His Prairie Duchess

by Kit Morgan

  Tears formed in Cozette’s eyes as she tried desperately to communicate to them what she was trying to say. Duncan in the mean time, slowly slumped to the side as his eyes rolled back. He then fell out of his chair to land on the floor in a heap.

  A tiny squeak of alarm escaped Cozette as she ran to him. Cyrus quickly went over to help as Polly left the room. She re-entered the kitchen a moment later just as Cyrus and Cozette had gotten Duncan to a sitting position on the floor. “Cozette!” Polly called and put a piece of paper on the table and handed her a pen already dipped in ink.

  Cozette quickly wrote one word on the paper then was just as quickly back at Duncan’s side.

  “Poisoned!” Polly exclaimed.

  Cozette looked up at her and quickly nodded. She looked desperately at Duncan then to Cyrus.

  “What should we do?” Polly asked.

  Cozette got up again and began to write. We must find my father! He will know what to do!

  “Cyrus!” Polly cried after she read the words aloud.

  “Cozette, take Duncan’s horse.” Cyrus instructed. “Find your father as fast as you can and tell him what happened.”

  Cozette nodded, took the pen and wrote again. Water, give him water. She showed Cyrus what she’d written.

  “We’ll do that. Now hurry!”

  He didn’t have to tell her twice. Cozette hiked up her skirts, ran from the kitchen and out the front door. She quickly untied Romeo from the hitching post, mounted and galloped away to find her father. She knew she had only a little time before Duncan Cooke might possibly be no more. And if Duncan died, she would surely die too. For Cozette knew in her heart as she raced across the prairie, that she could not live without him.

  * * *

  Anton crept along the ground and watched a rabbit come out of its hole. He lay perfectly still as he began to put the first traces of pressure on the trigger of his rifle. Perhaps he should find something bigger for dinner, but a few rabbits could make a nice stew for all of them that night.

  The rabbit, suddenly alert, sat up a brief moment before it darted back into the hole. Something had startled it and Anton grunted in annoyance just before he felt the ground vibrate beneath his belly. Then he heard it. Hoof beats. One horse. And coming incredibly fast from the sound of it.

  Anton popped up to a sitting position to see who was approaching. A big black horse raced across the prairie slightly to his left with a woman astride it. And not just any woman. It was Cozette!

  Anton stood and gave a loud whistle through his teeth. Cozette looked in his direction then turned the horse. Within seconds she came to a skidding stop before him and dismounted as best she could considering the dress she wore.

  “Cozette! What is wrong? Is this not the Cooke boy’s horse?”

  Cozette nodded, her eyes desperate.

  “Calm down, ma petite and tell your papa what has happened.”

  Cozette took a deep breath, and then another. She closed her eyes a moment before starting a series of hand signals. Signals she had learned during their years spent with the Indians.

  “Duncan... he is sick?” Her father asked.

  Cozette shook her head before making another series of signals.

  “He is...poisoned?”

  Cozette, her eyes again desperate, nodded.

  “Come. We must go!” He said and motioned her to the horse. He helped her mount then jumped up behind her. He kicked the horse and they were off like a shot back to the Van Cleets. And hopefully, they wouldn’t be too late.

  * * *

  “I’m afraid you’ve got a problem, Mr. Cooke.”

  “Please, call me Harrison. I would think we would be on a first name basis by now.”

  Harrison and Logan Kincaid had been out trying to locate missing stock all morning. So far they hadn’t had any luck.

  “Looks like cattle rustling to me.” Logan told him. “I’ve seen it before. See how this group of tracks leads away from the herd? They were cut out of it and run off.”

  Harrison leaned on his saddle horn and sighed. “Lovely.”

  “Good news is they’re wearing the Big J brand.” Logan began. “Shouldn’t be too hard to track them down. Problem is getting the word out. Who knows where the thieves have taken them and if they’ve split them up yet.”

  “We’ll get word out as best we can. The dance is in a few days, we can let most everyone know then. In the mean time I'll have Sheriff Hughes check around, find out if anyone’s seen anything. I thought this sort of thing was done with when Jack and Sam were locked away.”

