by Duane Boehm
Doc stood up and said, “I think I best be going.”
“You stay right here. I may need medical attention by the time that this is all over,” Gideon said.
“You just might. I didn’t realize that it killed you to talk to me about Finnie and I don’t appreciate you telling him that I didn’t know if I could be a wife again. I’ve never even kissed the man and now it sounds like I’m sizing him up to be my husband,” Mary said.
“You two are killing me. He thinks he is not worthy of you and you don’t know if you can be a wife again. And you are sizing him up as a husband or you would’ve never mentioned it. You two are acting like nine year olds. I’ll probably have to start passing notes back and forth between the two of you,” Gideon said.
“He is worried that he is not worthy of me? Why would a war veteran feel that way about somebody that until a few months ago was a whore?” Mary asked.
“I don’t know,” Gideon yelled. “If I were one of those mind–readers, I would guess that you two really like each other and are scared to death over it. Like I told him, I think that your only problem is his drinking. You should be giving him hell for getting drunk again instead of taking it out on me.”
“You are a smug man,” Mary said and marched out of the jail.
Gideon looked up at Doc and said, “I think that went well. How about you?”
“Mary must be really conflicted over Finnie because I’ve sure never seen her behave that way before. I think that little leprechaun friend of yours just might have stolen her heart. And I fear that you are in a losing battle trying to navigate those two. Next time tell them that they are adults and can figure it out for themselves,” Doc said.
“I think that is sage advice,” Gideon said before the doctor took his leave.
Gideon never saw Finnie or Mary for the rest of the day and he had no desire to head to the Last Chance to check on them. He figured it best to let things calm down before trying to have a conversation with either of them. Regardless of either of their feelings about the subject, he felt pretty confident that he had done nothing wrong, but was dealing with two normally rational people that had let fear of commitment turn them irrational.
Late in the afternoon, Doc returned to inform Gideon that Mr. Fredrick had agreed to let the sheriff come to the bank after dark in a couple days once the banker felt better. After the doctor left, Gideon decided to ride out to see Ethan. A couple of days had gone by since his last visit and he wanted to check on his friend’s condition.
Seeing Ethan’s barn doors open, Gideon rode up to the building and found Ethan inside brushing Pie. “I see that Sarah has let you out of the house,” Gideon said as he dismounted.
“I’m not sure that she let me out so much as it was that I just plain drove her crazy enough that she wanted to get me out of her sight,” Ethan said.
Gideon chuckled at the remark. As he walked up to Ethan, he was pleased to see that his friend looked the best he had since the shooting. The loss of probably a good fifteen pounds remained a reminder of Ethan’s ordeal.
“That’s a good sign. How are you feeling?” Gideon said.
“A little weak and a little short of breath, but it gets better every day. It won’t be long until I’m good as new. How is your arm?” Ethan said.
“Kind of like you. It’s a little weak and stiff, but getting better all the time. Do you think that you can ride?” Gideon said.
Ethan looked towards the house as he contemplated an answer. “Oh, why not. Sarah will put the blame on you anyway,” he said with a laugh.
“You know what they say – it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than receive permission,” Gideon joked.
“The person that came up with that has never met Sarah Oakes. I can assure you of that,” Ethan said.
“Nor, Abby Johann. Let’s quit talking like we’re scared of our wives and ride,” Gideon said.
They rode at a leisurely pace to the top of Pint Ridge, Ethan’s favorite spot on his property. The mountains to the north had always seemed Godlike and humbling in their majesticness. The peaks were still snow covered and the robin egg blue sky made them stand out as if he could almost reach out and touch them.
“It sure is good to be alive,” Ethan said.
“Yes, it is,” Gideon replied.
Ethan let out a war–whoop and nudged Pie into a gallop down the other side of the ridge towards Sweet Valley. Gideon sat surprised as Ethan raced away. Sarah would throw a fit if she knew what her husband was doing. Gideon wondered if nearly dying had changed Ethan. Tapping Buck’s sides with his legs, he chased after his friend.
