Page 2 of Bloody Business

Redflies liked to lay eggs in their victims' eyes.It took rinsing with medicated water to prevent blindness.She didn't have the medicine, but she did have water and salt, which was almost as good.

She hurried to grab some, and carefully rinsed his eyes, staying as far back as possible, just in case.

Good thing, too.He groaned and clumsily flung out his arm.It would have hurt if it connected.

“Easy!”she said quickly.“I'm trying to help you.”

“Who are you?”he croaked.His eye opened a slit, revealing bloodshot green.He shivered violently.

“My name is Julep.Do you want some water?”He’d be better off with a hot drink, but she wasn’t going to stop and make tea.

He propped himself up with great difficulty and sucked it down greedily, then collapsed with a groan.

Julep shivered and wiped her nose again.Her eyes were gritty and she just wanted to lay down and rest, but if she was cold, he had to be freezing.“Listen, there's an inn about a mile ahead.I can give you a ride, but you have to get yourself in the cart.I can't lift you.”This was the test.If he couldn't get himself in there...maybe she could winch him in without killing him?Except she didn't have rope, or a winch.

He breathed deeply once, and lunged up on the second breath.He braced his legs and swayed, but didn't pass out.His big knuckled hands were bruised and cut, filthy with mud, and he wrapped an arm around his ribs as if they pained him, his breathing shallow.

Hurray!He was on his feet.She hurried to lower the tailgate of the little cart.It was three by three feet and half full with her stuff.

She flung off the waterproof tarp and made some hurried arrangements.He wasn't going to be able to stand for long, and she wouldn't be able to budge him if he fell.He had to do this part on his own.

She arranged the clothes so that it would make a padded back rest and pulled out the blankets.One went on the floorboard, ready to pad his muddy body from the splintery wood.

He staggered to the cart and grabbed on with both hands, teeth gritted.He had to rest a moment, but he managed to heave himself inside.He closed his eyes and leaned back against the clothes bag.His lower legs dangled over the edge of the cart, his feet touching the mud.

She bit her lip.“Sorry, but your feet have to go in.”She picked up one filthy leg and folded it into the cart.Even with his help, it was like lifting logs.His face was tight with strain, but he didn't say anything.

She got the other foot in and closed the tailgate, wiping her muddy gloves off on the wagon.The ride would be torture for him, but it was better than dying.She covered him with the rest of the blankets and the tarp.Yep, definitely better than laying in the mud, she reassured herself.

She climbed into the driver's seat, released the brake and flicked the reins.The sooner they got on the road, the sooner she could be in front of a roaring fire with a hot drink!She wanted a roast meat sandwich so bad she could taste it.

The sheep leaned into the harness, but couldn't manage it.Julep swore and flipped the reins again.Nothing.They were too heavy.

Distant thunder rumbled.The wind picked up.

“What is it?”The goblin rasped.

“Nothing,” she grumbled, and got down from the cart.Minus her weight, it was able to move.Unfortunately, she was going to have to lead the sheep all the way to the inn.

At least it was mostly downhill from there, or the sheep might not have managed.It was a good size beast, but the cart had been quite heavy before she added a massive goblin.Add muddy roads to it, and they would be lucky to get to the inn at all.

Grumbling to herself, she plodded beside the sheep.They hadn't gone a quarter mile before it began to rain.

Of course.Because if she was going to ignore all sense and rescue a goblin, it would have to be the biggest, scariest goblin she had ever seen.It would require her to wade through mud in a rainstorm, with a cold.Why couldn't she have found a cute, fluffy dog?

At least the bandits probably had the sense to get out of the rain.If all went well, she could drop the goblin off at the inn and wash her hands of him.The thought cheered her up, and she walked a little faster.

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