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“Indeed,” agreed Ashton “No doubt the wound has become infected It happens” He had already opened Scott’s shirt and ree to find that the wound was indeed oozing badly, swollen and red

“We need warin,” Felicia said and then breathed with relief as the innkeeper appeared with the bucket and the bottle

Ashton took the gin and poured some of it into the ater He then dipped one of the clean rags the innkeeper had supplied and went about the business of wiping Scott’s forehead, face, chest, and even his wound

Becky leaned over Ashton and said calmly, “It will need to be cauterized after it is cleaned My father suffered such a wound from a stray bullet—poachers—and his wound looked just like that”

A few moments went by as Becky sat beside Scott and used a wet cloth from his wash basin, warain

Felicia went downstairs to see if the doctor had been sent for and paced a moment when they told her he had over twenty minutes past

Ashton took to pacing, and Felicia returned and helped Becky wipe Scott down She knew an urge to cry, for he did not look well at all

Suddenly Ashton was there, gently touching her cheek as he whispered, “Good girl, Scott will do As Becky says, the wound needs cauterizing”

The doctor arrived, and when he inspected the wound a bit too roughly, Felicia thought, Scott screamed out in pain, which made Becky clutch at her

When the hot iron was set to the wound, Scott let out one yelp and passed out

The doctor said on a sigh, “Aye, lad … aye … but now it’s done”

Becky started for the door, telling the doctor, “Don’t cover the wound Honey … it ork to help heal hiht of it sooner”

“Yes, I have seen honey onders on very aounds,” Felicia agreed

The doctor shrugged “Agreed”

A few moments later, Becky returned with the honey, and it was placed on the now closed black flesh