He pushed to his feet and moved to take his horse from Jonah. Naomi had finished packing the campsite and moved to take his place with the woman and girl. Once Eric had mounted, Jonah lifted the woman, still bundled tightly in the coat and blankets, and carefully placed her in Eric's waiting arms. Naomi had continued the conversation with Anna, and though Eric kept his primary focus on the fragile bundle in his arms, he caught most of what the two said. Somehow Naomi managed to convince Anna to ride with her.
Jonah helped the two mount Naomi's horse, then moved back to the campsite and scooped up the two satchels and a few pieces of clothing that remained of their belongings. Where had these two come from, and how had they ended up out here in the mountain wilderness? Hopefully soon he, Naomi, and the Coulters would get the story, but for now, they had to somehow help this frail elderlywoman survive.
Naomi led the way, following the tracks she and Sean must have made coming to this place. Since Lillian wasn't with them, she must be at the cabin with Mary Ellen. Was it wise to leave a twelve-year-old in charge of their active little girl? Lillian certainly seemed capable but...
What was he thinking? Naomi had come to save a life, whether she’d known that when she left or not. Lillian would do her best with their daughter. Perhaps Mary Ellen had even settled down for a nap. She'd seemed sleepy when Eric left.
It seemed to take an hour to reach the house, though it might have been a quarter of that time. When they entered the clearing, Anna peered around Naomi to stare at the buildings. Had she seen them yet? If she and her grandmother were the ones who'd camped by Jonah's cabin, had they ventured this far?
Jericho, Gil, and Sean stepped from the barn and stood to meet them. Sean was talking as they neared, telling the story for his uncles. "I followed the smoke, an' Lil' went back to get Naomi so she could come help. It's a good thing we found 'em when we did, cause?—"
Jericho settled a hand on his nephew's shoulder, thankfully stilling the boy's ramble before he said something that might make Anna worry even more than she likely already was.
Naomi didn't stop when she reached the men but spoke as she continued riding. "Is Dinah at the house?"
"She has things ready,” Jericho said. “Lillian is with her."
Eric kept his horse following Naomi's. Jericho and Gil both eyed the bundle in Eric's arms, walking alongside the horses.
He offered what little explanation he could give. "This is Anna's grandmother." He nodded toward the girl ahead of him. "She might have a broken arm and is probably cold and hungry. She hasn't woken, though her eyelids move a little."
The furrow in Jericho's brow deepened. He glanced back at Jonah. "Where did you find them?"
"About two minutes down the main trail, then southwest a quarter hour at an angle toward the ah...strawberry patch."
They reached the cabin, and Naomi slipped to the ground.
Gil took the reins from her, and Naomi helped the girl from the horse.
Anna was nearly little enough that Naomi could have held her like a tot, but she placed her on the ground, though she kept an arm around the tiny shoulders.
"Can you hand her down to me?" Jericho stood beside Eric's gelding, reaching for the older woman.
"Be careful of her right arm." He eased the frail bundle into the man's arms.
As soon as Jericho had her secure, he strode toward the house. "Sean and Gil will take the horses. Come in and get warm."
Eric didn't need warmth, but he did want to be there to help with Anna and her grandmother.
Inside, Dinah was in the kitchen area, but she immediately moved toward a cot that had been placed by the hearth. How had they readied this in such a short time? Flames leapt in the fireplace, sending a thick warmth through the room.
Dinah met Jericho before he lowered the woman to the bed. "Let's get these wet blankets off. Whose coat is this?"
Eric cleared his throat. "Um, mine. That right arm might be broken. We were trying to keep it close to her."
She sent him an approving look. "Good thinking."
Within less than a minute, they had all the icy material off the woman and tucked her under a half dozen layers of blankets, with a warm rock placed by her feet to heat them. Dinah barked orders in a calm, steady tone. She certainly didn't have to stop and think about what else might be needed. She must have done this routine more than once.
Everyone jumped to obey.
Eric was asked to carry a pot of water fromthe cookstove, then refill it from a large bucket on the counter, and he did so without complaint—or mention of his pained ribs.
He’d survive. He wanted that to be true of Anna and her Grandmother too.
The only people who didn't move were Naomi and little Anna, who sat on chairs at the foot of the bed, near the warmth of the fire. The girl watched every movement Dinah made with her grandmother, her expression stoic.
Naomi had a hand wrapped around her narrow back, but the child sat upright, hands in her lap, eyes fixed. As though every part of her world depended on what happened in these minutes.
