by Unknown
“I’m going to be heading back home soon, James. I wish there was more I could do.”
“Thank you for all your help, Master Moore.”
The man offered a sincere smile, his green eyes filled with sorrow. “Bronson is a good man, James. A good man.” With that he left.
Yes, James thought, Daniel was a good man indeed. The only man he could ever love.
***
After a week of working in the livery, and checking on Daniel early in the morning and at night, James didn’t know how much more he could take. Daniel was stable. The swelling hadn’t gotten worse, but it hadn’t gotten much better either. And he was still unconscious.
James sat in a chair by his bed. The doctor was in the main office examining another patient. For the first time since the attack, James reached over and took Daniel’s hand in his. He had wanted to do this every day, every hour since seeing him lying in this bed, but he hadn’t been bold enough to do it when he was being watched.
Daniel’s had felt warm in his. The steady rhythm of his pulse matched rhythm with his own heart. They were meant for each other. He wouldn’t be anything without Daniel.
Daniel blinked and it caught his attention. It hadn’t been the first time, but the doctor had explained to him that blinking was a natural reaction, and didn’t necessarily mean he was going to wake soon.
“You have to get better,” James whispered. “I need you.” He intertwined their fingers and then thought better of it and softly caressed the back of his hand instead.
The door creaked open and the doctor walked in.
James quickly dropped Daniel’s hand and his face burned at being caught.
“It is all right, James. Mr. Moore explained to me he doesn’t have any family left. Someone needs to be here for him.”
Feeling as if he’d been given permission, James picked up Daniel’s hand again and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Daniel squeezed his hand back and James eyes widened. “Doctor, he squeezed my hand.”
The doctor rushed over and began examining him. “His vitals are better. He might be coming around even though the swelling is slow to recede.” He paused and gave him a long look.
James stiffened in his chair. Had he done something wrong?
“I know I said I didn’t want you sleeping here, but I think having you near is good for him. The patient needs every advantage he can get.”
“You want me to stay here tonight, sir?” James asked as if it was too good to be true.
“Not in any of the beds, mind you,” the doctor replied. “I’ll make a tick for you on the floor.”
James’ chest filled with hope. Daniel would get better if he knew he was here. “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.” He glanced up at the clock on the wall. If he didn’t hurry to the livery he’d be late to work. On his first day he had learned not to cross Master Granger.
“I have to go. I’ll be back tonight,” he said, hurrying to the door. His parting words hadn’t been the most respectful, but the doctor didn’t seem to mind.
His day at the livery was awful. He couldn’t keep his mind on his work. How hard was it to take care of horses and a couple mules? Apparently it was as difficult as sailing across the ocean when his mind was still with his lover.
That evening he dragged himself back into the doctor’s office. It felt as if he’d had a bloodletting and all his strength had drained away. He gripped onto the doorframe, afraid he wouldn’t keep his feet otherwise.
“James,” Doctor Abrams said, coming to his aid. “Are you ill?”
“Tired,” James said.
The doctor helped him into Daniel’s room and motioned to the tick he’d made beside the bed. “Lie down and rest then.”
Slowly James lowered himself to the ground and groaned.
The doctor knelt beside him. “Is something wrong?”
James’ stomach growled, answering for him.
The doctor’s eyebrows dipped. “When’s the last time you ate?”
“At noon.”
“And I know you didn’t eat breakfast,” the doctor mumbled to himself. “When’s the last time you ate before this afternoon?”
James realized where this line of questioning was going. He stared at his worn shoes. “Last afternoon. Master Granger feeds me once a day.” He didn’t have any money to spend on himself.
“That’s unacceptable,” the doctor replied, standing. “I’ll get you something to eat.”
“I don’t want to trouble you, sir. I’ll be fine in the morning.”
“Nonsense. I don’t want your wasting away on my conscience. Stay here, I’ll be right back.”
James didn’t have the strength to argue. Head leaning against the wall, he eyed Daniel. The doctor had changed the bandage around his head, and at least in this poor light cast by the oil lamp it looked like the swelling had gone down a lot since this morning. When the doctor returned he would ask to verify. His eyes could be playing tricks on him, but he prayed they were not.
