Doc managed to keep his face clear, but his loathing of the church spiked. “Love knows no race,” Doc said evenly.
Adam nodded gravely. “A common response. The church doesn’t frown on such things, though it does mean the soul of the human is in jeopardy.” Adam stared at Doc with intense eyes. “Apoc can save anyone who wishes to be saved, even if they’ve been tainted.”
Doc’s lips twitched before he could settle them. “Apoc is very understanding.”
“When you love your children, as he does, it’s easy to forgive them.”
“Well, I’m the man you heard of,” Doc said, “and yes, I did indeed marry a wonderful woman yesterday.”
“Why have you not come to seek the counsel of the church?” Adam asked.
“Didn’t have a need, and it seems strange to bother the church for no reason.”
“Need? There doesn’t have to be a need. Everyone has doubts and worries. I try to help soothe those and help whoever wants to find an easier way. Have you had no worries or doubts, Doc?”
“Oh, I have plenty of both,” Doc said. “I believe they can help a man grow, though. Being given an easy path makes one less likely to keep fighting when things get tough.”
Adam was silent for a long moment. “Hmm... An interesting view.”
“Doc, did you want breakfast?” Posy asked, having come out of the back hall.
Doc glanced at Posy, a soft smile touching his lips. “Give me a few minutes, Posy? I’m speaking with the preacher.”
Posy looked at Adam and drew back, lowering her eyes to the floor. “Okay.”
Adam leaned down. “What a delightful child. What’s your name, dear?”
“Posy, sir...” Posy replied, her voice barely audible over the noise in the room.
“A delightful name. Have you heard the Words of Apoc?”
“Yes...” Posy answered, moving slowly back toward the door to the hall.
“Good, good. Know the truth of the Words and what you can do to make things better for yourself and your children.”
“Yes, sir,” Posy said, her back touching the door. “Excuse me, I have to work!” With that, she darted into the back.
“It’s good for them to know the Word,” Adam smiled.
“As you heard, it’s time for me to break my fast,” Doc said. “I’m sure we’ll find time to talk again.”
“As am I,” Adam smiled. “I will pray for you and your wife. Maybe Apoc will bless you.”
“Thank you,” Doc said. “May Apoc bless you, too, for all the good you do.”
“I’m blessed every day I see a new soul saved by the righteousness of Apoc.”
Doc took his leave of the preacher, feeling Adam’s eyes on his back the entire time.
~*~*~
Doc had finished breakfast and was still stewing over his meeting with Adam when Lia took a seat beside him. “Something troubling you, Doc?”
“Met the preacher of Apoc,” Doc said.
“McIan?”
“Yeah.”
“Hmm... What did he have to say?”
“Not a lot. It felt more like he wanted to size me up before anything happened, though what he did say makes me want to punch him in the face.”
Lia’s lips twitched. “Because you aren’t human and from this world. Many find the words of Apoc soothing to them, even the ones who should know better.”
“Only humans are fit to be saved?” Doc growled the sentence. “What kind of horseshit is that?”
“The kind that has pushed out every other religion and stamped out shamans,” Lia said. “We are lesser than men, and need to be cared for or bred out of existence.”
Doc’s eye twitched. “Okay. I didn’t exactly hate the church before, but now… now, I think I do. That’s the worst kind of bigotry.”
Lia gave him a soft smile. “Because you have a good heart, Doc. Too many just accept what the church says, even if they don’t believe in it themselves. They won’t speak out or go against it. Out here on the frontier, it’s a little different, but not much.”
“Same in every world, I guess,” Doc said. “Sad, and yet not unexpected.”
“I know yesterday was busy for you,” Lia said, clearly changing the topic, “but Rangvald never came in with a shipment.”
Doc exhaled. “That’s what I was forgetting.”
A knock on the door announced Ayla. “Doc, you’re here? Good. There’s a problem.”
“Rangvald hasn’t brought a shipment in,” Doc said.
“Yes.”
“Well, if the mountain won’t come to Muhammad...” Doc sighed as he got to his feet, not finishing the quote.
“What?” Lia asked.
“I’ll have to go check on them.”
“Good morning,” Fiala said, coming into the room with a bright smile. “Is something the matter?”
“Rangvald never showed up,” Doc said.
Fiala’s smile vanished. “What’re you going to do?”
“Go out to the mine,” Doc said. “See what’s going on.”
“You don’t think they’ve double-crossed you?” Ayla asked.
Doc snorted. “No. I’m more afraid Goodman or someone set an ambush.”
“I don’t think he’d go for that yet. The mine hasn’t proven to be sustainable,” Lia said.
“Only one way to find out,” Doc said. “I’ll grab my gear and head out. Should be back within the week.”
