Before Will had reached Josie’s room, she had fallen asleep. Amos, following Will up the stairs, unlocked the door with his key, and Will gently placed Josie on her bed, covering her with a blanket. As Amos left, Will stood looking down at his lady doctor, and on impulse, leaned over and placed a kiss on her forehead. “Sleep well, sleeping beauty.”
Chapter 22
Riding into town, Dutch was studying the layout, when he spotted a man talking to a pretty woman in front of the hotel. He couldn’t be sure, in fact didn’t believe his eyes. There, standing on the walk, was the man Richard had shot, at least Dutch thought he was according to the description Richard had given in his ramblings. Shaking his head in confusion, he continued down the street to the store. Tying up, and with a careful look around, he entered the store and approached the clerk.
“Passin’ through and seein’ your store, thought I’d stock up,” Dutch said, addressing the short man behind the counter.
“We should have most of what you might need,” Micah, both clerk and owner said.
“About a pound of Arbuckle, the same of beans, half slab of bacon and say four cans of peaches and tomatoes.”
“Take a few minutes if you want to wait, or there’s a café nearby if you’re hungry.”
“I’ll wait,” Dutch said. “Nice little town you got here. Don’t remember it though.”
“We’re fairly new, but growing. Even hope to have the banks soon,” Micah offered, as he placed the wanted items on the counter. “Anything else for you?”
“Some tobacco,” Dutch added.
“Here ya go,” Micah said, “that’ll be three dollars and twenty cents.”
Counting out the change, Dutch remarked, “Thought I saw an old friend when I rode in. Wasn’t sure, since he had a bandage on his head.”
“Oh, that would be our mystery man.” Micah grinned. “Seems very nice and Doctor Josie has done a good job caring for him. ”
“Woman doctor, if that don’t beat all!” Dutch exclaimed. “Mystery man you say?”
“Yep, a father and son brought him in, but seems he don’t have any memory. Doctor Josie’s hopeful it’s only temporary. Seems Doctor Josie knew his name, Will Murphy, but nothing else.”
“Yes, that’s him, but since he is well, I won’t bother him then. Thanks,” Dutch called, heading back to his horse. As he rode out of town, he was debating whether or not to tell Richard that his body was still up and moving around.
In the end, by the time he’d returned to the hideout, he decided it was better to tell what he knew than risk Richard finding out some other way.
Pulling up to the camp in the fading light, Dutch softly called out, “It’s me.”
“Come on in,” Richard returned. “What took you so long?”
“Wanted to check out the town, and there’s some information you will find mighty interestin’,” Dutch answered as he pulled the supplies from his horse, moving closer to where Richard sat on a flat rock. He made coffee and started some bacon cooking, and when he had that going, leaned back and rolled a smoke.
“So what’s the information?” Richard asked, his voice calm, despite a tenseness about his eyes. If Dutch had been a bit more observant, or the light hadn’t been so bad, he’d have known what was coming next.
Without warning, Richard lunged at Dutch and with hands balled into fists, he began swinging on the sitting man. Taken unawares, Dutch didn’t have much chance to get set, but with an effort, he managed to throw Richard off, and pulling his pistol shouted, “Don’t you ever do that again.”
“Then don’t tell me you have information and not spill it,” Richard shouted, but remained where he was in the face of the unwavering gun.
“Did it ever occur to you I was hungry, that the information would be better dealt with on a full stomach?” Dutch growled. “Don’t you ever attack me again or you’ll find yourself out here on your own.”
“Sorry,” Richard said, sitting down again. “What say we eat and you can tell me.”
Dutch wasn’t convinced Richard was actually calmed down, but he pulled a can of peaches, tossing one to Richard, and the two ate in silence. Dutch made up his mind he would get away as soon as he could.
When finished, Richard sat back, watching Dutch finish, but not saying a word.
“When I was in town, I found out the man you shot was up and walking around. Seems he’d been found and taken there. Also, the store should be easy to rob, there bein’ no bank.”
