Waiting for Morning (The Brides Of Last Chance Ranch Series)

by Margaret Brownley

  “Especially the men,” Lula-Belle added, the outlandish feathers on her hat seeming to vibrate with disapproval.

  Bessie frowned at her sister and pulled Molly aside. “How do I look?” She waved her hand in front of her painted face.

  “You look beautiful.”

  Aunt Bessie looked pleased. “Isn’t it amazing how a little paint can make a woman look so natural?”

  Molly laughed and the two sisters tottered off to greet the other guests just as Ruckus wandered over.

  “Are you ready to go?” he asked. “Bessie has planned cake and punch back at her house, and I thought we could get an early start before the stampede.”

  Aware that Caleb was watching her, Molly hesitated. A man started toward her but his wife jerked him away. She was used to being treated as an outcast, but for some reason it hurt more here in Cactus Patch than it ever did in Dobson Creek. She wanted to go back to the ranch in the worst possible way, but it hardly seemed fair to Ruckus and his wife to spoil their fun.

  Caleb stepped forward. “Why don’t you go on ahead? Molly wishes to return to the ranch and I’ll be happy to drive her and her brother there.”

  Her mouth dropped open. She didn’t know what she resented more: Caleb’s ability to read her thoughts or the way he took charge.

  Caleb met her startled gaze with a look of satisfaction. “Thanks to last night’s closing of saloons, the fine citizens of our town seem to be experiencing a streak of good health. If this keeps up I’ll be able to work with Donny both today and tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?” she asked with innocent sweetness. “You plan to work on the Sabbath?”

  “I believe God makes allowances for doctors,” he said without missing a beat.

  Ruckus looked from Caleb to Molly as if sensing the undercurrents that flowed between them. “Are you sure you want to miss the party?”

  “It’s for the best,” she said, meeting Caleb’s amused smile with a frown.

  “Very well.” Ruckus turned to his wife. “Come along, my dear.” Ruckus and Sylvia headed for their buckboard and other guests followed suit.

  “Thank you for giving me an excuse to avoid the reception,” Caleb said with a slight bow. He walked behind Donny and pushed the chair down the church path. “I was never one for parties. I only came to the wedding because Aunt Bessie insisted.”

  Molly fell in step by Caleb’s side. “Glad to be of help,” she said for Donny’s benefit. Beneath her breath she added, “How dare you make decisions for me.”

  “Are you saying you wanted to go to the reception?” he asked.

  “That’s not the point and you know it. Furthermore, you’re not working with Donny.”

  “I believe he has something to say about that,” he whispered back.

  “I’m his sister!”

  “And I’m the only doctor in town. That makes me his doctor. But of course, you’ll have to give me full rein. That’s my one and only condition.”

  “I have no intention—”

  “Do we get to ride in Bertha?” Donny asked, seeming oblivious to the argument raging behind him.

  Caleb gave her a knowing smile. “Bertha it is. Unless your sister objects.”

  He put her on the spot and he knew it. “What exactly do you mean by full rein?”

  He grinned. “I knew you’d see the light.”

  “I never said—”

  Before she could finish her denial, he bolted ahead, the wheelchair rattling and bouncing and Donny laughing all the way.

  Molly watched with conflicting emotions. She wasn’t one to give in, especially on matters that concerned her brother, but something told her that this was one fight she couldn’t win. And maybe, oddly enough, she didn’t even want to try.

  Molly stood outside her brother’s bedroom door, hands clenched. Donny’s frustrated protests coming from within made her want to scream.

  Several times she raised her hand to knock and put a stop to the session. Each time she decided against it. Before starting the session Caleb had made her promise to give him full rein and not interfere, but it was harder than she thought.

  “I’m not doing that!” Donny yelled. “I can’t.”

  Caleb’s voice remained calm and patient. “Can’t or won’t?”

  She couldn’t make out what Donny said next and the silence that followed was almost as unbearable as the protests.

