Adele (Angel Creek Christmas Brides #18) - Cynthia Woolf Page 0,25

road. He ran as fast as his legs would carry him, eating up the distance to the barn.

Inside, his stomach lurched when he saw Adele lying face down on the ground. “Adele!” He got on his knees. “Adele! Please wake up.” He turned her over. Her eyes were closed. He felt for a pulse, found one and picked her up in his arms. Edward ran to the house.

Ruama held open the kitchen door.

He rushed past her and laid Adele on the kitchen table. Seeing her bloody hand he moved it and blood rushed from the wound. He ripped open her bodice, sending buttons flying in all directions, but he didn’t care. Finally, he got to her skin and saw the bullet wound.

Ruama held several towels in her hands. “Let me see her, Edward.” She gently pulled him away and placed the towels on the wound.

He saw her put pressure on the towels, changing one bloody one out for a clean one. Soon the bleeding stopped. She retrieved a basin of water and washed the blood away.

“Now we need to check to see if the bullet is still in or went through. Either way she’ll need to go into town and see Doc Walker.”

With Ruama holding her head, Edward turned Adele onto her left side so he could see if there was blood on the right. In addition to the blood, he saw a hole in her dress.

“The bullet went all the way through.”

Ruama whooshed out a breath. “Thank, God. Help me sit her up so I can pull down her bodice and completely remove her camisole and clean this wound.” First she got more towels and stemmed the flow of blood, then cleaned the wound just as she had the front.

“I want to wrap her so you can get her to the doctor’s office.”

With Edward's help she wrapped Adele’s middle with long bandages and towels to provide constant pressure.

He laid her back on the table. “Lissa, I want you to watch Adele so Ruama can get blankets to pad the wagon bed for the trip to Angel Creek.”

“I will, Daddy.” She moved up and sat at the table on a side of Adele’s head.

Ruama shook her head and pointed at Adele. “You’d be better off taking the buggy. I know she’ll have to lean on you or lay across your lap, but you can make the trip a lot quicker than with the wagon.”

“You’re right. I’ll be right back.” He ran out the door headed to the barn.

*****

He arrived in Angel Creek at six-thirty in the morning. The trip took about an hour and fifteen minutes. He’d galloped the horses as much as he dared before injuring them.

He knew the doctor would not be in the clinic yet and stopped at the doctor’s house. After he set the brake, he lifted Adele, who was wrapped in a couple of heavy wool blankets, into his arms and hurried to the door where he kicked it with his boot.

“Coming.”

He continued to kick.

“Hold your horses. I’m coming.” The tall, dark haired doctor threw the door open wide. “Didn’t you hear—” His blue eyes widened when he saw Adele. “Bring her in.” He held open the door and then took them to the kitchen.

Melody, the doctor’s wife was at the sink doing dishes when they entered. She turned her auburn hair shining in the lamp light and her blue eyes wide. “Oh, my gosh. Adele. What happened Edward?”

“She was shot by the man she’s trying to escape. When you finish with her here, I’d appreciate it if you’d watch her while I go tell Quinn about the shooting.”

Melody nodded, her arms clasped at her waist. “Of course, we will. Whatever you need. Nick what do you need?”

Nick unwrapped the blankets and then the bandages. He looked up at Edward and nodded toward Adele. “Your work?”

Edward shook his head. “Ruama’s…she knew exactly what to do.”

“She did very well. I’ll still have to clean it and thank goodness she’s unconscious because it will hurt.” He went to a cabinet and retrieved cloths. Then he got a basin of water and lye soap. He washed the wounds and the area around them well with the lye soap and rinsed. Then he took carbolic acid and dunked some bandages in it. Dr. Walker wrapped Adele’s middle with the treated bandages and then wrapped her with dry ones.

“You can take her home now. Give her half a teaspoon of laudanum in half a glass of water every four hours.