Melody

by Caroline Clemmons

  “The sheriff is a good man. He will help you. Tell him what the men looked like. Did you hear what names they called one another?”

  Quinn must have asked her the same thing.

  She looked at Melody when she spoke. “Bill-ee. Cligh-da. Mor-ee.” Melody couldn’t understand the rest.

  “Thank you. Has to be Billy and Morrie Campbell and Clyde Prescott. Clyde works on Günter Poehlmann’s ranch. I’ll bet they used a line shack there. I’ll round up a posse and go after them.”

  Nick nodded, his look pensive. “Where we found her matches up with that location. She couldn’t have gone far in her condition.”

  Melody called, “Before you go, will you tell her that Nick is a doctor and needs to examine her injuries?”

  “Sure thing.” He turned so he faced Wapun. He gestured at Nick as he spoke.

  Wapun shook her head and clutched the bedcovers under her chin.

  Quinn spoke softly for a few moments.

  Wapun nodded and gave a big sigh but relaxed her hold on the bedding. She regarded Nick with a frown.

  “She says all right but no doubt you understood she is reluctant.” Quinn knocked his hat against his leg. “I’m going to get that posse searching before all signs are gone.”

  Melody warned, “Be careful. I don’t want Sarah to be a widow again.”

  Quinn clamped his hat on his head. “Neither do I.”

  Wapun might have agreed but that didn’t mean she was willing. Melody showed her the knife the girl had dropped when she’d passed out and placed it under her pillow so she could reach it. Wapun watched closely, at first afraid of the knife and then appeared surprised.

  Melody sat beside her and offered her hand. Wapun looked puzzled but linked her smaller fingers with Melody’s.

  Nick started by gently cleaning and putting ointment on the rope burns around her throat and wrists. Then, he bandaged the places. He treated a split on her face that probably came from a man’s ring when he hit her.

  Melody’s heart broke for what the young woman had endured. “If she hadn’t been able to escape, she would have been killed.”

  “She almost was anyway. I hope she’ll let me treat her internally. She didn’t seem too happy about the idea.”

  “But she did agree. You’re being very professional and gentle. That should reassure her that you’re very different from the white men who kidnapped her.”

  “I expect men from her group to show up, so be prepared. They won’t rest until they locate her and then punish the men who took her.”

  “I’d feel the same way if she were my daughter or sister. I’m sure you would, too.”

  “You bet I would. But, we don’t want this to become an incident that will result in the Blackfoot being punished. They’ve suffered enough already.”

  “That would be terrible. Nick, she has bruises everywhere on her torso. She was hit and kicked.”

  “Were any of the places lacerated?”

  “Not that I saw. She’s very modest and I didn’t want to upset her so I didn’t turn her around.”

  “I suspect blows to her kidneys are why she’s bleeding but there could be severe damage from the assaults. Is that your shift she’s wearing?”

  “Yes, she wasn’t wearing anything under her dress. I thought this would be better than a night gown so you could examine her. Besides, she’s so tiny my nightgown would swallow her.”

  “Sign to her that I’m going to look under the shift at her bruises. I’ll have to raise the garment and that might alarm her.”

  Melody tried to convey with gestures what Nick was going to do. Wapun’s lip trembled and she turned her face to the wall. She acted ashamed she had been hurt.

  He probed her ribs with his fingers. “Feels like two ribs are cracked. Might be why she passed out when I put her in the buggy. At the time I thought maybe she was exhausted and relieved to be rescued. Now I believe probably I held her so I pressed on them.”

  While holding one hand, with her other Melody stroked the girl’s hair as if she were a small child. Doing so seemed to soothe Wapun. Would Wapun permit Nick to examine her woman’s place?

  Nick moved slowly talking soothingly, even though his patient might not understand him. Melody was thankful he was being so calm and matter-of-fact. Surely that would cause less embarrassment for Wapun.

  When he spread her legs so he could complete his examination, she cried out. Melody spoke to her about what he was doing and hoped she was reassuring.

