“How are you gonna get into a town council meetin’?” Edwin asked.
“I got one council member on my side, so far.”
“You do? Who’s that?”
“Nora Legend.”
“The woman who owns the apothecary?” Doc Edwin said. “Yeah, that figures. You’ve been a good customer for her, so she owes you.”
“More than that,” Kincaid said. “She knows I’m right. This county needs a new school.”
“So whataya want me to do?” Edwin asked.
“I want you to come with me to the next town council meeting and back me up,” Kincaid said.
“Is that all?” Edwin said. “I’ll be there. Just tell me when.”
“I will,” Kincaid said. “As soon as I hear.”
“Good, I actually have a patient in the other room, so . . .”
“How’s your breathing lately?” Kincaid asked. “Time for another treatment?”
“I don’t think so,” Edwin said. “I’m still doin’ pretty well.”
“Good, that’s good,” Kincaid said. “Well, get back to your patient, Doc.”
“Maggie’s been waitin’ for you to come to supper again,” Edwin said. “She makes enough every night, just in case.”
“Tell you what,” Kincaid said. “I’ll come by tonight.”
“Good. See you then, Gabriel,” Edwin said, and then went in to his patient.
“Thanks, Doc.” Kincaid suddenly realized that was the first time the old sawbones had used his proper name.
* * *
* * *
He left the office and started walking with no destination in mind. His butt was still sore, after the ride to Craddock and back, and he was hungry. He didn’t go to the Sunflower, though, because he didn’t want to talk. Kate would never let him get away with that.
So he found another small café he had never been to before and stopped in. He didn’t order anything too filling, since he had told Doc Edwin he’d be at supper later.
It would probably take Nora Legend at least another day to put together a meeting of the town council, which would give him enough time to come up with the words he’d need to make his plea. He went over them in his head while he ate, grateful that no one was talking to him. His medical bag was underneath his seat, but he was hoping nobody would come up to him with a “Hey, Doc, it hurts when I do this,” problem.
When he finished eating he paid his bill. This time when he had a destination in mind. It was simply time to go home.
* * *
* * *
Maggie was happy to see him for supper and made a fuss.
“Are you getting thin?” she asked.
“I haven’t been gone that long, Maggie,” he pointed out.
“Still, you have to eat,” she said, putting a plate in front of him that was overflowing with meat and potatoes.
During supper Kincaid and Doc Edwin discussed some of the patients they had seen, and the old sawbones pointed out that there were several women about to go into labor.
“If two of them go at the same time,” he added, “we’ll have to split them between us. You’ve got transportation, I assume?”
“Yes,” Kincaid said, “I finally bought a horse. In fact, I used it two days ago riding to and from Craddock. I can still feel it in my keister. It’s been a while since I’ve ridden, but I’ll get used to it.”
“You’d be better off getting your own buggy,” Maggie told him.
“He’s a young man,” Doc Edwin said. “He should be ridin’ a horse, not drivin’ some old man’s buggy. It’s a pain in the ass gettin’ in and out of the thing.”
After supper Doc Edwin went out to the porch, as usual, and Kincaid promised to join him.
“How’s his breathing sound at night?” he asked Maggie.
“Better,” she said. “He’s sleeping better, too. And you can see his appetite’s improved.”
“That’s all good,” Kincaid said. “And when he comes home from the office?”
“He’s a bit worn out, but overall I think he’s improved since you got here. Not that he’d admit it.” She put her hand on his shoulder. “But I’m grateful enough for both of us.”
He patted her hand and stood up. With two whiskeys in hand, he went out to the porch.
Doc Edwin accepted his glass and groused, “I could use a cheroot, but I ain’t gonna.”
“That’s good.”
“Whataya think about a pipe?” Edwin asked.
“You don’t need any smoke, Doc,” Kincaid said. “Just enjoy your whiskey.”
“I could use a full glass, once in a while,” the older man said.
“When I’m not here,” Kincaid said, “go ahead, if you can get it by Maggie.”
“The woman’s got the eyes of a hawk and the nose of a bloodhound,” Edwin complained. “There’s no gettin’ nothin’ past ’er.”
“Then don’t even try,” Kincaid said.
“Say, what happened with that gunman—What was his name? Butram?”
“Jed Butram,” Kincaid said. “I haven’t seen him since he came to the Sunflower for a meal. Maybe the sheriff got to him and convinced him to leave.”
“Or maybe he thinks he’s just makin’ you wait and wonder,” Doc Edwin said.
After he finished his own whiskey Kincaid said to Edwin, “I’m going to turn in now. I’ve got a big day tomorrow if Nora gets that meeting set up.”
“Come and get me if she does,” Edwin said. “Not that I think it’s gonna do any good.”
“Have you talked to the town council before?” Kincaid asked.
“Not for a long time,” Edwin said. “It’s usually useless. They all pretty much just vote with the mayor and give him what he wants.”
“Why wouldn’t he want a new school?”
