Wolf Shadow’s Promise by Karen Kay Read Free Book Online

who could she trust? The closest medical doctor in these parts was a week’s hard ride east, to Fort Buford. Too long a trip.
    True, there were people here at the fort who tended to one another when needed, but could she trust any of them with this man’s secret? With her own secret of the caves?
    She considered moving him into her house, but she instantly dismissed the idea. She didn’t have the strength to do it, nor, if she were honest, did he. Plus, moving him right now might exacerbate his injury.
    There was nothing for it. She would have to tend to him herself…here. She had seen a doctor take a bullet from a man once.
    All she needed was a knife, fire, hot water…and courage.
    Lifting her skirt, she tore a strip from her petticoat, which she tied around the man’s thigh as well as she was able. Her progress was hampered in part by her embarrassment. Because of the location of the injury, her hand kept brushing against the strength of the man’s thigh. But she had little time to consider such things.
    The man’s life was in danger.
    There. Done. At least the tourniquet would stop the bleeding for a little while.
    She would need to return to the house, throw a work wrapper over her gown, get a knife, some hot water, clean bandages, and blankets.
    â€œHold on there, Mister Shadow Wolf,” she whispered to him. “Help is on the way.”
    With nothing more to be said, she hurried back through the caves to her house.
    Â 
    Yellow eyes guided her once again to the man. She accepted that help although she didn’t require it. She knew her way.
    She had needed to make two trips: one with bandages and blankets, the other with water, alcohol, and herbs.
    She had thrown a calico wrap over her gown, and now, leaning over the man, she examined him gingerly. He was well-built and strong, explaining why he was still alive. Though she could not clearly identify him, it didn’t matter. She had to attend to his injury, and quickly.
    The first thing she had to do, after positioning a blanket under him, was strip off his clothing. Not too difficult a job, since he wore little more than a breechcloth.
    However, the wound lay dangerously close to that tiny bit of clothing, causing her to remove the buckskin more cautiously and more slowly than she would have liked, having to actually cut it away in several places.
    She resolutely ignored the evidence of his gender as she stripped away his clothing, but not before registering the fact that he was well equipped to please a wife, if he had one. She felt herself blush at the thought, ashamed of herself.
    Firmly, she reminded herself that the man’s life hung in the balance of her actions…
    She moved his leg until the wound was easily accessible and, putting the knife to the flame of her lantern, she brought the hot point within inches of the gash.
    â€œI’m sorry, Mister Wolf Shadow, but I have to do this if I am to save your life. That bullet must come out. This will hurt.”
    She thought she saw his eyes flicker for an instant as though he had heard and understood her. Then nothing.
    He jerked when she applied the knife to the wound, and she heard a rapid intake of breath. So he wasn’t unconscious. Too bad.
    â€œHold on there, mister.” She brought a soft towel toward him, guiding him to place it between his teeth. “The pain can’t be helped. I’m sorry.”
    And with little more said, she cut the knife into the wound, slicing and pushing out the bullet with such deftness, one would have thought she’d been born to doctor.
    To his credit, the man didn’t utter a sound, although she was more than aware of the moment he fainted. Alys thanked God that he was being spared the rest of the pain.
    As two yellow eyes watched her from a distance, she placed the bullet to the side, cleaned the wound by pouring alcohol over it, and finished by positioning a poultice of herbs, echinacea, and elderberry