Page 48 of Wellspring

“THERE.” DR. Lillard removed the last of the stitches from Erick’s chest. “I’m afraid you’ll always have some hellacious scars, but I’ll give you some cream to rub into them to keep the skin from tightening up.”

Erick flexed his arms and smiled. There was some pull, but much less now that the stitches were removed, and he could exercise to get his range of motion back. “Thank you, Doctor, for all your care, though I hope you will forgive me for saying I wish to never experience it again.”

“Just don’t try to do too much too fast,” Lillard warned as Erick pulled on the shirt Lizzie had insisted on giving him to replace the one ruined when he was shot. “I don’t want to see you back here any more than you do. And that means no riding for at least another month.”

Erick didn’t meet Cade’s gaze, determined not to betray the thoughts running through his head at just what kind of riding he would like to do.

Knowing Cade, it would be weeks before he would be allowed such liberties again.

His lover was even more of a worrier than the doctor.

Today, though, he would only be sitting in the buckboard as Javier drove it back to Wellspring with the week’s supplies from the mercantile, and even then, he expected to be coddled within an inch of his life. “I will be careful.”

“Tim O’Neill made this to help you with your breathing exercises.

” Dr. Lillard held up a glass jar with a tube and mouthpiece attached.

“He calls it a spirometer. The jar has a feather inside. Inhale as deeply as possible, then blow into the mouthpiece and keep the feather in the air as long as you can.”

It was harder than it sounded to keep the feather floating for more than a few seconds, and Erick was gasping for breath after his first attempt, his mending ribs aching.

“I want you to use it at least four times a day, ten breaths each time,” Dr. Lillard instructed.

“The more you use it, the sooner your lung will expand and strengthen.”

Erick wasn’t looking forward to the discomfort, but he’d endure it to regain the stamina he’d lost.

Cade hovered at his elbow as he walked outside to the boardwalk. “Cade, I’m fine,” he murmured.

“But you weren’t,” Cade replied just as softly.

“No, but I’m getting better every day,” Erick reminded him.

“And you should continue to do so,” Dr. Lillard confirmed. “Just listen to your body. When you’re tired, rest. Add new activities gradually. And keep doing your breathing exercises. I’d like to check up on you in a few months, just to be sure everything is still going well.”

“We’ll see you the next time we come into town,” Erick promised, all but dragging Cade away from the surgery. “Come on, we need to pick up the horses.” Even if he wasn’t able to ride yet, he was looking forward to seeing Zephyr again.

After confirming that Erick was well enough to return to Wellspring, Javier had dropped Michele off at the stables before continuing to pick up the week’s supply order from the mercantile.

The walk from Dr. Lillard’s office wasn’t far, but Erick didn’t have a chance to get out of breath.

Every few steps, it seemed, someone stopped him to congratulate him on his recovery or wish him well.

Jock Murphy and Michele were waiting outside the stables when they arrived.

Nahnia was saddled for Michele to ride on the way back to Wellspring, but Erick didn’t trust anyone else but Cade to handle Zephyr.

The big stallion snorted and tossed his head as Erick approached.

Cade had to catch his halter before he could butt Erick in the chest.

“Easy, my friend.” Erick stroked Zephyr’s silky nose.

“Today I cannot ride you the way we are accustomed to doing, but we will go for a long run again before too long, I promise.” He cut Cade off before he could say it.

“Not for at least a month, I know. But for today, you must let us tie you to the wagon so we can go home to Wellspring. You will do that, will you not?”

He’d offered to let Cade ride Zephyr as he had often enough on the journey from Galveston, but Cade had insisted on riding in the buckboard with him. Erick could only hope Cade would have less time to coddle him once they returned to the ranch.

Zephyr snorted, but the sound of Erick’s voice was enough to calm him and when Javier arrived with the supplies, Erick was able to tie his lead rope to the side of the buckboard, far enough away from the draft horses that he wouldn’t bother them even if he decided to act up on the way home.

