Whirlwind Reunion Read Online Free Page A

across the room. “What made you go look for him?” she asked Russ.
    â€œHe was late getting home from his trip to Graham. He made half the trip yesterday and stayed the night in Albany. He said he’d be back in Whirlwind by supper tonight. When he wasn’t, and when there was no telegram saying he’d be delayed, I knew something had happened to him.”
    Ef returned with a basin of cool water and, at her direction, placed it on the small table beside the bed.
    Russ said tightly, “I’m afraid I know who did it, too.”
    Annalise recalled part of the conversation she’d had with Cora the night of Russ’s wedding celebration. “An angry husband?”
    She felt Ef’s gaze slice to her.
    Russ glared at her. “An angry husband? Hell, no. You shouldn’t listen to gossip.”
    His wife said quietly, “She’s not accusing him, Russ.”
    â€œI don’t care.”
    Annalise wasn’t convinced, but it wasn’t her business who had hurt him; it was her business to treat him. Patch him up and send him on his way. “Who do you think would’ve done something like this?”
    â€œThe rustlers he’s been chasing for months, the Landis brothers. About two months ago, he caught up to them and they beat him up.”
    â€œWe think they decided to try again,” the blacksmith put in.
    â€œAnd kill him this time.”
    Annalise had overheard some talk during her supper at the Pearl. “I thought they were in jail in Abilene.”
    â€œFive of them are,” Russ said flatly. “Two escaped. Davis Lee told me late this afternoon.”
    She wet the cloth with carbolic acid and began gently cleaning the caked blood from Matt’s back. For a long moment, there was only the sound of the combined breathing of those in the room, the occasional push of the wind outside. The scents of dried blood and dirt hid the clean, masculine smell she remembered from the other night. Tension pulsed in the quietness.
    Russ stood to her left, looking down at his brother. “They stole his boots. That’s gonna make him madder than hell.”
    After a few moments, Annalise was able to discern the actual wounds and she winced. His back was flayed by what at first looked like shallow cuts. She leaned closer, motioning for Ef to bring the lamp lower.
    The lacerations were ragged, uneven, as though someone had dragged a jagged blade down his back. Bile rose in her throat.
    Behind her, Russ cursed. “It looks like he’s been whipped.”
    â€œNo,” the blacksmith said quietly. “I’ve been whipped and the marks are different than that.”
    â€œWell, what is it then?” Russ asked in frustration—the same frustration Annalise felt as she scrutinized Matt’s back.
    â€œThe wounds are shallow, most of them no more than an eighth of an inch. A few, like these in the middle of his back, are almost a quarter-inch deep. And they’re all long, three and four inches.”
    â€œLike someone bore down on the weapon as they slashed him?” Ef asked.
    â€œYes, exactly.
    â€œDo you think a knife did this?” Russ asked with quiet anger.
    â€œThe gashes aren’t clean like they would be from a knife blade. The edges of the wounds are ragged.”
    â€œThen what the hell did that to him?”
    â€œI don’t know yet.” After further examination, she straightened.
    â€œCan you tell how bad it is?”
    â€œThe bleeding seems to have stopped and that’s good, but I don’t know how much blood he lost before you got him here.” She felt her way up his strong denim-covered calves, the backs of his powerful legs and then his sides. “I don’t feel more injuries.”
    â€œSo, we can take him to the hotel now?”
    Her gaze caught his. “No. He shouldn’t be moved. Not now anyway.”
    â€œWell, what are we supposed to do?”
    â€œWhat do you mean? He