  His face was pale when he rose up and pulled the cover over the girl. “She needs stitches. I don’t know if she would let us put her to sleep or not. I’d have to anesthetize her in order to sew her back together.”

  “Then do it fast. You said her family will come and you must be done before then.”

  “You’re right, Nurse Walker. I’ll get the chloroform and a pad. Are you willing to administer it or shall I get Hank?”

  Her heart soared at him calling her nurse. Perhaps he was coming to accept her.

  “Not another man, Nick. I’ll do exactly as you tell me.”

  “First, be careful not to inhale yourself, and I’m not being critical or joking. I’ve seen people put themselves to sleep as well as a patient.”

  He dribbled a small amount of the liquid from a brown bottle onto a white fabric pad large enough to cover Wapun’s nose and mouth. Then, he took a dry square and demonstrated what he wanted done so that the young girl would understand. He gave the moistened square to Melody.

  She slowly laid it on Wapun’s face. Her wary eyes were wide and showed her fear but she allowed Melody to proceed. Soon Wapun’s eyes drifted closed.

  “Now you must be careful to drip only a couple of drops at a time. She should be almost awake but under enough to not feel the pain. Keep the cloth barely moist.”

  He removed the cover to Wapun’s legs and once again spread her legs so he could examine her. He used an odd instrument to help him see inside the girl. He sat up shaking his head.

  “What does that look mean?”

  “She’s badly injured but not irreparably so. She’ll be sore for at least two or three weeks.” His needle and thread didn’t resemble those Melody used in her sewing.

  When he’d finished with the thread, he sat back. “Don’t drip any more chloroform. She’ll wake slowly.”

  Melody handed him the bottle and tossed the pad into the small trash bin beside the washstand. “If you’ll sit with her, I’ll check on her broth and our supper.”

  “She can’t have any broth until she’s fully awake. She might be nauseated at first but I imagine she’s pretty hungry.”

  Melody prepared supper for Nick, Hank, and Mr. Tate. She took her food to the bedroom to sit with Wapun and asked Nick to deliver food to the clinic. When the girl had roused sufficiently, Melody offered her a cup of broth.

  Wapun shook her head. Melody took a sip from one side of the cup to show it was safe then offered it again. With her dark eyes suspicious, Wapun took a tentative sip from the cup. She smiled and said something in her language before she drank more broth.

  “Next time I’ll include some chicken pieces in the cup.” Melody didn’t know why she explained since the girl didn’t appear to understand what was said.

  Wapun wriggled and frowned and reached toward her private place. Melody took the girl’s hand. Then, she made motions as if she were sewing. Wapun nodded as if she understood but she pointed at the chamber pot.

  “I’ll help you again. Be careful so you don’t open the stitches.” She was talking to herself but perhaps her tone of voice conveyed something.

  When the girl relieved herself, she gasped. As soon as she was back in bed, she sighed and closed her eyes. By this time, Melody was ready to do the same. She wore her dress but curled up on the smaller bed and pulled a blanket over her legs. She was grateful a fireplace kept this room warm even with snow outside.

  Throughout the night, Melody checked on her patient, as did Nick. At one point, he
lay down beside Melody and pulled the blanket over his legs as well as hers. They’d never been this close before and certainly never shared a bed.

  Melody enjoyed the security of having him near. Perhaps he was becoming fond of her. Foolish woman, her mind warned, don’t let yourself count on him.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Melody fought to keep from worrying about all she wasn’t accomplishing. She wondered if life with Nick would always be hectic and varied. Certainly, this was one time her nursing skill wasn’t in question.

  Nick came into the bedroom with their neighbor. “Flora has volunteered to sit with our patient so you can get a few things done, like getting food prepared.”

  “Thank you so much, Flora. I suspect men from her tribe will come today. I’m going to make a huge batch of potato soup and bake loaves of bread. My mom always gave me that soup when I was ill, especially if I had an upset stomach.”

  “So you’re the doctor now, are you?” He smiled, which took any sting from his words.

  “Just your cook and nurse, Doctor Walker. I’ll make enough soup for all of us. You’ll be glad when you taste the result.”

