"Or perhaps you read about it," Verity added.
"I wish I could say," Joshua answered on a sigh.
Hope reached over to pat his hand. "Give yourself time."
Granny spoke up. "As a wise man once said, 'A stitch in time saves nine.'"
There were a few uncomfortable moments of silence as the non-sequitur sunk in.
Verity hoped that Joshua's time without memory would be brief. It would a huge relief to know who Joshua really was and his circumstances before the accident.
As the man's gaze popped over to Hope, Verity saw his warm smile. It brought forward a moment of spiteful jealousy which she worked hard to suppress. There was no future for her and Joshua. She had to get used to that idea.
Chapter Seven
It was a relief to be allowed to put weight on his leg after a few days on crutches. The very act of putting toes on the floor was freeing. But today would be a banner day. Today, he'd get his splint taken off and be able to walk again without crutches. He'd been warned that a cane might be necessary at first, but no matter. A cane was nothing compared to the uncomfortable and awkward crutches.
Breaking his fast with the family that morning was a pleasure. He flirted with Charity, Faith and Hope, and even managed to coax a smile out of Mercy, though it was short lived.
Verity, however, was a cold fish. She was polite, but distant. It seemed like she was upset that he had remained with them as their boarder. In truth, Joshua thought it was a bit awkward, but he loved seeing her there in the house, keeping things moving along, talking about the various ailments of patients she saw each day, and smiling at everyone, except him. She wasn't hostile, just removed.
Nonetheless, later, in the parlor, he tried to get her to come out from behind her wall. He wasn't sure why it was important to him, but it was. They shared something together and he couldn't let it go.
"Will you be traveling out to the Willett's farm again today, Miss Verity?" he asked as he picked up a ladies' magazine and put it down again without reading it.
"No," she answered politely. "Mrs. Willett is doing well with her new baby. She doesn't need a midwife at this point."
She finished her simple statement and looked back down at her plaited fingers, discussion over. He tried again. "So what will you be up to? I know Miss Charity will be giving a little speech about community involvement at the school house, and Miss Faith will be teaching there. Miss Hope said she would be taking some of her new—and beautiful, I might add—lace to the dressmaker today. And Miss Mercy will be working on her phonograph improvements. But what will you be doing?"
"I could ask you the same question, Joshua. Aren't you bored with us?"
What was that about? The question took him by surprise. Up to this point, Verity had accepted his presence, if not with a big welcome, at least with grace. This sounded more like a Mercy question.
He tried to field it without being defensive, so the first thing he did was smile. "No, absolutely not. You ladies, and Dr. Bucknell of course, are a joy to be around."
Her purpose appeared to be trying to jar his memory when she said, "Don't you miss being in town?"
Did he? He missed riding his horse. He missed watching the stars at night, something he'd had to forego due to the awkwardness of the crutches on the front porch stairs. There was something else he yearned for, but he couldn't quite put a finger on the vague feeling of incompleteness. Was he missing a wife and children? He didn't think so, but, of course, no one knew for sure. "Good question. Is there a lot of activity in town? You told me there are around 3,000 people in Virtue and surrounds."
She sighed, apparently unsatisfied with his answer. "There is always something going on." Another long pause.
Faith jumped into the breach. "Olivia Trindle said that Mamie Beeson is expecting. That's the news going around."
"Oh, my! Shocking!" exclaimed Granny Sutton.
"Olivia Trindle is a gossip, Faith," Dr. Bucknell said. "I thought I told you to stop carrying tales."
"But, Papa," Faith said. "It must be true. Olivia was so sure."
"Mamie Beeson is unmarried," Charity said. "It's horrible to spread rumors about her."
"Oh, she'll have to get married now. No more turning her nose up at suitors. Clearly she found one favorable," Faith told them.
"Stop it," Verity remonstrated. "Be charitable, Faith."
Faith turned to Joshua, including him in the discussion. "You have yet to meet Olivia and Mamie," she said. "But I'll bet Mamie would flirt with you. She flirts with everyone, but then turns away their attentions. I'll bet she'd go crazy over you."
Joshua gave her a small grin. "I think I'm flattered that you'd say so, but I'm not entirely sure I should be."
