Becoming Calder (A Sign of Love Novel)(91)

My arms were released and I rushed forward to Xander, kneeling down in the dirt beside him. "Hey, brother," I said gently, "let's get you off here."
Xander grimaced as I began to untie the rope binding his wrists. "Fuck me, it hurts, Calder," Xander grunted. He must have been in excruciating pain because I had never once heard him use the obscenity some of the people who came from the big society let slip once in a while.
I let out a breath, working the knot as gently as I could, so I moved Xander as little as possible. "Why didn't you let me pull him off you?" I asked, not able to keep the bitterness from my voice.
"He would have just whipped you, too. And then probably locked you up."
"I would have taken it."
"I know," Xander said as the rope came free and he fell forward, using his palms to brace himself on the ground. "Whatever I have—"
"That's right." I pulled Xander up to his feet and took his arm and put it around my shoulders, so he could lean on me to walk.
"He got our money. Every cent of it," Xander said, his voice hollow. "The only thing I was able to push out of the way as I reached in was the bag of clothes. I told him there was a nest of snakes that lived under our house and that I couldn't remember which floorboard it was under. That's the only reason he didn't reach in himself. Coward. And hypocrite, he stuffed the rest of the cash in his pocket. I doubt if he's even going to mention it to Hector."
My heart fell at the news that our money was gone. But talking about it was the last thing Xander needed. "Is there a nest of snakes that live under your house?" I asked, trying to distract him as we made our way to the sick tent.
Xander glanced at me. "No. A few mice, but thank the gods they were moving around when Clive was there or else he'd have gotten our clothes, too."
I couldn't help it, I laughed. "What are we gonna do with the clothes, without the money?"
"We're gonna walk out of here, that's what."
I considered that. I thought we might have to, considering how close the date of my wedding to Hannah was, and now that our thievery had been discovered, but it was far from the way we'd originally planned it. Dread settled in my stomach. We'd be leaving with absolutely nothing except the clothes on our backs—clothes that would blend in in normal society, true. So I guessed there was that. I felt like I might be sick.
We got to the sick tent and I helped Xander to one of the clean cots and he lay down on his stomach. There was a small cabinet I knew from being there with Maya over the years that had bandaging supplies. I hoped Mother Willa would arrive soon with the pain medicine she'd given me for my legs, but for now, I'd have to do what I could for Xander.
As I washed his wounds with a cloth and clean water, I talked to distract him. Even so, each time I brought the water to his back, he winced and grimaced.
"Remember that time you gave me chicken pox?" I asked.
Xander snorted. "You gave me chicken pox." He smiled a small smile as I wrung the cloth out, the water turning red.
"And the worst part about it," he continued, "is I only had about six of them and you were covered, and I'm the one who got a scar." He tapped his finger on the small, round divot next to his eyebrow.
I laughed softly, bringing the cloth to his back again. He winced.
"As soon as you're ready to leave the sick tent," I said, "you can do that stupid bird call and we'll meet Eden at the spring. We'll have to wing it." Fear raced down my spine at not being able to guarantee I could keep Eden safe and fed.
"Stupid?" Xander's eyes began to close. "That bird call is perfection. Other nighthawks can't even tell I'm not one of their own."
I chuckled, patting Xander's back dry with a clean cloth.
"Will you go get those clothes, Calder? My parents will be out on the perimeter right now. I think we should keep them in here with us so we don't have to go back there." A sad note came into his voice when he mentioned his parents. I frowned. We were men, but we'd never been away from them a day in our lives. And this would break their hearts. But with what was happening in Acadia, I had to believe it would do everyone good if we'd leave. Of course, Eden was another story altogether.
My thoughts were interrupted when Mother Willa bustled through the door. I stood up. She looked at me and walked to the cot where Xander lay, now drowsing. I nodded at her. She obviously didn't need any instruction.
"Xander, I'm gonna make a trip to the outhouse. I'll be back."
Xander made a soft, half-grunt, half-snore.
As I passed her, Mother Willa grabbed my arm. Her eyes looked misty, unfocused, and something about them sent fear swirling in my belly.