“You believe he has a future?” his uncle asked.
“Yes,” Josie answered, “yes I do.”
Chapter 15
Will heard voices, voices he did not recognize. Turning his head, squinting his eyes against the light of a fire, Will tried to focus on the men he had heard talking. He also cast about for signs of the wolf. He hoped it was okay, that these men hadn’t harmed it.
“You’re awake,” a young man, about fourteen, said. “Would you like something to eat?” he continued, eyes curious.
Will shook his head, only to have the world start spinning again. He closed his eyes, a groan escaping from tightened lips. Until he knew what was going on, Will needed to be on his guard.
“Hey pop,” Will heard the boy yell, the sound loud in Will’s ears.
Opening his eyes, Will looked into faded gray eyes, firelight dancing across the man’s face as he knelt close by. “You feeling poorly?” The gruff voice asked. “That’s some nasty cuts.”
Will struggled to sit. The boy put an arm under Will’s back and helped him to sit. Once upright, the boy kept his arms around Will’s shoulders, steadying him. It made Will uncomfortable, not being able to sit on his own. Still, once he was upright, he could take a better look around.
Whoever they were, one or more had brought him to the edge of their camp. Before answering, Will cast his mind back, trying to remember anything before the shot. With a shock, he realized there was no memory of anything before. He started to panic when a pair of green eyes popped into his mind, but there was no context, nothing for him to connect to the vision.
Turning his focus to the old man, who’d remained close, Will answered, “My head does hurt a bit.” He knew he’d have to be careful, just in case these were the ones who had shot him. Yet, instinctively, Will sensed they weren’t. Still, it never hurt to be careful. He’d no idea who might have wanted to harm him, and until he could remember or figure it out, he’d best be careful. Slowly he reached down and found he still had his pistol. That was in their favor.
Will suddenly started to shiver, so the boy helped Will to move closer to the fire. Despite the time of year, it seemed the nights were always cool here. But where was here? For some reason Will felt it was important to know where he was. How to bring that question up without raising eyebrows he wasn’t sure.
“I understand how you might be feelin’ that way. My son an’ I found ya over yonder at the bottom of the old trail.” The old man said. “You was unconscious, like you’d fallen. It can be mighty easy to do there.”
Will nodded slightly, afraid to move his head too much. He wanted to ask about the wolf, but hesitated. These folks didn’t look like they’d take kindly to having such an animal nearby. Instead, he answered the old man’s question. “Yes, I slipped, but it was getting dark and I’d lost my footing. I’m lucky you were traveling through this area.”
“We was checking our sheep. We have a place not too far from here,” the older man answered.
“I was chasin’ after a wolf,” the young man explained, handing Will a tin cup filled with hot coffee, “when I came across ya.”
“So did you catch it?” Will asked, stomach clenched in fear of the answer. He knew it was silly, but he felt he owed that wolf his life.
“No,” the young man answered, “I found some tracks near you, but nothing else. Did you see anything?”
Will let out a breath he wasn’t aware he’d been holding. He wondered if he’d ever see the wolf again. He hoped so, but realistically, he knew he probably would not. “I didn’t know there were sheep ranches around here.” Will continued, hoping to find out more about where he was.
“Oh, lots of folks out here raise both sheep and cattle. There’s a big market for wool in Colorado Springs, about ninety miles west of here. Most folks call it a twice a year crop,” the young man finished with a smile.
So he was somewhere out on the plains of Colorado. It helped some, but why was he out here? Will was pondering that question when the old man reached over to add more fuel to the fire.
“Still,” the old man said, as if speaking to himself, “it don’t explain the scrapes, cuts and that bullet wound on the back of your head.”
Chapter 16
“Doctor Josie,” Homer began, “do you think I could go to medical school?”
It had been two days since Homer’s aunt and uncle had visited. Homer seemed even more eager, more voracious in his desire to learn.
“Is that what you want?” Josie returned, smiling at the eagerness in Homer’s voice. It was like, after coming to an understanding with his aunt and uncle, Homer made it a point to stop by Josie’s office every chance he could.
“More than anything, I want to help people like you do.” Homer answered, winding a bandage and putting it away for future use.
Josie could not doubt the sincerity in his voice. “What was it like, medical school I mean?”
Josie paused, thinking back to her years in school. It was not that long ago she stood in front of the five-story brick building that housed the school. She smiled as she remembered the other students and their anticipation. Three years later, she was in the final stretch of realizing a lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. Now here she was, building a practice.
She admitted to herself that she also gave up a lot to follow her dream. Shaking herself mentally, she refocused on Homer and his question.
“It was hard, fun, and challenging. I wouldn’t have passed it up for the world,” Josie answered. “Now, I have an appointment, but if you wouldn’t mind continuing with the bandage work, I’d appreciate it.”
Homer’s smile was all the thanks Josie needed.
The five blocks to the mayor’s house was a pleasant one. Josie was greeted fondly by almost everyone. It increased her desire to make a home and practice here. Coming up to the two-story house, Josie took in the porch that spanned the front of the house, with its Doric columns. Walking the five steps up, she glanced at the porch swing waiting for someone to sit and sip lemonade. Now you’re being fanciful, Josie told herself. But she couldn’t help but want to sit and just relax. With a shake of her head, Josie reached up and rapped on the door.