Faith and Hope laughed. Verity frowned, and Mercy remained focused on the notebook where she planned her projects out.
"You're such a nice young man. Why any young woman would be interested in you," said Granny, remembering who he was at least.
"Thank you, ma'am."
Hope nudged Mercy and teased her. "Even Mercy, though she'd be a bear if you said so."
"I would not!" Mercy complained.
"Yes, you would. You told me—"
"Hush! I'm mad at you and will not listen to a word you say. I am not talking to you."
"Now, now, girls," Granny said. "Discord in the household is the sign of loose morals."
Everyone looked at her, wondering where that little bit of "wisdom" had come from. Sometimes Granny Sutton said some strange things.
While they were all nearly gaping, Mrs. Perkins walked into the room. "Dr. Bucknell, the sheriff's here. He wants to speak to Mr. Smith."
Bucknell's gray eyebrows rose. "He does?"
"I'll handle it, Papa," Verity said, rising from her chair.
"I don't mind seeing him, Miss Verity," Joshua said, wondering what the sheriff might want with him.
She gestured for him to stay in his seat. "I will talk to him."
"Verity and the sheriff are sweethearts," Faith said to Joshua, a smirk turning up the corners of her mouth.
"We are not," Verity replied, coloring.
"Of course you are," Charity said. "Don't be coy."
Joshua's mind reeled. There was another man involved with Verity? And yet, she'd made love with him. What kind of woman was she really? He was glad she was distancing herself from him, though there had been a stabbing pain in his chest when he found out about the sheriff. The last thing he needed was the lawman to be after him for stealing his girl.
"Hmph," Verity pronounced, marching away from the family, her back straight as a poker.
"Perhaps I should go also," Joshua said. If the sheriff was there to see him, it wasn't Verity's job to protect him, if protection was even needed.
"Let's all go," Hope said.
Dr. Bucknell frowned. "Stay put. Let Verity work this out."
"Oh, Papa, we never have any fun," Faith told him.
"Hadn't you best be off to school? You said you need to prepare for yearly testing."
Faith consulted a watch pinned to her blouse. "Yes, in fact, I should." She stood and nodded at Joshua. "I look forward to seeing you with a normal leg when I get home," she said.
"Thank you, Miss Faith. I'm going to dance a jig."
Everyone laughed. Faith hurried off with a wave.
"Really," Joshua said, "I should go see what the sheriff wants. It doesn't do to have Verity deal with my affairs."
Dr. Bucknell told him to meet him in the clinic when he was done, and Joshua agreed. Rising with the help of his crutches, he made his way out of the parlor and toward the foyer. Raised voices could be heard as he approached. He paused to listen, just out of sight.
"I'm telling you, Artemis," Verity said, annoyance in her tone, "you are barking up the wrong tree. Mr. Smith is as harmless as a hen."
Hm. Being compared to a hen was hardly flattering, and Joshua had a feeling that when he had two good legs he was anything but harmless. Why he thought t
hat, he didn't know, and didn't have time to ponder.
"Verity, that's for me to find out. I'm telling you that there is a dangerous gang on the loose and it's my job to find them. Strangers in town are suspicious." The man's voice was low-pitched and aggressive-sounding. Joshua had a moment of fear for Verity's safety, so he sauntered into the foyer without a preamble.
Both parties looked at him with some surprise, and Verity's cheeks got red. He wished she was less prone to blushes because they reminded him of their encounter and her innocence. She was so pretty with rosy cheeks and a vulnerable demeanor.
"Hello," Joshua began. "Pardon me for interrupting." He leaned on one crutch and offered his hand to the other man. He was somewhat smaller than Joshua, sturdy, with a little paunch, but not much. He looked to be about forty. He had his black hat in one hand, so Joshua could see his slicked down hair. A moustache curled over his lip, like a plump fuzzy caterpillar. "I'm Joshua… er… Smith."
Verity found her voice. "This is Mr. Smith," she said, unnecessarily. "He is our new boarder."
