“How badly are you hurt?” Luke asked, pulling Judith to her feet. “Did that beast bite you?”
Still trembling, she looked down at her coat. The green now had dark splotches running down her left side. A wave of nausea washed over her, and she swayed with dizziness.
“Let me see,” Edith Vosburg said, pushing her way past the crowd. “Are you hurt?”
Judith hurt everywhere but nowhere specifically. “It must be the dog’s blood. What about you, Luke?”
Everyone turned their eyes to him now while Edith took Judith’s arm. “We need to get the two of them inside and in better light.”
“Where’s the doctor?” Marshall asked his voice now indignant.
“He’s trying to save that German fellow who had the dogs,” Charles said. “The sheriff’s gone inside to oversee the surgery.”
Luke put his arm around Judith’s shoulders and offered her support as they headed back into the building. Still wobbly, she needed it. A flash of irritation struck her. After all their work, that terrible man and his beastly animals had turned the Christmas Fair into chaos.
“This is not at all the proper atmosphere for the Christmas story,” she complained.
Mr. Teague shifted to look back at her, Devon in his arms. The child raised his hand to her. Judith smiled at him. Then Mary was pulling him from his father, her eyes brimming with tears.
“If you gentlemen will take Mr. Hamblin to another room to be examined for injuries, I will take Miss Breckinridge with me,” Edith said in the same commanding voice her brother used when he was ordering people around as the sheriff.
“We’re coming with Judith,” Frances said. Doris and Maude nodded their heads.
“Fine.” Edith led the way inside.
Judith’s body had begun to calm, but her tears began. She said nothing, moisture running down her cheeks, as the ladies helped to remove her coat. They examined her thoroughly, asking if anything hurt.
“I feel as though I took a fall from a horse,” she said with a sniff, and Doris handed her a handkerchief.
“I’d say a small horsedidfall on you,” Frances said, and her voice turned proud as she said, “and I put that beast down. Nick got the one on Luke.”
“You shot the dog?”
“I sure did. He looked like he was about to go for your throat.”
“He was.” When the shaking began again, Judith took a deep breath to calm herself. They had survived.
“Your coat must have protected you,” Edith said. “There are some tears in it and only a little blood on your dress.”
“Is there an apron I can borrow to cover it?” Judith asked.
“Aren’t you going home?” Maude asked.
“The Christmas Fair isn’t over.” Judith glanced around the room that had been serving as a kitchen. “Doris’s scholars have been working all month on this program, and tomorrow is Christmas Eve. We must not disappoint them.”
“Are you sure?” Doris asked, looking uncertain.
“We can’t end the evening with this. Wemusthave the story of the birth of the Prince of Peace,” Judith said.
“I agree,” Frances said firmly. “We need to give everyone something happy to leave the fair with.”
“I’ll tell the children,” Doris said, turning to leave.
“Mr. Pulsifer must read his cowboy poetry piece first though,” Judith called, beginning to feel more like herself as she gave instructions. “That will help calm everyone. Now let me find an apron.”
The women left her, and Judith took a few minutes to compose herself. When she stepped out of the kitchen area, she found Luke and Marshall waiting.
“Doris said you’re unhurt?” her brother asked.
