Hearts Entwined

by Karen Witemeyer

  “A few more moments?” Connor kissed her.

  She kissed him back with all the newfound knowledge of a wife. “Or maybe a bit longer.”

  He walked her to class. He’d always stopped for her at the parson’s and they’d gone on together. But the college was a few city blocks on past the doctor’s office and she’d always gone herself. Usually there were other students heading that way along with her, most of them she knew. So she was more than safe enough.

  But today he couldn’t bear to let go of her hand quite yet. They spoke quietly, shutting out the rest of the world.

  “It’s Saturday,” Connor said. “We’ll have tonight and tomorrow to celebrate being married.” He held back from kissing her, not on a busy street like this, but looked long and deep into her eyes. He was certain that she knew he wanted to.

  “I’d like time with only you, Connor. If there’s somewhere we can be alone in this city, then it’s fine to go rambling. Otherwise let’s find a quiet corner of the boardinghouse or just stay in our room. That’s the kind of celebration that appeals to me.”

  “And that is an answer to warm the heart of your husband. I’ll see you at the doctor’s office.” He squeezed her hand and watched her go into the building, then turned to head for work.

  There was still plenty to do, left over from yesterday.

  “I slept here last night,” Dr. Radcliffe said. He wore a clean white shirt and black pants and vest, but he looked rumpled. “I sent all but three patients home. The young mother—her husband came for the boy. The man with the badly broken arm I’m afraid will be here for a long while. And the man riding shotgun is still seeing double. He finally regained consciousness long enough to at least try standing.”

  Doc ran his hands deeply into his unruly hair. “He told me his name, though. I didn’t even know if he was from Denver. But he is, so I sent a messenger to his home. His wife is on the way with a couple of his brothers. I can probably release him when they get here.”

  Turning to his badly depleted doctor’s bag, the doctor began restocking it.

  “Maggie and I got married last night,” Connor said.

  The doctor spun around sharply, his eyes direct. “You did?”

  Connor grinned. “Yep, I finally talked her into it.”

  The doctor chuckled and came to clap Connor on the shoulder. “Well, congratulations. I could see there was a strong affection between you two.”

  A good part of the morning was gone before they’d finished with all the urgent care these folks needed. There was much to do that’d been neglected yesterday, but before they started with their routine checkups and treatments, Connor managed to get Dr. Radcliffe’s attention.

  He might as well plunge in with the plans he and Maggie had made.

  Maggie rushed in at that moment.

  “Is something wrong?” Connor asked.

  “No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. I’m just concerned about how many patients you might have so I’m hurrying. Most of my class was over here working yesterday, so our teacher let us off from our studies for the day. She said we all learned more nursing yesterday than in a month in her school.”

  “We welcome your help, uh . . . Mrs. Kincaid, is it?”

  Connor reached for her hand. “I told Doc we got married.”

  Maggie loved the warmth and strength of his touch.

  “I’m delighted to hear it,” Radcliffe said. “You make a fine couple.”

  “I’m glad Maggie came now so we can tell you our plan together. We’re going to go to Cutler, and I’ll work alongside her as a second doctor. I have been training here with you, and while I don’t know all you know, Doc, and I’ve not had the schooling Maggie’s had, I think I can get an irregular doctor’s license and—”

  “Connor, what in the world makes you think you have enough skills to be a doctor? You’d never qualify for an irregular license, not after the few months you’ll have worked with me.”

  “But then if I work with Maggie in Cutler, I can put in as much time as I need to. I can get it then.”

  “Still, you haven’t even begun to have the doctoring skills you need.”

  “You let me set stitches without even watching me. I’ve cast broken bones, as well.”

  “Yes, but after I first made sure they were set. What about the ones that need setting?”

  “Maggie can do the more complicated things and teach me as she goes.” Connor gave Maggie a nervous glance. She held his hand and nodded.

  The doctor scowled and began pacing the room. Clearly upset.

