Dinah plunged her hands in the water to scrub the bandage. "I’ll stay here and do some cleaning. You girls enjoy the sunshine."
Naomi had made sure the cabin was swept every day, but Dinah needed to scrub around the table, the kitchen, and the main pathways through the rooms.
She should probably mention to Naomi the need for a braided rug to be placed inside the front door. That way it could pick up the dust and mud from the men's boots before they tracked everything into the house.
After she scrubbed and hung the bandage to dry, she glanced around the kitchen. Sampson had taken over milking the cow until she was fully gentled, but he must have forgotten to bring the milk in that morning. Dinah needed to strain it clean before the cream separated.
She strode to the door. "I'm going to the barn for a minute." The men murmured replies too low to hear, so she slipped outside.
The wind had kicked up stronger than when she'd been out with Jericho, taking on an icy bite that bespoke winter coming soon. Enough leaves had fallen from the trees that she could see a range of mountains in the distance—majestic rocky peaks that made her chest swell every time she stopped to admire them.
When she stepped into the barn, the cow lowed softly to greet her. The animal's stall opened to an outside corral, but she must be taking refuge in the barn from the wind. Sampson had left the bucket of milk hanging on a hook beside the stall, so Dinah picked it up and turned to head back inside.
A man stood in the barn door opening.
Her heart surged into a thundering pace, but then she made out Mr. Chalmers's outline. Especially the way he cradled his injured arm.
She let out a breath. "Mr. Chalmers. You shouldn't be out yet. Is there something you need?" She'd set up a chamber pot for him in the house so he wouldn't need to come outside for that. And certainly not to the barn.
He shifted his weight. "Need to talk to you. About the medicine."
She tensed. "What about it?"
"I need more. Just for today. This pain is awful, too much to endure." His voice was low, almost pleading.
He must have already formed a dependency. Most people didn't have trouble after only three days, but if he'd had previous addictions, his body might be more sensitive.
She kept her voice as calm and firm as she could. "I understand you're in pain. But I can't give you more laudanum. The effects would be far worse for you."
He advanced a step forward. "You don't care how bad I hurt."
She stepped back before she could stop herself. But then she braced her feet, unwilling to let him believe he had power over her. "Of course I care about your pain. That's why I'm making sure your arm heals properly. But I can't give you more medicine. It's not safe."
She glanced sideways. Chalmers was still moving slowly. She could probably get into the cow's stall and out to the corral without him catching her.
He took another step forward, his expression turning menacing. "I think you're lying to me. I think you're keeping that medicine for yourself."
"That's not true." She reached for the pin that locked the gate. "Please, Mr. Chalmers. I need you to go back inside and rest. I’ll make willow bark tea to help with your pain."
He took a longer stride toward her, bringing him almost within arm's reach. "You're a pretty thing. Maybe you can help me feel better without your medicine."
The man had become a full lunatic. She jerked the gate open and turned to slide into the stall.
He grabbed at her, gripping her sleeve and a lock of hair the wind had pulled loose.
She scrambled to yank free, but his hold was too strong. He held her in place with an iron fist.
"Let go!" She tried to turn and plant an elbow in his side, but the gate blocked her effort. Her arm slammed the wood, shooting pain up her shoulder to blend with the searing of her scalp where he pulled her hair.
"I've had enough of you..."
Her heart pounded as she struggled against him. He'd lost his mind. She never would have thought he had this much strength left after all the blood he lost.
"I said, let go!" She spun to strike him, this time pushing the gate wider with her body so she could reach him. If she could hit his injured arm, that would stop him. Surely.
His good arm was so long though, he held her too far away to reach the injured limb. He pulled down on her hair, forcing her backward to the ground.
She kicked out with her leg, trying to catch his injured wrist, or maybe strike his groin area. Anything to cripple the power he wielded.
