“I can’t answer that one, son. Why did he let a nice girl like Cathy end up in the mess she’s in? Why allow a good woman like Wilma to live so many years in slavery? Why does he do a lot of things? I have no idea. I just have to believe that he has a plan and he knows better than I do.”
“I can’t do that.”
“You may do in time. You should pray on it.”
“Right.”
“I’m serious. Little Beaver has had a lot to deal with in his relatively short life. He still deals with prejudice and bigotry on a daily basis. Yet he’s smiling. He believes.”
“Little Beaver is a Christian?”
“Well, I don’t know how you could call him that but he believes in a mighty powerful spirit. Who knows what God is, really? He created all of us, if you read your bible. Anyway, we is getting in way too deep. You think on it, son. Pray on it. Because I am telling you now, that gal of yours in there won’t get better without his help. That’s the truth, whether you like it or not.”
Cookie stood and took off his boots. “I am going go get some shut eye. Reckon you should, too. We could be in for a long night.”
“Where will you sleep?”
“Right here, same as always.”
As he watched, Cookie pulled the sofa closer to the fire. “This is right comfortable. Goodnight, son.”
“Goodnight, Cookie.”
Abe went into the bedroom closing he door behind him. Shivering a little at the change in temperature, he stripped to his underclothes and lay in the bed next to his wife. He didn’t move in case he woke her. Closing his eyes, he tried to sleep but it was impossible. His thoughts were all jumbled up. Was Cookie right? Was he just angry and really did believe in God? He didn’t rightly know what to think anymore.
Chapter 29
“You all right, Erin? You been very quiet since you got back from the ranch.”
“I am fine, just annoyed. Cathy O’Malley took a drug overdose today.”
“Why? I thought she was happy with Abe. Or at least willing to give it a go.”
“Nothing to do with Abe. Seems she came into town and took the bottle from the office. Mrs. Grey didn’t notice her taking it. She met Mrs. Shaw and Ma Kelley and they upset her.”
“I wish someone would shut those two old women up for good. We have to find a way to drive them out of town.” Erin agreed but it was pointless saying so. Nothing was going to happen to those two or Charlie Staunton, for that matter.
“Have you heard back from Mr. Prentice yet?’
“He sent a telegram to say he is looking into it. Not to lose hope, but nothing since.”
“Maybe you should send him another one. It would be nice to shut down the gossips once and for all.”
“It would be better if Sheriff Willis was here. I love Little Beaver but he doesn’t have the same contacts in law enforcement.”
“Sheriff will be back any day now. Where is Cathy?”
“Cookie and Abe took her up to the mountain cabin. Cookie says he has experience of dealing with opium withdrawal.”
Erin saw the guarded look on Mick’s face.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Mick what are you hiding from me?”
“Nothing to do with me, love. Not my secret but believe me, Cookie has experience. Cathy should be fine.”
“It’s not right a girl has to go into the mountains rather than have medical treatment here in town. But if Ma Kelley or the rest of her cronies got word of it, Cathy would never live it down.”
“You can trust Cookie, darling. He knows what he is doing. You can only do your best. You are not a miracle worker, you know.”
“Hold me, Mick, and tell me everything will work out fine, please.”
Mick did just as she asked. Erin only hoped Cathy had found as decent a man as she had.
The next morning, Erin was planning to go out to the ranch to find out what the latest was with Cathy but she got held up with patients.
“I think Doc has retired.”
“At his age he deserves a rest, but at the rate the town is growing we might have to get another doctor. Erin, you can’t keep up this pace for long.”
Erin was too tired to say anything but she didn’t get the chance as the door burst open. Wilma, her two grandchildren and Mrs. Shaw with Bertram were all screaming.
“Quiet down. Someone tell me what is going on,” Erin shouted above the noise.
“They cut my boy. Those two evil little witches. They don’t belong here. Send them back to wherever they came from or I will get the law onto them.”
“You go get the sheriff right now. He will sort out that devious son of yours. He is not right in the head. Nobody could be that stupid.”
