Martha stopped breathing for a moment.

“What do you mean, something inside?”

Magnus placed the steaming cloth beside the fire and carefully examined the bloody wound again.

“There’s a piece of wood buried deep beneath the skin. If it stays there, the infection could kill you.”

Martha gripped the edge of the blanket.

“Can’t you send for a doctor?”

Magnus shook his head.

“The nearest doctor is two days away. With this weather, nobody could reach us before morning.”

She looked toward the small window. Snow was already gathering against the glass.

“So I’m going to die here?”

“No.”

His answer came so firmly that she looked back at him.

Magnus pulled a chair beside her.

“I’ve spent twelve years living alone in these mountains. I’ve treated gunshot wounds, broken bones, and injuries worse than yours. But I won’t pretend this won’t hurt.”

Martha swallowed.

“Why are you helping me?”

He seemed surprised by the question.

“Because you’re my wife.”

The words struck her harder than she expected.

Nobody in Cincinnati had ever spoken about her as though she belonged somewhere.

Magnus softened his voice.

“And because I didn’t bring you all this way to watch you die.”

He explained every step before touching her again. The pine tar cloth was intended to help clean and dress the wound, while his knife would only be used to remove the visible splinter.

Martha trembled, but finally nodded.

“Just don’t lie to me.”

“I won’t.”

Magnus worked carefully beneath the firelight. Every time she flinched, he stopped and gave her a moment to breathe.

After what felt like an eternity, he removed a long, jagged piece of wood.

Martha stared at it in disbelief.

“That little thing caused all this trouble?”

Magnus held it toward the fire.

“Little things can kill people when they’re ignored.”

He cleaned the wound again, wrapped it with fresh linen, and helped her drink warm water.

For the first time that night, Martha felt the fear beginning to loosen its grip.

But then Magnus noticed something.

A second dark stain had appeared on the cloth.

His face changed.

“Martha, I need you to tell me something. Before the accident, did you feel any pain in your stomach?”

She hesitated.

“Yes. But I thought it was from the journey.”

Magnus looked toward the door, then back at her.

“That isn’t good.”

“What is it?”

He took a deep breath.

“The wound isn’t the only thing I’m worried about.”

Outside, the storm howled against the cabin.

And Martha suddenly realized that the mountain man she had married might be the only person who could save her.

But what Magnus discovered next would change everything they believed about that terrible journey.

Would you read the next chapter? Leave YES in the comments if you want to know what happens next.