Page 31 of Return to Telegraph Creek

I opened my mouth to protest, but she continued.

“If you do that, I promise you’ll feel much better tomorrow, and you can start walking around the place.If you rip these stitches, we’ll have to start all over, and you’ll be laid up even longer.”

She had a point.

“You want that?”Oscar said.

“No.Course not.”

“Then you listen to Miss June and do what she says.If she can keep a house full of working girls healthy and strong, I reckon she knows what she’s about.”

My gaze flicked to Miss June’s, and her calm dignity reminded me that I was under her care and that I needed to listen and do what she said.

“All right.”

Miss June and Oscar unwrapped me like I was some kind of strange Christmas gift, while I held on to Oscar’s arm for support.His gaze flitted from the wall to the window and to my face and back again—anywhere but the wound that Miss June was examining.

“These bandages aren’t all that bloody, so that’s a good sign.The bleeding didn’t last long after the stitching was done.”

“That’s good,” I said, craning my neck to see.Miss June had stitched it nice and straight, with delicate sutures that you could barely see.It looked better than I’d expected.’Twas still a bit red and angry at the edges, but I reckoned that would reduce with time.

“Well, that doesn’t look too bad,” Miss June agreed.“I’ll put a fresh dressing on it now, and another one this evening.We’ll change it twice a day for the next few days, and when it’s healed enough for you to go out riding, you should keep it covered so it doesn’t get dirt and dust in it.I figure after a week you won’t need a bandage at all,ifyou do everything I say, and it doesn’t get any worse.Infection is the thing we need to watch out for now.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I knew that was true.We’d lost an outlaw or two as the result of an injury that wasn’t properly cared for.

Miss June sponged the wound with a clean cloth soaked in the warm water she’d brought, then had Oscar help to wrap me up again in the clean bandages.

“How does that feel, now?”

“Good.I ain’t got hardly any pain, ’cept when I move.”

She smiled, and Oscar looked relieved.

“Wonderful.I’ll have cook send up some breakfast for both of you, and some willow bark tea for you, Jimmy.She’ll put something in it for the swelling, too, so drink every last drop of it, all right?”

“All right.Thank you.”

Miss June placed a tender hand on my shoulder.

“You’re very welcome, Jimmy.We’ll have you in ship shape in no time.”

She turned to Oscar.

“Now, I’m hoping you and Trick can set off by noon, Oscar.I made sure she got rid of her last client by one this morning, and I’ll wake her at ten.In the meantime, keep Jimmy company and don’t let him distract you by asking for favors, you understand?”She gave a pointed look at where my cock lay under the blankets, then looked to Oscar.“He needs to rest.In a little while, he’ll be well enough for any mischief you want to get into, as long as it’s gentle and slow.”

Oscar snorted.“Gentle and slow?Jimmy ain’t ever—”

I cleared my throat and covered his mouth with my hand, enjoying the startled look in his gaze and the quick flick of his wet tongue against my palm.

I cleared my throat and lowered it, begging Oscar with my gaze to be quiet.“Yes, ma’am.Thank you kindly.”

Miss June gave me a lovely smile, and I reckoned I saw a hint of her youthful beauty from long ago.“You didn’t have to come all this way to help me and Cal, but you did, and I’m very thankful.The least I can do is make you comfortable while you’re here.”

Chapter Ten

Fretting