  Something hit the door with a thud and she jumped back. The door flew open and Caleb stared at her a moment before brushing past her.

  “Donny?” she whispered, rushing into the room. “What’s going on? What’s the matter?”

  Donny refused to look at her. “Go away.”

  “Donny, talk to me. Tell me what happened.”

  “I said go away!”

  She left the room to chase after Caleb, but she reached the road just in time to see the tail end of his auto disappear in a cloud of dust.

  Chapter 24

  Molly circled the corral astride a horse named Midnight under Brodie’s watchful eye. Midnight was a black horse with a star-shaped white spot on his forehead and had one white leg.

  She tried to ignore Caleb’s vehicle parked in front of the ranch house. It had been nearly a week since Caleb stormed out of the house. She never thought to see him again but she was wrong. He was back the very next day and every day since, schedule permitting. He had even driven her and Donny to church Sunday.

  She didn’t ask for Donny’s progress report, and neither Caleb nor Donny volunteered one. It was better that way. Avoiding the subject meant less chance of half-truths leading to false hope.

  Still, she watched for signs of improvement. She couldn’t help herself. Did Donny seem stronger or was that wishful thinking? Did he seem happier, more content, less given to mood swings?

  Brodie’s voice was like a knife cutting through her thoughts. “Keep the circle small. Don’t let him pivot.”

  How to turn was one of the first lessons a horse had to learn. Another important lesson was how to back up correctly.

  The horse’s natural inclination was to turn to the left and Molly had to train him to turn to the right.

  “Watch his head,” Brodie called. The horse’s head had to be tilted with the nose slightly to the outside. “Keep the reins low.”

  Molly rode the horse at an easy pace, alternating between a slow trot and walk until Midnight turned smoothly with little prodding.

  “Not bad,” Brodie said as she dismounted. “Not bad at all. Never thought I’d live to say this, but you have a way with horses.”

  The unexpected compliment made her smile. “I have a good teacher,” she said.

  Brodie ran a hand along the horse’s neck. “Too bad you’re so distracted. If Miss Walker is crazy enough to make you her heiress, you better figure out what to do about your brother. You can’t take care of him and run a ranch.”

  Unable to deny the truth of Brodie’s statement, she said nothing.

  Brodie grabbed hold of Midnight’s reins. “I think he’s had enough for today. Tomorrow we’ll teach him how to back up.”

  Brodie led the horse away and she leaned her back against the fence, elbows resting on the top slat. In the distance the red tile roof of the ranch house glistened in the hot afternoon sun. Yellow rays glanced off Caleb’s motor buggy. Caleb had not left yet. That had to be a good sign. If Caleb succeeded in doing what he said he would do, life would be so much easier. But that was a very big if.

  Pushing her thoughts away, she walked to the fence to watch Orbit and Magic play. The two friends never failed to make her smile. Today Orbit came bounding toward her even before she had a chance to sing, Magic nipping at his heels.

  Donny sat in his chair gasping for air. He hadn’t been able to crawl to his chair or anywhere close to it, but he had made progress.

  “I moved,” he gasped.

  Doc Fairbanks nodded. “Yes, you did.”

  It took Donny several moments to catch his breath. “You promised to
take me to Flagstaff.”

  The doctor shook his head. “You’re not ready yet. It took you forty minutes to move a couple of inches. You gotta do better than that. You also have to learn to dress yourself and manage the privy. When we travel to Flagstaff, I’m not waiting on you.”

  “I don’t want you waiting on me.” Donny folded his arms across his chest. There was no pleasing the man. “Tomorrow I’ll move a foot, maybe even farther.”

  “A foot won’t get you in the chair.”

  “A foot is as good as a mile when you’re a—”

  Doc raised a dark eyebrow and waited.

  Donny bit his lip to stifle a grin. “You thought I was going to say cripple, didn’t you?”

  “Were you?”

  “What I was about to say is when you’re under the thumb of a slave-driving, ninny-hammering, know-it-all doctor!”