Richard remained silent, and Dutch looked over at him. When there was no reaction, Dutch continued, “Seems he’s lost his memory and is bein’ taken care of by a pretty woman doctor.”
After a long silence, Richard leaned over, “Sorry I reacted so badly. It’s been tough not knowing what happened to Murphy. Now that I do, it seems we shall make plans to take care of the matter.”
“Such as?” Dutch asked.
“Perhaps we could take care of two things at once,” Richard started, staring off into the darkened sky. He remained silent for several minutes and Dutch rolled another smoke waiting to hear what plans he might come up with. Regardless, this would be the last job he’d do with Richard. He was done with crazy.
Finally, Richard spoke, “Seems to me the town should have some money in that store like you said, and if we take the good doctor, then Murphy or whoever he is calling himself, will come after her. We make some money and I get to kill the man who ruined my life. Plus we can drop ol’ Bull’s name a time or two,” Richard finished with a nasty laugh.
Dutch nodded. He knew he would like the money, but was uncomfortable with kidnapping a woman, and a doctor at that, but he wasn’t going to cross Richard. After they had the money, he’d be leaving.
Into the silence both heard something moving outside of their camp. Dutch asked, “Want me to check it out?”
“No, it’s probably just some night creature.”
Both settled in for the night, one dreaming of revenge and the other of money. Neither one realized that Case had been roaming around and when he’d seen Dutch ride in, he’d gotten close enough to hear their plans, plans he knew Bull would like to know about.
Chapter 23
Raindrops, Josie woke to the sound of raindrops. The staccato as they hit the roof pulled Josie the rest of the way from a tired sleep. It had been another late night. This time it was Mrs. Johnson’s baby who decided it was in no hurry to come into the world. Knowing she wouldn’t be able to return to sleep, Josie pushed the covers back and rose, still in the clothes she’d worn the day before. She smiled, remembering the time Will carried her upstairs. She’d slept in her clothes that time also. She’d have to be careful she didn’t make a habit of the practice.
When her feet hit the floor, Josie stretched, hearing her joints pop, her muscles reviving with the extra flow of blood.
Thinking some fresh air might help, Josie opened the window. Standing there, the rain-cooled air felt so good against her tired eyes. Smiling, Josie breathed deep of the rain-cleared air, watching the dust settling to earth with each drop. The smell so much different here on the planes from the damp, fishy smell she’d remembered from childhood.
“How do you describe clear?” Josie asked the kitten as it jumped up on the windowsill, rubbing itself against Josie’s arm.
In answer to her question, Cassie looked Josie in the eye, moved away and proceeded to clean her face. Licking her paws, then scrubbing around her ears and eyes.
“So that’s the answer you’re giving me?” Josie grinned as she caressed the small head, while the rain continued its gentle staccato on the roof. The gray sky, the opaque rain curtain cocooning Josie and the kitten inside the room.
“It’s so calming, so peaceful,” Josie continued, her hand absently scratching behind the kitten’s years. Soon the rumble of the kitten’s purr made a counterpoint to the roof drumming. The combined sounds deepening her smile.
Just how long she’d remained at the window Josie wasn’t sure, but the elect
ricity on the kitten’s fur was a signal for Josie to step back. The minute she stopped petting her, the kitten took off like a shot to hide under the bed. Almost immediately, the air cracked, the sky rent apart by a flash of light that landed just outside her window. Josie flew backward, an immediate growl of thunder breaking the quiet of moments before.
Josie heard none of the storm’s fury. Josie’s eyes were closed, the world silent to her ears. Rain poured through the window, soaking through her clothes, but she felt none of it.
Eventually, the violence rolled away to the east. With the quiet, the kitten peeked it’s head out from under the bed. When nothing appeared to frighten it, the kitten delicately made its way through the wet on the floor, to jump up on Josie’s chest. Soon the quiet meows were keeping time with the gentle tapping of Cassie’s paws on Josie’s cheek.
