Satin Pleasures (26 page)

She smiled at him and gently brushed the hair back out of his eyes. “I was about to ask you the same thing. You've got a broken leg and I know it hurts, but before we set it tell me what you remember. All I heard was the cattle rushin ’. By the time I got out of the timber, it was all over.”

Zeke closed his eyes. “It happened so fast. Roy Walker and his men rode in. Next thing I hear gunshots. I tried to control the team but the wagon got pounded by the cows and tipped...I'm sorry, I don't know what happened after that.” He closed his eyes then opened them wide.
“The team!
Where's Abel and Bessie?”

She shook her head, “Don't worry, they're fine.”

Zeke nodded then looked at Duncan. “Who's this?
A new ranch hand?
Replacing me already?” He tried to smile, but winced in pain instead.

She patted his hand. “Don't be silly Zeke, you know you’re irreplaceable. Besides, I can’t let your Sarah and little Jacob go, so I guess you have to stay too. This is Duncan McKenzie.”

“Mr. McKenzie, any friend of James Evans' is a friend o' mine.” Zeke lifted his hand. “But if you continue cuttin ’ on my boot, I’m goin ’ to kick you with my other leg. They’re the only boots I got.”

“Pleased to meet you.
I’ve got to get this boot off so I can set your leg and if you kick me I’ll have to knock you out.”

“No way.”
Zeke ripped his hand from Duncan’s and tried to rise, but Duncan held him down.

Catherine grabbed Zeke’s hand and gently held it. “Don’t worry. I’m gonna buy you the best boots in Creede . I’ll make Gordon send all the way to Chicago if I have to. I’ll even make sure that Jacob has a pair to match his Daddy’s.”

Zeke stopped struggling and relaxed.
“The best, huh?”

“The best.
I promise,”

“Catherine’s promised and I’m a witness. Let’s set your leg and get you home.”

“Can you hold him down while I set it?”

She took a deep breath and nodded.

Duncan turned to Zeke and said calmly, “This is going to hurt like hell, but I’ve got to do it. I’ll be as quick as I can. Yell, if you want.”

“Here, bite down on this, it’ll help.” Catherine handed him the leather sheath from her knife.

“Just get it done.” Zeke closed his eyes, put the leather between his teeth and locked his jaw.

“Wait a minute. You’ll need something to bind it.” She pulled her shirt from her pants and tore two strips from the bottom. She laid the cloth next to the boards within Duncan’s reach.

“All right, hold him still.” Duncan pulled hard with both hands to set the bones back into place, while Catherine put all her weight on Zeke's shoulders to hold him down. Placing one board on either side of the leg, he tied them tight with the strips of cloth from her shirt.

Zeke had not uttered a sound. He’d fainted.

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