And if it got bad enough, Erick or Cade could reach the rope from the back of the wagon and release the tie, setting the horse free.

Michele would have to chase him on Nahnia if they did that, but it would be better than watching him injure himself.

Once they got Zephyr situated, Cade climbed into the wagon and settled himself in a nest of blankets and pillows, then gestured for Erick to join him. “Oh for heaven’s sake,” Erick muttered when he saw it.

“The road is rough,” Javier said. “This will provide some protection.”

“Let us make you as comfortable as we can, Erick,” Michele added. “The other choice is another week or more as Doc Lillard’s guest before you get to come home.”

“Yeah, get these two out of my barn, especially the big one,” Jock said with a grin. “Let him eat Wellspring’s oats, not mine. Though the next time I see him, I expect you to be riding him again.”

“You can be sure of it.” Erick clambered into the back of the wagon, smiling at Javier but ignoring his offered hand. When he tried to settle beside Cade, strong arms drew him into an embrace, his back to Cade’s chest before he could voice a protest.

“Just let me enjoy holding you,” Cade murmured into his ear. “I haven’t had my arms around you for weeks.”

Erick could admit—to himself at least—that it felt good to be held as the wagon rolled out of the barn and along the rutted street.

Cade’s body and the blankets and pillows provided some cushion against the jolts of the road, making the ride less agony than it would otherwise have been, but nothing could make it comfortable.

Worse, inhaling the dust raised by the wagon wheels on the arid trail aggravated his throat and caused racking coughs.

Cade’s suggestion to tie his kerchief over his nose and mouth did little to make breathing any easier.

Erick gritted his teeth and dug his fingers into his thighs and reminded himself that his own bed awaited him at the other end of the journey.

Less than an hour into the trip, Cade called out to Javier. “Erick needs a break. Just for a few minutes.”

“I’m fine,” Erick tried to say, but Cade hushed him.

Javier pulled the horses to a stop and jumped down. “I’m sorry, Erick, but there’s not a lot I can do about the state of the road.”

“I know.” Erick breathed easier now that he wasn’t being jostled almost constantly. “Let me rest for a short time and we can go on.”

“We should have stayed in town,” Cade fretted.

“It is worth it to be going home.” Cade’s arms tightened around him, and Erick marveled how in a few months, Wellspring felt more of a home than his estate in Prussia ever had.

Michele climbed down from Nahnia and reached into the wagon to hand Erick one of the pillows that made up the nest. “Try holding this against your chest,” she suggested. “The pressure helps some women cope with cramping.”

To his surprise, Erick found that clutching the pillow to his chest did help ease the worst of his pain from the jostling and coughing. Cade had Javier stop once more to let him rest before they finally reached the boundary of Wellspring land.

MacRae was riding the border line, and when he saw the wagon approaching, he let out a whoop and set his horse racing toward the big house. By the time Javier pulled up in front of the porch, every hand on the ranch seemed to have gathered together.

“Hoss!” Burke pushed through the crowd to the back of the wagon. “What’s this bullshit I hear about you letting Sanders shoot you in the back? You’re supposed to be smarter than that.”

“Burke,” Cade growled, but Erick just smiled. After almost a month in Eldorado and nearly dying, he welcomed even Burke’s bravado.

“I made the mistake of crediting him with basic human decency,” Erick replied. “It’s a mistake I will not have to worry about making again since Cade killed him.”

“About damn time someone did,” Burke said. “Let’s get you out of that wagon. Can you walk? Do you need a chair with wheels? A pulley to get you in and out of bed? Although with Webster’s arms, he can probably lift you.”

“I can manage on my own, thank you.” Erick pushed up to stand, taking a breath before climbing carefully to the ground.

Cade hopped down beside him, standing close enough to catch him if he wobbled, but Erick locked his knees and stood straight as one by one the hands ambled up to shake his hand or clap him on the shoulder to welcome him back.

