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figure out what was happening. Dean struggled and shouted at the man he d been beating
on. The droopy-eyed man was talking. Everyone was talking. Catherine s hands gestured
in the air as she explained what had happened. Deputy Scott moved in front of Jim, his
broad back blocking Jim s view. It was frustrating to be cut off.
Abe released Jim s arms and patted him on the back. The barber leaned so Jim could
see his face. Okay. He made a circle of his thumb and forefinger. Good.
Nodding, Jim curled his hurt hand to his chest again and clutched at his screaming
ribs with the other. He looked down at his new clothes, torn and covered in mud.
Dr. Halloran appeared in front of him, reaching out for his hand. Jim gave it to him
to examine, then glanced up to see what was happening now. Sheriff Tate had joined the
group. He and Scott were taking Karak s men away with them, presumably to jail. Maybe
they d stay locked up a while this time. Mike Gunderson was frowning and talking to
Dean. Since the man always frowned, it was hard to tell if he was praising his son or
yelling at him for drinking and fighting. Mrs. Gunderson was there too, her arm around a
red-faced and upset Dean.
Jim gasped as Dr. Halloran pressed his fingers too hard. He looked at the doctor s
mouth and he was saying something about bandages. Jim searched for Catherine and
found her in the midst of a cluster of women like a colorful group of hens. He wanted her
to see him, desperately needed to have just a moment of eye contact with her, but Mrs.
Albright moved between them and her huge head of hair blocked Catherine from his
view. He wished he could touch her all over to know she was safe.
At least, she was all right. The men hadn t done anything to her, but if he d arrived
any later& Jim shuddered at the images that flashed in his mind. He pictured Shirley
Mae s battered face. Murdoch should ve done something about the man right then to
prevent him from attacking other women. But a whore getting beaten by a customer
wasn t uncommon and, like everyone else in town, Murdoch was afraid to cross Karak.
Events continued to move in disjointed flashes. A group of men left with the sheriff,
deputy and prisoners, others stayed behind and talked. Some people went back inside the
grange hall, gathering up their families to go home. Others came out to see what had
happened.
Dr. Halloran waved a hand in front of Jim s face to get his attention. I need to wrap
this. He held up a finger, telling Jim to wait, and walked over to Dean Gunderson to
examine his injuries.
Jim waited, as he was told, shivering from shock and the chill night air. In the midst
of all the activity, he stood alone, as always. He longed to curl up on the ground and pass
out, sleep until the throbbing pain in his hand and ribs went away. But even more, he
longed to see Catherine just for a moment.
Suddenly Mrs. Albright moved aside and there she was, walking toward him. With
her golden hair and pale skin, she glowed like a star in the darkness. Her eyes never left
his face as she held out her hands to him. He glanced at the people around them. Surely
she didn t mean to take his hand in front of everyone. Tentatively he extended his left
hand, the other still curled against his body.
Thank you, Catherine signed before taking his hand between both of hers and
clasping it. Her hands were so soft. Fury surged through him that the droopy-eyed bastard
had tried to hurt her. It made him want to go after the man and kill him. He fought an
equally strong urge to pull Catherine into his arms and hold her.
I m sorry, her mouth moved and she squeezed his hand. Sorry I didn t come over
to you tonight.
He nodded, accepting her apology and also offering his understanding of why she d
ignored him. Maybe she understood everything his nod conveyed. Maybe she didn t.
Mrs. Albright swept up beside them, glanced at Jim and began talking to Catherine.
She tugged on Catherine s arm. With a small smile for Jim, Catherine allowed herself to
be pulled away from him.
He watched her go until John Walker stepped into his line of sight.
Good work. Walker grabbed his injured hand and shook it, making him wince and
yelp.
Jim nodded and pulled his hand away. Others came up to him, clapping him on the
back or shoulder and saying things to him, smiles on their faces, respect in their eyes. It
was a new feeling to be looked at instead of through, but having so many people focus on
him at once was a little alarming after being ignored every day for most of his life. He
wished they d leave him alone.
Dr. Halloran was beside him again, beckoning. Come with me.
Dean threw an arm around Jim s shoulders, practically knocking him off his feet, and
gestured wildly with his other hand. His mouth was moving, but Jim was too exhausted
to try to read his lips so he simply smiled and nodded. He allowed himself to be dragged
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