Shea nodded, pleased at the sudden respect in his eyes.She didn’t want to question why she cared, except a part of her was intrigued by the bond that linked these men together, by the loyalty that made them risk everything for one another.
Was it the war, which had been over eight years before?Or was it Rafe Tyler himself who commanded such extraordinary devotion?
After he’d finished with Rafe, Ben had turned to her.Rafe had wanted him to look at Shea’s hand first, but she had demurred, saying it didn’t hurt anymore and that Rafe’s injuries were the ones that required immediate attention.Ben had needed little convincing, and Rafe had been too weak to counter Ben’s determination.
Ben’s lips now tightened as he looked at her hand.He said little as he spread salve on it.“Don’t use it,” he said curtly.
“I have to.The little bear.”
Ben looked over at the corner where the cub was sleeping peacefully.“Rafe doctored it?”
“I sewed the wound.Rafe put the splint on.”
He shook his head, as if at the foolishness of two children.“I suppose I’d better bandage your hand then.It would be better to let the blisters air, but if you insist on using it.…”
She held it out to him and was surprised at the gentleness in his fingers as he carefully bandaged it.He then turned to Rafe.“I’ll bunk here tonight, since you two can’t seem to stay out of trouble.”There was the slightest hint of amusement in his voice, and Shea reluctantly found herself liking him as she’d liked his brother.
Rafe sat up on the bunk.“I can take care of things.”
“The hell you can.Abner could knock you over, and he doesn’t even have a frying pan.”Rafe had refused to say anything about the wound on his head, and Shea had had to explain, in a stumbling manner.
Rafe ignored Ben’s comment.“Any news about the robbery?”
“None that I know of.”He looked up at Shea.“Randall’s gone to Casey Springs.”
Shea flinched at the ease with which they discussed her father, their plans to destroy him.She still didn’t know exactly what those plans entailed, but she knew the two men in the cabin were undeterred by her presence.
Rafe’s glance only casually caught hers before turning back to Ben.“McClary?”
“At the ranch.”
“Clint?”
Ben’s eyebrows furrowed together, and he glanced at Shea as if unsure whether he should say anything.“He was busy tonight.”
Rafe moved slightly and winced.“I’ll move outside for the night.”
“Hell you will,” Ben said.“I don’t want you getting pneumonia, and that’s damn likely with that fever.”
Tension rose in the room.Both men turned and looked at Shea, as if she had been created for the sole purpose of bedeviling them.Well, bedevil them she would.She was tired of being treated as if she weren’t even present, or a mere inconvenience.
“I’m hungry,” she complained, and she found that she was.She’d had nothing to eat all day.
The side of Rafe’s mouth lifted, and Ben looked startled at the reminder that captives took a certain amount of care.
“And the cub,” she added, now that she had their attention.“And … Rafe.”She felt awkward using the name in front of his friend, but it was too late to retreat to anything else.
Rafe’s mouth quirked even more.“I notice I come last.”
Shea ignored him and looked at Ben, who looked bemused.“Something besides canned peaches and old venison stew?”
Ben looked at Rafe.“Any ideas?”
Rafe shrugged.“I hung up the rest of the deer, and it’s a sure thing that damn bear has already gotten to it.Youcango fishing.”
“And leave you alone with her?”
Rafe glanced quickly at Shea.His eyes were as indecipherable as ever.“She could have left before,” he finally said.
