“Okay, let’s give it a shot. You conserve what strength you have while I put out the fire and get the horse ready.”
He nodded.
“Just try to stay awake.” Grabbing the fallen branch she’d been using as a makeshift cane, Jo levered herself up. She’d probably be sore for the next few days but she’d put up with worse aches before. And it wasn’t anything like what Mr. Lassiter was dealing with.
She still had trouble thinking of him as just Ry. Funny thing how he’d insisted on addressing her as Josie instead of Jo. No one had called her that before. Ma had always used her given name of Josephine, and her nieces called her Aunt JoJo. But to everyone else she was just plain Jo.
Josie. Kind of had a nice ring to it. Not too frilly or fancy sounding, but definitely recognizable as a girl’s name.
The thought struck her then that she would finally have a story of her own to add to her journal. Not that this was the way she’d wanted it to happen, but it was an adventure just the same.
Heavenly Father, I know I’ve been praying for an adventure and now that I’ve found myself smack-dab in the middle of a humdinger of one it don’t seem quite right for me to be asking You to end it so soon. But I guess that’s what I’m doing.
Mr. Lassiter don’t deserve to suffer just ’cause I want some excitement. Especially since he pushed himself so hard to save me. So please, whatever it takes, keep him safe.
Ry roused to the feel of a damp cloth on his forehead.
He opened his eyes to see Josie staring down at him, her face creased in worry.
“You sure you want to try this? We can always wait a little longer for help to come.”
“I’m all right. Just resting.”
Doubt flashed in her eyes at his obvious fib.
“Let’s see if you can sit up first,” she temporized.
Determined to reassure her, Ry steeled himself and pushed up with his good arm, doing his best to ignore the spinning sensation. He gritted his teeth, chafing at this unaccustomed feebleness. If he hadn’t had her hand at his back he might not have made it.
After a moment he felt steady again and took his bearings. He must have been out for more than the few seconds he’d thought. She’d managed to douse the fire without him even noticing.
“First we’re going to put that arm of yours in a sling and secure it against your chest so we can keep from jarring it as much as possible. Won’t do to have you bleeding to death on me.”
Where had she found those strips of cloth? His eyes flashed to the blanket-covered body in sudden understanding. The woman not only had gumption but she was cannily resourceful.
“That was a mighty vicious kick Otis gave you,” she said, bringing his gaze back around. “You sure you can stand okay?”
That explained why his thigh hurt so bad. “I’ll manage.”
“Have you ever ridden bareback before?” she asked.
“Yes, of course.”
“Good. ’Cause I figure that’s our best chance of getting the two of us on that animal.
Made sense. Riding double with a saddle was not a comfortable proposition.
“Problem is, without stirrups we need a mounting block. There’s a fallen tree over where I’ve tethered the horse. If you use me as a crutch, can you make it?”
He eyed the distance separating him from the horse. About ten yards. Might as well have been a mile. “I’ll make it.”
“Good.” She studied her handiwork with the sling. “How does that feel? Not too tight is it?”
“It’s fine.” Enough talk, time for action.
“Okay then. Whenever you’re ready, put your good arm around my neck and I’ll help you up, nice and steady.”
Bracing himself, Ry nodded and did as he was told.
By the time he finally stood upright, he was as winded as a racehorse after a gallop and drenched in sweat.
Josie supported him, not saying a word or clucking over him in useless sympathy. He appreciated her patience and restraint.
He was also determined not to lean on her one jot more than necessary. He just needed her to provide an anchor when the waves of dizziness hit.
He’d be hanged if he’d let any of his injuries stop him. It was imperative that he get her away from here, and it seemed the only way to budge her was to go with her.
Lord, let me make it to that horse without giving this woman more troubles than she’s already had.
He let her lead him across the short patch of ground, focusing on placing one foot in front of the other. And on not falling.
When they reached the makeshift mounting block he paused, gathering every bit of energy he still possessed for the effort ahead.
Before he could move, she spoke up. “Now this is going to be the tricky part. I’ll need to ride up front so I can guide the horse. That means I should mount first. Can you support yourself while I do that?”
Ry nodded. It had to be done, so he would do it. He’d always prided himself on his horsemanship—time to give it a real test. Mounting with no stirrups and only one good arm would be tricky under the best of circumstances. Doing it while he was weak as a babe and she was already taking up a good chunk of available space would ratchet it up to a whole new level of difficulty.
He moved his arm from her shoulders to the horse’s back, aware that she kept her hand on him, ready to assist if he should fall.
“Steady now. Once you’re ready I’m going to let go so I can mount up. I’ll help you up after me as much as I can.”
He took a deep breath. “Let’s get this over with.” Almost before he had time to draw a second breath she was up on the horse. She scooted forward then reached down. “I’ll hold the horse as steady as I can. Take my hand so I can help pull you up.
The next few minutes were fragmented splinters of motion. He grabbed hold of her hand, then found himself chest first over the back of the horse, pain clawing through his injured arm and shoulder. The next thing he knew he had somehow gotten his leg over the horse without any memory of doing so, and was maneuvering himself into an upright position.
Which brought him face-to-face with his next dilemma.
“This isn’t the time to worry about niceties,” she said, obviously reading his mind again. “Ain’t no way you’re going to be able to stay on this horse without holding on to me. We’re not budging from here until that arm of yours is around my waist.”
She was right of course. Still, it felt like taking liberties he wasn’t entitled to. “Yes, ma’am.” He eased his right hand around her surprisingly trim waist, but managed to hold himself erect, keeping several inches between his chest and her back.
She set the horse in motion. “I’m going to try to keep a slow, steady pace. This probably won’t be the most comfortable ride you ever took, but it’ll be best if we go straight through without stopping.”
“I agree.” He swallowed an oath as the horse tossed its head before settling into a steady rhythm. “The sooner we get back to town, the better.” He wasn’t certain he could climb back up on this animal if he ever got off of it.
He’d just have to live with the fact that they were headed back to Knotty Pine and not toward Foxberry. For now, Josie’s needs would come before his, and