"Dawns Prelude" - читать интересную книгу автора (Peterson Tracie)

Chapter 19

Kjell felt exhaustion and cold permeate his bones as the horses made their way in the icy rain toward the house. He would have loved to leave the horses and run for shelter, but he couldn't he that cruel. The pair had served him faithfully for over five years and counted on him just as much as he did on them. Warmth and Lydia 's sweet affection would have to wait until the animals were cared for.

He was about to drive the wagon around to the horse stable when he noted the front door was wide open. Reining back on the lines, he waited a moment to see if someone was coming from the house, but no one appeared. Something was wrong. He sensed it immediately and set the brake. Reaching under the wagon bench, he took up his revolver. He'd carried it with him since learning about the Sidorovs being hired to set the fire at his mill.

He carefully approached the door of the house and tried to peer inside. He could neither see nor hear anyone stirring. He edged just inside the threshold and caught sight of a woman's hooted feet. Zerelda!

Throwing caution aside, he went to where the woman had fallen. Blood stained the floor beside her head. Kjell knelt and gently turned her face to see how badly she'd been injured. Zerelda moaned and struggled to open her eyes.

"Zee, what happened?"

She looked at him blankly for a moment.

"Can you hear me, Zee? What happened?" He patted her hand, hoping the contact might help bring her around.

She blinked hard several times. "I don't know. There was some commotion and…" She shook her head.

"Just rest." He jumped up and went to the kitchen drawer, where he knew he would find clean dish towels. Grabbing up several, he came hack to Zee and pressed one against the wound. "Looks like somebody hit you hard upside the head. There's a pretty nasty gash and a lot of blood."

"Blows to the head always bleed badly I'll be all right."

Kjell glanced around for Lydia. There was no sign of his wife or child. "Zee, where's Liddie? Did she try to go for help?"

"I don't know." Zerelda's eyes opened wide. "Two men. They busted in. We were fighting, and I fired my rifle."

"Then what happened? Where was Lydia?"

"I don't know. I… everything went black." Her expression contorted. "They wanted the baby"

Kjell jumped up and ran for the stairs without another word. There would only be one man who would try to steal the child. Lydia would never allow for it, so he had probably taken her, as well.

The door to the bedroom was open and Kjell could see that the dresser had been pushed out of place. " Lydia? Liddie?"

Wind and rain rushed through the open window, giving Kjell hope. Maybe she had escaped. After all, there was no sign of either her or Dalton. Kjell rushed to the window and pushed it up all the way. He stuck his head outside but could see nothing. " Lydia!" he called out against the storm.

His heart raced and chest tightened. Where was she? Did Gray have her? He pulled back inside and closed the window. Wiping rain from his face, he turned hack to survey the scene-and that was when he saw her. Crumpled there between the bed and the cradle, Lydia was covered in blood.

There was no time to react to the horror. He lifted her in his arms and carried her downstairs. He would load her and Zee in the wagon and get them to the hospital. Dr. Ensign would know what to do.

When he came down the stairs, Zerelda was already sitting on a chair. She held the towels to her head, but her eyes had cleared considerably. There was a noted look of shock when she realized that Lydia was lifeless in Kjell's arms.

"Oh, dear Lord. Is she dead?"

"No, but she will be if we don't get her help. I'm gonna put her in the hack of the wagon, then I'll come hack for you."

"I'll get some blankets," Zerelda said, trying to stand.

"Never mind. Just follow me if you're able." Kjell headed out the open door. "If not, I'll carry you, too."

"I'll manage just fine. I'll bring a lantern."

The storm had lessened, and while it still poured rain, the winds had dissipated. Kjell placed Lydia on the soggy floor of the wagon and turned to help Zerelda into the back. "Tend her as best you can, Zee." He took the lantern and tried to shield it from the rain, but even as he did, the flame flickered out.

"Can't see much in this blackness, but I'll do what I can."

"Kjell, what of the baby? What about Dalton? Where is he?"

The baby! Kjell had been so concerned about Lydia that he'd completely forgotten about the child. He put aside the lantern and raced hack into the house. He listened for any sound of the child.

The silence was almost deafening. Kjell tore through all of the upstairs rooms, then made his way downstairs and searched the area. Dalton was nowhere to be found.

Kjell left the house and bounded up into the wagon and grabbed the reins. "He's not there." He nearly forgot to release the brake as he slapped the hacks of the horses. The brake eased off just as the horses began to pull. Kjell glanced over his shoulder at the women but could see very little. " Dalton 's gone."

"Gone?" Zerelda called back. "How can he be gone?"

Kjell clenched his jaw. There was only one way as far as he was concerned, but explaining it to Zerelda just now wasn't going to do any good.

"Just see to Lydia," he commanded.

It felt as if the ride into town took forever. Muddy ruts caused the wagon wheels to slip and slide. In places the rain-soaked roadway threatened to engulf the wheels altogether, but somehow he managed to keep them moving.

