She nodded as she inhaled another breath. "I came to get the milk. Then all of a sudden he was behind me. I should have run sooner. But he grabbed me. He was so strong. I never would have guessed he'd be so strong…" Her voice trembled near the end.
He reached up to stroke her hair again. "Shh." He wanted to turn and kick the life out of the man who'd attacked her, but he had to stay calm for Dinah right now. And he needed to know if there was more. "Did he… Are you hurt?"
She shook her head. "Jonah came when I was on the ground. I was trying to tell him I would give him laudanum, but I couldn't breathe." Again, her voice gave away her emotions.
He needed to get her to the house. Away from the scene of this awfulness. "Do you think you can walk?"
She nodded and pushed up to her feet. He tucked his arm around her waist. She didn't look very steady, and he wasn't ready to let her go just yet.
Voices sounded outside. The others had probably all ridden back at the shot. He'd left Sean and Sampson behind in the lower pasture, simply jerked Pinto around and plunged his heels into the horse. Pinto had felt the urgency, taking the upward trail faster than ever before.
If only Jericho hadn’t left the women alone, then none of this would have happened. He'd known better, but he'd allowed Dinah to talk him out of his convictions.
No more.
The only way he could assure the safety of those he loved was by keeping strangers off their land. She would have to accept that. Surely after what happened here, she would agree with him.
* * *
"When we heard that shot, Dinah, I was so scared. I would have fallen over if Naomi hadn't grabbed my hand and made me run with her."
Dinah reached out for Lillian's hand and gave a gentle squeeze as Naomi slipped an arm around the girl's shoulders. They all three sat on the big double bed. They'd needed a girls’ night tonight. A chance to talk through the happenings of the day.
The men played some kind of card game at the table in the other room. The game didn't involve betting, just innocent rivalry, so she didn't question Sean joining the fun. They'd even pushed the table close enough that Jonah could participate from his bed.
Naomi rubbed her hand up and down Lillian's back. "We were all afraid. But you were brave." Naomi turned her focus to Dinah. "Youwere brave too. My goodness, Dinah. You fought back and stood up for yourself."
Dinah shrugged, avoiding eye contact. "I had to get away from him."
Lillian looked up at Dinah with wide eyes. "Did he hurt you?"
Dinah shook her head. "No, sweetie. I'm not hurt." Except for her insides. If only she could go back and make different choices.
Lillian's brow still scrunched in worry, so Dinah squeezed her hand again. "God sent your Uncle Jonah to help me just when I needed him. The Lord always takes care of His children, though it doesn’t always happen the way we expect it to. God knows what we need. He's never late."
The girl's mouth pinched, though the worry seemed to have eased from her eyes. "Are you God’s children because you help make people better?"
Dinah’s heart ached even more. “I’m God’s daughter because I’ve asked Him to be my Father. To clean away the things I’ve done wrong and help me live for Him.”
“Is that why you’re a doctor? Because God wants you to be?” Her gaze was so earnest, Dinah chose her next words carefully.
“I don’t have to do anything to earn God’s love. He gives it freely. But…I guess I am a doctor because God wants me to be. It’s a special work He’s given me.”
A feather of warmth eased the weight from her chest. She’d needed that reminder.
“He made you really good at helping people get better.”
She stroked her thumb over the back of Lillian's hand. "Thank you for saying that."
Her wide blue eyes shimmered. "It's true. I wish you'd been there in Virginia City. You could have kept my mama and pa alive."
The sting of tears sprang before Dinah could stop them, and she swallowed down the knot clogging her throat. "I wish I could have."
A yawn forced Lillian's mouth wide.
"I think it's time for all of us to turn in." Naomi patted Lillian's shoulder, then scooted off the bed.
After the men straggled to the barn, Naomi saw that Sean and Lillian were tucked in their bedding as she usually did. Dinah turned to make sure Jonah was comfortable for the night, with the traction weight in the proper position.
