studied him. “Do you think you could mount up?”
His mouth tightened. “I might need a hand, but I could do it.”
“I don’t know if we should put you to the test until we have to. There’s still time for help to get here before dark.”
His jaw clinched and she could tell he wasn’t happy with what he was about to say. “Look, I’ll be honest. Right now I believe I have the strength to do this, with your help. But I’m not sure how long that’ll last.” He stared at her with fiercely determined eyes. “So if we’re going to mount up, it had better be soon.”
Jo glanced toward the trail from town. No sign of help. The temperature had already started dropping and it’d be dusk soon.
She also didn’t care much for the flushed look of his face. If he developed a fever things could go from bad to worse in a hurry. He was right. Time to fish or cut bait.
The thing was, she wasn’t just worried about getting him up on the horse, though that was going to take more than a bit of effort. Was he really up to the long ride back to Knotty Pine? He’d admitted his strength was fading. His wound could start bleeding again, or worse, he could fall off. If that happened they’d be worse off than before.
What a pickle!
Jo drew her shoulders back. Better to leave the hand wringing to Cora Beth. It wasn’t a great choice but it was the only one they had. The last thing she needed was to be caught out here after dark, with Otis roaming around somewhere.
“Okay, let’s give it a shot. You conserve what strength you have while I put out the fire and get the horse ready.”
He nodded.
“Just try to stay awake.” Grabbing the fallen branch she’d been using as a makeshift cane, Jo levered herself up. She’d probably be sore for the next few days but she’d put up with worse aches before. And it wasn’t anything like what Mr. Lassiter was dealing with.
She still had trouble thinking of him as just Ry. Funny thing how he’d insisted on addressing her as Josie instead of Jo. No one had called her that before. Ma had always used her given name of Josephine, and her nieces called her Aunt JoJo. But to everyone else she was just plain Jo.
Josie. Kind of had a nice ring to it. Not too frilly or fancy sounding, but definitely recognizable as a girl’s name.
The thought struck her then that she would finally have a story of her own to add to her journal. Not that this was the way she’d wanted it to happen, but it was an adventure just the same.
Heavenly Father, I know I’ve been praying for an adventure and now that I’ve found myself smack-dab in the middle of a humdinger of one it don’t seem quite right for me to be asking You to end it so soon. But I guess that’s what I’m doing.
Mr. Lassiter don’t deserve to suffer just ’cause I want some excitement. Especially since he pushed himself so hard to save me. So please, whatever it takes, keep him safe.
Ry roused to the feel of a damp cloth on his forehead.
He opened his eyes to see Josie staring down at him, her face creased in worry.
“You sure you want to try this? We can always wait a little longer for help to come.”
“I’m all right. Just resting.”
Doubt flashed in her eyes at his obvious fib.
“Let’s see if you can sit up first,” she temporized.
Determined to reassure her, Ry steeled himself and pushed up with his good arm, doing his best to ignore the spinning sensation. He gritted his teeth, chafing at this unaccustomed feebleness. If he hadn’t had her hand at his back he might not have made it.
After a moment he felt steady again and took his bearings. He must have been out for more than the few seconds he’d thought. She’d managed to douse the fire without him even noticing.
“First we’re going to put that arm of yours in a sling and secure it against your chest so we can keep from jarring it as much as possible. Won’t do to have you bleeding to death on me.”
Where had she found those strips of cloth? His eyes flashed to the blanket-covered body in sudden understanding. The woman not only had gumption but she was cannily resourceful.
“That was a mighty vicious kick Otis gave you,” she said, bringing his gaze back around. “You sure you can stand okay?”
That explained why his thigh hurt so bad. “I’ll manage.”
“Have you ever ridden bareback before?” she asked.
“Yes, of course.”
“Good. ’Cause I figure that’s our best chance of getting the two of us on that animal.
Made sense. Riding double with a saddle was not a comfortable proposition.
“Problem is, without stirrups we need a mounting block. There’s a fallen tree over where I’ve tethered the horse. If you use me as a crutch, can you make it?”
He eyed the distance separating him from the horse. About ten yards. Might as well have been a mile. “I’ll make it.”
“Good.” She studied her handiwork with the sling. “How does that feel? Not too tight is it?”
“It’s fine.” Enough talk, time for action.
“Okay then. Whenever you’re ready, put your good arm around my neck and I’ll help you up, nice and steady.”
Bracing himself, Ry nodded and did as he was told.
By the time he finally stood upright, he was as winded as a racehorse after a gallop and drenched in sweat.
Josie supported him, not saying a word or clucking over him in useless sympathy. He appreciated her patience and restraint.
He was also determined not to lean on her one jot more than necessary. He just needed her to provide an anchor when the waves of dizziness hit.
He’d be hanged if he’d let any of his injuries stop him. It was imperative that he get her away from here, and it seemed the only way to budge her was to go with her.
Lord, let me make it to that horse without giving this woman more troubles than she’s already had.
He let her lead him across the short patch of ground, focusing on placing one foot in front of the other. And on not falling.
When they reached the makeshift mounting block he paused, gathering every bit of energy he still possessed for the effort ahead.
Before he could move, she spoke up. “Now this is going to be the tricky part. I’ll need to ride up front so I can guide the horse. That means I should mount first. Can you support yourself while I do that?”
Ry nodded. It had to be done, so he would do it. He’d always prided himself on his horsemanship—time to give it