  “Cattle rustling is always a threat, no matter where you are. Any strangers been seen about town lately?”

  “Only some settlers camped outside of Clear Creek. But they're not the rustling type, I assure you.”

  “One can never be too careful. Best get into town and let the Sheriff know what’s happened. I’ll keep an eye on things here.”

  “Thank you, Logan. You’ve been a wonderful help these last few weeks. I don’t know what we’re going to do when you leave. You wouldn’t consider staying on would you? Become the Triple C foreman?”

  “Hmmm, now there’s something I’ve not thought about. I’ll consider it. But that being the case, I’d best keep calling you Mr. Cooke.”

  “If I’m your boss you can still call me, Harrison.”

  They both laughed just as Colin came riding up at a full gallop. “Harrison!”

  “Good Lord! What is it?”

  “It’s Duncan! Anton and Cyrus just brought him home. He’s in a bad way! You’d better come quick!”

  Colin didn’t have to say anything more. Harrison kicked his mount and the two brothers started back to the house as fast as their horses could go. Logan remained where he was to guard the stock. “That family sure has their fair share of trouble.”

  He shook his head, turned his horse, and returned to work.

  * * *

  Harrison and Colin raced up to the house and jumped off their horses. One of the cowhands who stayed behind with Logan to help with the ranch took the horses and started for the barn as Harrison and Colin ran into the house. Once inside they quickly searched the first floor and upon finding no one hurried upstairs.

  They found Duncan in bed in his room, Cozette sitting at his side. Doc Waller was on his other and watched as Sadie gathered Duncan’s clothes to carry them out. Doc had stripped their brother down and they could see why. His forehead was beaded in sweat as was his chest, the single sheet covering his body already damp. But the worst thing was how his face held a pallor that hinted at death. Harrison cringed at the sight. It was not the first time he’d seen it. His mother looked much the same way just before she died.

  “Doc?” Harrison said urgently and met the older man’s eyes.

  Doc Waller slowly shook his head.

  Harrison put a fist to his mouth in anger. He turned a circle, stopped, then did it again.

  Colin grabbed his shoulder to still him. “Harrison, don’t.”

  Harrison stopped, his expression tight and shook as if he were about to explode. “Ohhhh, bloody hell!” He spun to Doc Waller just as Anton Duprie entered the room. Harrison ignored him. “WHAT happened?”

  “We don’t know, Harrison.” Doc said solemnly. “We don’t know anything except that...”

  Colin stepped forward then, his face white. “Except that he’s dying?”

  Doc slowly nodded.

  Colin’s head fell back as his eyes closed. He stood that way a brief moment before he opened his eyes and looked to Anton.

  The Frenchman was bent over Duncan, a small vile in his hand as Cozette stood to give him better access.

  “What is he doing?” Harrison demanded.

  Cozette stopped Harrison as he lunged for the bed. She pulled him back so her father could help Duncan however he was able.

  Harrison grabbed her by the shoulders and moved to shove her out of his way but she held her ground. For a tiny thing she was incredibly strong. She in t
urn shoved him away from the bed several steps. She then shook her head no, her eyes full of fury, and pointed to her father who very gently held Duncan’s head with one hand as he helped him drink the contents of the vile with the other.

  “What is that?” Harrison again demanded. “What’s he giving him?”

  Cozette held her ground, her eyes now locked with Harrison’s. She shook her head slowly in warning. Let my father do this. It is his only chance.

  “This will help. The Indians teach me.” Anton explained. “There only so many kinds of poison that kill a man. This will weaken it.”

  “He’ll live then?” Colin asked hopefully as Belle entered the room and wrapped her arms around him.

  “If we are not too late, yes. But it is too early to tell.” Anton stood. “I must make more, but need your help.”

  “What can we do?” Harrison asked as he took a step back from Cozette.

  She went to her father’s side and put a hand on his shoulder. “Guard him, ma petite. Make him comfortable.” He turned to Colin, Harrison and the rest. “There are plants out on the prairie that I use to make the remedy. I will show you what they look like. It would help if we knew what was used to poison him in the first place.”