“Wilma, settle down. You, too, Mrs. Shaw. Now, will someone please tell me what is going on.”
“Bertram said we couldn’t be twins. He said his blood was better than Suzy’s. So I cut him and Suzy to show him the blood was the same.”
Erin exchanged a glance with Emer but neither put their thoughts into words.
“Amy, what did you use?”
“A scissors. Only it weren’t sharp enough so I had to sharpen it on a stone first.”
“You see ,Doc, she is evil. My poor boy, he will be poisoned for sure.”
“Mrs. Grey, get Mrs. Shaw out of the office now before I give her a dose of liver oil for her hysterics. Wilma, off you go, too. Get Little Beaver.”
Wilma went off looking for the deputy sheriff while Mrs. Grey took a near hysterical Mrs. Shaw away.
“Emer, we have to clean these out and then bandage them up,” Erin said in her gravest doctor’s voice. “Bertram, you and the girls have been very naughty. You could have been badly hurt. As it is, this is going to sting a lot.”
“I don’t want it to hurt.”
“Stop being such a cry baby, you silly boy. You never going to be a man if you let a bit of a sting scare you,” Amy shouted at Bertram.
“I will, too. Just you watch me.”
“I could watch for the rest of my life. You’re only ever going to be a boy. You are never going to be sensible like me and Suzy.”
“Amy, you didn’t show much sense doing this. You could have given your sister and Bertram blood poisoning. I am not at all happy with you three and I doubt your teacher is, either,” Erin said sharply.
“What is going on in here?”
Erin looked up to see Little Beaver frowning at the children. He looked very fierce. Suzy hid behind Amy. Or at least she tried to.
“Your teacher told me you have all been very naughty. Bertram, I told you the price if you got into trouble again.”
“Wasn’t me this time, it was them. Honest it was. You just ask them.”
“It was me, not either of them. I wanted to prove him wrong. I didn’t realize what I was doing was bad,” Amy said, a groveling expression of innocence on her face.
Erin saw Little Beaver was fighting hard to keep his strict face. Amy looked like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth.
“Amy, what’s your least favorite chore?”
“Washing windows.”
“That’s a big lie, Amy. You love that job. She hates peeling vegetables and weeding.”
“You are supposed to be my sister. What did you tell him that for?”
“Cause you deserve to be punished. What you did was wrong. You should say you are sorry.”
“See, I told you. Even your own sister thinks you are evil.”
“You shush your mouth, Bertram Shaw. I do not. I think you are horrible. You never think before you open that big fat mouth of yours. I hate you. I hate both of you,” Suzy said, tears sliding down her face.
“Emer, can you take Suzy into the other room and tend to her cut. Thankfully it isn’t deep, although it’s deeper than Bertram’s which is just a scratch. But I don’t think Suzy needs to hear any more of her sister’s nonsense.”
Amy sent Erin a dirty look, but Suzy sent one of gratitude.
“I
am going to tell your mother to send you to the orphanage for a month,” Little Beaver told Bertram. “You and Amy can weed the garden for Samuel and if I hear one word of complaint, I will make it two.”
“My ma won’t let you tell me what to do.”
“She will because if you and your ma don’t start listening to my deputy, I am going to put you both in jail. I will send you away to a school for badly behaved boys and you wont see your ma for six months. Do you hear me?”
“Yes.”
“Yes what?”
“Yes, sir, Sheriff Willis.”
“Now, somebody get Mrs. Shaw home or I will lock her up for causing a public disturbance.”
Mrs. Shaw didn’t need any assistance. She was gone when Erin turned to look for her. Bertram followed in her wake.
Wilma came back into the clinic to collect her grandchildren. “Erin, I am so sorry. I don’t know what to say. I am so ashamed.”
“Girls, come here and apologize to your Grammy. She doesn’t need you two causing her problems like this. You hear me?”
“Yes, Doc Erin.”
“What do you say?”
“Sorry, Grammy. Sorry, Doc Erin. Sorry, Sheriff.”
“All right, off you go now,” Erin said.
