Page 85 of Colorado Bride

Then he attached the hook and eye to the door so it could be locked from the outside.He hated doing this but the guilt he felt for not protecting his wife outweighed the guilt felt for locking up his mother like an animal.

“That should keep you…and us safe for now.”

He shut the door and locked it before walking back to the kitchen where Rory sat with Emily.

Ben stood where he could see her injury.

“That’s a long gash, and it’s bleeding an awful lot.You need stitches.Do you trust me to put them in?”

She was pale, more so than he’d ever seen her.He thought she was probably in shock.

“Yes.Just get it done.”

Her voice was quiet, determined.

“Okay, let’s get you sewn up.Rory, would you go in the other room please?”

“Sure.Call me when you need me.”

Rory left the room down the hall toward the living room.

“Now let’s get your dress open.”

Ben unbuttoned the blouse of her dress and pulled it off her shoulders, down to her waist.

The slash was long but not as deep as he feared.

“Let me get the supplies I need.”

He went into the pantry and came back with a needle, thread, clean white cloths, boric acid, laudanum and a bottle of whiskey.

She sat up straighter and leaned back away from him.

“What is the whiskey for?You are not putting that on my wound.”

He shook his head as he set each item on the table.

“No, the boric acid will go on your wound to clean it.The whiskey is for you to drink.It’ll help you deal with the pain when I stitch you up.Here go ahead and drink some now before we get started.”

Emily took a long pull off the bottle of whiskey, then she coughed so hard, he thought she’d vomit.

Ben grinned.

“Good girl.Take another drink.Perhaps not quite so big this time.”

“It hurts, especially when I cough.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart.I’ll do the best I can to be as quick as possible, but it’ll take some time.The cut is long.”

Ben spent the next twenty minutes or so stitching his wife’s arm.Emily drank more whiskey, but sipped it, every time he put in a stitch, she took a sip.By the time he finished, she’d drank a quarter of the bottle.

“Now, I’m wrapping your arm in bandages to keep the wound clean and protected.I’m sorry the scar will mar your beautiful skin.”

“I’m happy you sinks I has beautiful skin.”

“Of course, I do.”

The whiskey loosened her lips.