by Sara Jolene
JT’s face was hard to read. She wasn’t sure if it was panic or concern she saw, or something else. She waited but couldn’t stand the silence. “I think there were three men, but I’m not sure. It was hard to tell through the small windows. I can say the one gentleman looked very comfortable there, like he belonged. It was why I haven’t said anything before now. I thought he was the new sheriff.”
JT shook his head. “No. Wheeler said he hadn’t had anyone even come for the job. I have to go back. I have to let him know.”
Nora didn’t like the idea of him riding off into the night, but knew it needed to be done. Marshal Wheeler would need to know that a group of men could come bursting through the door at any moment. She nodded.
“Please be safe.”
He rode fast and hard into town, pushing his barely rested mare to go quicker. He was nervous for his friends, so much so that he’d even brought his gun with him. He didn’t do that much anymore, now that he’d gotten to know the townsfolk, and they trusted him. Most people would gladly defend the town doctor should the need arise, but in this instance, he was worried that it wasn’t his life that would need defending.
The moon was high in the sky when he slowed the cream-colored mare to a quiet trot. He went past where The Nugget was quickly returning to its former function, then all the other darkened businesses, until he got to where the sheriff’s office was. He dismounted and tied the mare to the hitching post two doors down from his destination. Keeping his hand close to his hip, he moved as quietly as possible to the sheriff’s office where he crept up on the window. Before he had a chance to look in, he felt something hard push into his back.
“Not sure what you’re lookin’ for, but I’m thinkin’ you ought to be off.”
JT wasn’t sure if he should straighten to full height or stay as he was … but he was sure that the man with the scruff voice that was holding a gun to his back was one of the men that Nora had told him about. He wasn’t sure if he was one of the ones that had encountered his patients up on that trail or not, though. Still unsure of what to do, he opted for honesty.
“I’ve just come to check on my patients. I’m the doctor in Creede.”
“Ain’t err’ seen a doc carry a pistol like that.”
James didn’t know much about guns, but he knew that his drew attention. It had been a gift from his uncle when he’d graduated from medical school and had told his family he wanted to move west. His father’s brother had been supportive of James’s dream to be a physician. He’d been the only one. He’d given James the pair of pistols and holsters and told him that the West was wild, that he’d need to protect himself and his patients. James had taken it to heart. He might be a doctor and his guns might be pretty, but he knew how to use them, and he was a quick draw. He’d practiced a lot in his alone time out at the cabin.
The door to the office creaked open and Marshal Wheeler’s silhouette filled the space fully. It was dark, but back-lit by the flames of the candles burning in the office Wheeler looked more intimidating than he did in daylight when you could see his badge. He stepped forward, guns drawn.
“The doctor is going to come inside and y’all are gonna head out.” He turned towards what JT assumed was another group of men. “I’d keep ridin’ past when you think you’ve ridden far enough. Because if I find you, I’ll be shootin’ first and asking questions later.”
JT felt the gun leave his back and heard the man behind him back up a few paces. James stood to his full height and made to turn around to get a good look at the man behind him. He didn’t make it all the way around before the gunfire started. He used the momentum he’d gained from attempting to turn around to back closer to the marshal. The two of them ended up back-to-back, circling the road in front of the sheriff’s office. Lights were coming on in apartments and businesses up and down the way, and men were coming out to join the fray. Finally, with so much light and so many bullets flying at them, the outlaws turned tail and rode out, heading toward Topaz.
JT had never had to shoot like that. His heart was in his throat, beating hard and fast as he tried to breathe between beats. He stowed his pistols in their holsters before ducking into the makeshift clinic. Hannah was there, tucked into a corner. The men that could move well had blocked her, with Bob sitting right in front, his chest puffed out. They had their guns out, waiting, in case one of the outlaws slipped past JT and Wheeler. JT had to laugh. They were lucky they’d been helping rather than trying to harm Hannah, or Bob would have pecked them to death. He was glad to see that Hannah only seemed shaken; she hadn’t been harmed at all.