Kjell took the last curve slightly faster than he should have and felt the wagon sliding away from the horses. Issuing a silent prayer, he reined backjust enough to slow the animals and right the wagon. Up ahead, he could see the lights of the hospital. There were also several uniformed men standing outside. "I need help!" he yelled. The rain had finally stopped, but the temperature was dropping. Kjcll worried that Zee and Lydia were probably frozen by now.

The soldiers approached and quickly recognized Kjell. "What's wrong?" one man called.

"My wife and her aunt have been wounded. Someone broke into the house." He stepped over the hack of the seat and into the wagon bed. "They need a doctor!"

The soldiers helped Zerelda from the wagon. Seeing she could walk with help, the man in charge issued an order for one of the privates to aid her into the building. Next, he turned to help lift Lydia from the wagon, but Kjell pushed him back.

"I've got her. You lead."

By the time Kjell cleared the door, Mrs. Ensign, one of the doctors' wives, was there pointing the way. "They've taken Zerelda to the dispensary. Follow me."

They moved quickly down the west hall until they reached the end. Two orderlies followed behind with a long table. They assembled it in the middle of the room at the doctor's instructions. Mrs. Ensign quickly covered it with a sheet and motioned to Kjell.

With great care, he deposited Lydia on the table and then stepped back. The scene was terrible. Blood was caked and clotted on her neck and blouse. She was as white as the sheet upon which she lay, and there was only the tiniest hint of her breathing.

Dr. Ensign joined them. He turned to the orderlies. "Clean Miss Rockford's wounds while I see to Mrs. Lindquist."

The men nodded and immediately went to where Zerelda sat. Kjell turned his attention back to Lydia. Dr. Ensign began carefully pulling away the fabric of her blouse. "Bring the scissors." His wife went to fetch them while he cast a quick look up at Kjell. "Arc you injured, too?"

Kjell followed the doctor's gaze to his chest. He was drenched in rain and blood. "No. I'm fine. I wasn't there when it happened."

"And exactly what did happen?"

"I don't know. I came home to find them both injured. Zee remembers some men coming in. They were after the baby."

"The baby? Where is he?"

Kjell shook his head. He felt sick inside. "I don't know. He's been taken."

Disbelief rang clear in the doctor's voice. "Taken? You must be mistaken."

"I'm not. Whoever did this took my son." Water dripped down Kjell's face and he wiped it away with the hack of his sleeve.

"Orderly, get this man some dry clothes. Kjell, you need to change or you'll catch pneumonia," the doctor insisted.

"I won't leave. I can change here."

The doctor nodded at the orderly and turned hack to Lydia. Kjell had never felt so helpless in his life. He tried to pray but found that words escaped him. He tried to focus on anything but the sight of his wife.

The room was cold and sterile. It had been organized and arranged with all that the doctor would need for immediate care. There was a glass-front case with bottles neatly arranged. The shelves to the far side were just as well ordered. The room was probably the cleanest of any in Sitka.

He looked hack to Lydia and felt a sensation of hopelessness wash over him. "Will she… live?"

"I don't know, Kjell. She's lost a lot of blood. The freezing air helped to slow the flow, however." He had removed her blouse and corset and was just cutting away the last of her chemise. "She's been shot, you know."

"I presumed as much, but I didn't know for sure," Kjell admitted. The orderly reappeared with a stack of dry clothes.

"Step behind the screen over there and get out of those things," the doctor ordered.

Kjell quickly did as he was told. He stepped out with only the dry trousers on. Clutching the shirt in his hand, Kjell came back to the table and finished dressing at Lydia 's side.

"The wound on her shoulder isn't that had. The bullet only grazed her." Dr. Ensign motioned to his assistant. "Hold this dressing in place while I assess her other injuries."

Kjell could see that the neck wound had begun to bleed once again. Dr. Ensign worked quickly to clean the site and survey the damage. "The wound is thawing. Kjell, you'll need to go. Wait outside."

"I won't leave her. If she's going to die, then I'm going to be at her side."

"Very well just stay hack over there." He cocked his head toward the door.

There was a chair not far from the counter. Kjell took a seat and watched and waited while everyone else bustled around as a team. They all seemed to know their duties and attended to his wife without having to be instructed.

When the doctor set the scalpel to Lydia 's neck, Kjell nearly came up out of his seat. He calmed himself, however, realizing that the doctor knew what he was doing and only cared about saving Lydia 's life.

But what if he couldn't? What if she died-died like Raisa? Kjell wasn't sure he could take another blow like that. Then he thought of Dalton. There was no telling where the child was. He wanted to go and search for his son, but he couldn't leave Lydia 's side. Whoever had taken the baby had done it on the orders of Marston Gray-of this, Kjell was certain. And if Marston had taken the child, at least he would not he harmed. So for the time, Kjell reasoned, it was better to stay with Lydia.

He hadn't realized that Zerelda had come to join him until she touched his shoulder. The orderly set a chair for her beside Kjell, and she reached out to take hold of his hand. "We should pray," she whispered.

He nodded but felt completely helpless. "I don't have the words, Zee."

Zerelda, now sporting a bandaged head, bowed. "I believe God hears your heart."