Josie struggled, the water of the river pulling her under yet again. Soon panic replaced fear. Wild thoughts drove her, as Josie struggled against the overwhelming fear. Josie didn’t understand, she’d never been afraid of water, nor of drowning. She couldn’t figure out why Will would be in the water, tapping her face. The water and Will were soon replaced with warm sun, but the tapping continued. Taking a calming breath, Josie opened her eyes. She was greeted by the gold of the kitten’s eyes meeting hers, the paws caressing her cheek. Glancing past the kitten, Josie observed the prism colors of a rainbow.
“Thank you,” Josie said, petting the kitten, then gently moving the small body away as she rolled on her side to rise from off the floor.
Glancing around as she rose, her eyes roved over the wooden floor. Not only was the floor and rug wet, with dawning realization, Josie found she herself and her clothes were soaked.
“How long was I unconscious?” Josie asked the empty room, more to make sure she could hear than from any need to know the answer. Shaking her head, she felt the world whirl as she stumbled into the nearby chair.
Closing her eyes to keep the dizziness to a minimum, Josie leaned into the chair, her back muscles relaxing into the chair. Forcing herself to breathe slowly, Josie mentally checked herself for any other symptoms. Finding none, she continued her slow breathing, slowly drifting toward the unconscious again. Just at the last minute, Josie forced her eyes open, rubbing her temples, hoping to subdue the pounding.
“Doctor Josephine,” the voice came through her door, followed by more pounding.
Carefully Josie rose slowly making her way to the door, “One moment.” To make sure she wouldn’t fall, Josie braced herself against the door frame with her left hand. Turning the key with her right, Josie carefully cracked the door. Young Samuel Jensen, arm raised for another knock, stood outside. Josie’s heart lurched, seeing how disheveled he looked, like he’d been tossed about by the wind.
“Is something wrong?” Josie asked, straightening as she stepped away from the door’s support, only feeling slightly dizzy. Opening the door wider, Josie waved to Samuel, saying, “Come in.”
“Is something wrong?” Samuel asked, worry and hesitation in his voice. Then in almost a whisper, “You’re all wet.”
Smiling, Josie took a breath to help steady herself. “The rain came so suddenly, I couldn’t get out of the way fast enough.”
Wide-eyed Samuel nodded. He wanted to ask more about what happened. Instead he entered, quickly putting out a hand as Josie swayed.
“Doctor Josephine, are you sick?” Worry and concern evident in his voice.
“No, just a bit dizzy, but thank you for asking,” Josie replied. With an effort, Josie resumed her balance. Once she’d steadied herself, she smiled as she asked, “Now, why were you pounding on the door?”
With a big smile, Samuel stepped back out the door. In his hands he held a box. With pride, Samuel lifted a painted wooden box. His hazel eyes, so like his mother’s Josie thought, gleamed as he offered it to Josie. “I made it for the kitten. I wanted to help pay and to say thank you for helping to bring my little sister into the world.”
Josie grinned as she reached to take the box. “It’s wonderful, thank you.”
Carefully placing the box on the chair, Josie pulled Samuel into her arms as tears of joy formed in her eyes. If she’d ever doubted her career choice, Samuel solidified that she had made the correct one.
Samuel hugged Josie back, then started laughing as the kitten began sneaking toward the door, when it caught sight of the box, and made a detour to check it out. Stretching up, paws searching, the kitten soon had the box on the floor, upside down. When the box landed, the kitten took off, only to come back and try to flip it back over.
Feeling sorry for the kitten, Josie turned the box over. Even before it had settled in place, the kitten was inside, eyes peeping over the top.
“Cassie has given it her seal of approval,” Josie smiled to Samuel. “She thanks you also.”
“I better —,” Samuel started, stopping as the room shook with the sound of thunder.
“Perhaps it would be best if you stayed here until —,” the remainder of her sentence lost to another round of thunder, followed by a bolt of lightning that seemed to strike the building. The wind picked up and a wall of water slammed into the hotel.
“It seems we are in for another round,” Samuel responded.
“I agree, perhaps we’d best head downstairs and see if anyone is going to need my help,” Josie said, reaching down to assure the kitten, then she and Samuel headed out the door.
