Page 92 of Colorado Bride
When he got her settled with a cup of tea, he went back to the kitchen and cleaned up the mess, including all the blood.By the time the sheriff, the doctor and the undertaker arrived, he was done and sitting on the sofa with his arm around Emily.
Sheriff Wayburn entered the parlor, removed his hat and took a seat in one of the Queen Anne chairs.
“Why don’t you tell me what happened, Emily?”
She recalled for the sheriff all that had occurred.He made notes on a small pad with a pencil.
“Will you hang me?”
Sheriff Wayburn smiled.“No, I won’t even arrest you because you were protecting yourself.You’re allowed to do that, Emily.We’re all allowed to protect ourselves from harm.”
She nodded, clasped her hands in her lap, and gazed down at them.
Robert looked up at Ben, lifted an eyebrow and shook his head.
“This is a terrible situation, but Ben is here and will help you through this.You’ll help each other.”
Ben wondered if he could help her.He sure hadn’t protected her.
“Thanks for coming out, Robert.”
The sheriff put on his hat.“You’re welcome.I’ll see myself out.Rory is helping the undertaker.You just take care of Emily.”
“Will do.”
The doctor came in as the sheriff left.
“Let me see your wound, young lady.”
Emily scooted forward on the sofa and turned toward Doc who sat on the coffee table in front of her.
Ben would you close the door to the parlor so we have privacy, please.”
“Ben’s not leaving.Please let him stay.”
Emily’s movements were jerky but she managed to grab Ben’s arm.
“I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart.I’ll be right here.Let me close the door and then I’ll be right back.”
He returned to her side as the doctor took the bandage off her shoulder.
“This looks like it was a glancing blow.The wound isn’t too deep.About ten stitches will close this with no problem.I see you have another scar on this arm.It looks fairly recent.”
“Yes, Doris attacked me a few weeks ago.Ben sewed me up, but he didn’t want to do the chore again.”
“That’s right, Doc.Once was enough.I had to get her drunk last time and as entertaining as that was, I’d rather not do it again.”
“Well,” said Doc Martin.“I hope you still have that whiskey, because I want her to drink a lot of it, so these stitches don’t hurt as much.”
“I have news for you two,” said Emily.“The whiskey doesn’t block the pain; you just don’t give a darn about it.”
“That’s good enough,” said Doc.“Get me that liquor.”
“Yes, sir.”
Ben went to the kitchen and returned with the bottle of caramel brown liquid.He handed it and a glass to the doctor.
After drinking half a glass full of whiskey, Emily was ready and the doctor stitched her up.Instead of being talkative like she was last time, she sat quietly and cried.
