Page 120 of Bride By Mistake
But she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She’d found out all she needed to know. Luke now knew what had happened. Perhaps now he could forgive himself. Not that he had anything to forgive himself for. He was a hero. With a sob, Bella flung the knife away, pushed La Cuchilla aside, and dived straight into Luke’s arms.
He hugged her tightly. “You crazy, crazy girl! To put yourself in such danger!”
“I had to. Neither you nor Tío Raul would ever hurt a woman, even one such as she. I knew the threat to destroy her beauty would make her talk. The beautiful ones are always the vainest.”
Themarquésapressed a white lace handkerchief to her cheek. It came away smeared with blood. She stared at it, and her face twisted with hate. “For that, you ugly little stick, you will die!” She produced a small, deadly looking pistol and aimed at Isabella.
Themarquésyelled a warning. Luke turned, saw what was happening, and shoved Isabella behind him, protecting her with his body just as the pistol went off. The ball slammed into him and he crashed to the floor.
Themarquésmoved. A knife flashed through the air. La Cuchilla staggered, the blade buried deep in her throat. She gurgled horribly, clawing at the knife, then slowly sank to her knees and toppled over. Her blood spread in a crimson pool across the white marble floor.
“How bad is the injury?” themarquésasked. The body of his wife had been removed. There was no sign of blood on the smooth marble floor. Bella didn’t ask what had been done with the body. She didn’t care. All her concern was for Luke.
“A flesh wound only,” Doctor Lopez said. “He was very lucky it struck where it did. As far as I can tell, no bones have been damaged. Bone fragments are the worst, but I believe he will recover, as long as there is no infection.” The doctor, a surgeon-physician, had arrived almost immediately. He lived on the estate, themarquéssaid. A good man, very experienced with wounds of all kinds. The war, you understand.
Bella clung to her husband’s hand, unable to take her eyes off his face for even a minute. “He’s still unconscious.”
“Be grateful for it,” the surgeon told her. “It will spare him the pain when I remove the ball.” He drew out a long pair of silver tongs, inserted them carefully into the hole beneath Luke’s shoulder, and began to grope around inside.
In an extraordinary act of fate, the bullet aimed at Bella had pierced Luke through the center of the rose carved into his skin. It was nothing but a mess of blood and torn flesh now.
The surgeon probed, Luke groaned, even in unconsciousness, and Bella’s stomach lurched. She clutched his hand to her breast and prayed silently.
“Almost there… just… yes.” Doctor Lopez drew out the ball. He sprinkled sulfur powder into the wound and looked at themarqués.“Gunshot wounds are poisonous. I ought to…” He glanced at the fire and then at Bella.
“Ought to what?’ she asked.
“Cauterize the wound. It is the accepted practice, but—”
“But what?”
“It is not pleasant for ladies to watch.” He took out a long metal implement and placed it in the fire to heat. It was like a bent poker, with a drop-shaped metal end that was, Bella realized with a sick feeling, about the same size and shape as the hole in her husband’s body. She shuddered.
“It will not be pleasant for my husband, either.” She took Luke’s other hand. “Do it. Quickly, while he’s still unconscious.”
Themarquéscame to stand behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Your father would be very proud of you, my dear.”
The surgeon carefully lifted the cauterizing tool from the flames and tested it by sprinkling a few drops of water on it. They sizzled. When he judged the temperature was right, he said, “Hold him still.”
Themarquésheld Luke down by the shoulders. Bella closed her eyes. There was a hissing sound and a ghastly smell of burnt flesh. Luke’s body jerked.
For a moment Bella thought she would faint. She clung tightly to Luke’s hand, determined not to leave him, even for an instant, and after a moment or two the dizziness passed.
“It’s done.” The surgeon bent over the wound, examined his handiwork, and nodded. “It looks good. Smother it with fresh honey and cover it lightly with clean gauze. Keep it clean and let the air get to it as much as possible. If there’s no infection, he should be fully recovered in a couple of weeks.”
If… Bella thought. How would they know?
“He may have a little fever,” the doctor continued. “Give him willow bark tea and such like—the usual treatments. And plenty of rest for the next few days.”
Bella nodded. The convent had educated all the girls in the treatment of illness.
“Don’t look so worried, my dear. Your husband is a strong, healthy fellow,” themarquéssaid in hearty reassurance. “And if Doctor Lopez says he will recover, he will, never fear. The good doctor looked after us during the fighting. He lost fewer than most.”
“How very reassuring,” said Bella faintly.
The first thing Luke was aware of was pain. His shoulder was on fire. His mind was fuzzy. And there was something he was supposed to…La Cuchilla? He could smell sulfur… burned flesh... gunpowder. The usual nightmare?
It all came back to him in a flash. La Cuchilla had pulled out a gun... and shot at—Bella?
