For the Love of Annie

by Sabrah Huff Agee

  Mary Louise held out the sheets. "Here are the sheets you requested, Doctor."

  Doctor Morrison was bent over Cooper and appeared to be applying pressure to the injury on Cooper's head. When Mary Louise spoke, he looked over his shoulder and arched a brow.

  "Miss, I'm afraid this isn't the place for you. I'd appreciate it if you'd step outside and send in one of the deputies."

  "My name is Mary Louise Markham, Doctor. I'm here to assist you in whatever way I can."

  "That isn't necessary. Deputy Killgore and Deputy Simmons will be all the help I need."

  Mary Louise squared her shoulders, ready to do battle if necessary. "Deputy Simmons faints at the sight of blood, Doctor. There is no one other than me to help."

  The doctor looked at Charlie and the deputy shrugged. "'Fraid she's right, Doc."

  The doctor gave a resigned sigh. "All right. Miss Markham, you can begin by tossing those instruments on the table into the hot water. Then I want you to tear those sheets into bandages. We're going to need a good many. Head wounds are notorious for bleeding like a stuck pig. And, unfortunately, the bullet he took in the groin is still in there and has to come out. That's where I need help. Charlie, I want you to tie Cooper's hands to the bedposts. Don't cut off the circulation, mind you, but tie them tight enough so that he can't get loose. You got that?"

  "Yes sir, I got it." Charlie waited until Mary Louise had torn off several fairly long strips of the sheet. Then he took two of them, snapped them to test their strength, and began to wrap them around Cooper's wrists. Within minutes, Cooper's hands were tied to the bedposts. "All done, Doc."

  Using metal tongs, the doctor fished his instruments out of the hot water. Then he looked over his glasses and frowned at his dubious surgical assistants. "All right, here's what you're going to have to do. Charlie, I want you to hold on to Cooper's upper body. When I start to dig for that bullet, he's gonna feel it, and believe me, unconscious or not, he gonna try to come off this bed." He cut his eyes over to Mary Louise. "You Miss, are going to have to hold his legs to keep him from kicking me across the room. Do you think you're up to it?"

  "Yes sir, I'm sure I can handle it."

  "Okay, let's get started."

  Charlie carefully settled himself over Cooper's chest and upper body. Mary Louise stood at the end of the bed and grasped Cooper around the ankles.

  "Young woman," Dr. Morrison snapped. "You can't possibly expect to prevent him from kicking if that's how you intend to hold him. You're going to have to sit on his legs, use all your weight. Otherwise, he's going to send one of us flying across the room."

  Mary Louise refused to look at either the doctor or Charlie as she straddled Cooper's legs. She gasped softly and scooted backwards as Cooper's knee gave an involuntary twitch.

  "Miss Markham? Something wrong?"

  She shook her head and avoided the doctor's eyes. "No sir. Everything's fine."

  The room was silent as the doctor bent to his work. At his first exploratory probe, Cooper didn't so much as flicker an eyelid, and Mary Louise began to think the doctor had misjudged the need for so much precaution. At the next probe, however, Cooper came alive. He screamed with pain and he bucked and writhed as he strove to escape its source. Charlie Killgore strained to hold down the injured man. Mary Louise wrapped both arms around Cooper's legs at the knees and held on for dear life. She was reminded, as he struggled beneath her, of Willie's dime novels about the frontier west. This, Mary Louise thought, must be what it was like to ride a bronco. She knew without a doubt that by tomorrow her body was going to be black and blue— especially around her ribs where Cooper's knees were jabbing her as he fought against his restraints.

  Finally, just when Mary Louise thought she couldn't hold on a moment longer, the doctor announced, "Got it!" And a second later she heard the clink of the bullet being dropped in a metal basin.

  While the doctor stitched and bandaged the injury, Charlie helped Mary Louise to her feet. "I feel like I just fought a bear," Charlie said, stretching his back muscles. "How 'bout you, Miss Markham?"

  Mary Louise pushed back an errant curl from where it hung over her face. "I quite concur with your apt description, Deputy Killgore. And I think it was a very angry bear."

  The doctor chuckled as he tied off the bandage at Cooper's hip. "Well, you both did a fine job." He stood up. "Where's Lizzie, I need to speak with her."

  "Lizzie is ill, Doctor."

