[@idlehands]

((( Continued scene with Sterling and Idle))))

He could feel her hands working higher past his knee at the tense muscle of his lean meat of his thigh. It was bunched as he kept it tense to compensate for the weakness of his lower leg. It had been some time since he last felt a female hand on any part of his body and it reacted as it would. Feeling himself stir despite willing himself to ignore it, he tried to answer her rapid fire questions.

“Well, I, ah, was born in San Antonio and I do like Texas well enough, Miss Coleman,” Benj inhaled sharply, turning his hip so he was more sideways to hide anything that might offend the nurse. A blush crept up his suntanned face, “I was...a Texas Ranger before the war. Like my father before me.”

“Really? A native Texan then. Must be used to the heat by now then…” She grinned at the typical joke made about Texas. Hands moving higher. 

“A ranger? I’ve heard stories about the Texas Rangers but of course they were ...well not really around by the time I came to Texas. I’m from Kentucky myself.” 

Harriet was halfway up the man’s upper leg before she realized she might be making him uncomfortable. Hands slowing the nurse looked up to see Mr. Ross’ expression, finally taking her ministrations away and folding her hands neatly before herself once more, though this was almost impossible considering her proximity to his leg, having had to move forward to continue the massage. 

It was clear that Harriet Coleman enjoyed being a nurse and could get caught up in being helpful. 

Benj tried not to look down at her, his face hot with embarrassment, “That uh, massaging was nice. It does make me feel, well my leg feel better.”

He closed his eyes briefly, a rare smile touching his face as he laughed internally at himself. The dimple that creased the right side of his face was mostly hidden under the scruffy reddish beard. “Thank you, Nurse Coleman, ma’am. You’re most kind.” 

Her mouth perked in good humor. “I’m sorry if I ah… Rubbed a little too much Mr. Ross.” The nurse primly and pointedly kept her eyes fixed on his face. “I sometimes get caught up in the treatment and lose thought of anything but the task at hand…” trying to hide her smile her own cheeks dimpled slightly before Harriet looked away. 

There was no where to back up with the table behind him and she was directly before so he stood awkwardly with hands crossed below his belt buckle and he forced himself to look away from the doe eyes and think of a number of distasteful things. It had been awhile since he had bothered to feel anything of this nature, the morphine dulled his emotions and  desires as well as the pain but coming off of it he became more sensitive. After a few deep breaths, he returned to less embarrassing state and rubbed his hand over his mouth, unable to look her in the face.

Realizing she had effectively trapped the man Harriet shuffled backwards before pressing her hand to the floor to gain purchase on the table in an attempt to haul herself up. 

“Now where did I put my coffee?” She asked aloud, straightening her apron once back on her feet. 

Benj had forgotten the coffee and his manners, too disconcerted after the encounter. After he settled himself, the knot of anxiety started to come back. He would have to come back and ask the much less attentive doctor for morphine. Nurse Coleman did not seem the kind to dole out medicine like penny candy. He smoothed down his pant leg, tugging it over his boot, “I should...um, probably get my rifle. Just in case.”

He shuffled out the door, ducking his head as he limped past the gathering posse to gather his Henry rifle from the saddle and gave Lucy a pat on the neck. The mustang stood dozing in the shade, her back hoof tilted. She turned and butted her long nose against his shoulder, “Nope, not this time girl.”

Hefting his rifle, he paused, looking at the saddle back and he reached in, feeling the wood grain of the box but left it. Benj doubted he could hide much from Harriet Coleman’s observant gaze.