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“You did.”

Jesse opened his eye.

Nate pulled his chair closer. “Peter says you stood between those men and Izzy. They went after her, and you got in their way.”

“Peter’s safe?”

“Bruised, but safe. Izzy too.”

Jesse let his head sink into the pillow. He could picture Peter ducking beneath the table, then nothing. If both of them had made it out, at least his fists had done some good before the darkness came.

A quiet knock interrupted them.

“It’s Emily,” came a voice from the hall.

Nate waited for Jesse’s permission.

He wasn’t ready for Bass. Emily was another matter. He imagined her standing outside with one hand on the child she carried, worrying herself sick over him.

“Let her in.”

Emily came through the door wrapped in a blue shawl. Her eyes were red, but she managed a smile until she reached the bed.

“Oh, Jesse.”

“I ain’t dead.”

She pressed a hand over her mouth. “No, you’re not.”

“Bass still wearing a hole in the floor?”

“Several. Carolina may send him the bill.”

He managed a weak grin.

Emily sat beside him and offered her hand. Jesse gave her his left one. She held it carefully, keeping clear of his bruised knuckles.

“Don’t let him ride after those men,” he said.

“I’ll do what I can.”

“He listens to you.”

“Only when it suits him.”

“Tell him I said to stay.”

“I will.”

She stroked his hand with her thumb. Jesse waited for her to cry again, but she drew a breath and squared her shoulders.

“There’s something I need to tell you.”

He didn’t like the sound of that.

“Before you were hurt, I wrote to a woman about you.”

“No.”