other patients.”
“It’s the least I can do, your family has been so kind. I’ll send for you if there are any changes in her condition.”
“Excellent, her bandages will need to be removed and fresh ones applied soon, followed by another ice bath to keep her pain at bay.” Bronnah walks him to the door.
“I’ll see to it. Go rest, while you can.”
"Yes, thank you," he hurries from the room, and Bronnah turns to look at Eve. She's sleeping fitfully on her back. Her breathing is rapid with short, wheezy, breaths laced with moans of pain. Bronnah glares at her and struggles to find sympathy for the woman who tried to destroy her future. During the last few days, she had avoided Eve as she nursed and helped where she could with the injured in town. Now, staring at Eve, her hands tremble with barely restrained rage. Bowing her head, she prays to ease the fury in her heart and asked for mercy for the injured. She stops short of offering her forgiveness.
Bandages are covering the rippled, red scars and blisters, but it's the morphine that allows Eve to rest. Unfortunately, it requires a higher dosage each day. Her movement grows more restless as the medicine begins to wear off.
A soft knock has Bronnah looking up in surprise as the Sheriff smiles.
Not him again, inwardly Bronnah sighs.
"Good Morning, Mrs. Rivers, I need to ask you some questions." Sheriff Rex is beginning to annoy her. He's been hanging around the past two days hoping to interview Chase and Eve.
“I’m not sure now is the time, Sheriff Rex,” she turns back to check on Eve who is moaning and thrashing again.
With a snarl he steps behind her, only to freeze at the deadly calm voice behind him.
“What do you think you’re doing,” Chase asks with narrowed eyes. Bronnah whirls and finds them squaring up. Both men stand eye to eye and if they fight it will not be pretty.
“Mr. Rivers, as I have said for the past two days,” the Sheriff starts to say, but Chase interrupts him.
“Marshall Rivers.”
“Right, Marshall. I have some questions for your wife. The Doctor said she was friends with the burned girl.”
“No. Bronnah said she met her once, not that they were friends.”
“Well, I’m sure you understand that we need to interview your wi…”
“No. As soon as my wife is well enough to travel, we will be heading home to Wyoming. I’m sure you understand she wants to forget about this and heal.”
“Chase, I can speak with the Sheriff. Let him ask his questions, I have nothing to hide,” Bronnah insists.
"Fine, but if I don't like where this is going, I'm calling it." Inwardly the Sheriff is jubilant, but externally he doesn't show it.
“I understand. How did you know the victim?” Sheriff Rex avoids looking at the burned girl.
“Well, as I’ve explained on two separate occasions now, we met at a hotel in New York. She was working for the matrimonial company. Her job was to make the young women presentable. That’s it, Sheriff. I don’t know anything about her except that she provided a drug which was used to make the women more receptive.”
“I see, and this drug, did she give it to you?”
“What does that have ta do with the train wreck?” Bronnah stands and faces him while Chase grins in appreciation. The poor fool has no clue what he is getting into.
“Mrs. Rivers, if that is your name, you have clearly stated you were with a matrimonial company and using medication, so your word is…”
"We're finished, Sheriff" Bronnah snaps. "Your line of questioning is irrelevant to the train wreck. My past and choices since coming to America are none of your concern." Chase steps behind his wife and glares at him.
“I certainly understand if you are overwhelmed by the past few days. If you can think of anything to add to the investigation, please let me know.” He excuses himself from the room and stomps to his horse.
Chase glanced down at Bronnah who is rubbing her neck. “You missed lunch,” he holds out a cup of hot coffee and hands her a biscuit. “Dr. Higgins is still sleeping. Has she spoken?” He asked sipping on his black coffee.
“Thank you.” She drinks and eats the biscuit. “No, just moaning.” Bronnah stares at Eve and her coffee cup trembles in her hand. Rage flutters through her mind as she remembers each of the girls she managed to rescue.
Chase nods and glanced at her. His messages to the U.S. Marshall's office and one to his family were sent earlier in the week. It's time to go home, but first, he needs to interview Eve.
“I need to question her, Bronnah.”
“Get in line, Chase.” Realizing how she sounds she whispered, “Forgive me, she should wake up soon. What
