"Nicholas," Mattie cooed in an attempt to reassure him. She was actually frightened to death, but stubborn as a mule, she explained, "We know you're fine. I'm not going to hurt you, okay? It's just a...a precaution, in case things get messy. She took his hand and....oh. She'd forgotten that he only had one arm now. Awkward. But it saved rope. "Stay still, okay? I'm not going to hurt you." She spoke slowly and articulated everything more than usual, like she was speaking to a sick dog from another country. 

Step. Step. She tied his ankles together, tightly but hopefully not circulation stopping. He'd lost enough appendages today. "How does that feel? Is it snug?" She hated to talk to him like this, but she didn't know what the fever could be doing to his brain.