“Who were they?”
JT shook his head. “I’m not completely sure.”
Hannah looked at him as if she’d just realized something. Bob hopped up onto her lap. “Why are you here? You left a long time ago?”
“When I got back to the cabin, Nora told me that she’d seen some men here in the sheriff’s office through the window the other day. She didn’t think anything of it at the time, just assumed Wheeler had hired a new man to take over. But then when he’d suggested we use this place as a clinic, she knew better.”
“Why didn’t she tell us before we left?”
JT helped one of the injured men back to their cot. He was grateful that they’d been willing to protect Hannah. She’d become such a large part of his life. Bob too.
“Because I have a listening problem … or rather, an assuming problem.”
Bob jumped back off of Hannah’s lap and ran toward the door. Everyone in the room turned their attention to the rooster but he just stood at the door, watching.
“What?”
“She tried to tell me, but I thought she was attempting to argue that she should come here to town with us last night, so in my attempt to protect her, I was rude and wouldn’t let her speak.”
Bob came rushing over and pecked James in the hand. “Ouch! Blasted rooster!”
Hannah laughed. “Well, now we know how Bob feels about that.”
James shook out his hand, trying to dull the ache from all the little beak marks. “But I’ve already learned my lesson. No need for Bob to get worked up.” He spoke directly to Bob rather than to Hannah. It was the oddest thing—if JT didn’t know any better, he’d have sworn that rooster knew exactly what the was saying, because he puffed his chest back up, ruffled his tail feathers and strut away like he’d done something to be hugely proud of.
Chapter Ten
JT rode home that morning with heavy eyelids and a wilting spirit. Turned out the men they’d had the run-in with in the night had been turning up here and there in the area for a few weeks now. They’d rob coaches and the occasional train. They’d been causing havoc, and since the town’s lawman had run off, yellow-bellied, they hadn’t had one person to keep track of it all. Wheeler had told the folks of Creede to make sure they traveled in groups, and that going out hunting was too dangerous at the moment with them roaming the hills. He’d also promised to increase his search for a new sheriff. They needed someone in that office that could know about the day-to-day activities in the surrounding towns. It was the only way to keep the town safe.
Creede was a town full of degenerates and drunks, but they were protective. They weren’t keen on a group of criminals trying to intimidate their folks. JT knew that Wheeler would have his hands full if he didn’t find a sheriff soon.
The cabin had just come into view, the sight of it causing JT to straighten in his saddle. The woman he loved was in there, waiting on his return. He was the luckiest man in Creede, and he’d known it even before his brush with the outlaws last night. But now that he’d been a part of a shoot-out like that, he knew there was nothing in the world quite like it to put things into perspective. He’d decided that he wanted to get married as soon as Nora would have him. He was thinking they could go into town and have the new reverend, Theodore, do something to improve his reputation. He could marry them in a small ceremony. He didn’t need anyone there besides Hannah and Wheeler—
and Bob, of course.
The behavior of that rooster always made him chuckle. He thought about how he’d pecked his hand last night for doing something unbecoming, and realized that he’d done that to the new reverend a few times. Maybe Bob wouldn’t be as welcome at the wedding. Or maybe they’d have to marry in Bachelor.
As the cabin came closer he realized that there was a buggy in front of the barn he’d only ever seen over at Otto’s before. Plus there were three horses in his corral that hadn’t been there the night before. The confrontation with the reverend yesterday popped back into his head. He was betting that one of the horses belonged to the new preacher, and that he was there making sure that JT and Nora had heeded his warning and left town. Maybe they’d have to get married in Bachelor any way.
Nora had been a worried mess all night. She’d fretted and fretted until her eyes couldn’t stay open any longer and she’d drifted off to sleep in the chair with her sewing needle still in her hand. She’d woken to Tommy’s soft cries from across the room. He was doing so much better. His fever was gone completely, and the redness was leaving his skin. JT had told her that the spots would last longer, but that they weren’t causing the baby any discomfort. She went to the little one and picked him up, cradling him against her chest and shoulder. After changing him quickly, she took him to the kitchen where the two of them began to prepare breakfast.
