Page 22 - Homestead By Ann Newhouse

I don’t know how long I had slept but was startled awake by the sound of male voices. The curtain was pulled across to expose the people who were chatting. “This is my father John and my brother Josh,” Sofie said.
Realising I was confused and blurry eyed. She apologised. “Sorry I disturbed you.”
I extended my hand as I tried to sit up unaided. John Tirrell ignored my gesture, leaving Josh to step closer and shake my hand.
“So, what is your story young man? What were you doing out in the desert on foot alone,” John asked, a little irritated. He stood over me, all of six foot tall and just as wide. His hands by his side like a gunslinger ready to draw.
Josh now stood in the background. He was a couple of inches shorter than his father, and slimmer, with short cropped blond hair. He must take after their mother, as John was as dark as a Spanish knight. I was deep in thought, when I notice three faces staring down at me with a question waiting to be answered.
“Sorry, I seem to be losing my concentration,” I apologised, “I hope to be out of your hair and cabin in a couple of days,” I mused. The expression on John’s face did not change. He answered me with a grin. “I’m not so sure of that, my daughter has informed me you have extensive wounds to your feet which will take a couple of weeks to heal completely.” He turned to his daughter. “Sofie you can move him to the medical hall or come over to sleep in the house, for the time it takes for this man to heal. We will talk then,” he directed that statement to me. Tipping his Stetson, he left, calling Josh to follow.
“My father is a hard man, but kind. He looks for respect and may not always give it. My brother fears him a little, but I can wrap him around my little finger,” Sofie informed me smiling. She must have seen the fear in my eyes.
“After supper I will give your wounds clean dressings. Maybe you would like to sleep until then?”
“I seem to have no sense of time. I know I must have been here a day or two as I have seen the light and darkness a couple of times,” I said feeling a little weak.
“You’ve slept for a couple of days undisturbed. Two days ago, you opened your eyes. I have stayed by your side as often as I could, in case you called out a name, so we could find out who you are and what you are doing here.”