Hope, page 16
part #3 of Brides of the Rio Grande Series
“Charity! That is highly inappropriate. A lady must never ask a gentleman such a question. That’s unsuitable even for you,” Hope admonished her sister.
Hope exchanged a helpless look with Faith. Should they intervene before Charity got herself arrested? Again.
But as was her way, Charity took it upon herself to take hold of a situation head on and full speed.
“It ain’t inappropriate if the parties are in agreeance, now is it?” Charity spoke loud and clear so the sheriff could hear her plainly. Everyone waited to see what the lawman in Charity’s crosshairs would do.
Hope had to cover her mouth with her hand to keep from laughing at the sheriff’s expression. He looked scared to death.
“Good day, ladies.” The sheriff turned for the front door. Hope watched her sister in hot pursuit. She grabbed him by the arm to stop him from leaving.
“Sheriff, tell me again why I can’t be part of your posse? I can shoot and ride better than that fancy pants with the shiny belt buckle you hired. And I was a big help to you last night when I helped you round up all them drunken punch drinkers after the dance. Why, even in that damn party dress I was wearin’ that kept getting’ in my way, I tied ‘em up and threw them in your jail, now didn’t I do that?”
“Yes, you certainly did—do that. And, while I will admit you were somewhat helpful, I will say it again, Miss Montgomery. It is highly inappropriate for a woman to be involved with criminals and I will not have this conversation with you again.”
The man tried to escape but Charity was on a mission.
“If my helpin’ you round up all those drunken men ain’t proof that I’m a force to be reckoned with, and I got your back, then I don’t know—”
“Miss Montgomery. No one ever said you aren’t a force to be reckoned with. And trust me when I say I am sincerely appreciative to know you are on my side of the law, but I will say it again. It is not appropriate for a woman to ride with a group of men who may be forced to camp outdoors—together—for a week or more at a time., And do I have to say it again? It is too dangerous for a woman to be chasing after criminals.”
“But I can shoot—”
“Yes, and bad people shoot back. I will not be responsible for endangering the lives of my men while you are riding in the posse. Consider this discussion closed once and for all, Miss Montgomery. Now, if you will excuse me—”
The sheriff tried to leave, but Charity had a different mindset. Hope knew if she didn’t stop her, Charity would end up in jail. Faith shot a worried look in Hope’s direction.
“Charity, I think Faith could use your help in getting her buttons undone. I would love to stay and help, but I can’t. I have to get back to work. Doc Howard and I have patients coming in today.”
The sheriff took that moment to duck out of the store and disappear down the street. She could tell Charity was disappointed, but the girl really should change her tactics if she had any hope of catching Sheriff Grayson’s romantic attention.
“Faith, I’ll leave you and Charity to handle the dress fittings. If something comes up and you have need of me, I’ll be at work.” She sent a silent message to Faith she would be right around the corner if she needed help corralling their sister.
Faith nodded her understanding and herded Charity behind the curtain leading to the dressing room. If only that would be the end of it, but Hope knew better. Charity had her sights set on the handsome lawman and nothing, and nobody, was going to change her mind or her direction.
Hope made the quick walk to the doctor’s office in less than five minutes. She entered the office to find her employer hunched over his desk looking at his herb catalog. He turned when he heard the door close.
“Hope, I was wondering if you would mind doing me a favor this afternoon. I don’t usually schedule patients to be seen in the office on Saturday, but I did so today because I’m planning to travel to the Randolph ranch tomorrow. Mrs. Randolph is having multiple babies and she’s due any day now. Mr. Randolph is worried about his wife being so remote up near the Rio Grande river headwaters.”
“Of course, Doc. I would be happy to. How many are there?” It didn’t matter to Hope, but she liked to be prepared.
