Love on the Range (Brothers in Arms #3)(50)
If ever there were people who knew what it was to have trouble with a father, it was this group.
Rachel had stirred when they were lifting her out of the wagon. She insisted on walking up to bed on her own. Falcon humored her until her knees gave out, then he carried her upstairs. Cheyenne had gone up with him, and Molly followed. Cheyenne and Falcon went back down, and Win came up. She stayed with Rachel while Molly decided what needed doing and went downstairs for supplies, only to face a formidable group all lined up.
Kevin, whom she trusted completely, which made her years of lying worse because he deserved better. But honestly her deepest lie was in part to protect him.
Falcon, a wild man, the easiest going of the group, or it might be more accurate to say he was the one who didn’t let much upset him. He’d also be the first to tear someone’s throat out.
Cheyenne, a dangerous woman, and that’s what Molly liked best about her, since she seemed to be on the same side as Molly.
And Wyatt. As soon as she stepped in the kitchen, Wyatt said, “I want to see your arm and hear what Hawkins did to you. Now.”
Giving in, since she had little choice, she said, “I’ve got a dress with buttoned cuffs on the sleeves. I can push those sleeves up high enough. I feel ashamed that he hurt me, and my impulse is not to talk about it. Pretend it didn’t happen. But I will. I know this isn’t my fault. I’ll run up and change.”
She was back in a few moments, wearing her blue calico dress sprinkled with white flowers. She came into the room to find them all standing there, muttering to each other. No doubt planning to bury Mr. Hawkins—no, Hawkins, his mister days were over.
They all turned, four in a row, to face her when she came in.
Cheyenne with her arms crossed, angry on Molly’s behalf. Wyatt with his fists clenched, with only one person he wanted to punch. Falcon with both hands shoved in his front pockets. Looking mild mannered, a complete deception. Kevin, his lips moving silently, she hoped it was in prayer. This mess could use some prayer.
“It just happened this morning, and he’s never put his hands on me before,” Molly said. “I can tell you straight out, I was holding a heavy glass pitcher of water in my hands when he grabbed my arm, and I was fully prepared to smash him over the head with it if he didn’t let go.”
She’d left the buttons of her sleeve undone. She slowly rolled it up, revealing a bruise just above her elbow. Black in the exact shape of Hawkins’s fingers. The skin so swollen it was shiny. Four curved slits had broken the skin. They oozed clear liquid. No blood but they were ugly.
Cheyenne growled. Kevin gasped. Falcon’s eyes narrowed. Wyatt took two long strides to reach her and gently cradled her arm. His hands, so much bigger than Hawkins’s, so much stronger, and yet Wyatt had never touched her except with gentleness.
“It looks awful, doesn’t it?” She’d seen it while changing, and frankly, she’d been shocked.
“I’m going to kill him.” Wyatt slid one hand gently over the ugly bruise.
“Let’s see if we can hang him instead. I’d like the law to handle this.” Molly spoke lightly, hoping to calm Wyatt’s savage anger.
“It looks worse than awful.” Cheyenne’s lips formed a grim line. “You’re the doctor. Is there anything we can do to treat this? Or at least reduce the pain?”
“I’ll put some ice on it later. I need to see to Rachel.”
“Win is with her. Let’s get that ice on it now.” Wyatt let her go. “I’ll get it.” He turned and ran outside.
Kevin was next. He slid an arm around her waist. “Molly, tell us what happened. Are there other bruises? Did you fight him? Did he try—try to—to . . .” Kevin gave her a helpless, furious look.
Molly was glad Win was out of the room. This was hard enough to talk about without her knowing her father had done it.
Wyatt came storming back in with what looked like a snowball, which was a pretty good idea.
Cheyenne got a towel. Wyatt put the snow in the towel and spread it into a flat layer. He folded the towel over the snow.
As they worked, Molly said, “He grabbed me but nothing more, which doesn’t mean I need more than this to judge him as a brute. There are no more bruises, but believe me, this one is enough.”
She thought of how Hawkins had begun to talk to her before Kevin and Win came in. She didn’t mention that.
“After he released me, I went and changed my dress because I wanted one with pockets so I could hide those envelopes I found.” She’d told them how she’d found them in the safe. “I’d stuck them under the dresser in his room when I heard him coming. When I changed, I saw that my upper arm was red and swollen. The bruise hadn’t started to form yet. I was already disgusted with him and frightened of him before I saw how much damage he’d done. I’d already decided not to spend one more night in that house. I intended to leave, whether Kevin and Win had come or not.”
She looked at Kevin. “But you came at just the right time. Delivered to me by our faithful heavenly Father. Just as Wyatt came in earlier and lured him away to give me a chance to find that safe in his room.”
Wyatt brought the wrapped snow pack to her and pressed it around the bruising until her arm was wrapped. Only then did she realize her arm wasn’t just sore, it was hot.
“That really helps.” She looked up and met his eyes. “I-I think I’d like to sit for a while and let the ice soothe the pain. Then there’s so much to do. I need to get dinner and see to Rachel, then—”