  “Probably will. I’ve liked everything you’ve cooked so far. I’m going to the clinic to see patients. If Blackfoot braves show up, I’ll come home.”

  His compliment was a boon to her mood. “How will you know?”

  “Good neighbors will alert me. Mr. Tate has decided he’s on watch and keeps checking out the window. If he sees Indian horses, he’ll tell me. Any patients coming to the clinic will as well.”

  Melody mixed bread and set it to rise first then peeled most of the potatoes they had, which was a lot. She used the largest kettle for the soup. While it was cooking and she waited for the loaves of bread to bake, she fried bacon to crumble atop the finished soup.

  She’d added a tiny bit of minced onion to the potatoes. Now she grated a mound of cheese from a wheel stored in the pantry to add when the soup was almost done. She took a bowl from the cupboard to fill and send with Flora so she’d have soup for her lunch. Melody planned to send a loaf of bread with her, too.

  When the bread was out of the oven and cooling on the table, covered by dishtowels, she stirred the cheese into the potato mixture. She added salt and pepper until the taste suited her. Then she dished up Flora’s portion and called her.

  “I expect we’ll have Wapun’s trackers here soon. Here’s some soup and a loaf of bread for your lunch. Thank you so much for helping.”

  “Would you like for me to come later?”

  “Maybe you would come for a couple of hours tomorrow afternoon. That would really help so I could have time to cook dinner.”

  “I’ll be here tomorrow about two. You send word or stick your head out the door and yell if you need me sooner.” Flora donned her coat and scarf.

  Melody opened the door to let the young widow leave. She poured a cup of the soup into a mug and sprinkled crumbled bacon on top. After she sliced a bit of fresh bread she took that and the cup to Wapun.

  Today, the girl looked better. Bruises still marred her pretty face but they would fade. Melody positioned her pillows so she could eat. The girl smelled the bread and took a tiny bite but she eyed the mug of soup suspiciously.

  Prepared for such lack of trust, Melody pulled a potato from her pocket and showed to Wapun then pointed to the soup.

  Wapun nodded and took a sip. She tasted and smiled. She drank all of the soup and ate the bread. Melody poured her a glass of water from the pitcher on the washstand.

  Sated, the girl drank her water and relaxed against the pillows. Soon her eyes fluttered closed. Melody crept quietly from the room.

  She returned to the kitchen in time to hear loud rapping at the front door. When she opened the door a group of Indians stood on the porch. Each wore red paint on his face and looked fearsome. The one in front also had a halo of feathers in his hair and had painted a black stripe from his hair down his nose.

  Thank goodness she’d expected them. They appeared so fierce she might have screamed or done something else wrong from the surprise. Heart in her throat, she smiled and gestured for them to come inside.

  Six men filed inside and she showed them the chairs in the parlor. To the one who was obviously the leader, she gestured to follow her and said “Wapun” as well as she could mimic the girl’s pronunciation. When the others would have followed, she shook her head and gestured for them to sit.

  She held up one finger. “Only one may come.”

  The five looked at the leader and he nodded and waved them toward the parlor. The leader followed her. When they entered the bedroom, he strode to the bed. He acted as if he was going to pick up Wapun. Melody stepped between him and the sleeping girl with her arms crossed.

  He said something and pointed to Wapun.

  She couldn’t believe she had the nerve to stand up to him. What would she do if he insisted? One woman against six men was not good odds.

  Melody shook her head. “She is too ill to be moved. She is bleeding inside and must stay here so the doctor can care for her.”

  The front door opened and she heard boots striding down the hall. Quinn entered the bedroom. “Looks as if you have guests.”

  Relief shot through her that reinforcements had arrived. She had no physical way to keep this fierce-looking man from taking the girl. At least Quinn could speak to him.

  The Blackfoot man glared at her but stepped back a couple of steps.

  “Thanks for coming, Quinn. I don’t know how to explain why Wapun must remain here. She’s lost blood and needs to rest while her stitches heal. She also has a couple of cracked ribs.”

