“What is it?”
“Ran a sliver in my finger, Miss Laura. Too bad to trouble you,” Soapy answered with a sneer on his thin lips.
A rider for the Bar 99 had just ridden up and Laura sent him at once for the doctor. She led the way into the house and swiftly gathered bandages, a sponge, and a basin of water. Together she and Curly bathed and wrapped the wound. Stone did not weaken, though he was pretty gray about the lips.
Laura was as gentle as she could be.
“I know I’m hurting you,” she said, her fingers trembling.
“Not a bit of it. Great pleasure to have you for a nurse. I’m certainly in luck.” Curly did not understand the bitterness in the sardonic face and he resented it.
“If the doctor would only hurry,” Laura murmured.
“Yes, I know I’m a great trouble. Too bad Curly found me.”
She was busy with the knots of the outer wrapping and did not look up. “It is no trouble.”
“I’m too meddlesome. Serves me right for being inquisitive about your father’s trap.”