Page 91 of Colorado Bride

She looked up at Ben, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Ben, I’m sorry.Her death was an accident.Please don’t hate me.It was an accident.”

He squatted in front of her.Seeing her injury, he closed his eyes and felt only anger at himself.She was injured because of him.

Emily pressed her back into the side of the stall.

“Please it was an accident.She hit me with the cleaver; I threw the pot at her and then shoved her.She hit her head on the stove…an…and I’m sorry.But she was trying to kill me.Please believe me.”

She cried harder and took great gulps of air.

Ben stood and put out his hand to her.

She took it.

He helped her stand and then wrapped her in his arms.

“Shhh.I saw the mess in the kitchen.I believe you.It wasn’t your fault.I know that.It was mine.I never should have left you, even for a moment.”

“I…I…I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry for protecting yourself.”He thought of his mother and her losing her mind the way she had.“This was probably a better way for her to go than living with her mind degrading a little more each day.”

Emily hugged Ben tightly and cried into his shirt.

“Come now, this upset isn’t good for you or the baby.Shh.”

Her tears slowed and soon she was just sniffling.

They began to walk back to the house.

“What do we do now?”

“Rory and I will take her body up to her bedroom.We have to get doc and the sheriff.Then I’ll take her to the undertaker”

Emily’s tears started again.

“Sh…sheriff?”

“It’s a formality.I have to let him know what happened.He already knew that mother was losing her mind and attacked you once.He may want to know in your own words what happened.”

“What about Doc?Why does he have to see her?”

“I want Doc to check you out and take care of your arm.I’m not sewing you up again.”

He shook his head and let out a long breath.

“The procedure is too hard on me.At least the cut doesn’t appear as deep as last time.And I want him to give you something to help you relax.We don’t have any more laudanum or I’d give you a few drops in some water.”

After they’d moved Doris’s body, Rory rode to town to get the sheriff and the doctor.

Ben cringed as he wrapped the wound on Emily’s shoulder and then he had her sit in the parlor with a cup of tea.How would she ever forgive him for putting her in danger.He should have built the damn house after the first incident with his mother, but he hadn’t…she was his mother.

“I want you to try to relax.The doctor will be here soon.In the meantime, rest.”

She nodded.

Emily had stopped crying; now her eyes were red and puffy.He didn’t like the hollow look there either.Ben knew killing anyone was traumatic but when it was your mother-in-law the aftermath was even more so.