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She doesn’t make it easy. Yet I’m up for the challenge.
~ Seth
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SETH’S HEART RACED faster than his feet as he wove through the underbrush back to camp. Had Mrs. Gray burned herself? Been bitten by a snake?
It wasn’t like her to show weakness, which meant her scream had to be caused by more than dropping a log on her foot.
As he neared camp, he could see her form bent over, her son kneeling beside her.
Urgency propelled him faster. His breath came in short gasps as he pulled up beside them. “What happened?”
Andy whirled around, panic in his eyes. “Ma burned herself.”
Seth dropped to his knees by her other side, resting a hand on her shoulder as he took in the damage. She clutched her right wrist, the flesh of that hand an angry red.
“My hand slipped on the pot. Poured boiling water on me.” Her words ground between clenched teeth.
He’d been burned before—knew well the searing ache that could take a man to his knees—but he’d never experienced anything as bad as this. The flesh of her entire hand was raw.
He turned to Andy. “Go to the creek and get my big pot. Fill it with water. Quick.” The icy mountain water would be the best thing for her.
The boy leaped to his feet and tore off.
Seth refocused on the woman, his stomach roiling at the sight of her hand. He took her arm and pulled it toward him. She gave stiffly, releasing her grip on her wrist.
“Is your sleeve wet?” If the cloth held burning water against her skin, the damage could be getting worse. He touched the cloth to see for himself. Not damp. It looked like the searing water had only reached the edge of her palm.
She sniffed, drawing his gaze up to her face. Her eyes were rimmed in red, her nose bright. Yet no tears ran down her cheeks.
A tight knot squeezed in his chest. She shouldn’t have to fight to be so strong all the time. How could he let her know she was safe? She could let her guard down when she needed to. Did she ever cry? His mother once said tears were healing for a woman. Maybe if he could help her release her grief, she could start to heal from whatever pain she’d endured in her past.
He leaned forward so he could see her face. “What’s your given name, Mrs. Gray?”
Her gaze jerked to his. “Rachel.”
He had a feeling she wouldn’t have shared that detail if she were thinking straight, but he was thankful she had.
The loud tromping of Andy’s boots through the underbrush sounded as he ran toward them, water sloshing from the pot. His appearance interrupted what Seth had planned to say, but that might be for the best. Rachel needed relief from the pain more than anything.
He set the pot down in front of her, and she dipped her hand in the water. She gasped as her skin touched the liquid, but then her mouth closed to a thin line, the muscles in her jaw flexing.
“I’m going to roll up your sleeve to get it out of the way.” He reached for her cotton cuff, his fingers large and stubby against her thin arm.
“What’s happened?” Samuel’s step was almost as heavy as the boy’s as he and Elias charged toward them.
Rachel stiffened again, squaring her shoulders. “All is well. Just a burn.” Her voice was still strained, but more like her normal, no-nonsense tone.
Seth sent his brother a look that revealed more of the truth, and when Samuel stepped close enough to see her hand glaring at them from under the water, he winced. “Ow.”
Even Elias grimaced at the sight. “We’re gonna need to wrap that. I’ve a salve we can put on it to keep it from festering. I’ll fetch it.”
As he left, Seth glanced at Rachel’s face again. “Any better?”
“Some.” Her expression didn’t look as certain as she made her voice sound.
He scanned for something else they could do to ease the pain. “Maybe you should go to the stream where the water stays cold. That might numb the pain.”
She nodded, started to rise without a word, water dripping from her hand.
He took her elbow to help her up, and she didn’t jerk away. He made sure he released her as soon as she found her balance. He wouldn’t force her to accept his help. He’d just take it a little step at a time.
After she knelt by the stream and eased her hand into the water, she let out a long, slow exhale. Red rimmed her pretty green eyes, but then she lowered her eyelids and sealed them away. She seemed to be forcing deep, steady breaths, which was the best way to deal with pain. How much practice had she been required to endure?
“You feelin’ better, Ma?”
She opened her eyes and turned a strained smile to her son. “I am. I’ll be fine, honey.”
