Megan's mate

There's a bottle of painkillers in the medicine chest, from when I had that nasty root canal.

Bless you,

Nathaniel managed. He closed his eyes, listening to her bustling around the kitchen. Moments later he hissed and jerked when a cool cloth dabbed the cut under his eye.

There, there, dear,

she cooed.

I know it hurts, but we have to get it clean so there's no infection. I'm going to put a little peroxide on it now, so you just be brave.

He smiled, but found that did nothing to help his torn lip.

I love you, Coco.

I love you, too, sweetie.

Let's elope. Tonight.

Her answer was to lay her lips gently on his brow.

You shouldn't fight, Nathaniel. It

doesn't solve anything.

I know.

Breathless from the run, Megan burst into the kitchen.

Holt saidOh, God.

She

streaked to Nathaniel's side, grabbed his sore hand so tightly he had to bite down to suppress a yelp. There was blood drying on his face, and there were bruises blooming.

How bad are you hurt? You should be in the hospital.

I've had worse.

Holt said two men came after you.

Two?

Coco's hand paused. 'Two men attacked you?

All the softness fled from

her eyes, hardening them to tough blue steel.

Why, that's reprehensible. Someone

should teach them how to fight fair.

Despite his lip, Nathaniel grinned.

Thanks, beautiful, but I already did.

I hope you knocked their heads together.

After a huffing breath, Coco went back

to work on his face.

Megan, dear, fix Nate an ice bag for his eye. It's going to swell.

Megan obeyed, torn into dozens of pieces, by the damage to his face, by the fact that he hadn't even looked at her.

Here.

She laid the cool bag against his eye while Coco cleaned his torn knuckles.

I can hold it. Thanks.

He took it from her, let the ice numb the pain.

There's antiseptic in the left-hand cupboard, second shelf, Coco said.

Megan, feeling weepy, turned to get it.

The door opened again, this time letting in a crowd. Nathaniel's initial discomfort with the audience turned to reluctant amusement as the Calhouns fired questions and indignation. Plans for revenge were plotted and discarded while Nathaniel suffered the sting of iodine.

Give the boy air!

Colleen commanded, parting her angry grandnieces and nephews like a queen moving through her court. She eyed Nathaniel.

Banged, you up pretty

good, did they?

Yes, ma'am.

Her eyes were shrewd.

Dumont,

she murmured, so that only he could hear.

Nathaniel winced.

Right the first time.

She glanced at Coco.

You seem to be in able hands, here. I have a call to make.

She smiled thinly. It helped to have connections, she thought as she tapped out of the room with her cane. And through them she would see that Baxter Dumont knew he had put a noose around his own neck, and that one false move would mean his career would come to an abrupt and unpleasant stop.

Nobody trifled with Colleen Calhoun's family.

Nathaniel watched Colleen go, then took the pill Coco held out to him and gulped it

down. The movement sent fresh pain radiating up his side.

Let's get that shirt off.

Trying to sound cheerful, Coco attacked the torn T-shirt with kitchen shears.

The angry mutters died away as Nathaniel's bruised torso was exposed.

Oh.

Tears stung Coco's eyes.

Oh, baby.

Don't pamper the boy.

Dutch came in holding two bottles. Witch hazel and whiskey. One look at Nathaniel had him gritting his teeth together so hard they ached, but he kept his voice careless.

He ain't no baby. Take a shot of this, Captain.

He's just taken a pill,

Coco began.

Take a shot,

Dutch repeated.

Nathaniel winced once as the whiskey stung his lip. But it took the e.g. off a great many other aches.

Thanks.

Look at ya.

Dutch snorted and dumped the witch hazel onto a cloth.

Let 'em

pound all over you, like some city boy with sponges where his fists should be.

There were two of them,

Nathaniel muttered.

So?

Dutch gently swabbed the bruises.

You getting so outa shape you can't take two?

I kicked their butts.

Experimentally Nathaniel probed a tooth with his tongue. It hurt, but at least it wasn't loose.

Better had,

Dutch returned, with a flash of pride.

Tried to rob you, did they?

Nathaniel's gaze flashed to Megan.

No.

Ribs're bruised.

Ignoring Nathaniel's curse, Dutch prodded and poked until he was satisfied.

Not cracked though.

He crouched, peered into Nathaniel's eyes.

D'ya pass out?

Maybe.

It was almost as bad as another thumping to admit it.

For a minute.

Vision blurred?

No, Doc. Not now.

Don't get smart. How many?

He held up two thick fingers.

Eighty-seven.

Nathaniel would have reached for the whiskey again, but Coco shoved it aside.

He's not drinking any more on top of the pill I gave him.

Women think they know every damn thing.

But Dutch sent her a look, reassuring

her that their charge would be all right.

Bed's what you need now. A hot soak and cool sheets. Want I should cany you?

Hell, no.

That was one humiliation he could do without. He took Coco's hand, kissed it.