Nora was spooning eggs onto the children’s plates when she heard hoofbeats outside. She ran straight to the door, the baby still on her hip. She opened the door and stood halfway between the house and the small porch. She was surprised to see that there was more than just the one horse; there was a buggy, too. She was even more surprised—but probably shouldn’t have been—to see that Benita Crowther was atop the single mount, her father behind them driving the buggy.
Benita was stunning, as usual. Her pale skin and dark hair shimmered like snow in the sunlight. She had on a long, bright blue skirt, and her wrap was pure white fur. Nora wished she’d had time to put herself together. She was sure she looked a horrid mess, having barely slept and doing so sitting up. She smiled and waved to the group as they rode up to the barn. “Willie,” she called out into the house.
The child was by her side in a moment. “Be a good boy and go help Mr. Crowther with the horses, please.”
“Yes, Mama,” Willie responded as he ducked beneath her arm and ran out into the yard toward the barn. He went to Benita first and helped the young lady from her horse. Willie held the reins and offered her a hand as she dismounted.
Benita immediately started toward the cabin. Her father was taking longer. Just as Nora began to wonder why he’d brought the buggy, Mr. Crowther went around the side and opened the door. The sight of the two people she’d least expected to exit the buggy stole Nora’s breath. Tears welled and fell and she didn’t try to stop them. She hadn’t seen her parents in many years, yet there they were, walking with smiles on their faces toward her.
After many hugs and lots of introductions and apologies, Nora and her parents sat in the main room with the Crowthers while the children played in the kitchen and down the hallway. The Joneses explained that they’d received a telegram that Nora was close by, and they didn’t hesitate. They’d been waiting too many years to hear word of their daughter. They were thrilled to discover they had grandchildren, and both immediately asked about Nathaniel the moment they sat and had tea in their hands.
“Nathaniel passed some time ago. There was a mining accident. He never got to meet Tommy.” Nora hung her head as she explained to her parents what had happened to her husband, but then realized what she was saying wasn’t completely true. He had gotten to meet their son, just not in the way most folks would believe. The thought put a smile on her face.
Benita was shifting in her seat.
“Benita, dear, is your tea how you like it? Can I get you more sugar?”
The girl shook her head. “Its fine, thank you. I’m wondering when the doctor will return?”
Nora smiled at the girl. She knew that Benita had invited herself along on the journey to the cabin because she’d wanted to see JT. Her parents had come in on the train and paid for the use of the buggy at Otto’s. They’d asked for a guide out to the cabin, but Otto hadn’t been able. He suggested they ask at the dry goods store. Mr. Crowther had been happy to bring them out to the cabin to see their daughter.
“He left last night to care for some patients. I’m not sure when he’ll return. Are you not feeling well?”
Benita shook her head with a sly smile on her face. “You know, suddenly I’m not. Is there somewhere I could lie down?”
Nora stood. “Of course. Dr. Thomas’s office is just through that door. You can lie down in there until he returns.”
Nora, Mr. Crowther, and the Joneses watched as Benita went down the hall and disappeared behind the doctor’s office door.
Nora had been living with more regret and sadness than she’d realized. Her parents’ presence, being able to talk with them and see them with her children, made it more than clear that she’d done the wrong thing not including them in her life. The children were thrilled to know they had grandparents, and both her mother and father seemed enthralled with the little ones. They spent the morning getting reacquainted. When the Joneses asked why she and the children were staying with the doctor, Nora explained about Tommy’s illness and about the tent. They immediately asked her to return home with them. They could help her get on her feet. She could go back to sewing, and they could help with the children.
Nora thanked them; it made her heart full to know that her parents still loved and cared for her even after all she’d put them through. Before being able to accept or explain why she wouldn’t be returning with them, someone knocked on the door.
