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Page 134
quickly to take this poor woman to the nearest hospital.
There were no hospitals in this wilderness. Mariah doubted that even Pittsburgh had one at this time, although there would probably be medical help for the soldiers. Hadn't someone mentioned a visiting doctor when she was there?
No, as with everything else in this time, she had to put up with primitive conditions. "Let's get her to the inn," she said.
"Oui," René agreed.
Though the lady didn't seem taller than Mariah, she was built more fully. Still, after Mariah helped him lift the dead weight of the unconscious woman, the Frenchman effortlessly carded her in his arms back toward the compound.
"What should we do with her?" Mariah asked, following quickly behind.
"Thorn, he will know," said René.

"Take her back," Thorn commanded.
Mariah rose from where she'd been kneeling beside the woman who lay on her bed. She stared in indignation toward the large man filling the doorway. "Okay, Mr. Lord-of-theInn Thorn, I'll just toss her back into the woods so the wolves can get her. Or Indians. They could have done this to her, but we won't know till she wakes up."
He scowled. He must have been interrupted from something active, for a sheen glistened on his brow, and sweat formed patches on his white linen shirt.
Mariah decided to make her intentions clear. "Look, Thorn, I don't know what your problem is, but this poor woman is going to stay right here till she's better. Understood?"
"It is understood, Miss Walker." His clipped British voice was colder than the stream had been that morning. "But you will be responsible for her; do not look to me."
"Fine." Mariah spoke through clenched teeth. What was wrong with this unfeeling man? "I thought people took care of strangers in these days. Let them stay overnight in their homes, because there weren't a lot of inns. Took care of

 
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