When the doctor returned he handed him a plate piled high with scrambled eggs. “It isn’t much,” the doctor said, “but I could make it in a hurry. My chickens lay double yolks.”
“Thank you, sir,” James said, stabbing the eggs on his fork.
“Our patient ate the last of the chicken broth today. Got to keep his strength up.” He offered James a tender look. “Reckon I have to keep both of your strengths up.”
“I don’t want to be a burden,” James said quickly.
The doctor poured him a cup of water. “You’re not a burden, James. Here. Drink this and then lie down.”
James took a sip and closed his eyes. “I don’t think I want to lie down,” he whispered.
“You don’t want to…” the doctor’s voice died. “Granger whipped you, didn’t he?”
Mouth full of eggs, James nodded.
Doctor Abrams didn’t say anything until James had finished his plate, taking it from his hands, he placed it on the nightstand and then returned his attention to him. “Take off your shirt.”
James tensed but realized there was no way to get out of doing as asked. The doctor meant well. He stripped to the waist, showing the fresh cuts.
The doctor took a bottle of alcohol down from his medicine cabinet. “This is going to sting.”
James braced himself and hissed as the alcohol bathed his wounds.
“Looks like you’ve had a pretty good life except for Granger.”
James didn’t know how to respond to the doctor’s statement. “I don’t have any complaints, sir.” Daniel’s father had whipped him good a couple times when he was young and foolhardy. He’d deserved them. Taught him his lesson early so he didn’t get into more trouble. Master Granger on the other hand looked for any faults he could exploit.
“Granger’s a hard case,” the doctor said, now applying a salve to the cuts. “Never liked him.”
James didn’t like him either, but he kept that to himself.
The doctor’s soft fingers gently brushed across his skin. It almost felt intimate, but James quickly rid himself of that thought. The doctor was only doing his job, and he was being ridiculous. His back felt much better after being tended to. He’d still be sore in the morning. “Thank you, Doctor,” he said, resting on his stomach on the tick.
“What did you do to rile him up?”
“Granger? I was late.”
The doctor’s forehead wrinkled. “He gave that bad a whipping for being a few minutes late?”
“Yes.”
The doctor’s nostrils flared and anger flashed in his brown eyes. “You’re not working for him anymore, James. I’ll talk to him in the morning.”
“But—”
Doctor Abrams held up his hand to stop his protest. “You can work for me. After all, you’re paying me back. I won’t have such brutality on my conscience.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.” The doctor was a strange fellow. He didn’t believe in equality, but he didn’t think colored people sho
uld be treated like dogs. Daniel decided he liked the man. He’d like him even better if he nursed his lover back to health.
“Good night, James,” the doctor said. “I’m going to blow out the light and head home.”
“Good night, Doctor.” James reached for the old blanket the doctor had placed beside the tick and pulled it over his legs. With a yawn, he drifted toward sleep. Having a full belly and being near Daniel would make this his best night sleep since they came to town.
When the doctor came to work in the morning he brought more broth for Daniel and a bowl for James, too.
“His swelling has gone down, hasn’t it, sir?” James asked.
The doctor nodded. “The danger has passed, I believe. Now we just have to wait for him to wake.”
Relief rushed through him, lifting a weight from his chest. Come on, Daniel. Come back to me. He’d quickly drank his broth. It tasted like chicken even without the meaty chunks. The doctor placed pillows behind Daniel and gently helped him into a more upright position and then he pulled the chair around, getting ready to feed him.
“I can do that, sir. If you don’t mind.”
Doctor Abrams smiled, and passed him the bowl. “Go right ahead. I have things I can be doing in the other room.”
James took his seat. He stirred the broth watching the steam roll off. The first couple drinks had nearly burnt his tongue. He’d wait a couple minutes. The doctor exited leaving him alone with his lover again.
“It is breakfast time,” he announced in as cheerful voice he could muster.
