Lily glanced at the hand Nate offered then raised her gaze and looked at him, her eyes filled with sadness, but at the same time, gratitude. She turned toward Devlin. “As much as I appreciate your concern, Marshal, I don’t need Doctor Ben. He has already examined me.” She gestured toward the bandage on her shoulder. “I’d rather go back to Josie’s, where I’m needed most.”
“Whatever you think is best, Lily.” Devlin laid a hand on her arm and squeezed lightly. “Thank you for helping us. We’re going to find this man before he hurts anyone else.” He nodded toward Nate and Caleb. “Take her back to Josie’s but keep your eyes open. After you make sure she and the other girls are safe, I want you both to head north to the old mines.”
Lastly, Devlin turned toward Merrill. “You’re with me. We’ll head out to Wyatt’s place then Alfonso’s.” He turned to the rest of the men, who were already checking their pistols, each one knowing that Ned Delany would not be taken easily.
“The sun’s coming up.” He remarked as he stacked boxes of bullets on the desk and the men loaded up. “You all know who you’re looking for. Be careful.”
CHAPTER 13
Tresia entered the marshal’s house from the kitchen door, as was her habit, and stopped short, surprised and a little unsure. Devlin wasn’t sitting at the kitchen table like she expected. Rather, she found Corianna March, one of Josie DuBois’ ‘girls,’ her blonde ringlets a mess. Lucy sat beside her, rubbing her back in a consoling way. The coffeepot was on a trivet on the table, cups in front of them.
Something had happened. Something bad. Something involving Corianna or Josie or one of the other ladies.
Immediately alert, she came into the room, and looked at both women. “What happened?”
“Oh, Tresia, it was awful,” the young woman wailed before Lucy could speak. She used the napkin balled in her hand to swipe at her eyes. It wasn’t the first time, considering how damp the cloth appeared.
“What was?” She glanced at Lucy then sat across from Corianna and took the woman’s hand, hoping to offer comfort.
“Some man hurt Josie.” Corianna hiccupped. “Bad.”
Tears sprang to her eyes. She liked Josie. Despite what she did for a living, she was kind-hearted and intelligent. “Tell me.”
Corianna related the events as best she could despite the flow of tears. “Lily sent me to get Doc Hart and Nate and then Nate sent me to get the marshal.”
“I came over to stay with Corianna and Avery.” Lucy still rubbed Corianna’s back in a soothing way. “Devlin and his deputies went after the man.”
Tresia acknowledged the statement with a slight nod, though her stomach tightened. She forced her anxiety away and looked at Lucy, noticing the dark circles under her eyes. “You’re exhausted.”
“I am. We both are.” She stood and moved closer then lowered her voice. “It took me a while to calm her down. She’s doing much better now. Ben stopped by earlier.” She shook her head, letting her know, without words, that Josie had died, then returned to her normal voice. “I think I’ll go home.”
Tresia grasped her hand and squeezed. “Thank you for staying.”
“Of course.”
“Be careful.”
“Always am.”
Tresia looked at Corianna after Lucy left the house, fighting to keep her emotions under control. “Devlin will find whoever did this. You can trust me on that. Have you slept?”
The woman shook her head.
“Have you eaten anything?”
“No.”
“Let’s get you taken care of, then. You need something in your belly.”
Quickly, to keep herself busy more than anything else, Tresia rose from her seat and started making oatmeal. She couldn’t think of anything else that would stick to the ribs and hopefully help Corianna sleep. She tried to keep up a steady stream of chatter to put the woman at ease.
A short time later, she set the bowl of oatmeal with brown sugar, cinnamon and cream in front of Corianna. “Here. Eat this.”
Corianna dipped her spoon into the bowl and took a bite, then another and another. “It’s good.”
“That’s the way my mother always made it. It’s Avery’s favorite.”
Corianna seemed a little better after she finished the oatmeal but she looked exhausted, just as Lucy had. After her emotional night, the best thing for her would be to sleep.
