All were frozen except Wolf, who jumped from his corner like a mountain lion. Before Daniel was within a knife's blow of the savage, Wolf slammed against the kid at full force from the side. The two tumbled, knives spilling across the floor.

Karlee ran to Daniel's side, helping him out of the way while Wolf and the boy wrestled. Arms and legs thrashed across the kitchen in a wide path of destruction. Valerie screamed for them to stop. No one listened.

In all the madness, fear, and panic, Karlee heard the front doorbell chime… a touch of normality in the midst of insanity.

It rang again.

The thought flashed that she should answer it. “ Excuse me,” she'd say. “We can't entertain company right now. We're in the middle of being scalped and murdered in the kitchen.”

“Don't hurt him!” Valerie shouted as she tried to hit Wolf on the back. “Don't kill him. Oh, please, Mr. Wolf, don't kill him.”

Wolf wrestled his way on top of the savage. “I'm not trying to kill him, girl. I'm trying to keep him from killing me! Maybe you should tell him a few things. Like, stop trying to kill poor old Wolf.”

Suddenly, Daniel's weight slid against Karlee's side. He'd used all his energy. Blood from his leg pooled at her feet. His effort to distract the savage had cost him.

Karlee fought to hold him upright but his weight made it difficult. He grew heavier as consciousness left him.

As they crumpled to the floor, she twisted, trying to take the fall first so that his injured body would land atop hers.

Without warning, the kitchen door flew open. The crackling pop of wood splitting was becoming a familiar sound in the room.

Two men covered in dust and leather charged into the room, their Colts drawn.

Daniel's unconscious body made it hard for Karlee to breathe or see all that was happening. She twisted, but couldn't free herself. The world began to spin as a man with a long scar across his face knelt above her.

The stranger smiled as if he'd simply come to dinner. “Howdy, ma'am.” He touched the tip of the barrel of his Colt to his hat. “Mind if I have a word with my brother here?”

He rolled Daniel off Karlee as a tiny woman stepped timidly through the door. She had golden brown hair and huge blue eyes that reflected her fear. Though her riding clothes were as dusty as the men's, she looked far too fragile to ever belong to the scarred man.

Karlee scooted to a sitting position and stared at the three strangers who invaded her home. Not a one said he was sorry, or seemed to feel the need to introduce themselves.

“Adam!” The scarred one cradled Daniel in his arms. “Over here!”

The other man, now kneeling beside Wolf and the savage, stood. “Hold him down a minute, Wolf. I'll check on Daniel and be right back.”

Wolf grunted loudly and slung sweat off his hair. “Oh, sure. No problem.” The youth fought against Wolf with all his strength. “Never mind that he's bitten me twice. I'm starting to feel like supper.”

The second dust-covered man, who'd been called Adam, squatted beside Karlee. His gaze leveled to Daniel even though he spoke to her. “What happened to him, Miss?” Strong caring hands moved along Daniel's frame.

“He was burned several days ago in a fire and cut by flying glass on the leg.” She didn't have to ask. She knew the man called Adam was a doctor. His every movement told her so. “I think he reopened the leg wound when he tried to charge the savage.”

Adam examined Daniel's leg, pulling away useless bandages covered in blood. “Is there somewhere I can work? This needs care immediately.”

Karlee scrambled to her knees. “We've got a bed for him in the parlor. I'll help.”

“Allie, will you get my bag,” Adam requested of the woman still standing in the doorway. “Wes, help me carry Danny into the parlor.” Adam glanced at the girl crying in a corner.

“Valerie?” He tested his memory from times past when he'd visited. “Can you help?”

She wiped her eyes. “Yes, sir.” The woman in her had disappeared. Only the child remained.

“Can you bring hot water to the parlor? Lots of water.”

“Yes, sir.” She straightened, gaining control of herself now that she had a mission.

“We can help, Uncle Adam.” Starlett's head appeared from beneath the blanket. “Is Papa all right? Is Wolf hurting our savage? Can I have a drink of water?”

“Your papa will be all right with your help.” Adam smiled at the twins while he and Wes lifted Daniel off the floor. “Stay close to Valerie, girls. She'll get you a drink then let you help. And no, Uncle Wolf is only playing with your savage.”

No one paid any attention to Wolf's snort.

Karlee hurried to ready the bed. The two dust-covered men moved through the house with their patient, bumping into walls and doors on their way.