He carefully brought a spoonful to Daniel’s lips, trying hard to keep a steady hand so he didn’t drip. Gently pressing the warm liquid into his mouth, he was pleased when reflex made him swallow. After several more spoonfuls Daniel groaned.
It was a wonderful noise. Heart beating faster, James set the broth aside and held his lover’s hand again. “We’ll take a break, but you need to eat more to get stronger.”
Tears pooled in the corners of his eyes and he blinked them away.
The doctor peeked his head in. “How is it going?”
“Just fine,” James said.
“Good. Good. I’m walking over to the livery to square it with Granger. If someone comes by looking for me tell them I’ll be right back.”
“Yes, sir.”
The doctor existed, quietly shutting the door behind him.
James’ thumb rubbed Daniel’s softly and then his lover raised his thumb to caress him weakly, returning the gesture.
“I love you, too, Daniel.” Emotion clogged his throat, choking him. He hated to see Daniel so weak. He’d kill whoever did this to him.
James picked up the bowl of broth again and resumed feeding him. His lover’s color had returned. Thank goodness he no longer looked like a ghost. For the first time in many days he looked more alive than on death’s door.
Using the corner of a towel he wiped away a bit of liquid that had spilled over his lower lip. How he longed to kiss those lips again. After several more bites Daniel groaned again. The bowl was almost empty, so he figured that was good enough. Daniel didn’t look comfortable propped up like that, but he didn’t want to hurt him, so he left the pillows there. The doctor would remove them in a few minutes.
“Rest, my love,” he whispered in his ear. “I’m right here.”
Thinking back to all the stories he’d heard growing up, he remembered Sleeping Beauty. Daniel looked like a sleeping prince to him. Perhaps a kiss would wake him up. He’d been showing more signs of coming to. Glancing at the door, he listened for signs Doctor Abrams was near. If he hurried real quick the man would never know.
Standing, he bent over the bed and brought his mouth on top of Daniel’s in a whisper of a kiss.
Daniel’s eyes popped open and he looked at him hazily. “James,” he said in a hoarse voice. “James,” he repeated, louder this time. Daniel pressed his lips to James’, deepening their kiss.
Before James realized what was happening the two of them were wrapped up in the joyous moment. Spirits soaring, he felt as light as a bird, the heady rush flooding his senses. James caressed Daniel’s cheek, his tongue skimming across his lover’s mouth about to plunge inside.
“You gave us quite a scare, Bronson,” the doctor’s voice invaded their private moment, and James’ chest constricted.
Quickly he took a step back from Daniel although it pained him. Heat scorched his neck. This was the second time they’d been caught together.
“So that’s how it is,” the doctor said, looking from James to Daniel. “I had my suspicions.”
James glanced at the doctor out of the corner of his eye, trying to determine his feelings. He didn’t seem angry. That was a good sign.
“Glad to see you’re awake,” the doctor said, stepping up to Daniel’s bed. “I’m Doctor Abrams. You were attacked and have a long recovery ahead of you.”
Daniel groaned again and James couldn’t help but smile. That was his lover. He was a fighter. He never should have doubted him.
The doctor carefully rearranged the pillows so Daniel could like back down. “But I think James and I are up to the challenge of taking care of you.”
It took a minute for what the doctor had said to sink in and when it did James grinned.
“Do you know who attacked you, Mr. Bronson?”
Daniel swallowed and then said, “Whitaker.”
Did you enjoy this story? Shiloh Saddler is primarily an erotic GLBT author and her favorite genre is M/M historical romance. You can check out her other titles wherever ebooks are sold. Most are set in the 19th century U.S. Also, expect the next installment of James and Daniel’s story in the sixth volume of Sexy to Go.
Find out more about Shiloh Saddler here:
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Available now at all major retailers
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Available now at all major retailers
Amazon, iTunes, Nook, Kobo, AllRomance
Available now at all major retailers
Amazon, iTunes, Nook, Kobo, AllRomance
Available now at all major retailers
Amazon, iTunes, Nook, Kobo, AllRomance
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Sexy to Go Volume 5 © May 2015
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