The Peacemaker by Chelley Kitzmiller Read Free Book Online

had expected.
    "Miss Taylor?"
    She jumped at the familiar voice that came from the other side of the curtained screen. "Is that you, Captain? Are you all right?"
    "Yes, ma'am," he replied weakly. "Doc says I'll be laid up awhile, but the arrow didn't hit anything vital." There was a long pause. "What about you? When Shatto was working on me, he said you'd been hurt. I—I figured maybe you'd shot yourself . . . like I told you to do. God Almighty, I wouldn't have told you to do it if I'd had any idea we'd be rescued."
    Indy curled her fingers around the edge of the woolen blanket. The thought of what she had nearly done chilled her from head to toe. "I thought he—Shatto—was like the others," she began, her mind taking her back. "He was so—so fierce-looking. He didn't say or do anything to lead me to believe he was friendly. He just stared at me." She paused, remembering. "I was so frightened. Then, he grabbed me and took the revolver away. I thought he was going to ra—" She broke off and lowered her gaze to her hands and unclenched her fingers. Her knuckles were white.
    "I know how he must have frightened you—what you must have been thinking. I'm sorry. I remember seeing him there at the back of the wagon. I tried to tell you, but I must have passed out."
    Indy sat up in bed. Beneath the thin hospital mattress, the straw-filled bed sack rustled and crunched.
    The door opened and Dr. Valentine came in, carrying their breakfast trays.
    "Well, now. How are my two patients this morning?" Though the silver-haired doctor looked old and frail, he walked with a spring in his step. He smiled as he set one of the trays down on Indy's lap. "You look a mite pale, young lady," he observed. "Are you feeling all right?"
    "I'm a little sore, but I guess that's to be expected."
    "Yes, I should think so." He leaned forward and examined her eyes and the side of her head. "No more disorientation?"
    "No."
    "Nausea?"
    She looked down at the tray on her lap. "Not yet."
    The doctor winked and laughed, then left her to deliver the captain's breakfast. Minutes later he excused himself, saying he had some reports to write up.
    Indy didn't touch her food. Her growling stomach stated in no uncertain terms that she was hungry, but she felt as jittery as a beehive, a fact that she had chosen not to tell the doctor for fear he would make her stay in the hospital longer. She looked down at the tin plate. Over the years, her father and his friends had had a lot to say about Army food, but she'd never seen it or tasted it before now. The salt boiled beef had fallen apart like wet straw and lay atop a disreputable-looking biscuit that was surrounded by lumpy brown gravy.
    Nerving herself for the worst, she plunged her fork into the biscuit and broke off a bite-size piece. Much to her relief, it tasted better than it looked, but after a few mouthfuls, she put the fork down and set the tray on the bedside table, deciding the challenge was too great after all.
    Sometime later Dr. Valentine came back and sat on the edge of the bed. In many ways he reminded Indy of her maternal grandfather, with his sky-blue eyes and drooping white mustache. He'd put on square spectacles and they rode close to the end of his bulbous red nose. He peered at her from over the top of the wire rims. "I see no reason to keep you here another night; there's really nothing I can do for you that a little time won't cure. You will, however, need to rest for a couple of days." When she opened her mouth to speak, he held up his hand and effectively cut her off. "I know that you've just arrived and you need to unpack and get yourself settled in, but I can't allow it. You've suffered a severe blow to your head, young woman, and you need time and rest to heal. You could do yourself some serious damage if you don't follow my orders."
    "Now, I've taken it upon myself to get someone to help you. In fact, I spoke to the woman last night and told her the situation. She was more than willing to