As she was escorted into the foyer, by the maid, Josie realized, if she hadn’t grown up as she had, she supposed she would have been awed at the grandeur that greeted her. Instead it was like she had walked into her past. Fond memories of that time flooded her mind, bringing a smile to her face.
“Come in, come in,” the mayor said, taking Josie’s hand and, with a nod, dismissed the maid. “Let me introduce you to my wife Ernestine.”
Josie smiled, extending a hand to the woman.
“I understand you are a physician?” The question came from a cultured voice. One that matched the woman and her surroundings. The grasp, however, was strong, not the soft gentle squeeze Josie had expected.
Here is a woman who enjoys leading, Josie thought, as she returned the grasp with an equal strength. She noticed a quick approval followed by a knowing smile.
“Yes, I am. I graduated from medical school in Iowa,” Josie answered.
“That must have been an interesting experience, I’m sure. Won’t you be seated?”
Josie chose a seat facing the door, the mayor and his wife taking the sofa. Looking around, Josie took in the inlaid wood fireplace mantel, the rose patterned gold striped wall paper. She sat on a burgundy chair that matched the sofa where the mayor and his wife sat. The arms covered with doilies, just like back in Iowa. Smiling Josie said, “If I didn’t know better, I’d believe I was visiting friends back home. You have a lovely place.”
The mayor beamed, reaching over to take his wife’s hand. “It is all due to Ernestine. She is right about setting the tone for the town. We are successful because we act successful.”
Ernestine smiled a true smile. “Thank you dearest, but you wax philosophical. What is our guest to think?”
“I would think she agreed,” the Mayor shot back, squeezi
ng his wife’s hand, giving her a wink. “You do agree, don’t you?”
Smiling, Josie nodded her assent. She would not have expected two such different people would be together, but she felt these two truly cared for each other and the success of the town.
“Now my dear, I believe tea would be in order?” the Mayor asked, rising from the sofa to call the maid in with the tea. “You do like tea, I presume?”
“I enjoy it. Thank you.”
When the mayor passed out of the room, Ernestine leaned over, “I would like to ask you a question.”
“Of course, how can I help you?”
“I don’t want my husband to know, but whenever I travel to higher elevations, I have trouble getting my breath,” Ernestine said, “Do you think it is serious?”
“Without doing a thorough exam, I couldn’t say for positive, but you may have some issues. I would like to have you come in, if you’re comfortable doing that?” Josie suggested.
Before Ernestine could answer, the mayor, with the maid, returned with tea. Once poured, the three passed the next few minutes in pleasant conversation, when a loud knock on the door startled the them all.
“Doctor Josie, Doctor Josie,” came through the door, which the maid quickly opened. Homer ran in, breathing hard, “Excuse me, Doctor Josie, they’ve just brought an injured man in, we need you right away.”
Chapter 17
Will didn’t know who he was, where he came from, despite being told his name was Will Murphy. All he knew was this doctor, a woman at that, was an irritant. Since the Haneys, father and son, had brought him in, she had been ordering him about. He was tired of lying in bed. His head felt better, and the cuts and scrapes were healing nicely. It was time to get up and get going. Blasted woman, doctor or not, he figured he knew what was best for himself.
He was going to get up out of the bed. Now that his decision was made, Will swung his legs out from under the covers, only to gasp as the doctor walked in.
Will quickly covered himself with the sheet, for no woman should see a man in his altogether.
“What do you think you’re doing?” The soft voice asked. “And don’t be embarrassed, after all I am a doctor. You have nothing I’ve not seen before,” the voice continued, with a hint of laughter.
That soft voice, so enticing, almost had Will returning to his bed. The doctor’s green eyes were daring him to continue.
Very well, Will thought, I’ll show you. Will continued his journey from the bed. Dropping the sheet, Will moved until his feet touched the floor. With the aid of his arms, Will slowly raised his body up to his feet, precariously balancing on legs that were more feeble that he’d hoped.
Glancing at the doctor, sweat trickling down his nose and cheeks, he braced himself for a scolding, while praying that he could remain upright.
The scolding never came. Instead the doctor, Josie he thought they called her, stood watching him, hands on hips, compressed lips, but with the hint of a smile and admiration in her eyes.
If he believed in love, Will thought, he would fall head over heels right now. That fact that he was wavering probably would have made it a fact, if the good doctor hadn’t spoiled it by asking, “Do you feel better now, or should I help you back into bed before you fall?”
Will glared, intending to answer in the negative, when his legs betrayed him, and he started to crumble to the floor. With a quickness and grace that surprised Will, the doctor caught him before he’d gone down more than a couple of inches. With her shoulder under his arm, she used her free hand to gently guide him down. He caught a whiff of lavender and talc. Before she removed herself, Will took a deep breath, smiling at the gentle strength of this woman.