“I had scheduled four patients for this afternoon, but there is only two expected now since Mrs. Trumble and Mrs. Cunningham have cancelled. It seems Mrs. Trumble’s concerns with her son’s lack of appetite has been solved. She learned that he has been spending a lot of time courting several young ladies about town and they all insisted on plying him with samples of their cooking. She couldn’t understand how he wasn’t eating a bite at home and still gaining so much weight. Mystery solved.” Doc chuckled and closed his notebook. “And Mrs. Cunningham has recovered from her stomach ails and doesn’t need the services of our medical knowledge any longer. Her words.”
Hope grinned at the doctor’s humor. “Of course, I would be happy to take care of them, but where will you be, if you don’t mind me asking?” She didn’t want to be too forward even though she considered her employer to also be her friend.
“I’ve heard about another use of the yarrow plant besides being a disinfectant and having anti-inflammatory properties. I’d like to study its ability to staunch the flow of blood. There are so many uses for an herb like that. Women’s monthly flow that might be excessive. Serious cuts.”
“And gunshots,” Hope teased, remembering their previous lesson.
“Exactly. Just the kind of medical situation that could use a plant of this sort. If you don’t mind, I’d like to take a ride up on the mountain this afternoon and see if I can find some. I know there won’t be any fresh plants this time of year, but the study paper said we can use the dried buds and leaves to make a poultice. I think it is worth exploring, don’t you?”
Hope listened to the doctor’s words and was suddenly struck by the fact he had asked her for her opinion. She couldn’t help but be thrilled about that fact.
“I think it is most certainly worth exploring, Doctor, and I would be more than happy to see to our patients this afternoon—if you think me ready for the task?” Insecurities threatened to dampen her happiness
“Nonsense, of course you are ready. Now, if you will excuse me, I’ll pack my knapsack and head out while there’s plenty of sun still in the sky.”
He gathered his notebook and pencil, then disappeared behind the curtain separating the office from the examining rooms. Moments later he returned, his gear in hand and ready to explore.
“Goodbye, Hope. You’ll do fine. Oh, and I would like you to go with me when I visit Mrs. Randolph tomorrow. I think it would be a good lesson for you. It would only require a couple of days and I’ll ask John Malone to drive us. Are you willing to go?”
“Of course, doctor. I’d consider it an honor to go with you and I’m always willing to learn more about providing good care to our patients.”
“Good. I’ll see you tomorrow morning at first light.” He left by the front door, closing it solidly behind him.
Hope looked around the office and took a deep breath trying to calm her nerves. This was the first time Doctor Howard had left her alone to see patients. It was both exhilarating and frightening at the same time. She reminded herself that she could do this.
Perhaps if she stayed busy before her patients arrived, it would help keep her mind from thinking about all the ways she could fail today. “Yes, that’s exactly what I shall do.”
Hope disappeared behind the curtain and focused on making certain the examining rooms were clean and properly supplied. Then, she prepared the medical bags with all the instruments she thought Doc would need to help Mrs. Randolph if she did go into labor while they were there. Soon she was lost in her work and only the occasional thought of last night dampened her joy.
The sound of the front door closing brought Hope up short. She had been so busy she hadn’t bothered to notice the time. Three o’clock. That must be their first patient. Hope’s nerves threatened to return, but she pushed them down. “I can do this.”
Wiping her damp palms on her apron, she stiffened her spine and lifted her chin. Stopping at the curtain barrier, she took a moment to take a deep breath. “I. Can. Do. This.” Not giving herself another moment to doubt herself, she forced her quivering lips into a smile and pushed the curtain aside.
“Hello, how can I help you toda—” She stopped short when she saw her patient. Her heart punched her ribs. “Bobby. What are you doing here?”
“Well, hello there to you too, Miss Anderson. I came to see Doc Howard, but you’ll do.” His cold blue eyes raked down her body and back up to meet her disgusted glare. “Yes, ma’am. You’ll do just fine.”
Billy and John had spent most of the morning putting the finishing touches on his roof. Now it was completely covered with protective tin, and his log walls were up and the doors in place, all he had to do was chink the logs and finish the fire place and he could move in—with or without Hope.