The boy’s throat worked, but he didn’t look convinced. Smart lad.
Rachel seemed to see it, too, for she leaned over to pat his arm with her good hand. “Go eat the flapjacks Mr. Grant made, then saddle the horses. I’ll pack our things, then we’ll be ready to leave when the men are.”
At least she’d finally consented to eat the food he cooked for them. But they weren’t going anywhere until her hand was cared for and some of the pain eased.
Andy didn’t move to obey his mother’s words, and a glance at him showed his jaw locked. “I’ll stay here in case you need me.”
A boy trying his best to be the man his mother needed. A lump clogged in Seth’s throat. These two shouldn’t have to work so hard to survive.
He rested a hand on Andy’s shoulder. “She’s gonna be fine. But it’ll be good to have you nearby.”
The boy nodded, his gaze raising to Seth in begrudging thanks.
Elias appeared through the trees, a glass jar and a folded cloth in his hands. He handed the container to Seth. “You might wanna do this, my hands are all bent up from the rheumatis’ this mornin’.”
Seth’s breath hitched. He wanted to help Rachel, but touching her burned flesh would be painful, no matter how gentle he was.
Rachel withdrew her hand from the water as he reached for it, a hard expression taking over her face. She dabbed the water on her skirt to dry it, and he could almost feel the tension emanating from her. Yet she didn’t cry out, didn’t break her stony look. This woman was stronger than steel.
After opening the jar, he took her cool wrist in his big paw and dabbed dots of the white cream around her hand. With the pad of his finger he spread a thick coat of salve with his lightest touch, doing his best to not even brush her raw skin. He didn’t dare look at her face. Pain surely showed there. Looking at this angry flesh was hard enough.
“Now let’s wrap it.” His voice pitched low and gravely, but at least he got the words out.
Elias handed over the ball of cloth, and Seth shifted it to find the loose end. He placed the edge at Rachel’s wrist, where she held it in place with her good hand. Their fingers brushed as she took his place with the fabric. The contact sent a jolt up to his shoulder, even though he was already touching her arm as he supported it.
Maybe his awareness of her was solely because of her injury. He’d better keep it that way. She clearly wouldn’t have him, whether he was interested or not.
The bandage was long enough to wrap her hand completely, and within minutes, the limb was fully covered in a white glove. He swathed each finger individually to keep the skin from rubbing. After tying the end in place, he straightened and finally checked her face.
Her eyes were bloodshot, and her nose a bright red, but no tears washed her cheeks. She seemed to be holding them back by sheer force of will, if her locked jaw was any indication.
“I know that hurts, but we should keep it covered a few days in case it blisters.” He rubbed his thumb across her wrist, relishing the contact one last time before he released her.
She nodded and sniffed. “I’ll be fine.” And if determination alone could make her well, she would accomplish it.
He forced his gaze away from her to Elias. “Is there anything else we can do?”
The older man shook his head. “She just needs time to heal. You young fellers wanna stay around these parts today? We can hit the trail again come mornin’.”
Seth opened his mouth to agree, but Rachel shook her head violently. “No. We ride on. I won’t slow you down.”
This woman was too stubborn for her own good. He raised his brows to Elias, silently asking what he thought they should do.
His mouth puckered in a thoughtful frown as he looked at Rachel. “I suppose. But you have to promise to speak up if you get to hurtin’ too bad.”
They both looked at her, and she met their gazes with a fierce expression. She didn’t answer, and it didn’t look as if she planned to say anything at all.
So he prompted. “Rachel?” They weren’t leaving until she gave her word.
She narrowed flashing eyes at him. “Mrs. Gray.”
He almost ducked at the venom in her voice. Apparently, sharing her given name had been an act of weakness during her trauma. “My apologies. Mrs. Gray....” He emphasized her name. “Can we have your word you’ll tell us if your hand hurts too badly to keep going?”
“You have it.” Her words came out measured, as though forced through gritted teeth.
He let out a breath and sat back on his heels. “All right then. I guess let’s get on the trail.”
But as they packed up and mounted the animals, he couldn’t shake the feeling they were making a mistake.
