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What had she been thinking, stroking his cheek? And looking at him, as though… She had no right to look at him like that.
But the womanly feelings kept at her. She was aware of this man as she had never been with another. And the strange sensation that she knew him. But how could that be?
He had saved her life though and she owed him his now. She'd get that bullet out, one way or another. After nursing her folks, she felt the
re was no amount of nursing she couldn't handle, even though it made her sick to think of it. She couldn't think of her failures, for this man must live; she knew it instinctively.
Joshua hurried back with the water and kneeled beside the bed to watch and help if needed.
"Go put the knife over the fire," She instructed.
"What for?" Joshua asked curiously.
"To make it clean. And let it heat up 'til it turns red. I saw Mama do it once for Pa. Hurry."
"Okay." Joshua rushed off again and Katherine couldn't take her eyes off the man on the bed. He looked pale now and she was afraid she was losing him.
"You want me to bury them?" Joshua motioned at the dead men in the other room as he was about to go into the kitchen.
Were they dead? She hadn't stopped to consider. Katherine didn't want to think about that, or them. She wanted to concentrate on getting the bullet out of this man. There was too much to do. Too many things to remember. Chaos!
"I reckon we'll have to, if you're sure they're dead. It wouldn't hurt to hit them in the head with a shovel to make sure. If you aren't sure about them, put Mama's mirror under their noses and make sure first. We don't want to bury them unless they are dead."
"Yeah they're dead. The bald headed one, he's shot dead center in the chest, blood's oozin' everywhere. The other's got a broke neck."
"How do you know that?"
"Ain't natural for a head to be in that position without it being broke," He hollered.
"Then we'll bury them. I'll help you when I'm through here," She said, not taking her eyes off the man, not knowing where her strength suddenly came from.
"Where we gonna put 'em?" Josh seemed confused and bewildered by all that was before them now.
"We'll put Mr. Bowlins beside Ma and Pa and the others behind the barn. We'll have to drag them and it will take a while. We'll disguise the graves. We'll pile hay up around it. Say it's for the horses. If you want to get started on diggin' I'll come relieve you when I'm through here." Katherine glanced at her brother.
"Okay." Joshua looked at her and then the breed. "I'm sorry I hurt you, Mister."
"He can't hear you now, Joshua." Katherine shook her head. Then glancing at her brother added, "don't fret so. He's going to be all right."
"Yeah, and then what?" It was impossible to console Josh now.
"I don't know. Whatever comes, we'll handle it though."
Katherine didn't want to think about that. She only knew she needed to save the man. That must come first. The dead men she would bury later. She hadn't blamed Joshua, but she'd not have him called a murderer either. The Butterfield people wouldn't like this. And she had no idea what she was going to tell them. Or if they'd believe her?
She couldn't worry about it now. She had work to do. She gathered her strength about her and began her task. She wiped the sweat of her brow on her arm and with complete remorse began to hack away at the man's ribcage. Even though in normal times, the blood itself would make her gag, right now she was a tower of strength as though something propelled her to take care of him. She wasn't a doctor and the flesh was so bloodied she couldn't find the bullet at first. Blood gushed as the knife went deeper. The bullet lodged deep. She sat on her knees so she could reach the wound better and worked for a long time. The man would occasionally open his eyes, but then close them and groaning go back to sleep.
An hour later, she got the bullet out. It felt like forever, but she got it. She had been so careful, so gentle with him. After heating the knife again, she proceeded to burn the wound closed. She'd seen her father do it many times to the animals when they snagged themselves open on rocks. The skin seared and Katherine turned away as quickly as it was finished. The stench of singed flesh curdled in her stomach.
She took the man's hand in hers and held it, feeling the big difference in their sizes and how hard work made her hands almost as callused as his. It felt good to hold another person's hand, though. To be close to another human. And again the color of their hands matched. It bothered her, but she couldn't say why.
She willed her own strength to him. She didn't know why she was doing all this, but it seemed natural to her. It was important for him to survive. "I'm going to pray for you now, sir. So that you might live, God willin'. God, you see this man, heal him, help me, and Josh. Josh didn't mean to harm him. See to him, 'cause I've done all I know how. In Jesus name. Amen."
Chapter Seven
He hardly moved throughout the entire procedure and she was sure she hadn't done everything right, her hands shook so badly. She only prayed he lived. But with her handiwork and prayer she knew somehow he would survive.
She heard Joshua dragging the men out one by one, cursing under his breath as he went. The dull thud of the bodies hitting the floor as he dragged them rang like a loud church bell in her ears, reminding her of her own deeds. She heard the thump of their boots when he drug them from the porch. A heavy sound. A lifeless sound. She couldn't worry of it. What was done, was done. She couldn't change it.
