Adele (Angel Creek Christmas Brides #18) - Cynthia Woolf Page 0,43
terrible as I let on, but the injury is bad enough.”
“Lissa, go get a clean kitchen towel. Don’t talk to anyone or answer anyone.” Adele turned her back to Richard so she could talk to Lissa. “Hurry now.”
Once the child had run down the hall toward the kitchen, Adele turned around.
“You’re taking some risks, turning your back on me like that.” He waved the gun at her. “Come over here and don’t even think about reaching into your dress pocket.”
She lifted her chin. “You don’t have to worry. I didn’t put the derringer in my dress pocket when I came in.”
Lissa returned with the kitchen towel and handed it to Adele.
As Adele walked to him, he said, “Remember I’ve got the brat in my sights now.”
“Don’t call my daughter a brat. I’ve told you that. I won’t tell you again.”
“What are you going to do? I’m the one with the gun.”
She walked up to him and put the cloth to the wound in his side. Then she pressed hard and removed the material, replacing it with her hand, her finger pressing in the injury. “And I’m the one with my finger in your wound. How much pain you want to be in, will be determined by your next actions. First, lower the gun to the floor. Gently, I don’t want any accidents. Second,” she turned to Lissa. “Honey, go to the kitchen and send Ruama for your daddy.”
Lissa, her eyes as wide as saucers, ran down the hall toward the kitchen.
Last, you’re going to walk, slowly toward the kitchen, the same way Lissa ran.” She wiggled her finger, revolted by the sticky feeling of his blood and the feeling of being inside his flesh. “Now, move.”
Adele kept pressure on her finger, and his wound, so Richard couldn’t push her away and go for his gun.
Edward came in the front door and fell behind them on their trek to the kitchen.
Adele didn’t look back. “Hello, my love. Look who I found in our living room. He came in while most of the men were still at breakfast. Unfortunately, he injured Cookie.”
“Looks like I’m taking the wagon to Angel Creek,” said Edward.
Cookie exited the kitchen, his gun in one hand, touching the back of his head with the other.
Edward held his gun on Richard. “You can put away your weapon, Cookie. We’ve got things under control now. Get me some rope, please.”
“Yes, sir. You gonna tie that varmint up, then shoot him?”
Edward chuckled.
Adele put her clean fingers over her mouth to stifle her laughter.
“No, Cookie, I’m just tying him up to put him in the wagon. I want you to come with me and keep a gun aimed on him.”
“Yes sir, Boss.” The older man replied. “Can I shoot him if he moves?”
“Not this time. I’m not giving him the benefit of the doubt. I’m taking him to Doc Walkers and then to Sheriff Cassidy. Quinn will know just what to do with him and I guarantee he won’t be returning to New York.” He turned to face Richard. “You didn’t want her, anyway and proved it by your treatment of her.”
“That’s not the first thing I’ve been wrong about lately.” Richard huffed. “I should have just let Adele go.”
Edward nodded. “Yes, you should have.”
Richard lifted his chin. “You would never have known the truth if I hadn’t come here. You should be thanking me.”
Edward shrugged but his gun remained on Richard. “Perhaps. But I believe Adele would have told me eventually. You’re starting to look pale, Richard. I think you’ve been bleeding more than you thought.”
Richard leaned to one side and stumbled.
Adele automatically stepped forward to catch him.
Edward grabbed her arm and held tight.
She smiled up at him. “Thank you. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
Richard righted himself. “It was worth a shot.”
“Try something like that again and it will be the last thing you do.” Edward stared Richard in the eyes. “Understand?”
“Yes.” Richard lifted his chin.
Just like a spoiled child. Adele gazed up and down at her former keeper. “I guess since he’s not too badly wounded after all. He won’t be going to see Dr. Walker. He can go straight to Quinn’s jail. Nick can treat him there.”
Edward nodded. “My thoughts exactly. But I still don’t want his blood all over the buggy. The wagon is good enough for him.”
*****
Edward returned from Angel Creek just after dinner.
Adele ran to meet him in the barn. “Well, how did it go?”
Standing at the horse’s head, he looked at her and