Ethan stopped in Sweet Valley to check his cattle. Zack had done a fine job of looking after the herd and he was proud of him. The spring calves looked healthy as they ran around chasing each other. Gideon caught up to him as he watched them play.
Turning his head away from the cattle to look at Gideon, Ethan said, “The herd looks good. Zack is a keeper if I ever saw one.”
“That he is. You shouldn’t have ridden that hard. You could tear something open,” Gideon cautioned.
“I’m fine. I think the wound’s all healed now. You know you’re starting to sound like me. I’m supposed to be the cautious one and you’re the fun one,” Ethan said teased.
“There hasn’t been much to feel funny about lately. If you think you feel fine, I’m going to go ahead and ride home from here,” Gideon said.
“Sure, head on home. You’re just scared that Sarah is going to fly out of that cabin and lay into you,” Ethan said.
Smiling, Gideon pulled his hat down low over his eyes. “I’m also the smart one between the two of us,” he said and took off riding.
Gideon rode west towards the homestead. About a quarter of a mile from home, he started getting a bad feeling. He never had believed in premonitions, but something didn’t feel right. Putting Buck into a hard lope, he rode straight to the cabin instead of his normal routine of putting the horse in the barn. Rushing inside, Abby and Winnie were not in the kitchen fixing supper like usual. He ran to their bedroom and found Abby in bed with Winnie sitting beside her.
“What’s the matter?” Gideon asked, trying to conceal his panic.
“Winnie, would you please go get me a glass of water?” Abby asked her daughter.
“Tell me,” Gideon said anxiously as Winnie left the room.
Abby waited a moment until Winnie’s footsteps faded down the hall. “I’m cramping bad and I’m spotting some blood. I think you better go get Doc.”
“How badly are you bleeding?” Gideon asked as he sat down on the bed beside her.
“It’s not that bad, but I’m scared I’m going to lose the baby,” Abby said and began crying.
Gideon took Abby’s hands into his own and leaned over, kissing her on the forehead. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner. I stopped to see Ethan. We’re not going to lose the baby – we just can’t. We’ve come too far for that to happen. I better get going. I’ll be back as quickly as I can.”
“Gideon, don’t run Buck into the ground to get to Doc. I’ll be fine until you get back. I love you,” she said.
“I love you too. I’ll see you soon,” he said.
As Gideon walked to the front of the cabin, he found Winnie sitting at the table crying.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
“Is Momma dying?” Winnie asked.
Gideon pulled a chair over beside her and sat down. Winnie’s arms were resting on the table, clutching the glass of water and he patted them. “No, don’t you worry about that. The baby is just upsetting her belly. It happens sometimes. I’m going to go get Doc and he will make her feel better. Now stop your worrying. I promise everything is going to be fine.”
“Are you sure?” she asked.
“Yes, I am. Go take care of your momma. I’ll be back as soon as I can. I’ve got to go,” Gideon said before leaning over and kissing Winnie’s cheek.
Gideon loped Buck the five miles into town. The
horse was lathered and winded, but still lively as Gideon pulled up in front of the doctor’s office. Doc sat on a bench in front of the office, having just finished his supper at the hotel. He stood up and walked towards Gideon as he dismounted, knowing that something was wrong from the lathered horse.
“What’s wrong?” Doc asked.
“Abby is cramping and bleeding a little. She’s scared she is losing the baby,” Gideon said.
“Oh, good gracious. Go have Blackie get my buggy ready and I’ll go inside and get my bag and such,” Doc said.
The doctor stood waiting as Gideon drove the buggy back to the office. “Are you going to tie your horse behind and ride with me? You might as well. By the time you rest him there won’t be that much difference in beating me there,” Doc said.
“Yeah, I guess I might as well,” Gideon said.
The two men talked little on the ride except for the doctor reassuring Gideon that he had seen episodes like Abby’s many times before and not to assume the worst. He assured him that usually everything was fine. Dusk was setting in as they rode up to the cabin.
