Page 42 of A Bride for Brodie

“That must be one of the shots we heard at the doctor’s office.”

“Probably.” Ross took a deep breath. “The bullet landed in my thigh. I’ll be fine as soon as Doc gets it out. Then we can go home. Can you wait that long?”

Lottie came up next to Brodie. “Of course we can. There is no way we’re facing Fiona without you. She’ll kill us.”

Ross looked at Brodie. “Oh, I got the ranch’s two-thousand dollars. So don’t worry about going back for it.”

“Thanks. I won’t.”

After they got Ross to the doctor’s office, Doc removed the bullet from his leg and got him bandaged.

Once he was sure Ross was all right, Brodie walked down behind the sheriff’s office and retrieved their horses from behind it.

He rode up and saw that Ross was leaning on Lottie to avoid putting any weight on his right leg.

Brodie dismounted and went to them, holding the reins of both horses. “Do you need help mounting?”

Ross shook his head. “No, I’m lucky it’s my right leg and I only have to put weight on it when I stand to mount. I could walk on it, if I had to, but I’m not pushing it.” Then he grinned. “Besides it’ll be fun having Fiona take care of me.”

Lottie shook her head. “You know Fiona will give you a really hard time.”

Ross nodded. “At first she will, but then she’ll baby me. I’m looking forward to having her undivided attention.”

Brodie laughed.

“You laugh, but you’ll be doing my chores for a bit.” Ross then mounted like there was nothing wrong with his leg.

Lottie narrowed her eyes and put her hands on her hips. “You old faker.”

Ross laughed. “Sorry. I had to practice and see if it would fool Fiona. I believe it will as long as you two don’t give me away.”

Lottie rolled her eyes and walked around to Dusty’s left side. “What happens between you and Fiona is none of my concern.”

“And I’m not getting in the middle either.” Brodie strode over to Lottie. “I’ll mount first then you can mount behind me.”

She nodded. “What about Bluebell?”

“We’ll stop at the stable. She’s probably there.”

When he was mounted, he moved his foot from the stirrup so she could use it.

After he was sure she was seated behind him and her arms were tight around his middle, he turned the horse and headed toward the stable.

Bluebell was at the stable. Brodie paid the stable master for her keep and tied her behind him. Then he headed out of town with Ross by his side.

About two hours later, they arrived home and went directly to the barn to care for the animals.

“Ross, you go inside and get off your leg. I’ll take care of the horses.” Brodie unsaddled Dusty.

“I can do it. Really, it’s not that bad.”

Brodie rolled his eyes and then headed back to put the saddle away. “That’s because Doc’s laudanum is working.”

“Well, as long as it is, I’ll keep working, too.” Ross gazed at Lottie. “You’re the one who needs to go inside.”

She shook her head and got some clean straw to rub Dusty down. “Not without you two. We all have to tell parts of the story, and I don’t want to do it more than once.” She placed her hand with the straw on Dusty’s back.

Brodie picked up her arm, above the wrist, and took the straw. “No, you don’t. The same goes for you. The laudanum is working and you don’t hurt, but I’m not about to let you get your dressings dirty. They need to be kept as clean as possible.”