“I love him more than anything.” Ally laid her head on Evan’s chest, his heartbeat faint against her ear.
“Oh, Ally, I had no idea. You’ve always said how useless he is, and—”
“I was wrong.” Em
otion flooded her. “He is everything. He is all I’ll ever want.”
“I will hold you to telling me all about this later. Right now we need to see to his needs.” Sophie stood. “I have no idea how to get the bullet out.”
“Nor do I.” Ally sniffed and willed herself to regain her composure. Losing it was not going to help Evan. “I need to go for help.”
“I’m sorry, Ally, but it’s just not safe. We’ve already got one person injured. I cannot risk losing you as well.”
“I fear if we try to remove the bullet we may cause further damage. Let’s just try to stop the bleeding before he bleeds out. Unfasten me, will you?” Ally turned her back to Sophie.
“Unfasten you? What for?”
“I want to tear my dress into strips to help stop the bleeding.”
“You’re not thinking clearly. Use your petticoats. We can use mine too.”
Ally shook her head. Of course, the petticoats. She had to think clearly or she would be no help to anyone, especially Evan. Her reticule was gone, but she did have a handkerchief in her pocket. She grabbed it, fitfully blew her nose, and gulped. “Of course, you’re right.” Ally pulled the petticoats out from under her skirt and began ripping them into strips. She took a fistful of the fabric and pressed it against Evan’s wound.
“We could use a tourniquet to stop the bleeding,” Sophie said.
Ally hated the idea. Evan could lose his leg, but at this point they had no choice. “Yes, you’re right. Tie this off while I continue to put pressure on the wound.”
If only morning would come.
“All we need to do is get him comfortable and stop the bleeding,” Sophie said. “If we can do that, he will survive until we can get help.”
Then, damn it, that is exactly what Ally would do. She leaned forward and kissed Evan’s cheek. I swear to you, Evan, I will not let anything happen to you. I will get you help. I will take care of you. Always.
A half hour later, Ally and Sophie had stopped the bleeding. Evan’s breath was shallow, but at least it was present.
“Ally,” Sophie said, “you should try to get a little bit of sleep.”
Ally shook her head. “I will not go to sleep until I know he is all right. I’m so very sorry, Sophie, for all that I’ve put you through. Please, you try to get some sleep.”
Sophie nodded and lay down on the floor. Soon her soft snore wafted to Ally’s ears. Though she tried not to, Ally wept. She sat next to Evan, keeping vigil, waiting for the elusive dawn.
Many hours later, sunlight finally filtered through the dirty window of the dank room.
Evan still breathed, but had not awakened. Ally nudged her sister.
“Sophie, wake up. It’s finally light, and I must go for help.”
“I will go with you.”
“No, someone must stay with Evan. I will go.” Ally couldn’t bear to leave Evan’s side, but she would be more able to get help than Sophie. Though they had both come here in the dark, Sophie had been blindfolded and would have no idea where she was. Ally at least had a small idea of what she was dealing with.
She jerked and looked up as the door was forced open. Two constables entered.
“What is going on here? You do know you’re trespassing.”
Ally sucked in a relieved breath. “Oh, thank God! This man needs help. He was shot. We managed to stop the bleeding a few hours ago, but there’s a bullet inside his thigh. He has been unconscious for the most part since the shooting. Is there a doctor anywhere nearby?”
“Yes, madam,” one of the constables said. “I shall fetch the doctor.” He left quickly.