The sheriff shook Joshua's hand, attempting to crush it in a show of dominance. The ploy didn't work. Joshua's hand was bigger and stronger, and though he didn't apply full pressure, he got his point across. The sheriff frowned, dark eyebrows under a pronounced brow ridge slanting downward.
"Mr. Smith," the sheriff said, his badge gleaming off his black leather vest. "I'm Sheriff Gritch. I'd like to have a few words with you."
"Of course."
"Sheriff," Verity said, notably dropping the "Artemis" she'd used while they'd been in private. Were they sweethearts, or simply long-term acquaintances? "This is totally unnecessary. Surely you can see that Mr. Smith was a victim, not a criminal."
"Criminal?" Joshua asked, pretending he hadn't heard the comments before he entered.
They all continued standing, and Joshua was glad he could put at least some weight on his injured leg. It would put him at a distinct disadvantage to have to sit while everyone else stood, and he had the feeling that Gritch wouldn't mind lording it over him if he could.
Verity spoke up. "The sheriff says there's a band of thieves and murderers operating outside of town. He seems to think you might have something to do with it."
"Miss Verity," Gritch warned. "Let me handle this."
"Fine. You just go right ahead," she said, crossing her arms across her chest.
The sheriff gave her an exasperated look, but turned his ire on Joshua a moment later. "Where were you on Sunday the fourteenth?"
"I believe that was the day they found me on a trail outside of town. I remember nothing about that day," Joshua answered.
"You lost your memory?"
"He was hit on the head, Artemis. I told you that."
"Faith told me, too, but I need to hear it for myself," Gritch answered.
"Faith," Verity responded, gesturing with one hand. "She gossips a bit, and you know it."
"Verity, let me handle this. I mean it."
Joshua's gaze traveled back and forth between the two as they argued, but as Gritch's tone got more irritated, he felt more inclined to come to Verity's defense.
"I don't mind answering, Verity," he told her, gentling his voice to try to calm her down. Turning toward Sheriff Gritch, he said, "I lost my memory, my horse, all my possessions including my boots." Looking down pointedly at his stockinged feet, he tried to offer a wry smile.
"You lost your clothes?"
"Yes, Artemis. He was naked as a jaybird when he was brought to the clinic."
"Verity! Are you saying you saw this man without proper attire?"
She appeared to think better of what she'd said. "I was the only one here. Father was off toward Prescott with patients."
"This is highly improper," Gritch said.
"Should I have let an injured person go unattended? Really, you ask too much."
Joshua stepped into the fray. "Had I been conscious, I would never have allowed such an impropriety to take place. However, I was out cold."
"I can attest to his injuries," Verity added.
The sheriff was in fine fettle by this point, turning to Joshua. "I should bring you up on charges of indecent exposure."
"Artemis!" Verity exclaimed. "You can't!"
He nodded. "Of course I can."
"Is this your purpose in being here, Sheriff Gritch?" Joshua asked, tired of the bickering.
That appeared to take some of the starch out of Gritch. "Is Smith your real name?"
"I don't remember my surname, but I do know my first name is Joshua."
"Unlikely story. How long do you plan to stay in Virtue?"
"As long as it takes to get back on my feet and earn enough to buy a horse." It was true. He liked the Bucknells, but it was clear as day that he was trouble for them. He needed to find out his identity, and it seemed unlikely that he'd find it in Virtue. He wasn't quite sure where to look, but if no one in Virtue had reported him missing by now, there was unlikely to be anyone there he knew.
"Where were you going when you were injured?"
"I don't know."
"Where did you come from?"
"I don't know."
Verity interrupted. "This is pointless. The man got hit on the head and lost his memory."
Gritch clenched his fists, crushing the brim of his hat. Joshua had the feeling that he'd like to smack Verity across the mouth for being such a thorn, and that put Joshua on the defensive. If the man so much as lifted a finger to do harm to Verity, he'd get a crutch in the mouth.
"I'm regaining my memory a bit at a time," he told the sheriff. "I'm sure I'll be on my way soon."
"Do you know anything about Blanton Brothers Freight Company?"
"Never heard of them, why?" Joshua countered.