“Because it would cost money, that’s why,” Doc Edwin said. “A tighter man with a dollar you ain’t never gonna meet. You’ll see. I’ll be there, and I’ll back you, but you’re gonna do the talkin’.”
“That’s what I figured,” Kincaid admitted.
“Just make sure you got a good argument.”
“Between you, me, and Nora, maybe we’ll be able to push it through.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Doc Edwin said, and finished his half a glass of whiskey.
* * *
* * *
The next morning Kincaid rose, had breakfast downstairs at the Sunflower, talked with Kate, and went to the office, all as usual. He kept his mind on his patients, rather than brooding over whether or not Nora would be able to call a town council meeting.
He was ushering out a woman who was in her eighth month of pregnancy. She lived in town, which enabled her to come to the office, rather than requiring home visits.
“It looks like the little tyke is going to be right on time, Mrs. Mitchell.”
“Thank you, Doctor,” she said, “but will Doc Edwin be deliverin’ my baby?”
“If you want Doc Edwin, he’ll be there, ma’am.”
The woman seemed relieved. Smiled and left.
Later in the afternoon, the door opened and in walked Nora.
“Are you still having trouble with people accepting you?” Nora asked.
“Some,” Kincaid said. “Many, like Mrs. Mitchell, will allow me to examine them, but not actually treat them. They still feel Doc is the only one who can do that. Can I get you something? A cup of tea, or a drink?”
“No, thank you,” she said. “I have to get back to work. I just wanted to let you know, I’ve managed to schedule a meeting of the town council.”
“That’s great. How did you do that?”
“Actually, the mayor is rather sweet on me,” she said. “He doesn’t let that interfere with town business when we vote, but I was able to use it to my a
dvantage and get a meeting set for tomorrow morning. He’ll notify the other members.”
“I really don’t quite know how to thank you, Nora,” he said.
“I’ll let you buy me supper one night, to repay me,” she said.
“It’s a deal,” he said. “What time tomorrow?”
“Nine a.m.”
“I’ve managed to convince Doc Edwin to come along,” he said. “Maybe between the three of us we can convince the council a new schoolhouse is worth the money.”
“We don’t have to convince the whole council,” she pointed out, “just the mayor.”
“Thank you, Nora. I’ll see you in the morning.”
She hesitated a moment, and he wondered if she was waiting for him to invite her to supper at that moment. But he still had to go to Doc Edwin’s house and inform him of the meeting. In the end, she allowed him to open the door for her, and left.
* * *
* * *
When the day was done in the office, Kincaid went directly to Doc Edwin’s house. When he walked in Maggie smiled and asked, “Supper again?”
“Not tonight, Maggie. Is Doc around?”
“He’s napping. He wants me to wake him for supper, or if you show up. Should I?”
“No, let him sleep,” Kincaid said. “Tell him I dropped by to tell him there’s a town council meeting tomorrow morning at nine.”
“That was fast.”
“Yes, it was. Also tell him I’ll come by to pick him up. We can both go in his buggy.”
“Good, then he won’t fall getting in or out again,” Maggie said.
“I thought you said he was doing better?”
“He is,” she said, “but he’s still eighty years old. There’s not much you can do about that, is there?”
“Maggie,” Kincaid said, “there’s nothing I can do about that.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Kincaid went over his plea all night until he drifted off to sleep. Then, in the morning, as he walked to Doc Edwin’s house, he kept going over it again and again in his head. When he reached the house the old sawbones was sitting out on the porch.
“Ready?” Kincaid asked.
“I’ve been ready for an hour,” Doc Edwin said. “You just have to go in the back and hitch up the buggy.”
“I’ll be right back.”
Kincaid hitched the horse to the buggy and drove it around to the front. Edwin came down from the porch and he helped him up onto the seat, then joined him. He held the reins out to the older man.
“You do it,” Edwin said.
“Okay,” Kincaid said, “city hall.”
* * *
* * *
Mayor John Everett was forty-five years old and had been the mayor of Hays City for three years. Which meant that in a year there would be another election. He had no desire to be a one-term mayor, which was the reason he was so tightfisted with the town’s treasury. Ever since Nora Legend told him that Dr. Gabriel Kincaid wanted to address the town council, he’d been wondering if the newcomer was going to ask for money. Doc Edwin had asked on two separate occasions, for money to open a clinic, but Everett and the town council had turned him down. He might need the treasury to fund his next campaign, so if the new Dr. Kincaid was going to ask about a clinic, Everett would have to turn him down, too. The others on the council would side with him, except for Nora. Even though she almost always voted against him, he admired her for her strength. Eventually, he thought he might wear her down and win her heart, but in the council room he knew they were still going to be on opposite sides.
He left his office and told his clerk, “I’m going down to the council meeting.”
“Do you want me to come along?” the young man asked.
“No, you stay here and watch the office,” the mayor said. “I’m thinking this won’t take very long.”
“Yes, sir.”
* * *
* * *
The council members were seated at the table as the mayor entered. Nora Legend sat at one end, the mayor took a seat at the other. Between them were Ward, Taylor, and Preston, three men who owned businesses in Hays City.