Chapter 24
Thunder, lightning, rain, on and on the storm raged. Will watched, his mood matching the weather. There had been one storm, then calm, and now it was back with even more fury, much like his own state of mind. One minute he was frustrated, then something would happen and he’d be happy. Now with bits and pieces of what happened to him just beyond reach, his frustration was back. No matter how hard he tried, the truth refused to come into focus. “I know it’s there, I just need to have patience, but I’m not feeling very patient,” Will said aloud, as he paced the floor.
Moving to the window, Will heard the thunder, and saw the rain start heading their way. One minute he was standing and the next, the wolf, who he’d decided to name Romeo, was on top of him as he lay flat on his back. A pain lanced through his chest that had nothing to do with the wolf, which was whining as it licked Will’s face. Struggling to catch his breath as he moved Romeo off, Will rolled to his feet, his hands feeling the injured area.
“Thanks pal,” Will groaned. “Who or what?” He said, hands reaching down to pet the wolf. A flash of pain shot through his head. Romeo yelped as Will’s hands tightened when the scene came to full-blown into his mind. He’d been hunting the men who’d escaped jail in Pond City, Kansas when he’d been shot. Did his attack have something to do with what had happened back there? Did they know he was a lawman? The revelation brought so many things back into focus, but where did the good doctor fit in? Will knew he needed to finish what he started, but...
Will realized his face was wet from more than the wolf’s ministrations. Wiping his face, he raised his hand up to his eyes but saw no blood. Looking over he saw rain pouring through the window, glass all about on the floor. “Stay back,” Will ordered Romeo as he went to light the lamp, for the room was getting darker by the minute.
Once he had some light, Will looked down and saw a burnt area nearby and opening his shirt, he noticed a red welt just to the left of his heart. Will thought he may have been unconscious for some time. The added light brought the damage into further focus, there was water and hail all about the window area.
“This is a whale of a tale,” he told Romeo. “I don’t think anyone will believe me, but I’d better go tell Amos so we can get this cleaned up. You stay here, and away from the glass,” Will ordered the wolf, as he headed downstairs
Before he’d gone three steps, he could hear the noise downstairs. Continuing on, he was greeted by what seemed to be total chaos. Amos was busy mopping the wet floor, a blanket across the door where the glass had broken. Jos
ie, his bothersome lady doctor, had a line of injured people with various cuts and bruises. The blasted kitten sat at the right of Josie, on a flower stand, looking for all the world like it was overseeing the work.
“Amos, just to let you know, there’s a broken window upstairs,” Will called.
Amos gave him a nod, then ringing the rag out, continued his task of cleaning up. The storm noise from outside was gone and the sky was beginning the lighten again.
Josie, at the sound of Will’s voice, looked over asking, “Were you hurt?”
“No, but Romeo may have gotten some glass in his paws,” Will replied as he turned to go back upstairs. He felt he would just be in the way down here. “Amos, do you have an extra broom, and I’ll be glad to clean the room?”
Before Amos could answer, Josie asked, “Then what took you so long to get down here?”
Will glared at the bristling doctor. How long do I say was I out? He asked himself, then answering Josie’s question, “I’m still fine, just a bruise, take care of the others.”
“Let me check,” Josie ordered as she stalked toward Will.
“Not necessary,” Will insisted, repeating, “take care of...” only to stop as the one person left in line indicated Will should take her place.
“You just want to see me unclothed.” Will grinned, hoping to embarrass Josie into leaving him alone.
“I’m a doctor, and besides I’ve seen your chest and many others before,” Josie countered. She really hadn’t seen that many up close, other than in the morgue, but she wasn’t going to tell her patient that, besides he had a nice-looking chest. “Now, let me see what damage was done.” She moved to place Will in the chair.
With a frustrated shrug, Will did as ordered, slowly unbuttoning the dry shirt he’d put on to replace the wet on as he walked, watching Josie, who just minutes before had turned a charming shade of pink. He was hoping he could embarrass her into forgetting his injury. With grins and shared looks, Amos and the last patient moved a discreet distance away.
Josie's Dream (Grandma's Wedding Quilts Book 9) Page 8