  Breathing as if he’d run, Nick entered. Her relief at seeing him was just because she liked to have him near. What a stupid way to feel about a man who was probably going to send her away at Christmas. All the same, she moved to stand beside him, grateful when he put his arm around her waist.

  Quin nodded to the Blackfoot man. “Great Chief Mingan, we are honored to have you here.”

  Mingan looked at Melody and Nick then at Quinn. “Do you know who took my daughter?”

  Melody was annoyed he hadn’t let her know he spoke English.

  Quinn nodded. “Two of the men are in jail. The other will soon be captured and put there.”

  “You must let me have them to see they are punished.” Mingan slashed his hand in the air. “Nothing will happen to them in white man’s court.”

  Quinn pointed at the chief. “They will be tried and found guilty of kidnapping your daughter.” He tapped himself on the chest. “I will see that they are punished.”

  Hoping to ease the situation, Melody looked at the chief. “Her pony is in the livery stable and will be cared for until she can use it unless you wish to take it now.”

  Chief Mingan waved aside her comment.

  Melody moved near the bed and smoothed her hand lovingly on Wapun’s head. “Can you wake up, dear? Wapun, you have a guest.”

  When Wapun remained asleep, Melody wet a cloth in water from the pitcher and smoothed it gently across Wapun’s brow.

  The girl’s eyes fluttered open and a wide smile appeared on her face. “Pita!” Her smile faded and her gaze lowered. She spoke slowly for a long while.

  Her father reached to caress her face. He looked at Melody. “She says you take good care of her as if you were her mother or aunt.” He pointed angrily at Nick. “But, the doctor sews in her woman’s place where he should not have seen.”

  Nick defended himself, “She was badly injured and losing much blood. I had to sew two places. She will be all right in a few weeks but she cannot be moved now. She must be kept still to let her body heal.”

  Mingan crossed his arms and glared at Nick. “I will send our own medicine man. He will see Wapun is treated well.”

  Nick nodded. “He will be welcome as you are. My wife has prepared soup and bread for you and those with you. I will stay with Wapun while you eat.”

  Mingan pointed at the
floor. “I will eat here with my daughter.”

  Melody gestured to the small bed. “Please have a seat and I will bring your lunch. Wapun has had hers but perhaps she would like more.”

  Mingan asked his daughter something. She nodded.

  He sat on the bed, arms still crossed. “She would like more of this potato soup and bread you make.”

  Melody hurried to the kitchen. She found the five Blackfoot men seated on the parlor floor. She didn’t care if that was where they preferred.

  Grateful they had enough dishes for everyone’s use, she took bowls from the hutch. What would she have used if she hadn’t been able to bring some of her family’s china she’d hidden? A cup of soup wouldn’t have filled the men.

  She filled each bowl with soup and sprinkled on the crumbled bacon. Slicing generous portions of the loaves, she handed out the soup and bread. She offered the men spoons but they drank their soup from the bowl. Fine, less to wash.

  She found something large enough to use as a tray and set bowls of soup on it with plenty of bread. Struggling to lift the load for the bedroom, she was grateful when Nick appeared.

  He took the tray. “This is too heavy for you. Smells good. I see our other guests have eaten.”

  “But not Hank and Mr. Tate.”

  “They won’t starve. I told Hank he might have to buy something from the Eatery or come here to get what you’ve prepared.”

  “By the way, I used all the potatoes and bacon.”

  He actually chuckled. “Least of our concerns today, wouldn’t you agree?”

  In the bedroom, Melody handed the first bowl to Mingan. Then one to Wapun, then Quinn, and finally Nick and her.

  Quinn dipped his bread in the soup. “My mom used to make this. I wonder if Sarah knows how?”

  Melody nodded. “She’s made it many times for Becca when she was ill.”

  Mingan watched Quinn and Nick. Tentatively, he dipped the bread in the soup and then tasted it. “Humph. Is good like Wapun said.”

  Wapun laughed at her father. How nice to hear her. She ate the bread and drank her soup.

  When his bowl was empty, Mingan examined the bowl as if he’d never before eaten from china. He tapped her family dish with his finger. Melody held her breath for fear the bowl would break in his huge hands.