Fiala hugged him, leaning her head on his chest. “Stay safe, please? I’ll be waiting for you.”
“I will.”
“We’re supposed to pay the first installment to the Beavertons tomorrow,” Ayla said. “You don’t have enough left in the account for it.”
“I can help with this one,” Lia said. “I’m supposed to be his partner in this.”
“Do what you can. I’ll pay you back once the cash comes in,” Doc said.
“Fiala, breakfast?” Posy asked from the doorway.
“I want to see Doc off first,” Fiala said.
“Off?” Posy asked.
Doc sighed and had started to explain it again when Sonya appeared behind Posy. “Sonya?”
“Oh, good,” Sonya sighed. “Rangvald is at the bank. He asked for you to be notified.”
Doc felt the weight that’d been growing on his shoulders leave him. “Thank Luck...”
“He thought you might’ve been concerned,” Sonya said.
Ayla looked even more relieved than Doc felt. “Of course he was. Okay, I’ll go to Rangvald and find out what happened.”
“We will,” Doc said. “Fiala, stay, and have your breakfast. Lia, thank you for the offer. I need to go see what we have to work with.”
Saying his goodbyes, Doc was soon out the door, with Ayla and Sonya following him.
Chapter Twenty
Arriving at the bank, Doc was surprised by the dozen dwarves standing around the wagon. Burk gave Doc a wide grin. “Boss. We did the best we could to limit what we brought in.”
“Is anyone still at the mine?” Doc asked, but he didn’t see any of the other original miners.
“Most of the crew is still out there.”
The dwarves had been eyeing the group as they approached, but when Burk greeted him, they relaxed some. One of them gave Doc a knowing nod, and Doc recalled having healed the dwarf’s hand from an accident nearly a month ago.
“Time to go check in,” Doc said. “See you later.”
Muted conversations sprang up behind him, and Doc only caught a question about why the half-elf was following him. Burk started explaining before Doc entered the bank.
Rangvald looked over at the door when it opened, and a large smile grew on his face. “Doc, sorry for the delay. We broke a wheel yesterday and had to send one of the boys to get a replacement. I’ll make sure we have extra on hand.”
“I thought you already had an extra?”
“We did, but that busted when we were leaving the mine,” Rangvald said. “We might have overloaded
the cart.”
“Got enough people to not worry about the mine?” Doc asked.
“We do now, and there are more on the way,” Rangvald said. “I know you thought about slowly bringing in the ore, but that’ll just give them more time to plan against you. I’m overstepping, but my advice is to go hard and fast.”
Doc took a deep breath. “Yeah, Goodman’s already been by to see me, and I doubt he’ll lay off even if we just brought in what we did last time.”
“Can I assay the sample now?” Friedrichsen asked, stroking his forked beard.
“Sure. Take the full time to get it as accurate as possible, please,” Doc said.
Friedrichsen chuckled. “I thought you’d opt for that this time.”
“Did Goodman give you any grief over the first set?” Doc asked.
Friedrichsen’s eyes darted over to the small cubicle wall dividing him from the new secretary. “Of course not,” he replied.
“Silly of me to ask,” Doc said dryly. “Are you taking stock of all the ore now? I’m sure they have more to take to the smelters.”
“We can weigh it and store it, since we’ll most likely be purchasing it all,” Friedrichsen said. “Miss Clamet, can you arrange storage for the prospective ore?” Friedrichsen asked loudly.
A blonde woman came out from what used to be Ayla’s office. Her attire was business, but also wasn’t— the skirt had slits up to the knee so she could easily move, and her top had three buttons undone. “Look, I’m not doing your job for you. My job isn’t that.”
Ayla snorted. “Your job, if it’s the same as it was for me, includes arranging for the ore to be stored in the vault and for a receipt to be given to the claimant.”
The blonde turned to Ayla and sneered. “Look, breed, why don’t you let me do my job? If you’d been any good at it, you’d still have it.”
Ayla’s eyes widened slightly, and her face went cold. “You dumb little—!”
“Problem?” the bestial guard asked. He’d come over during the conversation, cutting Ayla off.
“None at all for us,” Doc said levelly. “Just waiting for the bank to do its job of taking, weighing, and giving a receipt for ore that they’re responsible for purchasing.”
The bestial snorted as only a bull could. “Do it,” he said flatly to Clamet. Looking affronted, Clamet stalked off. The guard gave Doc a hard stare. “Don’t cause trouble.”
“So many people tell me that,” Doc shrugged. “Friedrichsen, is there any way to get an advance on what we’ll be receiving?”
“Depending on the amount of ore, it could be done,” Friedrichsen said, “if the advance isn’t too high.”
“Ayla, can you handle this?” Doc asked her.