  Doc Fairbanks thought for a moment, then shrugged. “I can’t say that’s a better choice of words, but it will do. For now.” He tossed a nod at the door. “How about some fresh air? It’ll help you breathe better. It might even improve your disposition.”

  “Fresh air is your remedy for everything.” The doc hardly ever walked into a room without flinging open a window.

  “Fresh air and sunshine are God’s greatest healing gifts.” Without waiting for an answer Fairbanks pushed him through the house and outside, settling him in a shady spot on the verandah. “See you tomorrow.”

  “Don’t remind me,” Donny said, though secretly he looked forward to it. The doctor made him work hard but Donny liked him. Liked him a lot. He liked the company and the way the doc treated him like a real person. He even liked stumping Fairbanks with questions. The doctor knew a lot about science and the human body, but he didn’t know much about astronomy or cattle.

  He watched Caleb walk to his car. He admired the way the doc carried himself, his shoulders back and head held high, his easy stride. That’s how Donny would walk if he could. Even now, he straightened his back and held his head aloft to imitate the doctor.

  You could tell a lot by the way people walked. Some people judged others by their profession or how they dressed, but Donny judged people by the way they walked. Miss Walker didn’t walk as much as march, her boots hammering the floor like a carpenter with a stubborn nail. Rosita scurried around like a scared little mouse. Stretch bopped his head back and forth like a long-necked bird, and Feedbag’s feet splayed out at ninety-degree angles.

  Molly didn’t walk as much as glide. Or at least she did when she wasn’t worried about him. Then she walked as if she carried a weight on her shoulders. She tried to hide it, but he wasn’t fooled. He knew he was a burden.

  She didn’t look like she was carrying a load now. The moment she spotted the doctor she waved, her feet barely touching the ground as she hurried toward Bertha, a bright smile on her face. Donny almost expected her to jump in the air like Orbit.

  Watching her, he frowned. It didn’t look like his sister but it was. No mistaking that. But why did she look so different?

  Doc Fairbanks turned to face her and the two talked. Donny couldn’t make out what they said, but something in the way they stood and looked at each other caught his attention. It was as if some invisible thread bound them together with a single knot.

  Squinting, Donny leaned forward for a better look. The doc and his sister laughed and there was something . . . but what?

  It took him a moment to figure it out. Caleb liked his sister and she liked him back. Donny gripped the arms of his chair. Why had it taken him so long to see what was as clear as the nose on his face? Now he knew why the doctor worked him so hard. The sooner Donny became independent, the sooner the doc could steal Molly away.

  A cold sweat broke out on Donny’s forehead. He swallowed hard but already his breathing had become labored. A doctor in Dobson Creek had advised Molly to put him in an institution. For weeks Donny had nightmares about such a place. Even now, his body grew cold just thinking about it. Molly promised him she would never put him away, but what if she fell in love and got married? What then?

  He mustn’t let that happen. He mustn’t let anyone take his sister away. Not even the funny and kind Doc Fairbanks.

  Molly led Caleb to the far corral and called to Orbit. Both Orbit and Magic came running. Caleb talked soothingly to the young horse and petted him gently before taking his head in both hands. He studied first one eye and then the other. Magic watched with every bit of anxiety that Molly felt.

  “What do you think? Is it moon blindness?” She’d heard of the disease but had no real knowledge of what it was.

  After a moment Caleb released the horse. “It’s not moon sickness,” he said. “And it’s not cataracts. It looks like both retinas are detached.”

  “Can anything be done?” she asked.

  “I’m afraid not. It’s a congenital problem.” He gave her a look of apology. “I’m sorry, Molly. I wish I had better news for you.”

  “I wish you did too.”

  Magic barked and Caleb lifted him over the fence. The horse and dog chased each other around the corral. No one would ever guess by appearances alone that the little fellow lived in a world of darkness.

  She rested her folded hands on the fence. “Is he in any pain?”

  “No, he’s not.”

  Relief washed over her. She couldn’t stand to think Orbit was hurting in any way. “What’s going to happen to him?”