  Dr. Morrison nodded. "Oh, yes, I'd forgotten about that. I was supposed to go by and check on her this morning but, then this happened, and I never made it over there." He signed and shook his head. "I wish she were here. Lucky for him the bullet didn't pierce his gut; nevertheless, it's a serious injury and the Sheriff's going to need someone to nurse him for the next several days. These dressings will have to be changed often, and he'll need to be watched for the first sign of fever."

  "I'll stay with him, Doctor."

  The doctor gazed over his glasses at her. "Miss...?"

  "Markham, Mary Louise Markham."

  "Miss Markham, surely you can't mean you'd stay here day and night."

  Mary Louise lifted her chin determinedly. "Of course, that's exactly what I mean."

  "B— But— "

  Mary Louise squared her shoulders and said, "It's all right, Doctor, really. You see, Sheriff Matthews and I are betrothed." Deputy Killgore turned a startled gaze on her, and she quickly looked at the ceiling. And though he cleared his throat several times, to her relief he didn't dispute her claim.

  "Betrothed?" The doctor looked thoughtful. "Well, that does change things a bit. I suppose your staying with Sheriff Matthews would be acceptable under the circumstances."

  Mary Louise patted the doctor's arm. "Of course it would, Doctor. If you have any special instructions regarding his care, just jot them down for me."

  "Well..." He still looked a trifle uncertain.

  "Of course, if you think it unseemly for me to stay, I suppose you'll just have to stay with him yourself. There's obviously no one else who can do it."

  The doctor glanced around the room. There was nothing in there but a bed, a dresser, a shaving stand, and a straight backed chair. Mary Louise could imagine what he was thinking. There was nothing in the room conducive to comfort except the bed— and it was occupied. She wasn't at all surprised, therefore, when the doctor gave in.

  "All right," he said. "I'll write down the instructions as soon as I've finished dressing his head wound."

  "Good." Mary Louise smiled. "While you take care of that I'll go an check on my niec...ah...my future step— daughter." After giving Cooper a lingering glance, Mary Louise slipped from the room.

  Deputy Killgore hurried after her as she strode down the hall toward the parlor. "You shouldn'a told the doc you and the sheriff was betrothed, Miss Markham."

  She glanced at him but didn't slow her stride. "You're probably right. It was stupid of me."

  "I'll say it was."

  "I should have told him we were married."

  "What! That's crazy, Miss Markham."

  She shrugged. "No, I guess you're right. He wouldn't have believed that. Betrothed sounds better."

  Deputy Killgore wore a pained expression. "But Miss Markham, it's a lie."

  Joe Bob was in the parlor with Annie. He looked up when Deputy Killgore and Mary Louise walked in, having heard the tail end of their conversation. "What was a lie, Charlie?"

  Mary Louise rolled her eyes. "It wasn't a lie, Deputy Simmons. It was just a little fib, that's all." She looked around the room. "Where's Deputy Hawkins?"

  "I sent him to Lizzie's. He was still cryin' and it was scaring Annie. I said I'd stay with Annie if he's go tell Lizzie what happened."

  Mary Louise grinned at her niece. "Hello Annie, darling, is Deputy Simmons reading you a story?"

  Annie patted the book. "Simmy weed tory," she replied happily.

  Charlie wasn't about to let the subject drop. "Beggin' your pardon, but it was a bald— fac
ed lie, Miss Markham." His voice had risen with frustration.

  "Shhhh, you must keep your voice down, Deputy. Otherwise, you're going to disturb Cooper," Mary Louise cautioned.

  Killgore looked ready to howl, but he lowered his voice. "My yellin' ain't gonna disturb him nowhere near so much as what you done."

  "What's going on?" Joe Bob insisted. "What's Miss Markham done that's so god— awful?"

  "She told the doc that her and the sheriff was betrothed, that's what she done." Killgore shot Mary Louise an rancorous look.

  "If you'll calm down a moment, Deputy Killgore, you'll realize that I had good reason for telling him that."

  Killgore crossed his arms. "Ha!" he retorted.

  "What reason, Miss Markham?" Joe Bob's question wasn't accusing, only curious.

