Charlie pattered in. “Here you go.” Water threatened to slush over the sides of the basin. A towel dangled from his arm.
Cora hopped up and relieved him of his load.
Charlie knelt on the other side and patted Ben’s arm. “I’m sorry they hurt you.”
Ben lifted the boy’s chin and bore into him with a hard gaze that matched his tone. “They could have hurt you too. Don’t you ever go out there alone at night again.”
Charlie blinked back tears. “Jack wanted to go out.”
“We don’t care what Jack wants.” Cora dipped a clean cloth in the cool water. “You need to do as you’re told.”
Charlie swiped his eyes. “I will, but they’re not going to bother us anymore. Wolf Heart said so.”
“We’re not going to take his word for it.” Cora dabbed the cloth to Ben’s lip, her elbow grazing his chest.
Ben winced. “We’ll see if our horses are still in the stable tomorrow morning. That would be the first sign that maybe Wolf Heart meant what he said.” His words came out thick. “My body’s not feeling their goodwill.” He coughed. A grimace curled his lips. “Fetch a bucket, Charlie.”
The boy scurried to the kitchen.
Ben coughed again and bent forward, elbows on his knees.
“You all right?” Cora scooted out of the way.
“My stomach.” He choked.
Charlie clamored across the threshold.
Ben grabbed the bucket, hung his head down, and retched.
When he finished, Cora gave him a wet cloth to wipe his mouth, then handed the bucket to Charlie. “Cover it and put it by the back door. No one’s setting foot outside till morning. Then, bring Ben a cup of water and me the vinegar jug.”
Would there be a dead body waiting for them in the yard in the morning, or would the Comanche take their own with them? Her throat tightened.
Hand to Ben’s shoulder, she eased him back until he reclined against the wall once more. “Enough talking for now. You rest while I tend to your wounds.”
He nodded and laid his hands across his waist as she dabbed the cloth to his facial wounds, tinting the basin water red.
Charlie brought the glass of water and watched as Ben’s Adam’s apple bobbed with each swallow. “Ben’s going to be all right, Cora.” Brow in a deep furrow, the boy knelt and placed both palms on Ben’s thigh. “You don’t have to worry.”
Eyes barely open, Ben handed her the glass and ruffled Charlie’s hair. “Remember what your sister read to us about Daniel in the lion’s den and David in the caves hiding from Saul? God protected them.”
Charlie laid his cheek on his hand and gazed up at Ben. “God will protect us?”
Ben laid his head against the wall. “Yes, He will.”
Would He? What about Jeb? What about her uncle who had died at the hands of the Comanche? And her dear mother who hadn’t lived to see the death of the husband who’d brought both pain and love? Would her mother have been relieved or broken with more grief? Cora bit back her doubt and poured vinegar on a rag. Her hand hovered over his chest.
Ben squinted his good eye at her and whispered, “What’s wrong?”
Fear. The past. The future. God help her. She’d fallen for the man before her. She shivered.
“You cold?” Concern filled his voice. The purplish hue beneath his left eye and over the lid continued to deepen.
A slight snore broke the silence. They glanced at Charlie. He’d fallen asleep, head still on Ben’s leg.
“The boy can stay in the parlor with me tonight if it’s all right with you,” Ben whispered. “He’s probably still shaken up.”
“So am I.” The words slipped out.
