Page 63 of Mail-Order Brides Wishes
She squeezed his hand. “You must be tired. Let me help you to bed.”
His chuckle ended in a groan, and he pressed his hand to his injury. “I only have a tiny wound on my head. Everythin’ else works.” He pushed to his feet. “Ya comin’?”
Flint wakened with something jabbing into his head and a large herd of cows stampeding between his ears. Then memory came flooding back. He’d been shot. First time ever. Even worse, he’d shot a man.
Bryn curled up next to him, warm and comforting in a way that robbed him of words. Holding back the groan that pushed up his throat, he forced himself to lie still so as not to disturb her.
“Good morning,” she whispered. “How is your head?”
Turning, he met her dark eyes, full of sleep and something more that told him she enjoyed being next to him and it brought a grin to his face.
“Kinda hurts.” He touched the bandage and felt the dampness.
Bryn lifted her head to have a look. “I’ll need to change that.” She pushed back the covers.
Flint caught her hands and pulled the covers around her shoulders. “Guess there’s no hurry.”
Her little chuckle told him she didn’t mind spending a few more minutes lying next to him, and she snuggled closer.
“Thank you.” His words were low and quiet but thick with gratefulness that his life had been spared so he could enjoy endless days with Bryn— his wife.
“For what?”
“Fixin’ my head. And bein’ my wife.”
“It’s my pleasure and thanks to you, as well.”
“Eh? Fer what?”
“For not dying. And for being my husband.”
Ignoring the pain in his head, he turned to her, pulled her close, and kissed her.
“Auntie Bryn.” Susie’s demanding voice came from the other side of the door. She had been taught not to enter without permission. “You up?”
“Give me a minute.” Bryn kissed Flint quickly and then slipped from the covers.
He watched her dress and waited for her to leave the room before he got up and pulled on his clothes. Susie was gonna be full of questions when she saw his head bandaged.
She stood beside Bryn as he stepped into the other room.
“Yous back.” Spun around. Her words died when she saw him. “What happened?”
“Got a little cut. That’s all.”
“How?” She clutched Kitty so hard the cat squirmed.
“Just happened.” No way was he gonna tell her someone had shot him. The little one didn’t need to know there were bad men in her world.
Bryn set a basin of water on the table alongside white bandages. “Sweetie, take Kitty outside to do her business and stay there until I call you.”
“Why?” Wide-eyed innocence.
“I’m going to fix Uncle Flint’s bandage.” She indicated he should sit down, and he did.
“Why can’t I see?” Susie circled Flint. “Maybe I want to.”
“I’d like you to do as I ask.”