“Do I really got to do weeding with Bertram?”
“Yes, you do, Amy and Suzy is not to help you. You got into this mess on your own. You can get out of it on your own,” Erin confirmed.
“Oh darn.”
“Amy! Wait till I get you home and you are going to feel my hand across your backside. I’m going to fill that mouth of yours with soapy water. Just you watch me. You never to use that language again, you hear?”
Sheriff Willis and Mrs. Grey roared laughing at the sight of Wilma dragging a willful Amy up the street. Erin was amused, too, but she wasn’t about to laugh. She had yet to see what type of child Michelle would turn into and she wasn’t in the mood for tempting fate. She sure was glad the Sheriff was back. He may be able to help keep Cathy out of trouble.
Chapter 30
“Morning, son. How is she?”
“Still asleep. Should she be still sleeping?” Abe asked.
“I guess she did take rather a large amount. Just make sure she’s breathing. It will easier for everyone if she’s asleep.”
That was the second or third time Cookie had mentioned how difficult the next few days would be. He hoped his friend was exaggerating.
“Morning.”
“Little Beaver, you’re back already,” Cookie said.
Abe looked up as the Indian approached with two horses.
“Sheriff is back. I told him where you were. Came back with your horse, Cookie. You still riding out today?”
“Aye. Just let me rinse this and I will be right with you.”
“Wait, Cookie. You’re leaving?”
“Abe, this is something you and Cathy got to do together. There is nothing I can do that you can’t and your missus will be more comfortable if it is just you that sees her. I wont be far away. If you need me, fire a shot. Someone will come.”
“Good luck, Abe,” Little Beaver added as the two men walked away. Abe just stared, too shocked to comment.
It was just him and Cathy now. That thought didn’t bring him comfort. What if he let her down? What if he couldn’t save her and she died.
No point in thinking like that. Might as well get the chores done while she’s sleeping.
It was a couple more hours before Cathy woke. She begged him for more medicine and when he said there wasn’t any, she didn’t believe him. She went through the cabin, opening every drawer or door she could find. It looked like thieves had ransacked the place by the time she was finished. Then she turned on him. One minute she was all nice as pie, the next she was tearing at his face, his eyes. All the time begging him for just a little bit.
“I just need a tiny spoonful. Not even a full spoon. Just a little bit. Why won’t you give it to me? You don’t care about me.”
At first he tried to reason with her, but soon gave up. He tried his best to ignore her as she yelled and screamed. Now, he understood why Cookie had insisted on them going away from normal folks. When Cathy was better, she would be mortified at the way she had carried on. She certainly didn’t need anyone reminding her. Even if she didn’t remember, it would have given the children nightmares to hear a grown woman scream and beg like that. She sounded like she was being attacked and tortured.
He ended up tying her to the bed, the tears pooling in his eyes as she begged and pleaded with him for some drugs. She chaffed at the bounds so much her skin turned raw. He clipped her nails so she wouldn’t shred her own skin. He tried to get her to drink water but she wouldn’t. Every so often she passed out, but it didn’t last long. Her body was twitching as the drugs worked their way out of her. He kept the cabin hot in the hope by sweating she would get it out faster, but really he had no idea what he was doing.
Every so often he found little gifts outside. A basket of freshly caught fish, a loaf of bread, some cookies. These reminders he wasn’t alone and had friends thinking of him helped a lot. He cooked, cleaned, sponged her down, stripped the bed, remade it. Every day was the same. By the third day he was exhausted, yet she seemed to be gaining energy. He found himself praying. Not saying the prayers by rote as he had done as a child but talking to God and asking him for help. It didn’t appear as if he was listening.
Chapter 31
The next day, Sheriff Willis called to the Haven. Mick was home alone, Nora having taken Michelle over to the orphanage to see Wilma. Mick opened the door, surprised to find the sheriff standing there.
“Come on in, Sheriff. Erin said she’d seen you.”
“That’s a mess in New York. I sent a couple of telegrams off to some fellas I know. They will get back to me with the inside story. In the meantime, Little Beaver has checked on Cathy and she is doing all right.”
