The Edge of Hell: The Mitchell Brothers Series Book One

25

Everyone took turns at Emerson's bedside over the next two days while his fever raged. Though Wolstan alone tended the wounds, cleaning them morning, noon, and night with iodine and watching for any sign his ministrations of days before had failed.

Then, finally, late Christmas evening, Mae burst from Emmaline and Emerson's room in tears. She collided with Wolstan on his way to inspect and tend his patient's wound for the night.

Wolstan's heart slammed against his ribs, blood rushed in his ears, and for several paralyzing seconds, he was consumed by grief.

Until he realized Mae was grinning from ear to ear, and the tears streaming down her face weren't from sadness but relief.

A fact she confirmed in the next breath by saying, "His fever broke—"

"You sure?"

Mae nodded, her excitement palpable. "Where's Mama? He's asking for her."

"In the bathhouse," Wolstan smiled, pressing a quick kiss to Mae's lips before racing down the stairs. "I'LL GET HER."

"WHOA," Declan exclaimed, flinging himself against the wall mid-way upstairs to avoid getting bowled over. "Get who? Why're you running around like a cat with its tail on fire?"

"To get Mama."

Declan paled, and his eyes flew to the top of the stairs. "Is he—"

"His fever broke," Wolstan rushed to assure him with a shake of his head, then jogged down the hall, saying over his right shoulder, "I'm gonna go let Mama know the good news."

"Maybe you should have started with that. You about gave me a fit of the vapors, Wooly," Declan said behind him before hurrying up the remaining stairs.

Wolstan chuckled but took his brother's advice to heart as he dashed through the darkened kitchen and onto the veranda, hollering, "MAMA? HIS FEVER BROKE!"

He waited for a second, then ran toward the bathhouse, shouting again, "HIS FEVER—"

Emmaline appeared from around the corner of the bathhouse, her hands covering her mouth, her eyes wide and glistening with tears. "Are you sure?" She whispered, stumbling toward him.

Wolstan nodded and gathered her in his arms. "He's asking for you."

Emmaline sniffled and pulled away as he led her back toward the house. When they reached the kitchen door, and Wolstan pulled it open for her, she stopped and wiped at her face, blushing as she stared at Wolstan and mumbled, "I must look a fright. My eyes are swollen from crying so much these last few days, and my hair—"

"You're beautiful, Mama."

"Bless you for saying so, honey," She softly chuckled.

A trembling smile stole across her face as she cradled his right cheek in her palm and kissed his left. Then, she took a steadying breath, gathered her skirts in both hands, and raced through the house ahead of him. "EMERSON!"

Wolstan jogged to catch up and took the stairs two at a time. He knuckled away the tears gathered in his lashes as he approached the bedroom and heard Emerson weakly tease, "Think we can still make our train tomorrow?"

"You're not leaving this bed for another week at least, Emerson Mitchell," Emmaline lovingly scolded before pressing a kiss to his cheek and forehead. "The honeymoon can wait."

Mae glanced at Wolstan as he stood in the doorway and joined him. She snaked her right arm around his waist and leaned against his side as he wrapped his left arm around her shoulders.

"Fine by me, Linney," Emerson said, his voice slipping into a yawn. "Provided you're in it with me for part of that time."

Declan turned to Wolstan, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "Looks like we might be getting that baby brother after all, Wooly."