Chapter 7
According to Swanson, the doctor in Yankton, it was a “goddamned miracle” and no credit to him that Steel survived the night. By all rights, he shouldn’t have survived the journey to Yankton, but Riley kept up a constant stream of prayers, riding as fast as he dared with his hand pressed to the bleeding, trying desperately to staunch it. He’d been drenched with blood and sweat when he rode into town, but somehow his eyes had been dry, his face feeling absolutely parched and devoid of moisture. He didn’t even have enough spit to speak. Fortunately, somebody on the street had raced for the doctor as soon as Riley was spotted, and two men hurried over to help get Steel down from the horse.
Somehow, Steel kept drawing breath. Riley stayed up all night at his side, his prayers never