He and John had arrived back in town early afternoon. John left to pick up Grace and Abbie Rose and he cared for the drafts. Then, he headed into the house to get cleaned up and eat a bite. He wasn’t sure what he was getting’ cleaned up for since he didn’t plan on seeing Hope tonight and there was nothing on the stove waiting for him.
There were no lights shining through the window curtains when he approached and it gave him a feeling of desperation. He wanted a home. And a wife. And children. He had no problem working himself to an early grave to make sure his family wanted for nothing. He was nothing like his father and he would die trying to prove it. To Hope. To Himself. To the whole damn town if need be.
He shucked off his boots on the back porch and shuffled sock-footed into the kitchen. The stove was cold and bare and he was hungry. He unbuttoned his dirty shirt and was about to shuck his muddy pants when a knock on the front door startled him. He never had company and he wasn’t expecting any tonight. Unless—
Billy pulled on his shirt, not bothering to rebutton it and rushed to the door. He swung it wide open. “Hope, I was hoping you would change your—”
Disappointment and trepidation dissolved his enthusiasm when he saw his visitor standing at his door. “Cora, what the hell are you doing here?”
“Are you hungry?” She rushed into his arms and kissed him soundly before he could get out of her way.
“Cora, you shouldn’t be here.” Billy tried to disentangle himself from her clawing hands, but she pressed her cheek against his naked chest and clung as if her life depended upon it. He tried to push her back out onto the porch, but the woman was just as determined to stay. A couple walking by the house stopped and turned in their direction.
“Everything alright there?” the man asked.
The last thing Billy needed was another public commotion between him and Cora Ludlow to get back to Hope.
“Yep, everything’s just fine. Thanks for asking.” Billy nodded to the couple and closed the door. Unfortunately, Cora was on the wrong side of it.
“Cora. What the hell are you doing here? What do you want?” Billy pushed the woman away again and managed to button his dirty shirt before she gained access to his nakedness again. “I asked you what you wanted, Cora. Say it and get out.”
She stepped back and stuck out her bottom lip in a pout, but Billy was not amused. “I thought you could use some company, Billy. That’s all.” Her eyes raked up and down his body and he knew this could lead to big trouble.
“I don’t. I’m tired and dirty and I’m going to get something to eat at the boardinghouse, now if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to get going.”
“Billy, ain’t no reason to go the boardinghouse. I know how to cook you some good food. And then maybe I could fix you a hot bath like I did the other day. And then maybe you might be up for some company. Maybe.”
“Not interested, Cora. I thought I made that clear. Hope is the only woman for me.”
That was not what she wanted to hear if her reaction was any indication. “Billy, you must be stupid or somethin’. Hope Anderson make it clear at the dance she ain’t interested in you. Hell the whole town is still talkin’ about how she turned your marriage proposal down flat. Don’t sound to me like she’s interested in you, Billy Boy.”
“Don’t call me that. Nobody calls me that but—it don’t matter. Just don’t call me that ever again, you understand?” Billy pulled her clawing fingers off his shirt.
“I understand, Billy. Maybe it’s you that don’t understand. Hope Anderson don’t want you, but I do.” She started toward him again and he held up his hands to stop her.
“Look, Cora. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I’m not ever gonna be interested in you. Hope or no Hope. And just to be clear, she mighta said no now, but I’m gonna win her over to my way of thinking, and when I do, I’m gonna make her my wife. Now get out before someone else sees you and thinks there’s something going on between us.”
“You’re gonna be sorry you didn’t take me up on my offer, Billy. You’ll see. One day you’re gonna be real sorry,” Cora promised as he pushed her out the door slamming it in her face and pushing the bolt into place.
“Damn, that woman is a real pain in my ass.” Billy shook his head and retraced his steps to his bedroom. He shucked his muddy pants and dirty shirt, replacing them with clean ones. Stuffing his feet into clean socks, he walked to the back porch and shoved his feet into his clean boots and grabbed his jacket. “I think I’ll stop off at the Holy Moses before I get something to eat. After the day I’ve had, I think I need a good stiff shot of whiskey.”