Nora excused herself and answered it. To her utter horror, it was Reverend Theodore.
“Can I help you Reverend?”
“I came to see the doctor. I wanted to be sure that the two of you heeded my warning.” He looked Nora from head to foot. “But since I can see you haven’t, I’ll be needing to stay to talk to him. I’ll need to escort you out of Creede myself, it seems.”
Nora opened the door fully and pasted a smile on her face. “Do come in and wait, then. Dr. Thomas left last evening to help with some patients in town and hasn’t returned yet.”
The reverend pushed his way into the cabin, his beady eyes taking in everything. He stopped short when he found the gathering of people in the main room.
He nodded to Mr. Crowther. “How do you do, sir?”
“I’m well, thank you, Reverend. I hope you are as well. I hope this is a social visit to the clinic?”
“I’m in good health, sir, thank you for your concern.” He turned to Nora’s parents and stuck a hand out to her father. “Reverend Eugene Theodore. Pleasure to meet you.”
Nora’s father took his offered hand. “Joseph Jones. And this here is my wife, Pamela.”
Eugene nodded toward Mrs. Jones. “Ma’am.”
Nora sat back in her chair. Watching her parents interact with the outspoken reverend made her nervous. She hadn’t told her parents of her engagement to JT, and didn’t really feel that doing so in front of Mr. Crowther would be appropriate. She couldn’t take the chance of him saying something to them about her and JT living in sin. She needed him out of there. “Reverend, you’re welcome to wait for the doctor in his office. It’s just down the hall.”
He returned his attention to Nora and nodded, his hat in his hand and a gleam in his eye. “Thank you. I think I’ll do that.”
Nathaniel had been watching since the moment that JT left the night before. He was hoping that Nora had forgotten that she’d sent Benita to the doc’s office when she all but banished the reverend there, too. It made him chuckle either way. He was expecting a scream at any moment. It was very satisfying to see his wife and children surrounded by family. The Joneses were wonderful people. He wished he could apologize to them for the hurt and trouble
he’d caused. He hoped that reuniting them would do, since he wasn’t able to tell them himself. He thought several times about showing himself to Nora, but decided against it. She knew what her path was supposed to be, and he’d asked her to put him in the past and let him stay there. He wanted her to move on and be happy.
When the expected scream didn’t come from the doc’s office, he decided to investigate and was he surprised at what he found. Benita was asleep on the doctor’s bed with the reverend standing over her, staring. Nathaniel was dead, but he wasn’t blind. Anyone could see that Benita Crowther was a beautiful girl; it seemed even the Reverend wasn’t immune. She was so sharp and crass, though. It was hard to spend any length of time with her. It gave him an idea.
JT rode straight to the barn and stowed his horse without taking the saddle off the mare. He was more than curious to see who was in the cabin with Nora and the children. He was surprised that no one came to the door to greet him. He walked in and was overwhelmed with feelings of happiness and warmth. There were strange people he’d never met sitting with Nora and the children, alongside Mr. Crowther.
Nora jumped from her seat. “Thank God you’re all right.” She rushed to his side.
“Of course. I’m sorry to have worried you. Things got a bit out of hand last night, and it took while to set things to rights.”
JT was surprised that Mr. Crowther hadn’t heard about the ruckus at the sheriff’s office in the night. He nodded to the man. “Mr. Crowther. Nice to see you. I do hope everyone is feeling well.”
He nodded in return. “Yes. Very well. We came to escort these lovely folks.” He pointed to the couple sitting next to where Nora had been, baby Tommy balancing on the woman’s lap.
“James, these are my parents, Joseph and Pamela Jones.”
Shock ran through him. These were his future in-laws. They were family. Nora hadn’t ever mentioned her family. He was very happy to meet them, but something that Mr. Crowther had said stuck in his thought process. He turned to the man after properly introducing himself to Nora’s parents. “Mr. Crowther, did you say ‘we’ escorted the Joneses?”
