“Do you know who they are?”
“Other than they must work for the Talberts’?” Evie shook her head. “I’d never seen them before.”
“Would you or your husband recognize them?”
“Ben wasn’t here and I doubt I could. They were riding all around, yelling, and firing shots. I was scared.” The doctor appeared in the doorway and gestured for her to come. Evie took a step toward home then stopped, looking back at the sheriff. “But Mr. Talbert would know. He told me he fired those men.”
“Interesting.” He inclined his head. “I believe I’ll head out now ma’am. I’ll be back out soon to speak to your husband.”
As the lawman loosed his horse, Evie walked away without another word, ducking back inside. She scooted around Dr. Black and moved to Ben’s side. He rested, eyes closed. She leaned down, brushing a damp lock of hair off his sweaty forehead.
“Is he going to be okay?” Her gaze went to the man next to her in the midst of drying his hands.
Dr. Black gave her a kind smile. “I need some wide strips to bind his ribs.” He waited until she moved to the table and started to cut the sheet before he continued. “I’ve stitched up the knife wound.” With swift, sure motions, he took the cloth from her and worked it around Ben. “He’ll likely have a nasty headache given the size of that goose egg and these ribs will take a while to heal.”
His neutral tone and carefully chosen words didn’t escape her notice. Evie put the scissors down, watching him finish the binding with her arms hugged around her waist. “So you think he’ll be okay?”
“As long as that shoulder doesn’t get infected, yes.”
Dread settled in her gut. Her mouth dry, she didn’t speak for a moment. She inched closer. “Is that likely?”
“All we can do now is pray.” His gaze held compassion.
“I will.” Evie moved back to the bedside. Her hand touched Ben’s arm for needed contact. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” The doctor started to repack his bag.
“What do I owe you?”
“It’s late. I’ll be back tomorrow to check on him.”
“But-”
He patted her hand. “We’ll settle up then.”
“All right.” She didn’t have the heart to protest further.
“The best thing for him is sleep.” Dr. Black shrugged into a light jacket and donned a narrow brimmed hat. He gestured to the bottle still covered with bits of flour. “If he wakes up in too much pain, give him more.”
Evie walked him to the door. The control she’d held so tight threatened to fall apart. Emotion inexplicable, tears gathered. She exhaled a shaky breath. “He could’ve died.”
“But he didn’t.” Gentle fingers cupped her chin, tilting her face up so Evie looked into his eyes. “The best thing you can do for Ben now is get some rest. You need it.”
“I will.”
Without another word, the doctor left. Evie sank down in the chair beside the bed. Weary, she laid her head down, resting her cheek on Ben’s arm. Her eyes drifted shut. Sometime later a touch on her hair startled her awake.
“Doll.”
“Ben?” She lifted her head and opened her eyes to look at him. At first, he didn’t respond. His eyes still closed, she thought perhaps he’d fallen back asleep.
“Hurts.”
“What hurts?”
“Head. Side. Shoulder. Everything.”
Evie pushed up her feet, poured some liquor in a cup. She slid an arm under his shoulders and helped him up enough so that he could drink. He never opened his eyes or spoke again. She settled Ben back down then eased away from him. His breathing deepened, in minutes it was clear he slept.
Unable to go straight back to sleep herself, Evie moved around the room, restless. She threw his stained clothing and towels in a basket then pushed it under the bed. Exhausted, her head throbbed. She started to clear the table and swayed. One hand reached out, pressed against the wood surface and steadied her. After a moment, she trudged back to Ben’s side, resigned to sleep again in the chair.
The night seemed endless. Every time her husband made a sound, Evie jerked awake, fear clawing her heart. It took long moments to calm each time. When morning arrived at last, she felt worse than the night before.
Her eyes burned. Muscles stiff and aching, Evie stumbled through chores then returned, collapsing onto her chair. Hours passed. Her hair went uncombed, face unwashed, dress unchanged, she did nothing but sit by Ben who mostly slept until the doctor arrived around noon.
As Dr. Black checked her husband over, he woke for more than a moment.
“What happened?”
Evie leaned close and spoke softly. “You were attacked.”
“I was?” Discomfort clear, he responded with effort. His eyes closed. For a second she thought Ben had fallen asleep yet again, and then he spoke again. “By who? Why?”
“I was hoping you’d tell us.”
“I don’t know. Sorry.” He took a breath. “So I’m at your home.”
“Our home.”
“Our home?” His eyes opened. He turned his head to look straight at her, brow furrowed.
A childhood memory of a man who’d fallen from a horse stirred and concern filled her. “Do you know who you are?”
“You called me Ben.” He took an audible breath. “But my full name is Benjamin, Benjamin James Rolfe.”
“Thank God.” Relief cascaded through her.
Swollen lips attempted to form a smile. “So what’s your name, sweet lady?”
A shiver went down her spine. His words pierced her bubble of cheer. Unease crept over her. She stared at him for a full moment. “That’s not funny.”
“Not trying to be.”
“It’s all right,” Dr. Black inserted. Evie started. She’d forgotten his presence. His low tone a clear attempt to soothe her, the doctor continued. “Go ahead tell him your name.”
“Evie, I’m Evie.”
“That’s a right pretty name,” his words slurred.
“So you said the first time you heard it,” she muttered but her words went unheard. He’d fallen asleep again. Evie turned her gaze on the doctor. His somber expression didn’t comfort her. “Is it normal to sleep like that?”
The doctor nodded. “His body needs the rest.”
“Okay.” Evie accepted that easily and moved on to the question that burned inside her. “Why doesn’t Ben know me?”
“Well, head injuries can rattle a person for a time.”
Worry sharpened her tone. “There was a man where I grew up who forgot everything, everyone, had to learn to dress and eat again like a baby. Is that what’s happening to Ben?”
“I’ve heard of such cases.” Dr. Black took her hand, patting it with his other one. “But Ben knows who he is and that’s a good sign. Give him time, let him recover.”
“Then you think he’ll remember me?”
“Likely.”
“But he might