~ ~ ~
RACHEL MAY HAVE GIVEN her word to speak up if her hand hurt too badly, but they’d not detailed what too badly meant. Her hand had felt like someone peeled the skin off her flesh ever since those first moments when the pain sank over her.
And it wasn’t getting any better as the day progressed.
She rode sandwiched between Andy’s mare in front of her and Seth Grant’s gelding behind, with his brother bringing up the rear. Thankfully, the ground wasn’t particularly rough or high up the mountainside, although she probably wouldn’t have noticed the scenery with her eyes half shut against the pain. The throbbing had moved into her head, too, and every step Winter took seemed to explode inside her.
But she wouldn’t call a halt. Not unless she lost all consciousness. And she wouldn’t do that either.
When they stopped for lunch, she kept herself apart from the others. Andy looked worried, and she did her best to reassure him. Seth sent more scrutinizing glances her way than she liked. That man had a way of looking into her that made her feel as though he was seeing her vulnerable places. The things she did her best to hide. Could he see the depth of her pain even now?
If so, he didn’t say anything. He did hold Winter’s head when she mounted, and she didn’t tell him to step away. It was hard enough to climb on the horse without touching anything with her right hand. If the gelding had stepped forward during the process, she might have ended up flat on the ground.
“All set?” Seth looked up at her after she adjusted the reins. Worry lines creased under his eyes. Eyes that seemed to care far too much.
She did her best to give him a confident look. “I am.” She’d do this, no matter what it took.
They started off, winding up a rocky trail. The sun beat warmer than it had the past few days, making beads of sweat run down her face. More perspiration seeped down her back beneath the folds of her undergarments. She squeezed her eyes tight as the swaying of Winter’s gait pounded through her head with every thrum of her pulse.
One minute at a time. She’d make it through this day.
Without warning, the horse jerked sideways. She squealed, jerked the reins with her left and clutched at the saddle with her right. Fire shot through the limb. Her squeal turned to a scream as her fingers seemed to explode into flame. The horse moved out from underneath her, and she lost her balance.
The world tilted as her foot pulled free from the stirrup. She landed with a blow that slammed through her body.
Another explosion ripped through the air like a gunshot, ricocheting inside her head. She curled tight to get away from it, squeezing her eyes against the pain that stole her breath.
Men shouted around her. Hands gripped her arm, her shoulder. Not rough hands, but she could feel the strength in them.
Yet it was Andy’s voice that forced her eyes open.
“Ma!” The desperation in his tone wrapped around her heart with an ache that almost superseded the pain that coursed through the rest of her body.
She searched for him, her gaze swimming as she struggled to right her view of the landscape.
“Are you hurt? Did it bite you?”
She found Andy as he grabbed her good arm. “I’m all right. Not hurt.” Except for the fire in her hand and the pounding in her head. She’d landed on her right side, so she probably hit her injured hand. The appendage felt like it was still drenched in boiling water, so she had no idea if it had sustained more damage.
She pushed her good hand under her and worked to lever herself upright. Strong hands helped lift her, and she knew without looking they belonged to Seth. She could feel his presence anytime he was near.
Sitting upright made her head spin, and she clutched her temple to still the whirling. “Where’s my horse? Is he hurt?” It wasn’t like Winter to bolt like that.
“Samuel has him. Elias shot the snake before it struck.”
She spun to face Seth, but instantly regretted the action as her head throbbed with pain. “Snake?”
His mouth pinched in a grim line as he nodded. “Rattler.”
Her throat clutched, not allowing air through. No wonder Winter had spun off the trail. He'd been getting them both out of danger. If her hand hadn’t been injured, she could have stayed on when she gripped the saddle.
The spinning in her head finally eased, so she moved to her knees, then to a standing position. Seth tried to help her up, but she shook his hand off her arm. “I’m fine.”
She couldn’t let them coddle her. Couldn’t show weakness that would give them an advantage over her. Letting a man have that power was never a good thing.
Yet with only one good hand, a pounding head, and now an ache in her backside, she was as weak as she could ever remember being. As weak and as vulnerable.
