Shadow of Regret (Shadow #3) by Barbara Goss Page A

said. “Something about daisies, and his livery.”
    “I’ll grab a quick cup of coffee, and then sit with him. Are there any other instructions?” she asked.
    “No, just keep trying to get him to drink,” Jonas said. “I’ll bring you something to eat.  You can’t nurse Quinn if you’re too weak.”
    “I’m going into town,” Caleb said. “I’ll check on his livery, and let his men know what’s happened. Hopefully, they can run the business for him while he’s recovering.”
     
    Ivy supplied Rose with some yarn and knitting needles so she would have something to do while she sat with Quinn. He was fairly still all morning, but around noon, he started thrashing about again. Rose began to feel panicky. She felt his forehead, and then sighed with relief. He was still cool. Then he opened his eyes.
    “R-Rose?” he asked. He looked as though he was trying to focus his eyes.
    She smiled. “Yes, it's me. I’m here to take care of you. I need you to drink some water.” She lifted his head with one hand and held the glass to his lips with the other. He drank several good swallows, and closed his eyes, again.
    Rose thought he’d gone back to sleep, but then he spoke, startling her.
    “Daisy wasn’t a flower, and her husband shot me,” he mumbled.
    Rose held his hand. “Try to rest, Quinn.”
    “How bad am I?” he asked, looking up at her.
    “It’s been hit and miss, but today you’re much better.”
    “What are my injuries?”
    “You have a bullet hole in your stomach, but nothing vital was injured. You have another bullet hole in your left thigh.”
    “The bullets are out?” he asked.
    “Yes. You spiked a fever all last night, and the men had to pack you in ice.”
    “Men? Where am I?”
    “Jonas, Caleb and the doctor. You’re at Jonas’s. He said your horse rode down the lane with you hanging from it.”
    “I remember now. A drunk helped me onto the horse. We have to return that horse. I don’t know who it belongs to.”
    “Don’t worry, Jonas or Caleb will return the horse.” Rose could see his eyes slowly trying to close. “Sleep, Quinn. We can talk later.”
    He reached over and took her hand. “Stay with me?”
    “I won’t leave you,” Rose said. “Ever.” She wasn’t sure if he’d heard that last part, as he seemed to have already fallen back asleep.
    Ivy brought meals into the room for Rose, since she refused to leave Quinn, now that he was awake every now and then. She didn’t want to miss a single minute of him being conscious. Broth and juice were brought in for Quinn, in case he woke up again.
    Rose was diligent in checking his temperature. Her worst fear was that he’d spike a fever again, and she’d lose him forever.
    Jonas stuck his head through the open doorway later that afternoon and asked Rose, “Do you know when the Iversons are due to return home?”
    Rose shook her head.
    “I had hoped to move him to their house before the baby came,” he said.
    “If he continues to improve, I can take him home,” Rose said.
    Jonas smiled. “No hurry. I just worry about every phase of becoming a father. I want it all to be perfect.”
    “None of the women in our family has ever had a problem birthing, if that makes you feel better, Jonas.”
    He sighed. “It does, thank you, Rose.”
    Just then, Caleb walked into the room. He nodded at Rose. “Can I see you in the sitting room, Jonas?” he said.

    “More bad news, I take it?” Jonas said as they settled in the sitting room.
    “Yes,” Caleb said. “Someone's cleaned out all the stock in the livery, trashed the office, and…well, there’s nothing left. I sent all the workers home.”
    “That’s terrible. I wonder what Quinn was into.”
    Caleb shrugged. “Who’s going to be the one to break that news to him?”
    “I don’t think we should.  I don't think we should even mention it to Rose for now. She’ll worry.”
    “Why would Rose worry?” Caleb asked.
    “She’s in love with Quinn, has been