he’s done. I’ll put you off at the next town. Whether or not I summon the police, I’ll consider this your resignation.” The captain held up his wounded arm.
The big man grumbled but calmed as they led him away. Apparently the thought of jail time was sobering.
Faith raised a brow and looked at the bleeding man. “You’re the captain?”
He grimaced. “I am. Do you have a problem, Miss . . . Missus . . . ?”
“Miss.” Faith nodded toward his arm. “I do have a problem with that. I need to get you somewhere so I can examine your arm. It’s probably going to need stitches, from the looks of it.”
“Are you a doctor?” he asked, his voice skeptical.
“I am.” Faith gave him a smile. “And I’ll soon be fully certified for surgery. I’ve been helping healers and midwives since I was fifteen and have sewn up more than my fair share of cuts.” She held up her bag. “I even have all my tools with me. Now, where can we go?”
He hesitated a moment. “I’ve never been tended by a woman doctor.”
“And I’ve never watched a man bleed to death.” Faith smiled as though they were discussing nothing more critical than the weather. “Well, I take that back. One time when I was sixteen, Mr. Petey cut his leg with an ax. We almost lost him because of his stubborn attitude. Later, that leg festered something awful, and I thought we’d have to cut it off—”
“Fine!” the captain interrupted. “Come into the wheelhouse, and I’ll let you take a look.” He looked a little green.
“Faith, what’s going on?” Gabe asked as he and Clementine reached the top of the stairs.
“There was a fight, and the captain is injured. I’m just going to treat his arm. Nothing to concern yourselves with. I’ll meet you in the saloon when I’m finished.”
She followed the captain into the wheelhouse. He was already seated on a high stool. He had shed his coat and was rolling up his bloody sleeve.
He turned to the young man at the wheel. “You’ve got the helm a little longer, Denny. It would seem I need some medical attention.” Turning back to Faith, he frowned. “Close the door. It’s cold enough in here.”
“You’re cold from loss of blood. There’s quite a pool of it out there.” Faith opened her bag. “I need hot water, a basin, and some towels and washcloths. Do you have them?”
“I do.” His tone was pained as he grabbed his arm to stem the flow of blood. “You saw the old man sitting outside the door?”
“I did.”
“You can ask him for those things.”
Faith nodded and opened the door once again. She spied the old Indian man on his knees, already cleaning up the blood. “Excuse me. I wonder if you could help me.”
He smiled up at her. “I can help. What you need?”
“Hot water, a clean basin. Make sure it’s clean. And a couple of towels and several washcloths. I need them rather quickly.”
The old man nodded and jumped up as if he were decades younger than his gray hair suggested. He hurried away without another word.
Faith returned to the captain. He looked pale, and she feared he was going into shock. “Is there somewhere you can lie down? I don’t want you fainting off that chair.”
“I won’t faint,” he growled. “Just do what you have to do.”
The wheelhouse door opened moments later, and the Indian held up a pot of water that he’d placed inside an enamel basin. Beneath this, he had a stack of towels.
Faith motioned him inside. “Just set it here.” She pushed aside several navigation charts.
The old man did as she instructed, being careful to deposit the towels first. Once the hot water was secured, he pulled several folded washcloths from inside his shirt. “These clean. Towels clean too.”
“Thank you so much.”
“He gonna be all right?” He looked to the captain.
“I think so, but I haven’t had a chance to examine him. Could you please step out of the room? We’re a bit crowded in here.”
The old man nodded and left.
She turned back to the captain, who watched her with great interest. “Now, let’s get you cleaned up.” She took one of the towels and spread it out on the countertop. “Place your arm on this but keep pinching the wound closed as you are doing until I get the water and washcloths ready.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a large bottle of the solution her aunt Grace