Debra Cowan - Whirlwind Reunion

Davis Lee squeezed the boy’s shoulder. “That’s a good idea, Andrew. Take my deputy with you. He’s at the jail.”

Andrew nodded, his young face earnest as he looked at the lone woman in their midst. “I won’t go until we finish for the day, Dr. Annalise.”

“You can go on, Andrew. It’s important.” There was a smile in her voice.

The answering smile on the boy’s face was blinding and pure adoration. He looked to be this close to falling at her feet.

Hell, Matt thought. Andrew should watch out or she’d kick him in the teeth while he was down there.

It was an effort, but he said, “The longer we talk, the further they get.”

Russ gave him a flat stare. “You’re not going. We’ve got it handled. You need to heal up ’cuz we both know this is going to start all over now that two of them have escaped.”

Matt knew Russ was right to insist he stay here and it blistered him up, but the only thing keeping him from passing out was sheer will and his pride. He refused to let Annalise see how right she was about his being shaky.

“How about moving me out of here?” he asked his brother in a low voice. “Maybe to the Fontaine?”

“I already talked to Annalise about that and she said it wasn’t a good idea.”

“She doesn’t have the last say.”

“Until you’re stronger, she does,” J.T. said. “I’ll stay here with you.”

She helped Russ situate Matt on his side. Her movements were brisk, impersonal. Still, he felt her touch all the way through his body.

Davis Lee turned for the door. “One of us will let you know what we find, Matt. I’m going to see who can ride with us.” He nodded.

“When Andrew gets back from checking the McDougal’s old rendezvous spot, I’ll wire the sheriff in Abilene and those in the surrounding counties to let them know what’s happened so they can keep an eye out for anyone suspicious and for the Landis brothers, too.”

“That’s good.” Though what little strength he had was slipping away, Matt still chafed at being left here. He called out to his brother as Russ reached the clinic door. “Bring me some boots before you leave Whirlwind.”

Russ agreed and walked out. Annalise went to the door with Davis Lee and Matt caught her conversation with his friend.

“How’s Josie doing?” she asked quietly.

“So far, she’s following your orders.”

“I’m glad to hear it. I’ll be over in a bit to check on her.”

“I appreciate it. Lydia offered to stay with her if Russ and I needed to go after Matt’s attackers so she won’t be alone.”

“That’s good.” She gave the lawman a warm smile as she closed the door behind him. A friendly smile.

A smile Matt hadn’t seen in years.

She moved back into the room and gathered his dishes.

“What’s wrong with Josie?” he asked. “Is it the baby?”

Surprise flashed across her face then she shook her head. “It’s not for me to say.”

“Is she going to be all right?” He hated the thought that pretty, vibrant Josie Holt might lose another child or otherwise be in a bad way. “Can you tell me that?”

She hesitated, then said, “She’s taking every precaution.”

Matt could tell by the stubborn slant to her jaw that he wouldn’t get any more information. While he wanted to know more, he couldn’t deny that he found Annalise’s discretion admirable in this instance, although he sure hadn’t found it admirable when she had kept information from him seven years ago. Dammit.

“You can roll to your stomach when you’re tired of that position,” she said, “but don’t lie on your back.”

He didn’t think he would be able to anyway, not without screaming like a girl. He felt like hell, and she really had helped him. He doubted she had enjoyed it any more than he had.

As she walked out with his dishes, he said grudgingly, “I guess I should thank you for doctoring me.”

“Wait until you see my fee,” she said sweetly and stepped into the front room.

His pa chuckled and Matt clenched his teeth.

As he listened to her footsteps go up the stairs, his frustration returned in full force. So much for staying away from her.

For now, he was stuck here. He fully expected it to be pure-dee hell.

Being irritated drained the last of Matt’s energy. He drifted in and out of sleep, time moving in a slow murky haze.

When he finally came fully awake, he was on his stomach and lamplight filled the dark room. The spring night was cool, making the interior of the two-story house a comfortable temperature. He vaguely remembered Pa leaving to have supper with Cora Wilkes and promising to bring a meal back for Matt.

“Mr. Matt?” Andrew Donnelly appeared in front of him. “You want some water?”

Matt gingerly rolled to his side and propped himself up on one elbow, sharp pain ripping through him. The dark-haired boy offered him a full glass and hovered as he drank a little more than half of it.

When he returned the glass to Andrew, he became aware of the stillness. “We the only two here?”

“Yes, sir.”

Where was Annalise? He wasn’t asking.

“Dr. Annalise went to check on Miz Josie. She’ll be back directly.”

Matt nodded. If he’d been able, he would’ve taken advantage of her absence and gotten the hell out of there, but he couldn’t even pull off his own hat, much less make it to the door. All he could do was stay in this bed, in this clinic, with this woman.

Knowing he was in no shape to leave didn’t stop the resentment simmering inside him. He wasn’t sure if it was directed more at Annalise or the fact that he couldn’t help search for his attackers.

His back still burned with a razor-edged pain as if he’d been skinned. He sure would like to know what those injuries looked like. Staring at the glass gave him an idea.

“Hey, Andrew, does the doc have a mirror anywhere?”

The boy searched the examination room where Matt lay, then the front room. “I don’t see one. I could go upstairs and look in her rooms,” he said eagerly.

A little too eagerly, Matt thought. “No need for that. How about you run over to the Fontaine and ask Miz Lydia for a couple of mirrors? I want to get a look at my back and I think I can do it using those.”

“Well…” Andrew hesitated.

“If you’re worried the doctor will chew on you for leaving me alone, I’ll take responsibility. Besides, you won’t be gone even five minutes. I promise to stay just like this until you get back.”

“Get back from where?” A whoosh of air accompanied Annalise’s words as she opened the door and stepped inside.

The boy’s blue eyes lit up at the sight of her. “I was going to the Fontaine to ask Miz Lydia for a couple of mirrors.”

“For what?” She straightened her bodice, which was the same deep green as her eyes.

“Mr. Matt wants to look at his back.” Andrew’s smile grew brighter, if that were possible. “Need me to do anything for you while I’m out, ma’am?”

“No, thank you. You don’t need to run after those mirrors either.”

At her authoritative tone, Matt’s voice sharpened. “I want to look at my injuries.”

“I can help you with that.” She glanced at Andrew. “You’d best get on home for supper.”

“Are you sure? I can stay if you need me to.”

“I’m sure.” She smiled. “You did a good job today, just as you do every day.”

The boy flushed with pleasure and Matt huffed out a breath. She had that kid wrapped around her little finger.

“Well, good night then, ma’am,” the boy said. “Mr. Matt.”

“Good night, Andrew.”

Fuming, Matt pushed up on one elbow, biting back a moan at the agony slicing through him. “Why didn’t you let the kid get those mirrors? I want to see what those bastards did to my back.”