Jericho’s spoke again, but Sampson squeezed his eyes shut as he focused on each breath in and out. “Should I go after him to help?”
Sampson shook his head, though that might have been a poor choice, considering how it made his head throb. “No.” He managed to push the word out, and finally Dinah moved her poking down to his belly. There couldn’t be broken bones down there. Just bruises, from the feel of it.
Jericho held his tongue, but that didn’t mean the questioning was over. At least Sampson didn’t have to face both tortures at the same time.
After Dinah worked her way down his legs, she sat back on her heels. "These ribs are definitely broken. And your shoulder...it looks like there’s a break." Her gaze shifted to his face. “We'll wrap your abdomen and brace the arm against your body. After that, do you feel up to riding back to the ranch?”
No. Not for a few months at least. “Sure.” He didn’t have a choice, did he?
“It’ll be dark soon.” Jericho stepped in once more. “Might be best to get a good night sleep and start back in the morning.”
“I’ll give you something for the pain, then we can clean and bandage you.” Dinah turned to open the satchel at her side.
Pain medicine. That was the best news he’d had all day.
After Dinah had him swallow a liquid, Heidi brought a pot from the fire to place beside him. “This water should cool quickly.” When she glanced up at Sampson’s face, she winced.
He must really look rough.
Jericho crouched by his head, and Sampson tipped his chin up to see his eldest brother. With his swollen eyes, he couldn’t focus enough to gauge Jericho’s gaze—a small blessing.
“Who did this to you, little brother?” For once, Jericho’s voice wasn’t hard and commanding. It held a tenderness Sampson hadn’t heard in years.
“I…don’t know. I can’t remember.” That was a truth he could be thankful for just now.
“Do you have an idea? An inkling?” Jericho sounded patient, but he didn’t seem to buy the amnesia excuse.
Dinah lifted his shirt and began rubbing a wet cloth over his belly. Sampson sucked in a breath. Though the water was warm, the moment the icy air hit his damp skin, it felt like it turned into icicles.
“Sorry,” she murmured. “I’ll be quick.” She was rubbing at a particularly sore spot, and he had to grit his teeth to keep from pushing her away.
At least his shoulder didn’t hurt quite as bad. Maybe the medicine was working already.
“What’s the last thing you recall?” Jericho wouldn’t give up with the questions.
He let his eyes close again. “I was driving a wagon. Out of Missoula.” He strained for more. He could decide whether he’d tell his brother anything else if he remembered new details, but…nothing came.
He opened his eyes. “I can’t remember anything after that.”
Jericho squinted at him, definitely not liking the answer. “Do you have a sense whether the man who beat you was a stranger on the road or someone you knew?” He still didn’t sound angry. Maybe more worried than anything.
“I…don’t know.” That wasn’t quite the truth. He was pretty sure Jedidiah had something to do with this. And he’d not mentioned the fact that Jedidiah was riding with him.
Jericho blew out a breath. His voice gentled when he spoke to his wife. “Anything I can do to help?”
She shook her head, lowering Sampson’s shirt before she pulled the fur up over his belly. “I need to clean his face before we wrap him. It’ll be a few minutes.”
Sampson let his eyes drift shut. Sounded like he had plenty of fun coming. At least a bit of warmth had crept into his bones. And the hurt had begun to fade everywhere. Maybe once Dinah finished all her fussing, he could sleep.
Two Stones would be with Grace by now, and maybe they’d already left Missoula. She and Ruby were safe. Two Stones wouldn’t let anyone touch them.
He could finally manage a full breath, and he drew in another dose of clear air. He’d have to tell his family about his marriage. Maybe Two Stones would do that for him if he reached the ranch first.
Sampson should tell Jericho and Dinah before then.
Tomorrow morning. He didn’t have to give them all the details. They wouldn’t understand, but they couldn’t change anything.
And he didn’t regret for a second making Grace his wife. The farther he could get her from her father, the safer she and the baby would be.