  “Used to poison him?” Belle gasped.

  “Yes.” Anton said.

  “Good Lord, man! What are you saying?” Harrison asked, totally aghast.

  “Is it not obvious, Mr. Cooke? Someone is trying to kill your brother.”

  Thirteen

  You cannot die, Duncan Cooke. You cannot! I love you, do you hear me?

  Cozette again dipped a cloth in cold water, wrung it out and placed it on Duncan’s forehead. His color had completely drained from his face, his breathing slowed to almost nothing. It was all Cozette could do to hold herself together as she watched him fight for every last inch of his life. And she knew he was fighting. Could feel it as if they were one. As if already mated for a lifetime and then some. How, she had no idea, it just was.

  A soft knock at the door came and Sadie entered. “Cozette,” she began. “There are some people here who think they can help.”

  Cozette sat warily and eyed the pair standing behind Sadie. A man and an incredibly beautiful woman. A chill went up her spine at the sight of them and she shook it off just as Sadie let them into the room.

  “Hello.” The man said. “My name’s Lany Mullmerk. This is Mrs. MacDonald. We heard what happened. Some of us are helping look for the plants needed to counteract the poison.”

  “They’re from the wagon train outside of town.” Sadie explained. “They came to see what they could do to help us prepare for the dance and found out what happened. Mrs. MacDonald thinks she can help save Duncan.”

  Cozette stiffened as the settlers approached. She suddenly stood and took a protective stance beside the bed.

  “It’s all right. We’re not going to hurt him.” Mrs. MacDonald said. Her voice was soft and incredibly soothing. As if against her own will Cozette felt herself relax at the sound of it.

  The woman touched Cozette’s arm to gently move her out of the way. An odd tingly sensation coursed through her body at the contact. Should she let them near Duncan? Or demand they leave? Every fiber of her being was on alert at the thought of any further harm coming to the man laying on the bed. Her man.

  The woman sat and examined the unconscious form. She removed the damp cloth, placed a hand on his forehead, and held it there a moment. “How long has he been like this?”

  “Since they brought him here this morning.” Sadie answered. “Can you help him?”

  “Mrs. MacDonald has some healer’s training. I’m sure she’ll do her best.” Mr. Mullmerk offered.

  “My husband is helping your father gather the plants he needs,” Mrs. MacDonald told Cozette. “I can give him something to slow the poison until your father returns. If we can slow it enough, he stands a good chance at recovery.”

  Cozette wanted to trust her, really she did. But they were strangers and her father never trusted strangers. But wasn’t he allowing them to help him look for the plants he needed?

  Cozette took a deep breath, and slowly nodded.

  “Lany, go to the wagon and get my bag.” Mrs. MacDonald told her companion.

  He nodded and left the room.

  “I’ll need some water.” She then said to no one in particular.

  Sadie plucked a pitcher off a small table next to the bed and left to get fresh water.

  Cozette stood and stared at the woman as she touched Duncan here and there, probably to gage the fever raging within. She placed her hand again on his forehead, the other on his belly, and began to hum. It was a pretty tune, and despite the gravity of the situation, Cozette enjoyed the sound of it.

  The woman continued to hum softly a moment before her voice grew a little louder. She then just as suddenly stopped. “Is he your husband?” She asked Cozette.

  Cozette stared at her. She slowly shook her head, a tear in her eye.

  The woman smiled. “Well, I think he’ll live long enough so that he can be. The love in your eyes for him is hard to miss.”

  Cozette blushed. She hated the fact, but couldn’t stop it either. Yes, she loved Duncan. There was no denying it. And if a perfect stranger could see it, then everyone else probably could too.

  The woman went back to her humming as she took up the cloth, dipped it in the basin of water, wrung it out, then gently wiped Duncan’s face with it.

  “You should be doing this. We need to cool him down. He’s too hot. Wipe his face first, then his arms and chest.”

  Cozette complied and took the cloth from her as Sadie and Mr. Mullmerk returned at the same time. He handed Mrs. MacDonald the bag she sent him to fetch then stood to one side.

