Love's Abiding Joy (Love Comes Softly #4)(32)

"Pretty bad," answered Willie, "but not as bad as it will first seem. He took a knock on the head so he ain't conscious jest yet."

"Oh, dear God," whispered Marty, her hand fluttering to her throat, but Willie thought he saw relief showing in her eyes that at least Clark was alive.

"Did ya git the boys?"

"Yes," Willie nodded.

"Thank God," breathed Marty.

Just before the wagon rolled up, Willie placed an arm around each of the women. He wanted just another minute to prepare them.

"Yer pa also has a broken leg," he said to Missie. "We'll need to fix his bed right away. Then fetch some hot water and towels from the kitchen. We want to move him as gentle as we can. Will ya see to it? An', Ma, could ya check to see what we might have around in some disinfectant--he's got some scratches thet we should look after."

With a quick glance toward the now-stopped wagon, the two women ran toward the house to do Willie's bidding. Willie moved forward.

"Quick," he said to Scottie. "I want him in there an' settled 'fore the women . . ." He did not finish. He did not need to. Scottie understood. Lane rushed out to help them, and with the three men manning the makeshift bed, they got Clark to the house. Missie had already turned down the bed in readiness, but just as Willie had hoped, neither of the women were in the room.

The men laid Clark on the bed and removed his shirt. Willie



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found scissors and cut the pant leg from the broken limb. Scottie had removed the shoes and socks.

"We should bundle him warm against shock," said Lane, and Willie reached for a flannel nightshirt which they struggled to slip over Clark's head.

"What we gonna do about thet leg?" It was a question they all had been asking themselves, but it was Lane who finally voiced it.

"For now we'll jest protect it all we can an' let the women see him fer a minute," Willie said.

Marty was the first one through the door. She cried out at the sight of Clark and went to kneel beside him, brushing at the dirt streaks and bloodstains on his pale face and running her fingers through his hair. Willie remained silent for a few minutes and then asked quietly, "Did ya find some disinfectant?"

Marty held up the forgotten bottle.

Missie arrived with a basin of hot water and some towels. Willie took them from her and she rushed forward to kneel by her mother. She lifted one of Clark's limp hands and began to stroke it, willing it to become strong and independent again.

Willie remained silent for a moment and then passed Marty a small towel.

"Ya want to clean up his face some? Make sure thet the water isn't too hot. He won't be able to warn ya, and we don't want a burn."

Marty and Missie both came to life then.

"I'll go fetch a pitcher of cool water," said Missie and fled from the room. Marty turned to the business of cleaning Clark up. She looked at his dirty, blood-caked hands, exclaiming over the bruised knuckles and the palms scratched and dirt-stained. His nails were broken and dirt-filled from digging with his fingers.

"My, they be a mess," said Marty, new calmness in her voice as she set about her task.

Willie sighed with relief and lifted the basin from the chest so that Missie could add the cold water she had just brought into the room.



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The two women soaked and cleansed the damaged hands and then applied the disinfectant that Marty had produced. They wiped his face and found that, except for a couple of minor scratches, there were no open wounds there. Clark did not stir. Willie observed Marty slyly feeling for a pulse and looking relieved when she actually found one. After Willie was sure that the women had spent enough time with Clark to reassure them, he turned to Missie. "I'm gonna have to ask ya fer a favor now. I know thet it'll be hard to leave yer pa, but I do need to ask ya to care fer a few things fer me."

Missie's eyes widened, but she nodded in agreement.

"Some of the boys were out there diggin' most of the afternoon. They're hungry an' Cookie's already cleared away from the last meal. Could you rustle up a bunch of sandwiches an' some hot coffee fer 'em?"

Missie, surprised, hesitated only a moment. She had never been asked to fix anything for the ranch hands before; Cookie always cared for them no matter what time they came in. But she did not question Willie, only moved to obey.

"Do ya mind givin' her a hand?" Willie asked Marty. Marty was about to protest and then rose to her feet. Surely this was not too much for Willie to ask.

"The boys have a shift change soon an' gotta git on out to the cattle," Willie went on.

Marty nodded and moved from the room. Willie quickly left the room and went to the boys' room. Josiah was napping and Nathan was playing quietly. Missie had asked him to go to his room before Clark was carried into the house so the small boy would not be unduly frightened concerning his grandfather.

"Hi, fella," greeted Willie as cheerily as the occasion would allow him. "Would ya mind doin' a little chore fer yer pa?"

"Mama said thet I was to stay here 'til she came for me," answered Nathan. And then in deep seriousness he went on, "Did Grandpa git the boys out, Pa?"

"He sure 'nough did," answered Willie, roughing the boy's hair. "But I need ya now. I'll tell yer ma thet I had a job fer ya.