Doc Abram walked into the bedroom and ran Gideon and Winnie out, telling them to go fix something to eat. He sat down on the bed, taking Abby’s arm and checking her pulse. “Have you gotten any worse since you sent Gideon for me?”
“No, the cramps have actually eased a little, but I’m so scared I’m losing the baby,” Abby said.
“What all have you been doing?” he asked.
“All the usual things. Cooking and cleaning and such,” she said.
“Are you still riding?” Doc asked.
“Yes, but only at a walk. Nothing jarring,” Abby answered.
Doc proceeded to check her over, using his stethoscope to listen to her heart and then moving it all over her abdomen. He used his fingers to press on different points on her belly, asking each time if it hurt and finding no tender spots. Next, he checked her bleeding before finishing and placing his stethoscope back in his bag.
“Have you felt the baby kick yet?” he asked.
“I thought I did yesterday, but I wasn’t sure. Nothing today,” she said.
“I can’t find a heartbeat, but it is rare that I do at this stage. We are probably a couple of weeks away from that. I’m pretty sure the baby is fine,” Doc said.
“Do you mean it? You wouldn’t just say that, would you?” Abby said and grabbed his hand.
“Abby, you know me better than that. I would never lie to you. I think nature just gave you a wakeup call and you’re not going to like it,” he said before calling out for Gideon.
After Gideon entered the bedroom, Doc stood and rubbed his chin before pulling off his spectacles. “I was just telling Abby that I think that the baby is fine. I can’t say for sure just yet, but that is what I truly believe and I wouldn’t give you false hope if I felt otherwise. Here is the part that you both need to listen to and Gideon needs to make sure that it happens. From now until the baby is born, Abby is to be in bed or sitting in a chair. I don’t want her on her feet for more than ten to fifteen minutes at a time and she is to do no work – no cooking, no washing, and certainly no horse riding.”
Abby spoke up first, her voice betraying her annoyance at the doctor. “Doc, if that is what you think needs to happen for me to have this baby, that is what I will do. I won’t need Gideon to make sure that it happens.”
“That’s good. I shouldn’t have said that. I know how much you want this baby,” Doc said to smooth over his gaff.
Gideon started pacing. “I’m greatly relieved that the baby is fine, but what are we going to do? I don’t know how I can be sheriff and run this ranch and do all the other things that need doing,” Gideon said more to himself than the others.
Doc rubbed his cheek and smiled. “Seems to me that you need to send a telegraph to Joann and tell her that she is needed. I can’t imagine that she would turn you down and from what I hear, it sounds like we need to get her out of the Wyoming Territory anyway. You never know what could happen with a boy and a girl hanging around.”
Abby shook her finger at the doctor. “I have no intention of getting in the middle of Zack and Joann, no matter what I may want to happen, but yes, of course, we should telegraph her tomorrow.”
“It makes a good excuse to get her down here for sure,” Gideon said.
The doctor picked up his bag and turned towards Abby. “And you are not to get out of this bed until all your symptoms are gone. That’s all there is to it. I’ll be back out tomorrow to check on you.”
Chapter 18
Abby was much improved on the morning after Doc had ordered bedrest. So much so, that Gideon felt comfortable riding to town. He waited anxiously at the telegraph office. The operator jumped back in surprise after opening the window and finding the sheriff standing there. Once the message for Joann was sent to Cheyenne, Gideon gave the worker unequivocal instructions to find him when a reply came.
Leaving the telegraph office, Gideon walked towards the general store owned by the mayor, Hiram Howard. His limbs felt heavy and he walked slowly. Sleep the night before had been hard in coming. He had laid in bed worrying about his wife and the baby while nestling up next to Abby and listening to her breathe.
The mayor had just unlocked the store for business and stood out front busily sweeping the dust off the sidewalk. He was still miffed at Gideon for throwing him out of the jail and offered up a cool greeting.
