Chapter 29
Cora clicked the reins. Her finely woven straw hat shaded her face from the late-afternoon sun. “Giddy up.” Couldn’t these two horses move any faster?
Nestled in the front corner of the buckboard behind her seat, Charlie groaned. “Can’t we slow down? Please.” Resting against the pillows, he cradled his arm against his chest.
She pressed her lips together and inhaled slowly.
Be calm. She had dealt with much worse than a broken arm.
“I’ll slow them up a bit, but we need to get to Weatherford before the end of the day.
” Pointed skyward, her rifle lay against the side of the seat.
This road wasn’t a safe place to be after dark.
“I don’t want to see Dr. LeBeau.”
“You should have thought about that before you decided to hang off the side of your horse while riding.”
“But that’s how Comanche ride.” He grunted as the wagon wheels rumbled over a bump. “Makes it hard for enemies to shoot them.”
“How do you know that’s how they ride?”
“Wolf Heart.”
Her voice rose. “You’ve seen him since the attack?”
“Once.”
Her swallow worked its way down her throat. “And you said nothing to me about it?”
“I thought you’d be mad. He showed me riding tricks. Helped me practice archery.”
“And he came into our yard?”
“No. It happened when I went to pick blackberries.”
“He shows up again, you come tell me.” Her jaw clenched. “Tell him I want to talk to him.” She was done cowering. If that man wanted to harm her or worse, he could have already done so. “You don’t keep secrets from me, young man.”
Charlie grunted.
Beneath her blouse, her chemise clung to her back and her underarms. Ben needed to get back here.
Five weeks he’d been gone. According to the letter he’d sent by way of Mrs. Ramsey, it would be at least another month before he returned to Weatherford.
He’d written of missing her, but couldn’t he have at least sent word for her to meet him in Weatherford or even farther west?
Surely, he could have spared a day or two from his journey?
Still, he’d closed with To the girl who has captured my heart…
Keeping one hand on the reins, she swiped a strand of hair from her brow.
Mrs. Ramsey, the first female visitor to the ranch in ages, had hand delivered the letter with her daughters while her husband and young son were in Weatherford for supplies.
Sky, a fine-looking woman, carried herself like royalty atop her stallion.
But her smile was warm and her words kind.
She’d offered an open invitation to visit the R & R Ranch.
Maybe she could be a friend one day. With Cora’s father’s behavior and her mother’s illness, there’d been little time for friends over the years.
Baby Katie had been a delight, crawling across the porch to Cora’s skirt and wanting to play peekaboo. And Little Star? That girl had spunk. Charlie had alternated between making himself scarce and showing off.
Cora sucked in a breath. “You were practicing to show off for Little Star, weren’t you? That’s why you were trying to ride like a Comanche.” She glanced over her shoulder.
Teeth gritted, he lay against the pillows. His lower arm had swollen against the two sticks and strips of cloth she’d used to brace it. A black-and-blue mark radiated from the center of the red patch.
“She can’t beat me.” He scooted farther against the stack of pillows, sinking into them. “I’m going to show her I’m a warrior.” His voice faltered. “My arm’s got to get better.”
“There’ll be no racing until it’s completely healed. And if you try to hang out of the saddle again with nothing but your foot atop it, there won’t be any race.”
“But Cora—”
“But nothing. And I’m sure Ben will have something to say about it when he gets back.”
“I want him to come home.”
Home. “I do too.” Sweep her into his strong arms and hold her close.
“He’s taking the cattle to market to secure our ranch, our future.
” Did Ben include himself in that our? When it came down to it, would he really turn his back on everything in Pennsylvania and count the ranch as his home?
Would their love take root and weather the storms to come?
Dear Lord, please let it be so. Please bring him back safe and sound.
An hour later, she drove up to the livery stable, gently helped Charlie out of the back, and left the wagon.
She wrapped her arm around the boy’s shoulders as she directed him toward the doctor’s office.
Her free hand twitched to straighten her hair.
But no. She wasn’t going to tidy herself up for that man.
“We’ll try Dr. LeBeau’s office first. If he’s not in town this week, we’ll head to the bonesetter. ”
“The barber?” Charlie grumbled and dragged his feet.
“He’s trained in setting breaks, but the doctor is the expert.
” A breath shuddered through her. It’d been three weeks since she’d returned LeBeau’s gifts and ended his calling privileges.
Maybe it’d be better if this wasn’t his week in Weatherford.
By all rights, it shouldn’t be. But Charlie needed the best care.
A few blocks later, she led the boy down the walk and up the steps.