Then Will admitted, embarrassed at his weakness, he would have been in a heap of trouble had the good doctor not been there. Swallowing his pride, Will whispered, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” came that soft voice again, “but next time, let me know and I’ll help you. You’re not out of the woods yet, Mr. Murphy.”
Laying back, Will closed his eyes, but the green eyes of the doctor kept showing up behind his eyelids. “Dang woman!” Will mumbled, punching the mattress and jerking the covers closer. There was something about those eyes, but it was just beyond his ability to grasp.
Somewhere in the midst of Will’s flailing mind, he fell asleep. When he next opened his eyes, it was dark. A sliver of light from the quarter moon shone through the room’s windows. Will watched the slow movement of light across his covers. Again Will set his thoughts to remember, and again it was a struggle, a struggle to remember anything.
“Facts. Start with the facts you know,” Will said to the empty room.
He knew he needed to find out who he was, not just the name he was told. Why had someone shot him? Or was it an accident, and the shooter was scared he’s accidentally killed someone? And what had happened to the wolf that had helped him? So many questions, and no matter how hard he tried to remember, no answers came.
Sleep was not returning, so Will again swung his legs over the edge of the bed. This time, however, Will took his time. Moving slowly, silently, he made his way across the wooden floor, to the chair across the room. There was a brief moment when Will thought he would go down again when his foot caught on the rag rug covering the floor in front of the chair, but he’d been close enough that he’d caught himself before actually losing complete balance.
Dropping down into the chair, Will began to relax. He’d made it without waking the good doctor. Just thinking of the doctor made Will grin. “Now there’s a worthy adversary,” he whispered.
His remark started him thinking. His reaction to her felt natural. Not that the doctor was a woman, but that he needed a challenge. Although, if he was honest with himself, his reaction to her as a woman felt pretty natural, also.
Pulling himself back to the task at hand, despite the joy of seeing those green eyes, Will continued his thoughts. If that were the case, that he enjoyed a challenge, what would he have done to answer that need?
All the good doctor could tell him about who he was, was an incident where he’d attacked a man who’d had someone put a snake in her room. Somehow, he didn’t think she would be that scared. In fact, she’d said she was more concerned her kitten, Cassie he thought she’d called it, would catch and harm the snake.
Shaking his head to get the good doctor out of there, Will continued his search for what he thought he might be or might have been. Had he been hurt while ... Will stopped. Perhaps I’m a criminal, he thought. The idea didn’t feel right, but it didn’t feel wrong either. If, in fact, he was, or even if he wasn’t, would whoever had taken that shot at him come looking? That thought brought another one right on its heels, when they did, would the good doctor get in the crossfire? Somehow, the thought of Doctor Josie being hurt scared Will more than his being hunted.
Chapter 18
Richard was in a vulgar mood. Nothing had gone right since he’d shot Murphy. When the other three had left, he’d gone back to check the body, but it wasn’t there. Had the others buried it, or had he missed? Ever since Bull had run him off, he’d had the suspicion they were laughing at him, at his ineptness. Well he’d show them, not only would he survive, but he would thrive.
Richard had listened and the other three had talked about their exploits. They’d been doing pretty well. Well, I’ll do even better, Richard thought. Hadn’t his parents always told him he was smart, that he could do anything? Of course when they died, he’d been left to his own devices. Now when he thought about it, they’d left him without, also. So much for owning a bank. There’d been nothing, even the house had been taken back by the bank. But Richard knew he’d shown all those folks back there. It was a pity the money hadn’t lasted longer. He wondered if anyone really knew who’d taken it?
“What do you want?” Richard growled at Dutch as he came up. He hated being interrupted when he was replaying past successes.
“No need to bite my head off,” Dutch g
rowled, only to back up at the look in Richard’s eyes. Dutch had known Richard was acting a bit — a lot — more strange since they’d split with the other three, but these past few days, he’d been getting worse. “Just wanted to know if we were planning to break camp or stay another night?”
“Let me think.” Richard said as he walked off into the night.
Dutch stood quietly by, but after about five minutes, he wandered over to the campfire, making another pot of coffee. He was pouring himself a cup when Richard returned.
Without saying a word, Richard poured himself a cup and sat in silence, turning his cup round and round in his hand. “It’s been a month of Sundays since we had any fun. That’s no good,” he finally said.
“Well, it has been a bit rough out here. It might be fun to sleep in a bed and not necessarily alone,” Dutch added. “What did you have in mind?”
“The only way we can get rid of this jinx is to finish what we started,” Richard continued, as if he hadn’t heard any word Dutch had said.
“What do you mean?”
“First, we find Murphy, and if he isn’t dead, we finish him off. Then we proceed to make life miserable for Bull and the other two.”
Dutch stared at Richard. The more he was countered, the more determined and crazy he seemed. He wondered how they’d accomplished the task. Murphy’s body had disappeared, and who knew where Bull and the other two had gone. Richard was so stuck on getting revenge, Dutch wondered where it would stop and what would happen to him if he stayed.
“Richard, you remember back there when you asked me to help you escape…”
Josie's Dream (Grandma's Wedding Quilts Book 9) Page 6