  "Someone is going to have to stay with Cooper day and night for a while. He has to be fed, his dressings have to be changed; he has to be watched for any sign of fever or congestion in his lungs. Now who's going to do that? You, Joe Bob? Of course not. You faint at the sight of blood. What about you, Charlie? You've got a wife and children at home who need you. And we all know Deputy Hawkins can't do it. Just seeing Cooper in this state upset him so much Joe Bob had to send him away. And, Lizzie's sick, so she can't do it. So who does that leave?"

  Killgore and Simmons looked at each other sheepishly.

  Mary Louise arched a brow. "It leaves me. And the doctor wasn't about to let me, a spinster woman, as you so aptly put it, stay with him. That's why I told him Cooper and I were betrothed. I thought if he believed we were going to be married, he wouldn't find my staying here quite so scandalous." She crossed her arms and looked at Charlie. "And I was right."

  Simmons looked at Killgore and shrugged. "Makes sense to me," he declared.

  Killgore frowned. "Yeah, I reckon it does at that." He shifted his feet and then looked chagrined. "I'm sorry, Miss Markham, for what I said back there."

  She smiled at him. "That's all right, Charlie, you were upset." She glanced at Annie and then looked back at the Deputy. "There is something you can do to make up for it, though."

  "Anything, Miss Markham."

  "Do you think your wife would mind if you took Annie home with you for a few days? I really don't need any distractions, especially this first night, and Annie, though I love her dearly, can be a handful."

  Deputy Killgore grinned. "Why sure, Mary Jo would be tickled to have Annie stay with us. She loves little babies. And my kids'll love playin' with her."

  Mary Louise sagged with relief. "That takes a lot off my mind." Then she looked thoughtful. "Who's working tonight?"

  "Me," Joe Bob spoke up.

  "Good, I'm glad you'll be downstairs. If I should need you, I'll know where to find you."

  "Just stomp on the floor and I'll come runnin'."

  At that moment, Doctor Morrison walked into the room. "I've written down my instructions, Miss Markham, and left them on the bedside table. I'll come by tomorrow to bleed him."

  "Bleed him?" Mary Louise stared at the man. "Good heavens, Dr. Morrison, Cooper has already lost too much blood. How can bleeding him help anything?"

  "It's standard practice. It's the only way to get rid of the poisons that infect his body. We'll probably have to do it several times."

  "Over my dead body," Mary Louise muttered.

  "Excuse me, Miss Markham."

  "I asked if you do that to everybody," she lied.

  "Yes, yes, most everyone needs to be bled from time to time."

  "I see." Mary Louise took the doctor's arm and began leading him toward the door. "I know you must be exhausted, Dr. Morrison, so I won't keep you. I promise, I'll follow your instructions to the letter." At least, she added mentally, those I think will be helpful.

  When she'd seen the doctor on his way, Mary Louise quickly packed Annie's things for her visit with the Kilgores. Annie was eager to visit Charlie's family, with whom she was comfortably familiar. As Deputy Kilgore carried her down the stairs, Annie was chattering away to Joe Bob who followed with her satchel.

  "Bye, darling," Mary Louise called, and blew a kiss.

  "Bye— bye Weezie." Annie waved her tiny hand over Kilgore's shoulder. "Ah— nee go wid Chawie."

  "Yes, darling. Have a good time."

  When they were gone, Mary Louise headed down the hall to Cooper's room. When she really examined her motive for offering to care for him, she had to admit they were not completely selfless. She wanted him to marry her and she knew the forced close proximity would give her the perfect opportunity to convince him that marriage to her would be best for everyone concerned. Bound to his sick bed he'd be a captive audience. Though it was unfortunate that he'd been shot, from where Mary Louise stood, things couldn't have worked out better. She smiled to herself as she imagined how he was going to react when he discovered she was his nurse. She was fairly certain that he wasn't going to like it one little bit.

  Chapter 9

  THE LIGHT in the window grew fainter and fainter until outside and inside were the same velvety— black hue. Mary Louise, having dozed in the straight— back chair she's placed near the bed, jerked her head up sharply when Cooper moaned. She winced as her neck muscles protested the sudden movement. She reached up and kneaded the sore spot at the base of her skull and turned her head first one way and then the other in an effort to ease the cramp in her neck.

  Cooper moaned again and the sheets rustled as he shifted restlessly. Mary Louise leaned forward and peered through the darkness. "Cooper? Cooper, can you hear me?"

