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“This isn’t your fault,” I said softly.

“We both know that’s not true.” Her focus narrowed in on my cheek as she wiped away some of the dried blood with antiseptic. It stung my skin and overwhelmed my senses.

“He’s a soldier through and through,” I said, my voice now gruff and angry. “Don’t take that away from him. He’d have taken a bullet for anyone on that ranch a hundred times over.”

She froze, her hand mid-dab on my wound. Her gaze met mine. There was an ache in her blue eyes, and I wanted with everything I had to take that pain away from her.

I loved her.

I’d realized it the moment Peter uttered the name of a dead man and I knew her life was at risk. I’d loved her before that. The way she cared for Annie, Peter, and every tiny creature on Birkstrom ground. The way she tended to the men, encouraging them, joking with them, and hauling Eddie out of the bar when he’d slipped into darkness.

Perhaps it went all the way back to Kötzting when she’d looked upon Phantom with such wonder and care.

I’d fallen for her completely.

She finished stitching my cheek and then covered it with balm. Before she returned the items to the nurse, I took her hands gently in mine and stood. My entire being still buzzed from the adrenaline of hours earlier and from holding her when we’d arrived at the hospital.

A moment was all it took to change everything, and I couldn’t afford to let another one slip through my fingers.

“Eva, there’s so much I need to tell you.” I closed the distance between us, cupped the side of her face with my palm.

Her eyelids fluttered shut, and she leaned into my touch, the movement turning my blood to fire. I wasn’t imagining things. She felt something for me too.

Just as quickly as she’d given in, she straightened and pulled away. “No, Warren. I can’t.”

“Can’t do what?” Talk? Be this close?

Footsteps echoed down the hall, stealing the chance I had to ask her more.

We all turned to the doctor and held our breath in that awful space between wanting to know and dreading the news. It was the stillness on the battlefield when the guns went quiet, and before counting the casualties.

I hated the unknown.

Eva slipped her hand into mine and squeezed. Pain shot through my arm. My left hand was still sore from the impact to the attacker’s jaw, but her skin against mine also soothed the ache.

Violet walked up to the doctor. “Well?”

The doctor seemed to struggle to find the words. Eva’s body tensed next to me.

It couldn’t be. Not Eddie. Not now.

Thirty

Eva

Dr. Harrison broke into a smile and said, “He’s going to be fine.”

Relief nearly brought me to my knees, and Warren was quick to catch Violet, who did stumble.

Dr. Harrison was only a few years older than I was and had attended the same high school. I slugged him in the shoulder. “You should have delivered that news much faster. That’s not what they teach in medical school.”

“Eddie asked me to make it dramatic.” Dr. Harrison held up his hands. “He’s awake, so you can go back now, Mrs. Moore. Family only right now. He’s pretty weak.”

Violet drew in a deep breath, and I knew her ire would be directed back on her husband.

Dr. Harrison pointed at me. “By the way, Eva, that was the cleanest field dressing I’ve ever seen.”

I swatted at his hand, still angry and buzzing from the emotional roller coaster.