  “It was just a notion we had, Doc. You’ve allowed me a lot of independence here. But I suppose I can find work anywhere. Maggie can doctor, and I’ll get a regular job.”

  Before the doctor could reply, the front door swung open. The doctor’s shoulders slumped, and for the first time Maggie saw just how exhausted the man was.

  Maggie moved farther into the waiting room toward the door. “Can I help you, sir?”

  “I’m here from Cutler to talk to the girl who wants to be a doctor.”

  “Um, that’s me—I’m Maggie Kincaid. I was told someone would come from Cutler to decide if I was ready to start my duties out there, but you weren’t expected quite so soon.”

  The young man smiled and stepped closer to her. He was short with neatly combed hair and was no older than Connor. He wore a brown suit and a strange hat with a rounded top and a narrow, rolled brim. Removing the hat, he gave them all a cocky grin, blue eyes shining through his gold, wire-rimmed spectacles. “You see, my pa sent me here to tell you that Cutler has changed its mind and wants me to be their doctor instead of a woman. A woman doctor didn’t sit well with anyone, but they accepted it because at the time they had no choice.”

  “What? I don’t understand.” Just yesterday she’d thought Dr. Radcliffe didn’t respect her, and she’d learned different. Now here she was being shown blatant disrespect.

  Shaking his head, he narrowed his eyes at Maggie. “I came home from the city to visit my folks, and after talking the matter over, I’ve decided to be Cutler’s new doctor. It sets them back a few months, but that’s better than ending up with a woman doctor. The college sent me here. I went there first and made arrangements to start right in taking classes. I’ll go through the summer to pick up the classes that are already over and be doctoring by next fall.”

  “But they begged me to come.” Maggie fought to keep her temper under control. “They made me promise I’d stay five years.” Her voice then rose a bit. A lot. “I’ve got a contract.”

  “Yes, well, the contract is canceled.” The man waved his hand as if a signed contract had no legal standing. “You can go on home now and . . . I think I overheard the doctor here call you Mrs. Kincaid—so there now, you can stay home and tend your family like a wife ought. The town decided you don’t even have to repay the money they spent on your schooling.” He gave her a smirky smile. “But that’s the end of it. You’ll have to quit school immediately.”

  Connor’s eyes flashed with a dangerous light, and his body turned all rigid like he was getting ready to fight.

  And Maggie had never loved him more. Before Connor could do anything, though, she glared at the smug man and said, “Now, see here—”

  “Mrs. Kincaid will continue studying medicine, young man,” Dr. Radcliffe interrupted. His voice was calm, and heavy with the authority that came with age and experience. “If Cutler has broken her contract, then I’m going to refer Mrs. Kincaid to a lawyer I know so she can sue your town. She’s a fine doctor. She saved a man’s life just yesterday through a very difficult surgery I’ve never even done before myself. So I will not stand here and listen to you insult her.”

  “It’s hardly an insult, Doctor, to say a woman belongs at home.”

  “It is the way you say it, mister,” Connor broke in. “You’re as good as sneering at a skilled surgeon—and a wise, strong doctor I would want at my side in any crisis. Your little cow town would be
lucky to have her.”

  Maggie didn’t want Connor and Dr. Radcliffe to fight her fights for her. On the other hand, she was hearing lovely things about herself, which made her feel good.

  Even so, Maggie held up both hands, palms facing out. “Everyone stop right now.” She spoke to the men, one at a time. “Dr. Radcliffe, I appreciate your kind words. I sincerely do. But I have no wish to sue the town of Cutler. This has opened my eyes and I’m delighted I don’t have to go there now.” Next, she smiled at Connor. “I don’t know how we’ll afford it, but I would like to finish my studies. Maybe I can get a job in the evening. Maybe I could write my parents and ask if they would help fund my medical training. Maybe—”

  “We’ll do it, Maggie. I’ve got money put by. It might not be quite enough, but we’ll figure it out.”

  Then it was the city slicker’s turn. She smiled, but it might’ve been a bit more like she’d bared her teeth. “You have no call to speak to me so rudely, sir. I can tell right now you will make a dreadful doctor. I’d say that town deserves you.”