  Cooper mumbled incomprehensibly. Mary Louise stood up and felt her way to the table beside the bed and lit the lamp. She looked down at her patient and chewed her lip. His face appeared flushed as he grimaced and mumbled in his sleep. She touched his cheek and discovered he was burning up. She checked the bandage on his temple and it was all right. Then, she carefully drew back the blanket and looked at the wound on his groin. The big white bandage was stained a brownish— red and was oozing blood. Time to change it.

  She picked up the doctor's scribbled instructions and frowned. Obviously, penmanship wasn't one of Dr. Morrison' strong suits. She closed her eyes and tried to recall everything she had been taught back home. "One must be careful when removing a bandage so as not to disturb the clot that will have formed on the injury," she recited.

  She bent closer to look at the wound just as Cooper flung out his arm. The back of his hand connected sharply with her nose and Mary Louise momentarily saw stars. "Ouch!" She jerked back, blinking away the tears that sprang in her eyes. She grabbed her throbbing nose and hurried over to Cooper's shaving mirror. She gazed at her reflection, tilting her head so she could see her nose from different angles. A trickle of blood ran from one nostril. Was that a knot on the left side? "Oh, Lord," she whimpered. "I think my nose is broken."

  Cooper moaned again and Mary Louise looked over at him. With her nose bleeding and throbbing like a sore tooth, Mary Louise had some difficulty working up any sympathy for him. Giving him a hard glare, she snatched up one of the make— shift bandages, dabbed at the blood on her upper lip, and was comforted when no more trickled from the nostril. At least she wasn't going to bleed to death. She looked at her nose again and then glowered at Cooper.

  "If my nose is broken, Cooper Matthews, I may kill you myself," she muttered through clenched teeth. But, after a few minutes the throbbing eased to a dull ache and she returned to her chair by the bed.

  "Annie," Cooper moaned.

  Hearing Cooper call for the child softened Mary Louise's heart somewhat. Perhaps she shouldn't hold him responsible for the state of her nose. After all, it wasn't as if he meant to bash her in the face. She smiled wryly as she conceded it was easier to be forgiving now that the throbbing in her nose had begun to ease.

  "Now, let's see about that bandage." She poured water from the pitcher into the basin, then dipped a piece of cloth in the water and laid it, dripping, over the bloody bandage so that the moisture would loose
n it without disturbing the wound. She purposefully kept her gaze fixed on the injury just over the crease above his thigh— but her mind kept straying to the exposed part of him that no maiden was supposed to see. She was so tempted just to take one little peek. Who would know? Certainly not Cooper, he was unconscious. Then she shook her head and murmured, "Just keep your mind on the business at hand— the injury, not the man." When she had successfully loosened bloodied bandage, she picked up a pair of scissors the doctor left and snipped away the soiled cloth.

  She grimaced and her stomach rebelled at the sight of the ugly wound. No matter how many times she'd assisted Erik with his patients, she still had trouble stomaching bloody wounds. Fighting nausea, Mary Louise cleaned the area around it, sprinkled on some medicinal powder the doctor had left for that purpose, and rebandaged it. Then she picked up the soiled bandage and, holding it with two fingers as far away from her as was possible, she hurried outside to drop it in the waste bucket on the stair landing.

  When she returned to Cooper's bedroom, she quickly washed her hands and glanced at her patient. Did his face look more flushed than before? She dried her hands and touched his brow. He did seem hotter.

  She paced beside the bed trying to decide what to do. Should she send Deputy Simmons for the doctor? She hated the idea of sending for the man— she didn't really trust him. He might want to bleed him, or worse, he could decide to bring someone else to care for Cooper. Some stranger. She shook her head, amused at her thoughts. No one in Hollisburg would be a stranger to Cooper; they would be strangers only to her. Still, she didn't like the idea of someone else taking care of him.

  She paused, surprised by her odd sense of possessiveness toward Cooper Matthews. It should matter to her not one whit who nursed him, but it did. Her musing was interrupted when Cooper groaned. "Water."

  She glanced down at him. "Water?" she repeated. Glad to be able to do something for him, Mary Louise quickly poured water in a tumbler and took it to Cooper. She sat down on the edge of the mattress, then she slipped her arm under his shoulders and tried to lift him. Good heavens, the man was heavy. She moved her arm under his neck and was able to lift his head. Much better. His eyes were still closed when she brought the tumbler to his lips.