Free Cole's Redemption (Love Amongst the Pines) by Leigh Curtis Page B

Dermott lifted Cole's legs, they carried him into the cabin and, once inside, they laid him on the cot. In the next half-hour, while he remained blessedly unconscious, Natty tended to his hands, soaking off the old linens, and replacing them yet again.
                  "Well, Nat, looks like you've taken well to being his nurse," Judge commented as she sat back to survey her handiwork.
                  "Aw, he's really no trouble at all. I mean, he's hurt pretty bad, but he's been right nice about it all."
                  "I can see that. It was a pretty brave thing he did, facing off ol ' Lester."
                  Natty fairly beamed. "Yes it was!" Her expression softened. "Oh, Judge, how am I going to keep Derm off Lester's property? He don't understand he can't do stuff like that!"
                  "I know that, Natalie. I was kinda hoping that your young man would help you keep him in line. It doesn't look like he's going to be able to do that for a while yet."
                  "You're not going to put Dermott in jail, are you?" Natty kept her voice to a low whisper. "He'd die if he was locked up!"
                  "I know that. No, jail isn't the place for Dermott. He needs a full time keeper. Let me think on it a bit, and we'll see what I can come up with. I think I'll stay on a few days to help fix up the damages to the cabin. Right now, if it rains you're going to need a canoe to get around in here."
                  Cole wasn't sure just how many hours had passed when he woke to the sound of hammering. Struggling to sit up, he saw that evening had set in; fire burned in the hearth, and his child bride was seated beside her Dutch oven slowly stirring the boiling pot. Natty's eyes were closed. In the dim light of the fire, she looked more like a wood sprite than a real woman. The shadows danced across her form giving her the countenance of a twilight angel.
                  Mesmerized, Cole watched her every move, from the way her hand lazily guided the spoon through the soup, to the quick rising and falling of her chest as she drank in each breath. It took all of his willpower to look away.
                  Dropping his sight down at his hands, Cole noticed that again the dressings had been changed, and that he'd been cleaned up, and now wore a new set of clothes. His form was covered in an oversized white shirt and black trousers.
                  "Well, our boy's finally up," the Judge announced over him. " How's them hands ?" The Judge had been hammering on a piece of wood, sealing up the last patch of the open window.
                  Cole eyed him narrowly, "Hurts like hell. Feels like somebody dropped a couple of anvils on them."
                  Judge laughed. "I imagine it does. If it means anything, I think Stef Geary might have pulled a groin muscle carrying the hammer back to his shop."
                  "It would make me feel better if he'd dropped it on his groin, instead," Cole grimaced.
                  "Dinner's ready," Natty chimed in behind them.
                  "Think you want to try to sit at the table? I'll help you over," the Judge offered.
                  "I can make it," Cole stated, though in reality he doubted it. Fortunately, his nature and his pride helped him limp over to the table and take one of the two chairs.
                  Dermott came inside carrying two empty crates and set them down beside the table, one for Natty to sit on, and one for himself .
                  "I sure am hungry, Judge," he stated joyously. "Thank you for bringin ' that hunk of beef over. I swear I could eat the whole thing."
                  "Consider it a wedding gift," Judge smiled as he tipped his tin cup in Natty's direction.
                  "We surely do appreciate it. And