won’t try anything more today. We’ll just get you home and settled.” I hope I’m telling her the truth and that Richard doesn’t ambush us on the way home. We have a lot of open country to cross before we arrive at the house. Let me just get her home safely. I’ll deal with Richard later.
CHAPTER 7
Ten days after being shot, Adele couldn’t wait to get her stitches out.
“How are you feeling today?” Edward entered the kitchen from the back door.
Adele stopped her pacing. “I’m fine and ready to go see Nick Walker. He must know I’d be crazy by now.” She started walking around in circles in the kitchen. “I can’t do anything and I’m so tired of lying in bed reading. I want to start doing my chores again.” She grinned. “I bet you never thought to hear that from me.”
He laughed. “I have to admit, I had not.”
Ruama loaded the rest of the breakfast dishes into the sink. “You two get going before she wears holes in the floor.”
Adele waved her hand nonchalantly. “It’s wood. I can’t wear a hole in it, but I certainly can my shoe.”
“Come and get your coat on.” He held her sheepskin coat for her.
“Did I ever thank you for getting me this coat? It’s so warm.”
“I know. Why do you think I insisted you have one?”
Ruama shooed them out of the room, waving her hands in front of her. “Will you two get out of here so I can get my work done?”
“Sorry Ruama. We’ll get out of your hair now.” Adele hugged the old woman. “Thank you so much for being here. I don’t know what I would do if you weren’t.”
She smiled and rested her hands on her enormous stomach. “You’d have found a way. Now, go.”
Adele laughed and headed out the door.
Edward followed.
*****
Adele practically jumped out of the buggy when Edward had stopped it.
“Hold your horses,” said Edward as he set the brake. “I’ll come around to help you.”
“All right.” She sat back on the seat. “I’m just anxious to get these stitches out and get back to doing my work. I’m so bored I don’t think I can stand it.”
Edward set the brake and hurried around to her side. He lifted his arms.
Adele leaned down into them.
He caught her.
As soon as her feet hit the ground she started toward the door.
Edward took a few steps and came to her side. Taking her hand in his he slowed her to a walk. “Calm down.”
She took a deep breath and slowed to a walk. “I’m trying to be dignified, but I’m so excited.”
“I know.”
Upon reaching the door to the doctor’s clinic, Edward knocked.
Melody answered the door. “Come in. Nick’s been expecting you. He doubted you’d be late to get those stitches out.” She let them to the room where Nick waited.
“Are you ready to have those stitches removed?”
She grinned. “More than ready. Where do you want me?”
“You can hop up on the table.”
Adele removed her coat, unbuttoned her blouse and removed it. She’s eschewed putting on a chemise, knowing she’d have to remove it anyway. Then she got comfortable sitting up, her legs hanging off the side. “I’m ready when you are.”
“Let me do your back first.”
She turned and gave him her back.
“Okay, now the front.”
With a few snips she was free of the dreaded stitches. She dressed and then turned back to Nick.
“Thanks so much. You have no idea how ready I was to get those hideous little pieces of thread out.”
Nick chuckled. “Oh, I know exactly how much you wanted them out. I’ve had plenty of stitches in my day.”
Adele buttoned her cuffs. “I hope to see you again soon but not in a professional capacity.”
Edward helped her on with her coat. “I seconded that.”
She led the way out of the clinic to the buggy. “Should we check with Quinn and see if he has any news?”
“I’m sure he’d have let us know if there was anything new. I need to get back and work. Do you still want to learn to use a hand gun?”
She perked up. “Yes. Will you teach me?”
“Yes, I’ll definitely be teaching you. I don’t want you to be in such a vulnerable position again, as you were when you got shot.”
Adele shivered. “I don’t either.”
When they arrived home Edward dropped her off at the kitchen door. “I’ll be in shortly.”
“I’ll be here.”
She entered the kitchen to heavenly odors. “Mmm. Bacon. Are we having breakfast again?”
Ruama laughed as she watched the skillet.