“Woods!” shouted Bennet. “You saw that he was wounded.”
“I also heard him say Belle did not do it. I’m going home now and have my damn breakfast. Sorry to trouble you, Belle.”
“It was no bother, Sheriff.”
She shut the door on Bennet arguing with Woods. The tone of Woods’s soft replies told her that he was really annoyed. She hurried back into the kitchen to make up plates of food for Robbie and Will. Setting them on a tray, she let Geordie pick it up and they walked into the infirmary. Geordie helped each young man sit up, then moved to sit with Robbie in case he needed a hand.
“Yehaveimproved,” Geordie said as he watched Robbie spoon up his stew. “Ye are having nay trouble with the fork or the spoon.”
Robbie smiled. “Dinnae curse me. Yes, it is better. I can actually feel that I have a good grip on them.”
“Good. We’ll keep up with rubbing that cream in then.”
“Aye, but I truly think it is the massage as it is rubbed in that helps the most.” He put his empty plate on the tray and set it aside, then picked up a ball from the small table by the bed, holding it in his weak hand. “Belle also gave me this before she retired for the night. Several times a day I just squeeze it a few times. Seems silly, but I think it is helping too.”
“Anything that works. I wonder where she got such ideas?”
“Helping her da nurse her mum when she fell sick. They were trying to help the woman get strong again. Unfortunately, she died. Some sickness had felled her, sucked all the spirit and strength out of her, but it didnae go away when the sickness that hit the town did. Belle’s da didnae want her to get near her mum, but finally gave in. Needed the help, I suspicion. But she remembered that this had worked for her mum until the sickness got worse.”
“Well, she has been right about the other things she has dealt with, so best we trust her on this. I also think I need to send a letter to our family.”
“Aye, it would be good to tell them we got here and all.”
“True. I also thought I would mention some of the things that have gone on with ye.”
“Are ye sure ye should? I am nay fixed up fine, just a wee bit better. We cannae ken how much better until I can actually get out of this bed. Dinnae want to raise false hopes.”
“I plan to be verra cautious in what I say.”
Robbie nodded. “Aye, best to give them a soft warning in case this all turns out better than we hoped it would.”
Geordie went and collected Willie’s plate. He picked up the tray and hurried to the kitchen, reaching it just in time for Bella to add them to the washing. He took a towel and wiped the dishes that had been washed.
“Ye may be interested in kenning that the ball ye gave Robbie is working to strengthen his hand. It is becoming clear that it might weel heal his hand until it is actually useable again.”
“That is wonderful! I had hoped it would help my mother, but the sickness took her too soon.”
He reached out to rub his hand over her shoulder. “Some sicknesses are stealthy. They fade away enough for ye to think things will be fine and then rush back to claim their victim.”
“I know. Have seen it too often. I much prefer mending a wound to nursing a sickness.”
“Especially since few of us are good patients when we are ill. So what happens next with the sheriff? Will he be back?”
“I do not think so, but there is no telling what Bennet might try to blame me for next.” She moved away to grab a pot off the stove and put it in the washing water. “I need to make something sweet.”
“Why?”
“Abel will be back from Auntie’s soon. I also have two wounded young men stuck in their beds.”
“Ah, ye want something to quiet the whining that is sure to come.”
Belle laughed. “Something like that. Or a bribe.”
“Bribes are always good. Do ye need my help with anything?”
“Well, could you come to the barn with me so I could see if the fool’s cow is in there?”
“I can do that. He didnae take the sheriff in there to look, did he? Odd, when he was acting so upset over his cow.” He held the door open for her.
