Beth’s guilt climbed. Had Walter been shot because of her?
“I shall leave you now,” Captain Sinclair said.
“My thanks for checking the gunman had gone and for coming to our aid, Captain,” Nathan said.
“Gunman?” the rest of the Deville brothers said in unison.
“I will explain later,” Nathan said.
Captain Sinclair was soon gone, leaving her alone with a room full of Devilles, and Mary, who for once in her life was as quiet as a mouse.
Chapter Twenty
Walter fussed and whimpered, so Beth climbed onto the bed and held his head while Nathan and his brothers cleaned the wound. Mary found her voice and started issuing orders.
“The bleeding needs to be stopped.”
“Clearly we had not thought of that,” Zach snapped back.
“Clean cloths pressed to the wound, and they’ll need changing often,” Mary added undeterred.
“Shut up.” Zach glared at her.
“It looks like the bullet grazed his side just as Captain Sinclair said.” Nathan studied the still bleeding wound ignoring the bickering.
“Care to tell me what the hell happened and why Miss Carlow and Miss Blake are with you?” Gabe demanded. Like the others, he had his shirtsleeves rolled. He was holding the pad on Walter’s side while Nathan rolled the bandage around him. Michael and Zach were lifting the dog when required. Each time Walter whimpered, Beth kissed his nose and told him he was a big brave boy.
“Soon, Gabe,” Nathan said.
“Care to tell me where my peppermint stick is?” Michael smiled at Beth. “We have a deal that you never go there without returning with supplies for your brothers.”
Always the peacemaker, Nathan thought, rolling down his sleeves.
“He needs rest now,” Zach said, doing the same.
“And some broth,” Mary added, not to be outdone.
“We will sit with him,” Forrest said, entering the room. “Ella is worried and wishes to read him stories.”
“I’m sure he’ll love that.” Nathan bent to kiss his niece. “He will be all right, Ella.”
She gave him wobbly smile, then climbed onto the bed beside Beth.
“Why did someone want to hurt, Walter, Uncle Nathan?”
“I’m not sure, sweetheart, but it will not be something you need worry about again.” He stroked her head softly.
Now that everyone was here and safe, and Walter not in imminent danger of death, Nathan was coming to the realization that he could have lost Beth today. That bullet could have taken her from him. Mary too could easily have been shot.
“Somebody had better start explaining things,” Zach snapped. “I want answers as to why there was a gunman and why it was Walter who was shot!”
“As opposed to me or Miss Carlow?” Mary said in an icy tone.
“That is not what I meant, and you bloody well know it,” Zach snarled.
“I want answers too,” Gabe said in a voice that the Deville brothers knew well. “Why was Captain Sinclair involved?”
“Don’t bellow at me,” Nathan snapped. “I said I will tell you.”
