Surrendered on the Frontier by Jane Henry Read Free Book Online

said. “You were the one who helped her get back here?” I smiled my thanks.
    He nodded. “Matthew was doing his best on his own, but I had my horse. We got her back here, then Matthew was the one to fetch the doctor.”
    “Thank you, Matthew,” I said.
    Samuel, however, was frowning.
    Aaron turned to Samuel and Matthew. “You’ll see to Matthew getting home, then?” he asked.
    “I will,” Samuel said shortly. Aaron tipped his hat again and left.
    As Dr. Gentry tied a sling around Hannah’s arm, Samuel spoke to Matthew. “You see that girl laid up in pain because of your foolhardy behavior?” he asked sharply.
    Matthew shifted. “Yes, sir.”
    Samuel’s eyes smoldered. “You’re older than she is, bigger, and stronger. And you’re a man. Men are supposed to protect and care for women, not lead them into danger.”
    “Yes, sir. I know’d it,” Matthew said, kicking a toe of his shoe into the floorboard.
    Samuel gave him a long, hard look, his hands placed firmly on his hips. “How do you think you’ll make amends for what happened today?”
    Matthew looked embarrassed, but to his credit, looked at his brother steadily. “You’re askin’ me ?”
    Samuel nodded. “I am.”
    I felt sorry for Matthew, and didn’t want to see him in too much trouble, especially when he already felt so bad. “Samuel, seeing as Hannah’s injuries will prevent her from doing her chores properly around here, wouldn’t it be more fitting for him to help her out?”
    Matthew frowned. “I’d rather take a whuppin’,” he muttered, kicking at the floor again. Samuel’s eyes met mine across the room and smiled at me.
    “Seems doing her chores while she’s laid up would be proper, then,” Samuel said. “What are Hannah’s evening chores?”
    After I’d detailed her responsibilities, Samuel took Matthew out to the barn to do Hannah’s chores while Dr. Gentry faced me. “She’ll be fine in a few weeks, if she rests properly,” he explained, but his eyes went back to Hannah’s. “No heavy lifting, or tree climbing, or anything of the sort. You hear me, Hannah?”
    Hannah nodded soberly. I thanked the doctor as we walked to the door.
    “Well, now, it’s my pleasure, Ruth,” he said calmly. There had been more than one occasion when Dr. Gentry had tended to me and Hannah after we’d been hurt by my late husband. I knew him to be fair and gentle, but to respect our privacy as well.
    “Dr. Gentry, I have no way to pay you,” I said. Dr. Gentry was a widower with no children, and lived alone in town. Being the town doctor to a crowd of hard-working, but rather poor farmers, made his job less than profitable.
    He waved a hand. “Now, Ruth, I’d not be taking money from you for such a small injury. I merely tied a sling and examined her.”
    “Some of my berry preserves, then?” I asked, going to our pantry and extracting a vibrant red jar of raspberry jam, my favorite. I did make delicious jam.
    “That’d be more than enough,” he said, taking the proffered payment with a smile. As he left, I looked out to the barn, where Samuel and Matthew were. Matthew came to the doorway, and Dr. Gentry spoke with Samuel for a moment. There were nods and waves, and to my surprise, I saw Matthew get atop Dr. Gentry’s horse, and the two of them rode away together. My heart thumped. I wondered if that meant Samuel was staying longer.
    My heart beat steadily in my chest as I saw Samuel tip his hat to Matthew and Dr. Gentry, before heading to me with long, purposeful strides.
    I turned tail and scurried back to Hannah, who was trying to get up out of bed.
    “Oh, no, you don’t,” I said firmly. “You scoot yourself back in bed.”
    “But Ma! I’m fine,” Hannah protested. “It’s just my arm, and the rest of me is just the same as usual. I can still get up and walk about. And when did you bring those birds in?”
    “As for the little birds, I brought them in this morning. Their mama… well, the birds need us to