"They were robbed and the driver and outrider were murdered in the process. They were hauling valuable goods from Phoenix to Prescott and due to stop in Virtue to drop off a few things. They never made it into town. The wagon and its cargo are missing. The other outrider went straight to Prescott, wounded, his tail between his legs. I got a wire from Prescott to be on the lookout."
"I know nothing about it."
"You can't possibly think Mr. Smith had anything to do with this horrible deed," Verity said sternly.
"I don't know yet," Gritch told her. "But I'm going to find the people or person who did this and make sure they hang for the crimes."
Joshua had a moment of clarity as Gritch spoke. He remembered riding his horse in front of a wagon with people nearby. He remembered the dirt on the ground, the sun burning down on him, despite the mild October weather. He remembered his horse, Daisy, trotting beneath him and the guns riding on his hips. Sudden self-doubt rolled over him like nausea. Was he a thief and murderer? Was it the Blanton Brothers wagon he saw in his memory? It made him furious that he couldn't remember. God damn it! Would he never know what and who he was?
It seemed prudent not to tell the sheriff of this new memory until he, himself, remembered the context.
"I'm sorry I can't be more help," he told Gritch.
"You'd better not be lying to me. I don't take kindly to liars."
"Is there anyone who does?" Verity asked, venom in her voice.
Gritch shoved his hat back on his head and pointed a thick finger at Joshua. "You'd better get your memory back soon, Mr. Smith, because the Bucknell family are under my protection. I'll be damned if I see anything happen to them, especially any trouble caused by a saddle tramp."
"Artemis Gritch, there is no call for you to say that. We are not 'under your protection' and I resent that you think us so feeble as to mistake a bad man for a good one. I'm asking you to leave now."
"I was going," Gritch said. "I want to hear anything you remember, Smith. Anything. Got that?"
Joshua was truly peeved by this point, but he tried to remain calm. "I've got it."
"Good. Good day, Verity. Will I see you in town soon?"
"I don't know. Good day," she answered, her fa
ce closed to more discussion.
"I'll show myself out," Gritch said, pushing past Joshua, uncaring that he made the younger man teeter on his crutches.
The door closed with a thud behind him, and Verity stared at it. So did Joshua.
"Well," she said, her posture relaxing a bit. "That was unpleasant."
For some reason, Joshua was less concerned about the sheriff's line of questioning and more concerned about the man's relationship to Verity. "You called him 'Artemis'. Are you sweethearts like Faith said?"
She turned her remaining irritation on him. "No we are not. The sheriff has visited here a few times, and my sisters seem to think he's courting me." Her voice got stern when she said, "I don't see that it's any of your business."
"I think you know why it's my business, Verity." Something told him he was making it his business despite his common sense.
Verity turned away, staring out the windows by the door, where the sun shone bright through the thick glass panes. "That's over, Joshua. Over. Over. Over."
"That doesn't explain the looks I've caught you casting at me when you think I'm not paying attention. I see something there, Verity. It's a lie if you deny it."
"So what if there is! You could be anyone, anything. You could be the robber and murderer Artemis was talking about. We might have taken a vicious criminal into our household."
Joshua levered himself to her and took her arm, turning her to face him. "You know I'm not." His own doubts nagged at him, but he ignored them.
"I don't know what to think." Her blue eyes looked troubled as her gaze locked on his.
"I would never harm you or your family, Verity. You've got to believe that."
She said nothing, turning her face away.
"Damn it. I'll find out who I am. I promise you that."
Her voice was a bare whisper when she said, "I hope so, Joshua. I hope so."
Chapter Eight
Shortly after the unpleasant interview with Artemis Gritch, Verity watched Joshua take a few, unsteady steps out of the clinic and into the hallway outside. She'd waited to see him, she didn't know why, but it was important to her. He was using a simple birch cane with a carved handle that looked like the head of a bird of prey. As she watched him walk down the hall, limping along, he got steadier with each step. Even with a limp, Joshua was a fine specimen of manliness. The opened seam on the left leg of his pants flashed a long, sturdy limb at her, a limb she'd seen before in some detail. The thought made her blush, but she couldn't look away from it or him. Catching herself about to smile, she stopped and drew herself up, straightening her shoulders.
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