Page 77 of If the Boot Fits

Asher tugged Eli’s shirttails from his trousers and was about to reach for his knife when a pair of shears dropped into his line of vision. He looked up to find Ida Mae standing at Eli’s feet, her face pale. She held a pair of scissors in one hand and clutched her son tightly to her chest with the other.

“I’ve set bandages on the table.”

He glanced backward. Sure enough, four rolls of bandages lay waiting at the edge of the table, ready to be used.

“Thank you.”

Asher cut Eli’s shirt up the center, then set aside the scissors and started peeling away the blood-soaked cloth.

He nodded to Samantha. “All right, sweetheart, sit back.”

As she retreated, Asher pulled aside the rest of Eli’s shirt. Blood oozed from a deep hole two inches below his collarbone. Asher quickly covered it with the dressing and applied firm pressure. He must’ve pushed harder than Samantha had been because Eli groaned, and his eyes opened.

“Daddy? Daddy, can you hear me?” Samantha huddled by her father’s head. She rubbed her hands on her skirt to remove the worst of the blood, then stroked her father’s hair.

His gaze scanned her, and his brow furrowed. He reached for her. “You’re hurt.”

“No, Daddy. You saved me. You’re the one who’s hurt.” She clasped his hand and brought it to her lips for a kiss. “Lie still now. Asher’s dressing your wound, and Martin is going to fetch the doctor. You’ll be good as new in no time. You’ll see.”

“Clint . . .”

Samantha turned to Asher, her heart in her eyes.

Asher cleared his throat and drew the older man’s gaze. Eli Dearing seemed the sort to appreciate straight shooting, so Asher didn’t mince words. “Kendrick’s got him. Sheriff Jeter is gathering the Three Cedars men to ride after him. Do you know where he might be heading? The sheriff seems to think he might’ve set aside money and supplies somewhere in case he ever needed to make a run for it.”

Eli’s eyes squeezed closed. “Shack . . . saw some gear . . . when . . . confronted . . . Leroy.”

His voice was growing weaker, and Asher didn’t like the pallor of his skin. He’d lost a lot of blood.

“I’m going to help him sit up,” Asher explained to Samantha in a low voice. “Pull off the rest of his shirt. If there’s an exit wound, we’ll need to dress that as well, then wrap the bandages.” He swiveled to address Ida Mae. “Grab as many pillows as you can find. We’ll prop him up to keep the wound elevated.”

Ida Mae nodded and dashed down the hall.

Asher turned back to Samantha. “Ready?”

She set her jaw. “Ready.”

They worked together to dress and wrap the wound. Eli moaned and hissed as they jostled him, but Asher found it encouraging that he remained conscious.

Mrs. Stewart returned in the midst of their ministrations and took charge of Jimmy so Ida Mae could arrange the cushions. “The men have headed out,” she reported as she snuggled the toddler against her breast. “I caught Martin before they left. He’s on his way to town to fetch the doctor.”

Asher nodded to let her know he’d heard, but he couldn’t stop a frown from tightening his mouth. He turned to Eli. “Can you tell me where this shack is? The sheriff can’t risk following too close, so there’s a chance he might lose the trail. If I could get to the shack from another route, I might be able to take Kendrick by surprise.”

Eli’s eyelids drooped as he fought to hold on to consciousness. “Dry Creek Gulch . . . She . . . can show you.” He tipped his head, not toward his daughter but toward Ida Mae.

She backed up a step, her eyes widening in dismay.

“Please,” Eli rasped. “For . . . my son.”

Asher slowly pushed to his feet, making sure not to crowd Ida Mae. He didn’t want to frighten her or make her feel like she was being coerced. “You wouldn’t need to take me all the way there. Just point me in the right direction. Once I have the place in sight, you can return to the house. You have my word.”

“There’s an old game trail,” she murmured, lifting her chin slightly. “It leads up to the line shack from the direction of town. We’ll have to backtrack along the main road for me to be able to spot it, but that trail will take you to the rear of the cabin. It backs up to a pair of cedar trees. No windows on that side. If you approach on foot, he might not know you’re there.”

Ida Mae’s attention dropped to the man on the floor, then shifted to Samantha.

Samantha’s blue eyes glimmered with moisture. “Thank you.”

Ida Mae fisted her hands in her skirt. “Your father gave me work and a place to stay when I had nowhere to go. Besides, if someone stole Jimmy from me, I’d move heaven and earth to get him back.” She released her crumpled skirt and straightened her posture. “I’ll go.”