“Is she back on the ranch yet?” Mick asked.
“No, not yet. It takes some time.”
Mick remembered his manners. “I got fresh coffee on. Might even be able to rustle up some cookies.”
“Thanks Mick but I don’t think I can eat. Stomach isn’t too good.”
“You talk to Erin?”
“I don’t need no doctor. I need…Oh, forget it.”
The sheriff turned around and went to head out the door. Mick stopped him by putting a hand on his shoulder.
“Come in and have some coffee. I got a letter from Mollie yesterday. She loves Santa Fe. Says the people are real nice to her. She’s back in school. Wants to be a doctor, just like Erin. That’s something, isn’t it.”
Mick knew he was talking too much but he was so surprised finding the sheriff at his door, he wasn’t sure what to say. Did he want to talk about Cathy?
“You know Cathy, Mary Sullivan’s sister turned up in town while you were away.”
“Aye. Little Beaver filled me in. That is some funny situation right there. The law can’t be too worried about her if they ain’t sending anyone after her. Something fishy about the whole thing, if you ask me.”
“So you don’t mind Abe—he’s her husband now—taking her up to the Cookie’s cabin on the mountain.”
“From what I hear about the little lady, that’s the best place for her. After the war, I saw many men fight that poison. Not a pretty sight. I think I ran into this Abe’s brother in Leadville. A guy by the name of Jude.”
“Yes, he told me Jude had become a sheriff. Reckon next to Little Beaver, he is about the youngest sheriff around. Funny, when I met him years back, I would have put him in the cells in the jailhouse. He was a little tyke but he has grown into a fine man."
The sheriff smiled, which worried Mick even more. Braddon Willis was not known for smiling or cracking jokes. “Sheriff, what can I do for you? I get the impression this isn’t just a social call.”
“Mick, you know how to dance right?”
“I do okay. I don’t stand on
the ladies’ feet. Why?”
“You goin’ to the wedding Saturday week.”
More confused than ever, Mick said, “Yes, Of course. I couldn’t miss Wilma’s wedding. But I’ll be dancin’ with Erin.”
“I know that, you big lummox. I want to dance with a lady, too, but I—well, I don’t know how.”
“Don’t tell me you want me to show you?” Mick hoped he didn’t. He wouldn’t feel right holding the sheriff by the hand and waltzing him around the room.
“What do you think I am? I wondered if you knew if any of the ladies would teach me to dance. I thought your Erin might do it but I guess she’s too busy. All the ladies in town are too busy.”
“What about Mrs. Grey?” Mick said innocently, while stirring the coffee. This conversation was getting rather embarrassing.
The silence hit him. He turned to look at the sheriff, surprised to find him bright red.
“What did I say? Oh, Mrs. Grey.” Suddenly Mick knew why the sheriff was here. He should have seen the signs earlier. Erin had commented there seemed to be an attraction between Mrs. Grey and Willis. “You want to court Mrs. Grey?”
“I never said that. Why you jumping to conclusions? You are worse than an old woman.” Sheriff puffed up.
“You do, you old goat. I never thought I would see the day. We best get you out to the Sullivan ranch. Mrs. H will help you learn to dance. Reckon Miss Mary would teach you a couple of the Irish reels if you ask nicely.”
“Now, Mick, don’t you be getting ideas and spreading rumors. Or I will put that backside of yours in the cells.”
“That’s not a nice way to treat your best man, is it?”
“What? Ah, now, I knew I shouldn’t have said anything. You ain’t going to let this go, are ye?”
“Nope! Now, are we going out to the ranch and speaking to Mrs. H or aren’t we?”
Mick hid a smile as the sheriff tried to work out which was worse—showing himself up by dancing all over Mrs. Grey’s toes or admitting to the ladies at the ranch he had to learn how to dance.
“Listen, Sheriff, it will do Mary a favor. She is beside herself worrying about her sister. If she had this distraction, it would make her day go faster.”
Cathy Page 10
