Only 06 - Winter Fire

it’s better to plan ahead than to die regretting your carelessness.”
    Case grunted. “Sounds like Hunter.”
    â€œHunter?”
    â€œMy brother. He was a colonel back when the South had uniforms of its own and fools dying to wear them. Not that Hunter was a fool. I was the only fool in the family.”
    â€œI doubt that.”
    â€œI don’t.”
    The emptiness in his voice brought an unexpected ache to Sarah’s throat. Without realizing it, she stroked his back again with long, gentle sweeps of her hand.
    â€œLet me help you back to bed,” she said after a time.
    â€œI can get back the same way I got here.”
    â€œBut you’re hurt.”
    Case felt the glide of her hand down his spine and fought to keep from lashing out at her.
    Or grabbing her.
    â€œCase?”
    â€œIf you don’t stop petting me like a tabby cat,” he said in a level voice, “I’m going to grab you and show you just how healthy I’m feeling right now.”
    â€œTabby cat?” She laughed. “You’re more like a cougar than a housecat.”
    He started to roll over on his good side and reveal just what was bothering him. But even beginning the movement brought a searing agony, pinning him in place.
    Well, that should cure me , he thought.
    But it didn’t. Not completely.
    Another dose should take care of it , he told himself.
    With grim determination, he rolled over onto his good leg. Ignoring Sarah’s protests, he half-crawled, half-dragged himself back across the cabin.
    â€œThere,” he said, stretching out on the pallet. “Satisfied?”
    She looked at the ashen color of his skin, the sweat standing on his forehead, and his pale, changeable-green eyes slitted against pain.
    â€œYou could teach stubborn to those Culpepper mules,” she said angrily.
    â€œNo doubt.”
    â€œDo you like making extra work for me?”
    He blinked. “I beg your pardon?”
    â€œLook at you. Dirt from head to toe. You’ll have to be washed right along with your bandages and loincloth.”
    Case wanted to argue, but exhaustion opened beneath him like a whirlpool, sucking him down. The extent of his own weakness shocked him.
    â€œToo…tired,” he managed.
    â€œI’m not. You’ll be clean before you know it.”
    He tried to object, but the whirlpool pulled him under. His words came out a meaningless mumble.
    For a few moments Sarah watched his eyelids flicker and finally close. When they stayed shut, she sighed with relief. Even when he was so obviously spent from pain, she doubted that she could wrestle him into doing anything he didn’t want to do.
    â€œStubborn, stubborn man,” she muttered.
    His eyes remained closed.
    She couldn’t help noticing that his black lashes were thick, long fans that curled slightly at the end. They made him look oddly vulnerable.
    â€œEyelashes any girl would envy,” she said in a low voice, “and God gives them to a man who’s tough enough to eat steel and spit razors.”
    If he heard, he gave no sign.
    â€œThank you, Case, whoever you are, wherever you came from,” Sarah said softly.
    He didn’t move.
    â€œWe’ve always known the back of the cabin was our weak spot,” she continued, walking over to where he lay. “Conner can’t see it from the cottonwoods and Ute can’t see it once he comes down off the rim to cover our other flank.”
    Case’s breathing deepened as exhaustion pulled him into a healing sleep.
    She knelt next to him and put the inside of her wrist on his forehead.
    Cool. Smooth. Damp with sweat that was drying even as she touched him.
    â€œWell, let’s see how bad you hurt yourself defending our backs,” she said quietly.
    With quick motions she undid the bandage on his thigh.
    No new blood showed, even on the deep wound.
    â€œThank God,” she whispered. “You’re as tough physically as you are thick-skulled.”
    A long whistle came from beyond the cabin.
    All clear .
    Relief hit Sarah in a wave that left her light-headed.
    After a few moments she took a deep breath, gathered herself, and went to work preparing a bath.
    Despite what she had told the Culpeppers, there was still a small fire in the cabin. It was just enough to take the bite out of the winter air and keep a bucket of water warm.
    â€œEverything all right in there?” Lola called.
    â€œCase didn’t