  Caleb turned to face her, his back to the fence, his dark brows slanted. “It’s hard to say. I guess it will depend on Miss Walker.”

  That’s exactly what Molly feared. The ranch woman wasn’t about to keep a horse that didn’t earn its keep and Orbit couldn’t survive in the wild. A shiver ran through her and Caleb touched her arm.

  “Are you okay?”

  She nodded, her skin tingling beneath his hand. “I . . . I better let you get back to town.”

  He released her arm but the warmth of his touch remained. “I’m sorry I can’t do more.”

  She smiled up at him and his gaze held hers. “You’re doing enough already.” When he made no reply, she added, “Thank you.”

  He gave her a smile that sent her pulse racing. “Donny did good today. We’re making progress.”

  “You aren’t just saying that, are you? So I won’t worry?”

  “I’m not just saying it. I swear.”

  She chewed on her lip. “He still needs a great deal of help.”

  “Be patient,” he said. “Miracles take awhile.”

  She sighed. Her father always said that everything happened in God’s time. What about her time? Why couldn’t things happen faster? Why did she always have to wait?

  “I would feel better if you’d let me pay you for your efforts.” At least if she paid him she would have some control. If nothing else she would have more say in the matter. “I can’t afford much, but I do draw a small salary from Miss Walker.”

  He shook his head. “I don’t want your money.”

  “Why not? What do you get out of this? Coming here day after day.” Surely he had better things to do, other patients requiring care.

  “When I was in medical school I met many war veterans in wheelchairs from both the North and South. Most had spent their lives in institutions or soldiers’ homes. I remember one man in particular. His name was Ben Watson. He was a brilliant man, a mathematician, forced to spend a lifetime in a crowded soldiers’ home, his mind wasted. By the time I met Mr. Watson it was too late to do anything for him, but it’s not too late for Donny.”

  She sucked in her breath, wishing she could believe what he said was true.

  “I better get back to town,” he said.

  She nodded, though she hated to see him go.

  He whistled and Magic came running. He reached for the dog, lifting him over the fence and onto the ground. By the time she and Caleb reached the car, Magic was already in the front seat. The dog’s ability to climb into the high-framed vehicle by himself never f
ailed to amaze her.

  Molly stepped back while Caleb cranked. The car roared to life, shaking like dice in a gambler’s hand.

  He heaved himself into the driver’s seat. “Molly, don’t worry,” he said, lifting his voice to be heard. “A man walks in many ways. Your brother hasn’t yet found his way of walking but he will.”

  Molly watched him drive away. Please, God, let him be right. Please help my brother find his way.

  Eleanor stood by the fence watching Molly teach a horse to back. It wasn’t something horses liked to do, but this one followed Molly’s commands without hesitation.

  “Back,” Molly called, popping the horse on the chest with a rope. She backed the horse through a muddy puddle, all the way to the fence.

  Brodie stood next to Eleanor. “She’s good. She started out bad but caught on real quick. Has a real knack with the horses, she does.”

  Eleanor was well aware of the girl’s natural abilities, but running a ranch required more than simply having a way with horses. “I need someone who can devote herself fully to the ranch. She can’t do that and care for her brother.”

  “I worry about that too. But she’s determined. I’ll give her that much.”

  Determination was good but it only went so far. If she hadn’t felt so sorry for the girl and her brother, Eleanor would have sent them packing long ago.

  She grimaced at the thought. It wasn’t like her to feel sorry for anyone—not where the ranch was concerned. Could this new softer side be yet another symptom of advancing age?

  “Determination never ran a ranch,” she said, her voice curt. Where the ranch was concerned, divided loyalties never worked. It was all or nothing.

  “No, ma’am, I reckon not.”

  A thriving ranch was living proof that choices made in the past— some of them painful and demanding great personal sacrifice—had been worth every drop of blood and sweat shed through the years. The ranch gave her life meaning. Without it, all would be for naught . . . her life an utter waste.