Page 112 (2/2)

Cat stiffened as if she’d been slapped Her uncle had never spoken to her like that “It’s plain to see I’ht any away to walk to the door, her pride hurt and her feelings

“Cathleen, I’roan of pain, followed by the grate of a chair leg under soripping the back of an armchair She rushed to his side

“You are hurt I don’t knohy you tried to pretend it was nothing,” she accused impatiently and helped him into the chair When she attempted to lift aside his shirt, he protested weakly and tried to stop her But it was too late when she saw the crie “You’re bleeding,” she accused in a ht you said you just bruised your ribs”

“It’s just a scratch,” he insisted as the faintness that had attacked hian to pass “I’m okay, I tell ya”

“I’an untying the crudely knotted bandages that held the cloth in place She tried to be as gentle as she could be, but it obviously hurt when she lifted the pad off the wounded area The sight of the long, jagged line of purpling red flesh ripped open nearly made her sick to her sto “Uncle Culley, you’ve got to go to the doctor and get this treated” Her limited experience in minor first aid didn’t include a wound as serious as this

“No” He shook his head, his face pale and drawn “Just pour soe”

“Uncle Culley, please,” Cat pleaded with him to listen to her “I know you don’t like doctors, but this isn’t a scratch Let et poisoning or so”

“No I can’t go to a doctor I can’t let hi the bones of her fingers together “Cathleen, you’ve gotta promise me you won’t tell anyone about this”

“Why?”

Again, he shook his head “Don’t ask questions Just proed

She looked into his pleading eyes, then at the raw, open wound, and slowly shook her head “I can’t pro to happen to you I’ve got to get the doctor” She started to pull away from him so she could ride to the ranch for help

“No” He tried to call her back “You don’t understand, Cathleen The doctor would have to report this to the sheriff”

“The sheriff?” Cat hesitated a foot away from him “But why?”

There was a longhis silence “Becauseit’s a bullet wound”

An incredulous light entered her eyes “What?” His answer had completely thrown her “Butould anyone want to shoot at you? And why does it matter if the sheriff finds out?”