  “I’ll make a fine doctor,” he argued.

  “You may learn medical skills, but you will never have the compassion and wisdom necessary to be a good doctor. Now, you’ll have to leave. We have people waiting who need a doctor’s care.”

  The man sniffed at her, rolled his eyes, and said, “Women doctors. What is this world coming to?” He spun on his heel and walked out, and it was a good thing because Connor looked as though he was about to swing a fist.

  “I’m so sorry about that, Maggie,” Connor said.

  She smiled. “I’m not. I do worry about the money, but just think, Connor—instead of going all the way into the mountains to that remote little town, we can go home. If Rawhide doesn’t need another doctor, maybe we can settle in Colorado City. We’d be only a few hours’ ride from the ranch.”

  Connor drew her into his arms and hugged her. “You’re right. I only heard the insult, but you’re right. We can go home.”

  “It’s as if God intervened and is guiding your steps,” Dr. Radcliffe added. “Maggie, as of Monday, your hours spent working here will be paid hours. I’ll work with you and Connor both to train you as best I can to be doctors.”

  “I’ll keep working here, Doc,” Connor said. “But if we go home, I’ll probably go back to ranching. So I don’t need you to spend too much time with me—I’ll just keep doing the simple things. You get Maggie all the learnin’ you can.”

  “That sounds fine.” The doctor chuckled. “You may end up being very skilled whether you plan on it or not. And now I’m sending you both home.”

  “Oh no you don’t,” Connor said back. “You were here all night, Doc.”

  “True, but I forgot to tell you that another doctor—one who helped yesterday and took several of the less severely injured patients to his office—came by and told me he released them all. He got a good night’s rest and he’s coming now to take over here for a few days.”

  As if on cue, the front door opened and in came the other doctor.

  Before Maggie knew it, she and Connor were outside, walking hand in hand toward the boardinghouse.

  “I haven’t even written home yet to tell Ma and Pa I’m married,” Maggie said, although she wasn’t too worried about it.

  “I reckon I need to do that, too.” Connor’s smile said that wasn’t his first thought, however.

  “I think we’ve got things arranged finally, don’t we, husband?”

  “Yep, you can have the job you’ve such a gift for. I can have my ranch, and we can both be near family.”

  “You know, your willingness to come with me to Cutler helped me to fall in love with you, Connor. I’m glad we had to go through this tangle—it helped me know you better and love you more.”

  Right out in full daylight, Connor slid his arm around her waist and held her close as they made their way home.

  With the rest of the day off, and a full day free after church on Sunday, and important letters to write, it was a wonder really that neither of them got so much as a single word put on paper.

  Bound and Determined by Regina Jennings

  Contents

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  Chapter

  1

  AUGUST 1885

  EAST OF FORT RENO, INDIAN TERRITORY

  I don’t want to die on an empty stomach. Oh, please, don’t let me die hungry.” Private Morris smashed his hat down flat as he leveled his pistol against a shelf of rock.

  “I have some jerky in my saddlebag. As soon as they’ve passed us, I’ll get you some. Then you can leave this earth fulfilled.” Private Bradley Willis mopped the sweat away from his eyes with his bandanna.

  Captain Chandler lowered his field glasses. “They’re headed this way. Any word on that gully? Where does it lead?”

  Bradley looked over his shoulder at Private Krebs, who was climbing up the bank to join them. The red dust had mixed with his sweat, coating his face in orange.

  “It don’t go nowhere. We can’t get out that way, but at least it’ll get the horses out of sight.”

  Three horses. Not enough for four men to outrun the outlaws, especially with one man injured. And with hiding places scarce in the wide plains of Indian Territory, if you couldn’t outrun your foe, you were in a heap of trouble.

  “The horses are in the gully? When are you getting me some jerky?” Morris asked. The blood seeping from the bandage on Morris’s leg was drawing flies in the heat.