“When did the kid get so big?” the one called Wes mumbled to no one. “He weighs a ton.”

“Can you take the sight of blood, Miss?” Adam glanced up at Karlee as they lowered Daniel to the sheets.

“Yes,” she answered. “I've been changing his bandages for days.” Karlee knew she should have added, “ except for his leg,” but that didn't seem important.

Adam removed his jacket and hat while Wes returned to the kitchen. The woman Adam had called Allie brought a black bag, then ran to follow Wes.

A moment later, when Valerie brought in the first bucket of water, Karlee couldn't help but smile. She watched the doctor roll up his sleeves and wash his hands at the washstand. It was something she'd never seen any other doctor do. With this one gesture, he marked himself as outstanding.

“Cut away the rest of the bandages, will you, Miss?” Adam tied a clean sheet around his middle like an apron and pulled supplies from his bag.

Karlee did as instructed, using her sewing scissors left beside the bed. Valerie brought more water and asked if she should take the twins over to her mom's bakery for a while.

Both Karlee and Adam said “yes” at the same time.

When the girl had gone, Adam cleaned Daniel's wound. “I forgot to introduce myself.” He didn't stop working. “I'm Dr. Adam McLain, Danny's brother.”

“I guessed.” Karlee stood on the other side of the bed helping him. The doctor she'd seen from town was good but nothing compared to the skilled surgeon before her. “I'm Karlee McLain.” She couldn't help saying the last word slowly, putting it on for the first time. “Daniel's wife.”

Adam's hands hesitated only a moment before continuing working. “Oh.”

Karlee didn't know what else to say. Should she tell Adam the reason for the marriage, or would that some-how be betraying Daniel?

Her husband solved the problem by moaning loudly and thrashing.

“We'd better get to work, Karlee.” Adam glanced up and smiled at her. “Welcome to the family.”

She nodded and gave her full attention to doing what had to be done. While Adam treated the leg wound, Karlee cut away the remainder of Daniel's clothes and went about bathing him as if it were the most natural thing for her to do in the world.

If Daniel wanted his brothers to know the marriage was in name only, he'd have to be the one who did the telling. As for now, she'd be the wife.

She tried to allow Daniel as much modesty as possible. But by the time her task was complete, she'd soaped and washed every part of him that wasn't bandaged. A sense of pride grew inside her. Karlee did what any wife would have done. They might not have the kind of marriage most couples did, but she'd play her part well.

When Adam finished with the leg, he unwrapped Daniel's hands and commented on what a fine job she'd done. He helped her cover the windows with blankets and turned the light low before he cut the bandages away from his brother's eyes.

Carefully, he opened first one, then the other.

Daniel didn't respond.

“Bring the light closer very slowly,” Adam ordered.

Karlee lifted the lamp and walked toward the bed. When she was within three feet of Daniel's head, he turned away, moaning in pain.

Adam smiled.

“Can he see?” Karlee fought to keep her hand from shaking and moving the lamp.

“Only a little, but it's a start.” Adam rewrapped the blindfold. “In time his eyes may heal. If he hadn't reacted at all to the lamp, he wouldn't have any hope. Now at least we know he does. A slim one, but a chance.”

Adam stood and offered her his hand. “Come on along now and let him sleep. It's time you met the rest of the family, Mrs. McLain.”

Karlee wanted to scream “no” and run. She knew they'd judge her and find her lacking. They'd wonder how Daniel, such a handsome man, could have married someone as ordinary as her. Wolf would probably tell them she was Daniel's only hope to fight against Gerilyn. They'd shake their heads and marvel at how Daniel could have made such a sacrifice.

“I don't know…” She stared at his hand. “I should stay here with Daniel. Or go after the twins. Or…”

“He'll be fine.” Adam didn't lower his hand. “Don't worry. Wolf is the only one who bites, and you've already met him. Wes only looks like he does. He hasn't bitten anyone in years.”

There was nothing to do but accept his offered hand. As they neared the kitchen, the sounds of an argument allowed Karlee to hope she wouldn't have to be paraded for inspection.

FOURTEEN

“UNTIE HIM!” THE LITTLE LADY ORDERED. ALL THE meekness of when she'd first entered the kitchen had disappeared along with most of the trail dust. “Untie him right now, Wes McLain.”