Chapter Three

Unwelcome Visitors

“So how’s the shoulder this morning?”

“Not bad. It still hurts if I stretch it too much, and sometimes my fingers tingle a little bit. But as long as I keep it in the sling most of the time, I can use it pretty well once in a while.”

“Well, it’s only been about a month. Another couple months or so and it should be as good as new. And since you are doing so good, I thought I’d go out do some hunting.”

“I thought we had enough smoked venison and rabbit to last us for a while.”

“We do, but we could use some salt, and maybe some flour and a few other things. And since we still don't have any money, I think if I bring in a freshly killed deer I can trade it for them.”

“Then after you make the kill you’re going straight to town?”

“Don't worry, I’ll be back long before dusk.”

“I’m not worried, I just like to know where you are, that’s all.”

Xena mounted up.

“What about breakfast?”

“Got some of the rabbit I’ll eat later. Don't do too much while I’m gone. Give that shoulder a chance to heal up.”

“I’ll be fine. If you think about it, maybe you can find a loaf of nut bread in town?”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Gabrielle ate her own breakfast, then did what she could to restock the firewood, and bring a few buckets of water from the stream.

Not long before midday she heard a horse. Going outside she saw it was Xena, without any freshly killed game.

“You’ve already been to town?” she asked.

“Got bigger problems.” Xena asked, obviously troubled.

“What?” Gabrielle asked, expecting to hear an army was approaching.

“I broke my leg.” Xena said simply. Then sliding down off her horse and landing on right leg, she hopped into the cabin, trying not to put any weight on the injured left limb.

Gabrielle followed her in and after Xena sat on the repaired bench, started unlacing Xena’s left boot. After removing it, the break, which was half way between Xena’s knee and ankle, was obvious – a sliver of bone was breaking through the skin despite the swelling around the site.