Billy stuffed his arms into his heavy canvas coat and left the house out the back door. He stomped through the cold afternoon frost to Main Street and down the block to the Holy Moses. He opened the wooden doors closed during winter and pushed the bat wing doors aside, nearly rocking them off their hinges.
Charlotte was working behind the bar and poured his drink when she saw him walk in. “Hello, Bil—”
“I’m not in the mood to talk, Charlotte.”
“Well, Hello to you too, Mr. Buchanan. What’s crawled up your beehive?”
“Damn it, I said, I’m not in—”
“Yeah, I heard you, but my experience behind this bar has taught me over the years that if a man comes in here with that scowl and says he’s not in the mood to talk, that’s exactly what he is in the mood for. Now spill it. We’ve known each other too long to play rosy around the pole. Out with it before the regular crowd shows up and I gotta get to work.”
Billy wanted to be mad and tell Charlotte to mind her own business, but he knew she was right. They had known each other a long time and right now he needed a place for his anger to go.
“Fine, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Billy tossed back the whiskey and shoved the glass toward Charlotte for another refill. One thing he could say about Charlotte, she was good at readin’ folks.
“So, tell me, what’s got you so riled up? I heard about the dance last night. I’m real sorry about—”
“Hope, that’s what’s got me riled up. Well, her and that damned Cora Ludlow. That woman is trouble with a big giant letter.” Billy tossed back his whiskey and shoved his empty glass back across the bar for more. Charlotte ignored his request. Instead, she tsked at him.
“What reason did Hope give you for not accepting your proposal? I know the woman has feelings for you.”
“She wants to work for Doc Howard and I told her I didn’t think that was a good idea.”
“Then that’s your problem, Billy. You told her she couldn’t. Don’t you know a woman with half a brain doesn’t want a man telling her what to do? They want to figure things out for themselves and they want the man who loves them to back them up. Why not let her work for the doc? I don’t see any harm in it.”
“You’ve seen the man. And he’s single,” Billy retorted.
“Ah, so you’re jealous. That’s not a good way to start a marriage, Billy. You should be certain of Hope’s love. If you aren’t, then maybe marryin’ her now ain’t the right thing to do.” Charlotte’s insight was hitting a little too close to home.
“I ain’t jealous of the man. Not really. I just want my wife to want to be home with her husband. Is that too much to ask?” Billy tried to ignore the selfish tone to his words. He just said it wrong, that was all.
“Then why are you objecting to her doin’ her job if you aren’t jealous?” Charlotte asked.
“I ain’t objecting. Not exactly. I just want my wife to stay home and not run all over the territory caring for folks instead of living with me in the mountains and having babies.”
“What’s wrong with her wanting to care for folks? That sounds like a good thing to do.”
“Because if she works in town, she’s gotta live in town. We gotta live in town and you know I don’t cotton to town living. It makes me—jumpy.” Billy left it at that because he didn’t want to get into his crazy at the moment. “Hope should be at home. With her husband. Safe and sound. Not risking her life for somebody she don’t even know.”
“Well now, don’t that take the cake? Yeah, Billy. That’s horrible. Your wife wantin’ to care for people who are in pain. How dare the woman want to ease their suffering.”
“Shut up, Charlotte.”
“Billy, you’re acting like a spoiled little boy who got his rock candy stick broke and shoved in the dirt.”
“Now, wait just a damn minute—” Billy took offense to Charlotte’s comment. Wasn’t she supposed to see his side of this disagreement?
“No, you wait a minute, Billy Buchanan. What makes you think Hope has to dance to your tune? Ain’t she a grown woman with a smart mind? Hasn’t she made it just fine in this life before you came along? What is it about a man that decides once a woman says I do, she gives up her ability to think for herself? Who said she can’t be in charge? That ain’t right, Billy. Not right at all.”
“But that’s a husband’s right, ain’t it? Expecting his wife to cook his meals and clean his clothes and raise his kids?”