“Yes,” Ayla replied.
“Thank you,” Doc said. “She’ll be handling the business from my end. She’s on the account.”
“Very well, sir,” Friedrichsen said.
“Are you going straight to the smelters?” Doc asked Rangvald as the bestial guard walked away.
“As soon as they unload the ore here,” Rangvald nodded.
“Dinner?”
“Sure. Best for me to catch you up on what’s happening at the mine.”
“Yeah,” Doc agreed. His idle rub at his chin told him it was time for a shave. “I’ll see you for dinner. Make sure to let Ayla know what the smelters give us?”
“Will do.”
~*~*~
Doc was halfway to the barber’s when he realized Sonya was still following him. “Sonya?”
“Is Fiala good for company?” Sonya asked him with a small smile.
“She has the day off, so I imagine she would welcome some company.”
“I’ll go speak with her,” Sonya said. “Did you like the dance last night?”
“Ours, you mean?” Doc asked for clarification.
“And mine with Fiala.”
“The second one was entertaining,” Doc chuckled. “I was surprised you didn’t go for a grip on my rump like the others.”
“Time and place,” Sonya replied. “That was Fiala’s night, and I’d do nothing to diminish it.”
“That was a mean trick on Ayla, though,” Doc added.
“I couldn’t let her outdo me,” Sonya replied with a smirk. “Now, I have confirmation that I’ll wed next from the clan.”
“Stubborn and straightforward,” Doc smiled. “Go talk with Fiala. I really do need a shave.”
“I don’t know... a little hair on your chin might be nice.”
“Maybe when I leave town, but for now, clean-shaven is the way I’ll go.”
“As you decide, Doc.” With a grin and a wink, she turned and started for the Lily.
Doc watched her go for a moment, then turned back around to head up to Otto’s. He didn’t make it a single step, though, as Grange stood in his way. “Sheriff, can I help you?”
“Heard a mine had a load come in today, and I know it’s not from the two reputable mines here in town.”
“My mine had a delivery,” Doc said levelly. “That a problem?”
“Not now, but if I find out that ore wasn’t mined but obtained through other means, we’ll be having a different chat.”
Doc kept his face as blank as he could, even though he was getting pissed at the sheriff. “And if you find it was mined, you’ll apologize for that slander?”
Grange didn’t reply— he just stepped around Doc and kept walking. Doc watched him go, his anger simmering as he stared at the sheriff’s broad back. Shaking his head, he exhaled a deep breath, and started walking himself.
~*~*~
The bell jingled when Doc entered the barbershop, taking off his hat as he did. “Take your time,” Doc replied to Otto’s perfunctory greeting. “I’ll need a shave and haircut today.”
“Easily done,” Otto replied as he kept working.
Doc took a seat and noticed who the other customer was. “Doctor, how are you today?”
Whittaker didn’t reply, as Otto had the straight razor under his nose at that moment. When Otto moved away, he cleared his throat and replied, “Fine, fine. Your name… was Doc, right?”
“Indeed.”
“Business has been decent, I’ve stopped having so many… people… asking me to look into their problems. Either Henrick got better, or an unlicensed healer is in town.”
“That sounds like it would cut into your business,” Doc said.
“Nonsense. Only the slowest of days would see me with the time or energy to heal the nonhumans.” Whittaker paused, clearly remembering something. “Did Henrick give you something that worked, Otto? I notice you finally stopped asking, and I know she didn’t die.”
“She was seen to,” Otto said tightly.
“Who would’ve thought that that quack would manage anything useful?” Whittaker laughed.
Doc felt his anger rise again. “She’s provided me with quite a few useful items.”
“Preventatives and the like. Yes, that’s what alchemy is good for— not real healing. That’s like trusting one of the ‘faith healers’,” Whittaker laughed. “As if anyone not of the church or having had training at the colleges can do anything.”
Otto stepped back, his hand balled into a white-knuckled fist. “All done, sir.” The words were clipped.
“About time, too. I have a meeting with Mr. Suez,” Whittaker said, getting up. “Here you go.” He held out a quarter to Otto.
“That covers today, but you owe me for all the haircuts and shaves that were going to go against you healing my daughter.”
Whittaker snorted. “Come now, Otto, don’t make a scene. I’ll just put the owed amount against any healing you need in the future.”
“I’d rather take my chances with Henrick or a faith healer than wait for you to finally take the time to heal a member of my family!” Otto snarled, his mustache bristling. “Pay what you owe and get out!”
Whittaker took a step back, his face white. “You ungrateful little man! I’ll never heal you, nor
anyone from your clan, until you apologize fully, and in front of witnesses.”
Cashing In (Luck's Voice Book 2) Page 16
