A rustle came from the trees behind him, and then a rattle.A snake!His horse whinnied frantically. Jesse cursed under his breath as his attention wavered between his horse and the men around the fire. Within seconds, all heads turned his way. He jumped to his feet and pulled the horse back down the hill.
Shouts came from behind, and bullets whipped around him. This was no time to be on foot, so he mounted and pushed the horse into a run. Luckily, he still had the lead, but he wouldn’t leave anything to chance. He and his horse rode as one. The closer he got to town, the safer he’d be.
Glancing behind him, he saw that they were slowly catching up. He dug his heels into the horse’s belly and urged him faster. The pop from a gun exploded behind him, and a bullet whipped past his ear. That was too close, so he crouched lower, riding like the devil was behind him. The devil seemed to be on the bandits’ heels, also, and that worried him.
Another rifle blasted, and the bullet pierced the back of his shoulder. He had no time for this! Biting his lip, he fought the pain, but he was losing the battle. Holding tight to the reins, he prayed his horse would deliver him to town soon.
Sweat poured off his brow as the pain reached deeper into his back. Dizziness overcame him. His shirt quickly dampened with his own blood.
Just a little further...Blinking, he tried to keep the darkness from taking over his mind. He pictured Summer’s face, and it soothed his pain slightly. Love swelled in his heart. He must make it back to town to tell her how he felt. Maybe by telling her, he was falling in love, she would change her mind about marrying Adam.
Up ahead were the tops of buildings. Help was in sight. Gritting his teeth from effort, he looked behind him just as the others pulled away. The race had ended, and he’d won. Through the pain, his body relaxed with the knowledge that he’d be home soon. Slowly blackness seeped in around him, shutting down his senses completely.
Chapter Eleven
Jesse cursed aloud. He rubbed his achy shoulder and fell in defeat against the headboard on his bed. Those stretches the doctor insisted he do with his arm were not helping the pain at all. Was the old Doc trying to punish him for some unknown reason?
“Jesse, quit using such filthy language in front of a lady,” Rosie complained as she carried in his lunch. “I swear, you’re sounding more and more like your brother.”
“So, what’s wrong with that?” he snapped.
“If I have my way, I’ll clean up Cal’s speaking, too.”
“Women.”
Rosie placed the tray of food in front of him. “I think you’re feeling better. If your rotten temper has anything to do with your quick recovery, I’m sure you’ll be back on the saddle in no time.”
“You bet I will.” He flexed his arm again and winced from the pain. “Just wish it didn’t hurt so much.”
She rearranged the pillows behind him, and he sank back onto his mattress. “It won’t hurt for long.” She turned and left the room, effectively ending the conversation and annoying Jesse that much more.
His temper was at the boiling point, and his injury had nothing to do with it. For three days, he’d been without Summer’s company. He repeatedly asked Rosie to have her sister come see him, but Rosie told him Summer refused. Little by little, his heart shattered even more. Obviously, she was trying to convince herself that the feelings they had for each other were not meant to be. And now, he couldn’t change her mind.
From the conversations he heard between Rosie and Cal, it appeared that Adam Fairbanks was doing the proper thing and courting Summer. It made Jesse wonder why Mr. Fancy-pants didn’t want the town to know he had sent away for a mail-order bride. After all, it was done quite a bit. So, why was the man embarrassed?
Fairbanks had already met the Bennett family, and Rosie raved about the very handsome man who had swept Summer off her feet. From what Jesse gathered, even Summer’s parents approved. Unfortunately, there wasn’t a cotton-pickin’ thing he could do about it until his wound healed. His shoulder wouldn’t let him ride his horse, and to Jesse, that put him totally out of commission. Why had his luck changed for the worse? If only he could talk to Summer alone. He wanted to confess his love for her, but the stubborn filly just wouldn’t come to see him.