“We’re meeting with the new doctor, right?” Taylor asked. “Shouldn’t somebody be waiting outside to show him in?”
“Nora’s the one who asked for this meeting,” the mayor pointed out.
“I have no problem with that,” Nora said. “I’ll wait outside.”
She rose, left the room, and walked to the front door. As she stepped outside, the buggy with the two doctors stopped right in front. She smiled as Kincaid looked over at her.
“Right this way, gentlemen,” she said.
* * *
* * *
When Kincaid saw Nora Legend coming out the door he hoped she wasn’t calling off the meeting.
“Right this way, gentlemen,” she said, and he felt better.
He got down, helped Doc Edwin, and they followed Nora into the building.
“Everybody is in the meeting room,” she said along the way.
“That’s good,” Kincaid said.
She stopped in front of a set of double doors.
“In you go,” she said.
They entered and she followed. None of the seated men got to their feet. At the head of the table Kincaid saw a man in his mid-forties, dark-haired and handsome.
“You all know Dr. Edwin,” Nora said. “This is Dr. Gabriel Kincaid.”
“Dr. Kincaid,” the dark-haired man said, “I’m Mayor Everett. Do you know any of these gentlemen?”
Kincaid looked at the men, didn’t recall ever having treated any of them.
“No, I don’t,” he said.
“Well,” the mayor said, “I believe Dr. Edwin does, so he can fill you in later. At the moment, we should get to the matter at hand. Please, have a seat.”
Kincaid and Doc Edwin sat side by side, while Nora went and took her chair.
“We weren’t expecting Dr. Edwin,” Everett said. “Nora told us you wanted to address the council.”
“I’m here to support my colleague,” Doc Edwin said.
“I see,” Everett said. “And what, exactly, are you supporting, Doc?”
“I’ll let Dr. Kincaid do the talkin’,” Doc Edwin said.
“All right, then,” Mayor Everett said, looking at Kincaid. “Go ahead. Nora indicated this was important.”
“Only if the children in this county are important,” Kincaid began. “I’m sure you heard about the tragedy out at the old schoolhouse.”
“Of course,” the mayor said. “It was terrible.”
“I was there,” Kincaid said. “I had to tell one mother her child had been killed.”
“How awful,” Nora said.
“What’s your point, Doctor?” the mayor asked.
“My point is, this wouldn’t have happened if they had a new schoolhouse,” Kincaid said. “And that’s what they need now, a brand-new schoolhouse.”
The mayor looked down the table at one of the men, Taylor.
“Haven’t we found the school another building?” he asked.
“We have,” Taylor said. “The old Worth place.”
“Another old house?” Kincaid asked. “Are we going to risk more of our children’s lives? What if that one collapses?”
“It won’t,” the mayor said.
“Mr. Mayor, these children need a new building,” Kincaid said. “We need to have one built for them.”
“Dr. Kincaid,” the mayor said, “you haven’t been a member of this community for very long—”
“You’re right,” Kincaid said, cutting him off. “I haven’t. So I don’t know what these other gentlemen do.” He looked at the three men sitting between Nora and the mayor. “Are any of you carpenters?”
The man n
amed Taylor hesitantly raised his hand. He was a heavy, middle-aged man who did, indeed, look like a carpenter.
“So this job would fall to you, sir,” Kincaid said. “All you would have to do is submit a bid to the town to get it, right?”
“Well . . .”
“Now hold on!” the mayor said.
“You hold on, John,” Doc Edwin said, breaking into the conversation. “You’re up for reelection next year. How many votes do you think you’re gonna get if another child is hurt, or dies?”
“Now, Doc—” the mayor started.
“And how many do you think you’ll get if you build a new school?” the old sawbones went on.
“He has a point, Mayor,” Nora said. “You should think about that.”
“Do you know how much a project like that would cost?” the mayor asked.
“Mr. Taylor is a member of the town council,” Kincaid said. “Don’t you think you could get him to do it as inexpensively as possible?”
“But with good materials,” Doc Edwin chimed in.
“I know you, John,” Nora said. “You’re thinking about your election war chest. But what good is that with no votes?”
“Look,” the mayor said, putting his hands out, “you’re all making good points.”
“Why don’t you put it to a vote right now?” Kincaid asked.
None of the other men had said a word, but Kincaid thought they all looked worried.
“How many of you gentleman have kids who go to our school?” Kincaid asked. “Or who will go to our school when they’re old enough. Don’t you want them to be safe?”
“And well taught,” Nora added. “You brought in a new schoolteacher, but I doubt she’ll stay on the job without a new school. Not after this awful catastrophe.”
“That’s a good point,” Kincaid said.
“Come on, John,” Doc Edwin said. “Put it to a vote.”
“You and Dr. Kincaid will have to step outside while we discuss it,” the mayor said to Edwin.
“No problem,” Doc Edwin said, getting to his feet. “Come on, Gabriel.”
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