Page 54 of Montana Groom of Convenience
He scooped up his sister and stood. He looked around. “Didany of you see what happened?”
Carly kept her arm about Jill, needing to offer as much comfort as she could. Finding strength in contact with Sawyer.
Beth’s brother, seven-year-old Sammy, stepped forward. “She stepped on that sharp rock.” He pointed toward the offending item. Then he picked it up and threw it into the water. “There’s lots of blood. Is she okay?”
The others gathered round. Kate pushed forward. “Let me have a look.” She examined both cuts. She held Jill’s arm. “I need to wash it.”
Sawyer carried Jill to the edge of the water. Carly held the injured arm, and Kate washed away the debris.
Kate spoke to Jill. “Will you let me put your foot in the water? It’s cold, but that will help.”
Jill looked at Carly, her eyes brimming with tears and fears.
“Do you want me to do it?” Carly asked.
Jill nodded.
Carly hunkered down beside Sawyer. Together, they tended the child. Their gazes caught and held as a thousand thoughts raced through her mind. She cared about this little girl in a way that made her heart tremble. And perhaps cared just a little for a man who would hold his little sister so tenderly and murmur that everything would be okay. He would make sure it was.
Jill squirmed. “It’s not hurting so much now.”
“We need to get her home,” Sawyer said.
Carly nodded in agreement.
Sawyer carried his sister back to the picnic spot. The others began to gather up items.
“No need for the rest of you to end the outing.”
Dawson, the eldest, looked around. “It’s early yet. We can stay and let the children play.”
The family gathered round them to say goodbye before Sawyer and Carly began the return trek to the ranch, Jill in his arms.
Carly stayed at his side, holding Jill’s hand where it lay across her chest. Sawyer’s hand covered Jill’s hand as well. It made walking a little awkward, but Carly wasn’t about to end the connection between them.
At that moment, she knew they had become family.
Jill had been hurt.Sawyer had not known he could feel another person’s pain until now. If not for Carly’s steadying presence, he didn’t know what he would do. He held her hand and Jill’s as they hurried back to the Marshalls’ ranch house.
“I’ll get Father while you settle her in the wagon.” Carly ducked into the house while Sawyer went to the wagon.
Two old men hobbled from the house.
“The wee lassie is hurt.” Father Morrison hurried to the wagon and climbed into the back. “Ack, poor lassie.”
“Is she okay?” Grandfather Marshall called from the doorway.
Jill poked her head over the edge of the wagon box. “I cut my arm and my foot on a rock.”
“I’m sorry. You’re in good hands, though. Robert, I’ll take care of that business we discussed.”
Sawyer would have helped Carly into the wagon, but she was up before he could reach her. She satbeside him, leaning forward as if she could make the wagon go faster.
Sawyer was equally anxious to get home, even though he knew there was no need to rush. Jill’s cuts had stopped bleeding. Her injuries were not serious.
The way his heart ached was serious. It both alarmed him and enticed him.
His pulse settled to a normal pace as they made the journey.