  “What else do you need?” Sadie asked her.

  “I need a glass of the water you brought.”

  Sadie grabbed a glass off the small dresser and poured some from the pitcher. She handed it to the woman after she dug through the doctor’s bag and pulled out several bottles. She sprinkled white powder out of two of the bottles into the water, then stirred it with her finger.

  Duncan moaned.

  Cozette immediately stopped her ministrations and looked at him.

  “See if you can get him to drink this.” Mrs. MacDonald told her. “Lany, let’s help to sit him up.”

  They went to work and got Duncan to a sitting position. The woman had gone to the other side of the bed and now sat. She began to hum the same pleasant little tune as before while Cozette attempted to cradle Duncan’s head with one arm and hold the glass to his lips with the other.

  “You might want to help her.” Mrs. MacDonald told Sadie as she stood.

  Sadie exchanged places with her and helped Cozette get the white liquid down. Duncan coughed and sputtered a few times but got at least half of it into him.

  “We’ll leave you now.” Mr. Mullmerk told them. “The others should be back soon. Between this and what Mr. Duprie is able to do, I think he’ll make it.”

  “How can you be sure?” Sadie asked, her eyes pleading.

  “Because I’ve seen Mrs. MacDonald practically work miracles.” Mr. Mullmerk said. “Trust me, she’s a handy one to have around when you’re crossing a mountain or prairie.”

  Sadie smiled. “Understood.” She knew anyone well versed in doctoring was a God send out on the prairie. Man or woman, it didn’t matter in the wilderness. As long as they got the job done. “Thank you.”

  Cozette continued to cradle Duncan’s head against her chest. She looked to the woman, tears in her eyes, and nodded her thanks.

  “You’re both very welcome. I’m glad we could be of some help. He’ll pull through. In fact, I don’t doubt he’ll be asking you for a dance when the time comes.” She said and smiled at Cozette. “But he’ll need to rest until then.”

  Cozette and Sadie both nodded in understanding as the settlers quietly left.

  Not a half hour later Cozette heard heavy foo
tsteps come running through the house. Her father, Harrison, Colin and Belle burst into the room and went straight to the bed.

  “Did she help? She knows the Indian ways better than I! God has looked out for us this day!” Her father exclaimed in excitement as he pulled the vile from his pocket and held it to Duncan’s lips. “He will live, I’m sure of it ma petite.”

  “Not without a whole lot of fervent prayer on our part, I must say.” Colin said. “I don’t think I’ve ever prayed so hard.”

  “As long as the Good Lord heard, brother.” Harrison began as he stared intently at Duncan.

  “The prayers of a righteous man avail much.” Belle said more to herself than anyone in the room.

  “If that’s the case it’s a good thing we’re all in decent standing.” Colin said as he too watched Mr. Duprie get the contents of the vial down Duncan’s throat.

  Duncan coughed and pitched forward. He groaned before he actually took a swing at Cozette’s father.

  “Oh dear. I do believe he thinks he’s in danger.” Colin said. “Let me handle this.” He went to the bed and gently pulled Cozette from any harm. She sent him a worried look but moved as he directed. He sat and took his brother’s hand in his. “Duncan? Duncan it’s safe now.”

  Duncan’s head turned toward Colin’s voice. “They’ve gone?” He barely rasped.

  Colin closed his eyes and let loose a quick sigh. “Yes. They’ve gone.”

  “Who did they kill this time? Who did we lose?”

  Colin looked about the room and whispered, “He thinks we’re back in prison.”

  Sadie and Harrison held onto each other as Mr. Duprie took Cozette into his arms. They all watched and listened in fascination at what happened next.

  “No one, Duncan. We didn’t lose a one of them.”

  Duncan visibly relaxed then opened his tear filled his eyes. “I won’t let them hurt you again, Colin. I promise.”

  Colin swallowed and looked away a brief moment. “I know. You’ve done a jolly good job of protecting all of us. You should be knighted.”

  The tears fell. “I didn’t protect Tommy. I couldn’t. What they did to him was heinous.”

  “Don’t talk about it anymore. There was nothing any of us could do.”