“Why don’t you come sit on the porch?” Grace asked after an especially enthusiastic buffet from Svensen nearly sent him to the ground. Grateful for the chance to get off his feet, Erick sank into one of the wicker chairs and accepted the glass of sweet tea she handed him.

“Yeah, that way Kit can help me unload the supplies instead of lollygagging with his boyfriend,” Javier said. MacRae flipped him off, but Logan flushed and helped lift the cartons of groceries out of the wagon.

“I’ll come back once I get the horses settled.” Cade untied Zephyr and followed Michele and Nahnia toward the stables.

“How are you?” Grace asked when everyone had scattered and returned to their jobs. “Tell me the truth.”

“As if I would dare to tell you anything else,” Erick replied with a tired smile.

She looked at him steadily until he sighed. “I am weak as a newborn kitten, in a great deal of pain, and under strict orders to rest and recover for at least another month, but I am no longer at death’s door.”

“Well, you won’t be able to rest and recover in the bunkhouse. You’ll stay here in the guest room,” Grace said with a decided nod.

“I cannot put you out in such a way,” Erick protested. “I will sleep with the other men as I always have.”

Grace flushed a charming pink. “I know that you were shot because you knocked Frank Sanders to the ground over what he said about me. Giving you a peaceful place to recuperate is the least I can do when you were hurt coming to my defense.”

“I did no more than any man would have done upon hearing such slanders.”

“It speaks to the man you are that you believe that,” Grace said with a shake of her head. “But I will not take no for an answer. You will stay here until you are fully recovered.”

“Yeah,” said Cade, coming to join them on the porch. “You’ll rest much better if you don’t have to listen to Svensen snoring and Beaufort farting all night.”

Payne strode up from the direction of the barn and gave Erick a long, steady once-over. “Nice of you to join us, Heller. Had enough of lazing about in town?”

“The scenery there left something to be desired,” Erick replied in the same tone of voice, “though I did appreciate the break from work. Then again, according to Dr. Lillard, I have another month at least before I can return to my regular labors. I shall have to find other ways to be useful until then.”

“You’ll sit your ass in that chair and do exactly what the doctor says until then, that’s what you’ll do,” Payne snapped. “And not a damn thing more, if I have to sit on you myself to make sure of it.”

Erick raised his eyebrows. He’d known he had Payne’s grudging respect, but he hadn’t realized the man’s regard had grown to such a degree. “If you say so, though I am sure there are things I can do to help Grace with the accounts and such without taxing myself unduly.”

“In time, perhaps,” Grace said. She met Payne’s challenging stare evenly. “Not until he is up to it, but I could use his help in calculating our available funds, should any of the JR’s land or assets become available.”

Payne dropped a kiss on Grace’s hair. “You’ll do things your own damn way and have us all dancing to your tune and liking it, as always. Just remember the man almost died,” he grumbled.

“I won’t let her forget,” Cade muttered at Erick’s side.

“As if I would,” Grace said with a huff. “And it is accounting, not hard labor. The worst he would have to worry about is a paper cut. Men. Really!”

“He looks like a stiff wind would blow him over,” Payne said.

“Webster, get his things from the bunkhouse. As for you,” he fixed Erick with a glare, “you can sit here until Trujillo makes a goddamn edible dinner—damn fool idiot, getting thrown into jail and making us eat swill—and then your sorry ass is going to bed if I have to make Webster carry you there. Since he hasn’t seen fit to do his damn job around here either. ”

Cade just grinned at Payne’s insults and trotted off toward the bunkhouse.

Erick wouldn’t object to sleeping on a real feather bed again—the straw mattress in the bunkhouse was no longer a hardship to sleep on, but a softer mattress would be much easier on his scars.

But he did object to being separated from Cade for as much as another month.

Not that they had any privacy in the bunkhouse, but they’d been able to find other places to be alone.

Between Grace and Payne, he doubted he’d be able to leave the house for more than the shortest of walks.