by Jan Irving
Jude swallowed thickly. “I hope to visit you at that special school.” Jude guessed Eli Smith would pay for it if he wasnt in town to make the arrangements for Mouse.
Ming appeared from the dark shadows of the livery, leading Judes horse, and Judes chest constricted. His friends. His friends and family who knew him so well, better even than himself. Jude took the reins. “Ill try to come back once a month to see my patients.”
Ming nodded, stepping back as Jude mounted his horse. His doctors bag hung on its familiar perch, and his saddlebags were full. Ming had probably included his famous corn bread. He looked at Joanna and Seamus and Ralph and Ming, Shen Lei…and Mouse.
* * *
“Is Doc Jude gone?” Mouse finally asked. “I cant hear him no more.” “Yes, Mouse,” Joanna answered, putting an arm around him.
Mouses head fell. He caught Shen Leis familiar scent of freshly crushed sage.
The older boy squeezed Mouses shoulder, saying, “Hell be back in a month; you know that Doc Jude always keeps his word. Will you go to that school back East like he wanted?”
“Yeah, I know hell be back.” Mouse shook his head. “I dont know about the school.”
“Theres no rush, Mouse,” Joanna said. “But if you go, I want to go with you.”
“Me too,” Shen Lei said.
“The whole town cant come,” Mouse said. He could smile after all.
“Why not?” Shen Lei asked.
* * *
The sun was lower now, hitting the tall grass and creating a burnished yellow glow as if lighting his way. He knew where to find Gabriel, where he would be going. Theyd stay at the cabin until it was time to take the bear up to the mountains. Then…then he had no idea, but the wind against his face stirred something wild inside him, just like always. Judes horse knew the familiar path, and the beast splashed water as they forded a stream and crossed the meadow to the cabin.
The door flung open and Gabriel stood there, bare-chested, hair tousled, as if hed been washing at the basin when Jude rode up.
“Jude.” He looked like he couldnt believe what he was seeing, like hed never imagined hed be enough to make Jude take this path.
Jude climbed down from his horse, closed his eyes as Gabriel caught him up and crushed him close. “It will be all right,” Jude said. Gabriel knew how to wash sheep and paint houses and prospect, and Jude could make some money doctoring— and theyd be together.
Loose Id Titles by Jan Irving
The Wanderer The THE CONTENDERS Series The Janitor
The Boxer
Jan Irving
Jan Irving has worked in all kinds of creative fields, from painting silk to making porcelain ceramics, to interior design, but writing was always her passion.
She feels you cant fully understand characters until you follow their journey through a story world. Many kinds of worlds interest her, fantasy, historical, science fiction and suspense—but all have one thing in common, people finding a way to live together—in the most emotional and erotic fashion possible, of course!
Visit Jan's blog at http://jan-revealed.livejournal.com and her Web site at http://janirvingwrites.com/.