Mrs. Ruddy answered the knock. “Miss Scott? It’s been ages.” Her gaze scoured her, then landed on the boy. “What’s happened, child?”
Cora laid her hand on Charlie’s shoulders. “Fell off his horse. I believe his arm’s broken. Would Dr. LeBeau happen to be in town?”
“You’re in luck.” The lady smiled. “He arrived a week early. Rode in this morning. Come in.” She stepped out of the way and motioned toward the small waiting room. “Have a seat. The doctor is down at the café having his supper, but I’ll fetch him myself.”
“I’d hate to interrupt—”
“For you, I’m sure it’d be no trouble.” Mrs. Ruddy grabbed her shawl from a hook and tucked it beneath the loose chignon of faded auburn hair.
“We wouldn’t want the boy to suffer any longer than necessary.
” She tipped her chin. “I reckon some people have discovered they need the doctor more than they thought they did.”
Cora blinked. Was the lady addressing her?
Mrs. Ruddy swooped out the door with one last grumble. “Yankees think they can waltz into Texas and steal whatever they want.” The door clicked behind her.
Charlie frowned. “What did she mean?”
“Never you mind.” Cora drew him toward a chair and sat. Either Arthur had confided in his housekeeper, or the woman was an observant snoop. The way that lady gossiped, half the town probably had some fool notion of a love triangle between her, Ben, and LeBeau.
The mantel clock ticked for fifteen minutes before the door opened.
Arthur stepped in, dressed in his usual black frock coat and top hat.
His thin mustache twitched as his stormy blue eyes lingered on her.
“Afternoon, Cora.” Cora still, not Miss Scott.
But his voice was stiff. “I hear the boy took a fall.” He hung his hat on the coat tree in the foyer.
“I was charging on my horse.” Charlie raised his head from her shoulder and cradled his injured arm. “But I’m all right now. We can go.” Sweat beaded on his forehead.
“Well, young man, I’m going to take a look just to be sure.” Down to his shirt sleeves and waistcoat, Arthur tossed his coat over the back of one of the waiting room chairs.
“I’m afraid it’s broken.” Cora perched on the front of her seat.
Arthur knelt in front of Charlie and extended his hand. “Let me see.”
The boy slowly lowered the arm to his waist, keeping it close to his body. The swollen red skin puffed against the ties and sticks.
Arthur frowned. “We’ll have to ice it overnight to get the swelling down. I’ll check it again tomorrow afternoon.”
“Ice?” Charlie’s brow crinkled. “I’ve never seen ice. Will that hurt?”
Cora bit her lip. “Where would we get it?”
“Gruder’s ice house on the other side of town. He has it shipped all the way from New England, packed in straw and sawdust.”
“Sounds expensive.”
Arthur tipped his angular face toward her. “Not for you to worry about. I’m the doctor. I’m prescribing. I’ll send for a small slab for this evening and then again early in the morning.”
She fingered her reticule. “We need to find a room in town.”
“You’re welcome to stay in the infirmary. Free of charge.” Arthur’s lips ticked upward. “There’s a bed in there, and I could provide a cot.”
With his bedroom just up the stairs? “No.”
He snorted. “I’ve had patients in there from just born to ninety years old. Mrs. Ruddy sleeps on the premise, as well. Built-in chaperone.”
Still, it’d leave him free to come talk to her at any hour he pleased. There’d be little escape from his attentions. Besides, it was the room her father had died in. She shuddered. “I have money.”
“Hmmm. I’m sure there are other things you could use it on. Especially with your Don Quixote off for weeks at a time.”
“Who’s Don Quotie?” Charlie perked up. “Ben looks after us. I bet he’s got a thousand cattle.”
“I’m sure he does.” Arthur smirked.
Cora lifted her chin. There were so many other necessities she needed the money for, but there were things more important than money.
“I thank you for your generosity, Dr. LeBeau, but we’ll find a room at Mamie Sykes.
” Or maybe even the Millers. If she dared ask.
“Mr. McKenzie entrusted our—my cattle to Mr. Goodnight, and the latter stopped by a couple days ago with a tidy sum from the sale.”
Arthur puffed out his cheeks and stretched to a stand. “Mr. Goodnight came calling?”
Men and their jealousies. “Mr. Goodnight came to pay his bill. Never stepped foot in the house. He was in a hurry to visit neighboring ranches and round up more cattle for another drive to New Mexico.” If only Ben had waited and sent the newly acquired herd with him.
She stood. “Do you need to look at Charlie further, or should we go find a room and await the ice?”