Marry Me

Read Marry Me for Free Online

Book: Read Marry Me for Free Online
Authors: Jo Goodman
Tags: Fiction, General, Romance, Historical
hell’s the matter, Runt? Let me see.” He put his hand on Runt’s shoulder and was immediately shaken off. He saw that Runt was biting down hard on his lower lip and still couldn’t silence the moaning. “Jesus,” Will whispered. “What did that bastard do to you?”
    A deep shudder wracked Runt’s small, wiry frame. “Leave me.”
    “Like hell.” He reached behind him for Runt’s Winchester, hauled it up, and stood. He stepped away from Runt and fired two shots in quick succession. The doc might not understand what he was hearing, but Judah would. Will was less certain if he’d come.
    Will set the rifle down and knelt beside Runt. Without asking permission, he grabbed Runt’s wrists and yanked them away. Will was still surprised by the resistance that Runt gave him. The accompanying groan was something awful to hear, and he couldn’t stop Runt from jerking his knees all the way to his chest. It was a good attempt to hide the problem, but it came a hairsbreadth too late.
    Will saw the blood soaking Runt’s britches. The center of the dark, wet stain was Runt’s privates, but the blossom had already spread to his thighs and lower belly. Will swore softly. “You sure you didn’t shoot yourself? Lord, but you’re bleedin’ like a stuck pig. Let me at least try to stop that.” Even as he said it, he was shedding his vest. He tossed it aside and began unbuttoning his shirt. He came close to tearing it off his body as Runt fell quiet. Will thought it should have been a relief from the moaning, but it wasn’t. The silence worried him more. He’d never heard of an Abbot boy passing out.
    Will wadded his shirt into a ball and jammed it between Runt’s rigidly held legs. His efforts elicited a jerky objection, but that small protest gave Will some hope. He looked off toward the cabin, wondering if help was on the way. He couldn’t imagine that Runt would be able to walk the distance, and if he had to carry him, Runt would die of shame long before they reached the porch.
    “I’m goin’ back,” Will said. “Won’t take but a minute.” He jumped to his feet. “Keep that shirt twixt your legs. And don’t move.” Will wouldn’t have bothered with this last directive if he had been talking to anyone but Runt Abbot. He wouldn’t put it past him to crawl off to some hidey-hole like any other wounded animal.
    Will arrived at the cabin minutes later and flung the door open with enough force to shake the walls. Cole flinched, turning to face Will, but Judah’s fingers never faltered as he buttoned his shirt, and when he looked up, he expressed no alarm. “Bring the bag,” Will said, striding toward Judah’s bedroom. “Something’s powerful wrong with Runt. I’ll get some sheets. Take Dolly.”
    Cole thought he could have hesitated only the span of a heartbeat, but it was long enough for Will to bark another order.
    “Go, dammit!”
    Cole closed his bag and jerked it off the table. He didn’t spare a glance for Judah, nor bother to ask Will what had happened. He felt the rush of Will’s urgency roil through his own blood and was convinced he had to act. Following Will’s direction, he mounted Dolly without taking time to strap on his bag. He held it close to his chest and managed the reins with one hand.
    Will caught up to Cole at the edge of the stream. His arrival made Dolly pick up her pace. “Didn’t you hear the shots?” The loose bundle of sheets under his arm flapped and snapped, forcing him to raise his voice. “I fired two, for God’s sake.”
    “I heard them. Judah said you and Runt were trading target shots.”
    Will shook his head. “He knew better. The timing was all wrong.” He could see that Cole didn’t know exactly what that meant, but he gave him full marks for not asking. Up ahead, he could make out Runt’s curled figure in the grass. “Damn, if he didn’t try to crawl off just like I figured. He sure doesn’t want to make your acquaintance, Doc.”
    Cole made no

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