“Hiram, I need a favor. Doc has put Abby on bedrest until the baby is born. I’m going to have to be home a lot in the next week while I wait for Joann to get here or if she can’t come, hire one of widow ladies in town to come help. I want to make Finnie a fulltime deputy until I have someone to help me,” Gideon said.
“So now you want me to do you a favor after you so rudely threw me out of your office. That’s a fine way to do business,” Hiram said as he leaned his broom up against the building.
“Hiram, answer me one question. Was it wrong for the city council to complain about a shot up building when it saved my life? Which is more important, me or that damn hotel? Actually that’s two questions,” Gideon said.
The mayor looked down at the sidewalk and kicked a pebble off it. “You are right, but I was just the messenger. I never said that I agreed with them. I’ve known you since you were a little boy that I used to give a piece of candy to every time you came in this store with your ma or pa. You could have been a little more respectful.”
“You are right and you have my apology. You could’ve let me know that you didn’t necessarily agree with them,” Gideon said.
The mayor grinned for the first time. “I don’t recollect getting much of a chance. Do what you need to do and I’ll smooth it over with the council. Nobody but you and I know what happened anyway. You’re going to keep maneuvering until you get a full time deputy.”
“The town needs one. I can’t be here all the time and to tell the truth, I don’t spend enough evenings here as it is, but thank you. I appreciate your help,” Gideon said and offered his hand.
The mayor shook hands and said, “Tell Abby to take care of herself. This town needs another Johann hellion running around.”
Deciding to visit Mary, Gideon walked down the alley and through the back door of the Last Chance. He found her as he expected, sitting at the table in her housecoat and drinking coffee while looking at a ledger. She glanced up at him, smiling impishly.
“You don’t have that shotgun of yours handy, do you?’ Gideon inquired.
“I would have shot you yesterday if I wanted to do any killing. Today I feel like a silly schoolgirl for making such a spectacle of myself. I don’t normally do that,” she said.
“No, you don’t, but I shouldn’t have mentioned the wife thing to Finnie. I didn’t mean to do it. It just came out in my frustration in dealing with him and for that I am sorry,” he said.
“We have too much history for it to matter and Finnie and I need to figure this thing out for ourselves anyw
ay. We are adults after all. What brings you over so early?” Mary said.
“Abby is not feeling well and Doc has ordered her to stay off her feet until the baby is born. I thought I’d let you know that I’m going to be making Finnie a fulltime deputy for a week or so until Joann gets here or I hire somebody. I expect he should be able to still help you,” Gideon said.
“Gideon, I’m so sorry. Does Doc think everything is going to be alright?” she asked.
Gideon sat down beside her. “He thinks so, but it worries me to death. I wouldn’t trade my life for anything, but there were some things about being a loner for eighteen years that were a lot easier.”
Mary patted his arm. “I’m going to believe that everything will be alright and you should do the same. It’s just as easy to believe in the good as it is the bad. And you know that if I can do anything, I will be there.”
“Life is a whole lot harder than it needs to be,” he said.
“Yes, it is. I guess it makes the victories that much sweeter,” she said.
“Thank you. I better go to talk to Finnie,” Gideon said.
“He’s cleaning behind the bar. I have to tell you something that should make you smile. Yesterday, when Finnie and I were together raging against you, we decided that we’d go on a picnic today just to show you,” she said and laughed.
“Show me what? I never said anything about you two not seeing each other,” he said.
“I know. That’s the funny part. I don’t have a clue either,” she said.
“Like I told both of you yesterday – you guys are killing me,” Gideon with a smile.
Finnie was singing “Whiskey in a Jar” and dusting bottles as Gideon walked into the bar.
“You’re certainly in a better mood than yesterday,” Gideon said.
“Yesterday is over with and I don’t want to talk about it,” Finnie said.
“I bet not. I wouldn’t either if I were you,” Gideon said before explaining the situation concerning Abby and his need for a deputy.
