This Loving Land - Dorothy Garlock [88]
When Summer went into the kitchen, she could hear Sadie and the children in the loft. She called out, and Sadie came down the ladder.
“I want to see Summer.” John Austin stuck his head down through the opening.
“Stay and watch Mary like a good boy, please, John Austin. If’n you do, we’ll play us a game after a while.” To Summer, Sadie said, “He’s been just as good as gold. I’ll swear to goodness, he’s a perfect angel when he puts his mind to it. He’s kept Mary up there and out of the way. Jack told us we got to stay in the house and I thought I’d just lose what few brains I got a tryin’ to keep her quiet.” She pressed her lips together and jerked her bead toward the bedroom. Then, “Jack says Slater’ll be all right.”
“Teresa thinks so. We haven’t taken the bandages off his hands yet, but she says there’s nothing we could have done that would be better than the cactus pulp Bermaga used. I can’t bear to think of the horrible things they did to him.”
“Don’t think about it, honey. You must be tired. Have you been a sittin’ up all night?”
“I’m too happy to be tired. I want to get clean clothes and go back if you can handle things here. Is Ellen sleeping?”
“I’m not sleeping, Summer.” Ellen stood in the doorway. “Did I hear you say that Slater will recover?”
“Oh, yes! I’m so relieved. You should have seen what had been done to him.” Her eyes went from Sadie to Ellen in a stricken way. “The Indian saved his life. It’s just so wonderful that he’s still alive!”
“Yes, wonderful,” Ellen said without enthusiasm.
“I want to go back to him, Ellen. I realize I’m not being very polite to you. I hope you understand. Did you sleep well? Is there anything I can do to make your stay more comfortable?”
“Endurable you mean, don’t you?” she said dryly; then, briskly, “I want to talk to you, Summer. It’s quite important. I plan to leave as soon as I get word to Tom. I’ll swear, I think he’s taken leave of his senses. He’s off somewhere with that man . . . Jack. The whole idea of outlaws riding on this ranch is ridiculous. We never saw a single soul on our way here, except those fools of Slater’s who were guarding the trail like it led to a gold mine. I can’t understand why everyone got so worked up. Travis says the only outlaws around here are on the other side of Spider Mountain, and there aren’t nearly as many of them as people believe.”
“It would be foolish not to take precautions, Ellen. It could be a misunderstanding, but then again, it may be true.” Summer spoke calmly, pleasantly. She wasn’t going to let anything or anyone spoil her day.
“It isn’t about the outlaws that I wish to speak,” Ellen said coolly.
“I’ll go on back up to the loft and look after the kids,” Sadie said. “I’ll talk to you before you go?”
“Of course.”
Summer followed Ellen into the bedroom. She longed to have the room to herself so she could wash and change her limp dress for something cool and fresh.
Ellen sat down on the bed and patted the place beside her.
“Come sit beside me, dear.” Her voice held none of the sharpness of a moment ago. “You’re quite sure Slater will recover?”
“We can’t be certain, Ellen, but all the signs point to it. Slater is a strong man.” She tilted her chin proudly.
“Well in that case, I have no choice.” She shook her head sadly. “No matter how painful this is for me, it’s something I must do.” She stopped and searched Summer’s face. “I would never have told you this if . . . well, if Slater had . . . died. I would have spared you the hurt, but . . .” She sighed and reached into the pocket of her skirt and brought out a letter. It was folded, the edges of the envelope well worn.
Summer’s face paled. A premonition closed a cold hand of fear around her heart.
“You don’t know, dear, how sorry I am that I didn’t bring this letter to you sooner. But then, I didn’t have any idea . . . I couldn’t imagine you becoming fond of Slater. He is so scarred, so difficult. Well, I had better start at the