  “Can’t just now,” Bradley said. His throat caught as he tried to swallow. He wasn’t partial to being stationed next to an injured man. Fight and win, or die in a blaze of glory—that was Bradley’s plan. It wasn’t that he was afraid. He just couldn’t stand to sit and wait for his fate. They needed to get a jump on these outlaws, and quickly.

  “Keep steady. If we’re lucky, they’ll pass on by.” That was Chandler. Avoid a fight if the odds were against you. If the captain had known that the Gunther gang had picked up four more men, he wouldn’t have followed them in the first place. Turned out it was an ambush. Now they had to limp back to Fort Reno with a strong gang on their trail, and their odds didn’t look good.

  Private Krebs took up his rifle on the other side of Bradley. “Do they know we’re here?” he whispered.

  “Not yet.” Bradley squinted against the waving heat rising off the packed ground. “There’s still eight of them? I thought we took down two.”

  “Have mercy,” Private Krebs replied. “We fired ’most all our rounds. How’d we not hit more?”

  The Gunthers galloped at a diagonal toward them, in plain sight. If they kept to their path, they’d overshoot the hidden cavalrymen by about a quarter of a mile. As Bradley lay on his stomach, propped up by his arms, the ground vibrated beneath him.

  “I’m shaky,” Morris said. He dropped his pistol and rested his head against the ground. “Tell me when they get closer. I’ll save my strength.”

  The outlaws closed the distance until they were close enough that Bradley could make out the sweat on the flanks of their horses. Pete Gunther’s paint trotted past them without pausing. If the rest of the outlaws would just follow him . . .

  The younger Gunther boy turned in their direction. With the heat swerving up and the shadow of his hat, Bradley couldn’t make out his expression, but his palomino dropped out of the pack as he studied a patch of dried grass that the cavalrymen had ridden through.

  No one lying behind the crest breathed a word. The flies buzzed around Morris’s leg, but that was the only sound as the gunslinger studied their position.

  “Ho!” the outlaw called. With his outstretched arm, he motioned to the path that led directly to the cavalrymen.

  His older brother raised his hand, and the galloping outlaws wheeled around.

  �
�That gully might not be a bad idea,” Private Krebs said.

  “And have them shooting down on us?” Chandler replied. “I’d rather take my chances on flat land.”

  And Bradley would rather be on his horse, not lying in the dirt like a worm. He looked over at Morris, who’d turned clammy and pale.

  If Bradley were in charge, he would’ve hidden Morris in the gully and ridden for reinforcements. Instead, three able-bodied men were hiding because of one injured. It didn’t make any sense at all, but there was no more time for reckoning. They were coming.

  “Morris?” Bradley nudged him with his elbow, but the private was out cold.

  Chandler caught his eye. “We’ll be fine,” he said.

  Not necessarily.

  The calls of the outlaws were getting more excited as they became convinced they’d found their foe. Bradley sighted along his Sharps rifle. “Just tell me when,” he said. And then it was time.

  With the first volley they unseated two of them, then the ground before them exploded. Bradley fired his rifle twice more. By then, his targets had found cover. Evidently they weren’t of a mind to run away.

  “We’re pinned down,” Bradley said to his commander. “What are we supposed to do? Just wait?”

  Chandler rubbed the sweat from his eyes, leaving a muddy swipe on his forehead. “They’re the ones on the run, not us. They’ll move out as soon as they can.”

  “Doubt it,” Bradley said. “They came back for us, didn’t they?”

  Chandler shoved his field glasses out of his way as he burrowed farther into the ground. “No more of that talk, Private Willis. If Major Adams wasn’t family to you, I would have turned you in for insubordination already.”

  For that remark? Bradley had done much worse. Besides, Major Adams wasn’t his kin. Not until he married Bradley’s sister, Louisa. And Chandler knew good and well that Major Adams didn’t cut Bradley any slack.

  Private Krebs fired off a round. “They’re coming closer,” he said. “See that scrub brush over there? It’s got someone in it.”