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“You have killed your wife!” Paul laughed, straightening. “How that must pain you. Allow me to end your suffering.”
He spun the dagger in his hand and lunged. William dodged as a flash and boom came from behind. Paul’s features went flat and he fell at William’s feet. William stumbled back, staring at the body of his enemy. He turned and stilled. Arm outstretched, face ticking, Warren lowered the still smoking weapon.
A breath of relief followed by a wind of pain stormed through William. He rushed to Anna’s side, his heart clutching when his hand brushed against the blood that dripped on the floor. His throat tore with emotion. She had risked her life for him—his own bullet doing the work against her that his enemy’s could not against him. He pressed his trembling fingers against her neck. Nothing.
Panic battered like a dominant foe. “Are you sure she is dead?”
Warren crouched beside him, his own voice uneven. “I could not feel a pulse.”
Trying his fingers at another spot, William exhaled a choppy breath when a small throb beat against his touch. “She lives.” He scooped her into his arms and raced through the open door.
“Come. And let us pray we are not too late.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
William called for him even before he reached the house.
“Nathaniel! Nathaniel!”
Anna groaned and he looked down, the sight of her white cheeks sending his pulse to ramming speed.
The backdoor burst open and Nathaniel hurried out. “What’s happ—” He stopped, his mouth dropping open, voice deep with command. “Bring her in.” He swung back toward the house. “Kitty!”
Kitty rushed to the door just as William hurried into the small surgery. She thrust her hands to her chest. “William! What’s happened?”
“I shot her.” Speaking the horrid truth made his limbs weaken.
“What?” Nathaniel jerked to a halt.
William didn’t answer until he’d rested Anna on the table. “My bullet was meant for Paul—he was readying to fire at me and Anna…she…she pushed him aside to save me from—” He couldn’t finish.
Nathaniel’s firm look answered without the need to voice it, and he raised his shears preparing to cut through her clothes. “Kitty, prepare the bandages and needle and thread.”
She whirled to the cupboard when Nathaniel began to cut. Though the shears snipped through her fabric, ’twas William that felt the cut of the blade. It should be my flesh that is torn, my blood that is spilled. Ropes of guilt twined with fury and tightened around his neck as he stared at his wife’s limp form.
Nathaniel flashed a quick look to William. “Tell me all.”
William swallowed to ease the lump that lodged in his throat. “The force of the shot propelled her backward and she hit her head.” His voice wobbled and he wiped a hand over his mouth. Dearest Lord, do not take her from me.
Nathaniel frowned and released his shears. Reaching for her head, he dotted his fingers around her skull. “A large lump but no gash or crack in her skull.” Returning to his previous task, he pulled away the fabric of her stays to reveal the chemise beneath.
Glistening red soaked through the small gash in the fabric. William curled his fists and clamped his jaw to keep from speaking the stream of panicked questions that flooded his mouth.
Kitty neared with the supplies just as Nathaniel tore open the fabric to reveal the wound in Anna’s flesh.
Nathaniel and Kitty spoke in quiet tones as they worked. William’s nerves were shattered. How long would this take? He tossed a look to Warren who waited outside the surgery door. His arms were crossed over his chest, his mouth hard and eyes soft with pain for the daughter he loved.
Nathaniel straightened, touching his wife at the small of her back. “Take these to the basin to be washed.”
“Aye, my dear.” As Kitty passed, basket of blood-covered cloths and instruments in her arms, she offered William a tight, reassuring smile before hurrying to the kitchen.
With a sigh, Nathaniel turned and cupped William on the shoulder. He opened his mouth to speak but stalled when his eyes landed on Warren.
Warren uncrossed his arms and glanced between the two as if he understood the need for husband and doctor to discuss matters in private. With a curt nod he started for the backdoor, but not without allowing himself one last glimpse of his daughter. He exited and closed the door behind him.
William yanked Nathaniel’s arm. “Well?”
Nathaniel glared after Warren, not answering quick enough to satisfy William’s anxiety. Gripping harder, William strained to keep his voice even. “Will she be all right? Will she live?”
