Faithful Heart Read Online Free PDF Page B

door, allowing Breanna Baylor to enter the infirmary, then moved in behind her. Breanna’s gaze swept through the room, taking in a dozen cots lining three walls. Seven were occupied. An eighth patient lay on the examining and operating table near the back wall. A white cabinet stood flat against the rear wall, sided by a long counter where a wash basin sat next to a well pump. The odor of wood alcohol mingled with the odor of ether. Only two of the wounded men had been attended to by the doctor. The others lay in pain, wrapped in makeshift bandages, awaiting their turn.
    Dr. David Laird was at the operating table working on a wounded soldier. When he heard footsteps, he turned from his work momentarily to look over his shoulder. His eyes revealed the smile concealed by his surgeon’s mask.
    “Nurse, you sure are a welcome sight! I—” Dr. Laird straightened up, turned all the way around with a bloody scalpel in his hand, and gasped, “Breanna!”
    “Hello, Doctor,” she replied, smiling. “It’s good to see you again.”
    “Same here, dear lady,” he sighed. “We’ll talk later. Washbasin is right over here. Get washed up as quickly as you can. I needed you two hours ago.”
    “I see you haven’t changed a bit,” she said.
    “Can’t teach an old dog new tricks, you know.”
    Breanna had the attention of the men on the cots as she made her way to the cupboard, her ankle-length skirt swishing. She placed her medical bag on the counter, asked Colonel Lynch to work the pump handle, and scrubbed with lye soap. Then she took her place on the opposite side of the operating table, a surgeon’s mask covering her mouth and nose. Colonel Lynch was feeling a bit light-headed from the sights and smells and excused himself.
    The young soldier on the table had an arrow in his chest. His bloody shirt lay over the back of a nearby chair. Breanna saw two other bloody arrows lying on the floor. She could see that the young corporal was in serious trouble. The Shoshoni arrow had come dangerously near his heart, and there was much bleeding.
    Breanna steadied the arrow while Laird carefully cut around it and finally was able to remove it. Small pieces had broken off the arrow tip and had to be removed one by one. Breanna adjusted artery clamps as needed to give the doctor space to work, and dabbed at oozing blood with cotton pads to keep the opening as clear as possible.
    While she worked, she told Dr. Laird about John Stranger coming into her life, that John was well-experienced with wounded men, and that he would be there to help after he had sent a wire to the marshal in Denver. Laird commented about John’s last name and told her he was glad she had met the man of her dreams. He said he would welcome John’s help.
    “What can you tell me about Colonel Moore, Doctor?” Breanna asked as the surgery on the young soldier continued.
    “I’m afraid it’s his heart. At first I thought it was pleurisy, but the more I study him, the more I’m convinced he’s having heart pains. He told me about the death of his son—how the boy sacrificed his own life to save him. He also told me how rough he’d always been on the boy, accusing him of cowardice. I think the heart pains may be mostly stress related, brought on by the guilt he’s feeling.”
    “Maybe he’s got a more tender heart than one might think, given his crusty manner,” Breanna said.
    “Well, I’ve told him he mustn’t go on with the wagon train. He needs complete rest. I’m treating him with sedatives, but it’s rest that’s going to get him over it—that and reconciliation with his wife.”
    “He must’ve told you that she’s been pretty cold to him since Jason was killed.”
    “He spilled it all to me.”
    “Good. I’ve gotten to know Mrs. Moore pretty well, Doctor. I have no doubt she’ll make the effort to reconcile.”
    “The man is strong. With proper rest and things right between him and his wife, I feel confident he’ll be all