“I need to check on Dog,” she said.
“I’ll go with you.”
He followed her to Juliet’s room and opened the door. They found the girl snuggled close to Dog on her bedroom floor. The mongrel raised his head without a sound.
“Looks like he made it through,” Jake whispered.
Evangeline leaned wearily against the doorframe. “At least I didn’t kill him with the surgery or the chloroform. As long as he’s quiet, I’ll not disturb him. Once Juliet is awake, I’ll look closer.”
Jake followed her back to the kitchen. “In case I haven’t said so, you were somethin’ else yesterday.”
She brought his coffee to the table and sat across from him. “I told you I was good at sewing,” she said playfully.
“You got a lot of practice yesterday.” He picked up the mug. “I owe you an apology.”
Evangeline looked away from his penetrating gaze. “For the misunderstanding about Artie? That’s forgotten.”
“Jealousy makes a man act like a fool.”
Evangeline’s heart fluttered at the thought of him being jealous. It was an unfamiliar feeling she pushed aside.
“I don’t care to play the fool.” He set his mug down and flexed his fingers. “What I’m apologizin’ for is another foolish action— my pride. Keepin’ your doctorin’ a secret is wrong.”
“I’m glad no one knows.” Evangeline fidgeted with the spoon in the sugar bowl.
“Why?”
“People here need to get to know me. I want them to like me for me. Violet already expects me to be something special because I’m a white woman married to a successful rancher. What kind of expectation will people have when they find out I’m a doctor?”
“We don’t have a doc within fifty miles,” Jake argued.
“Do you realize how much time I would spend away from home if word got out?”
“But I see how gifted you are. If you need my permission, I’ll gladly give it.”
“You do realize I’m not seeking your permission.” Evangeline’s clipped words shamed her. She resumed stirring the sugar, clinking the edges of the bowl as the spoon circled the white crystals, the sound magnified by the silence between them.
“While I practiced medicine with my brother-in-law, people had expectations of me. Mostly that I would fail in my duties. The men seemed to need to take me down a few pegs, and some of the women thought it unseemly for me to do a man’s job. Some became jealous if I treated their husbands. Right now, I have no desire to be more of an oddity than a mail-order bride.”
“I think everyone will accept you over time.” Jake’s confident assurance fought against her experience. His respect for her abilities warmed her, but if she threw herself back into her career, it would no doubt end badly for both of them.
She searched for the right words. “I read in the Bible where a soldier who married was exhorted to spend a year with his wife before going off to war again. So I’m taking time off from my medical practice to spend with you. It’s obvious we still don’t know each other.”
“You’re a wise woman, Evangeline Marcum.” His deep voice spoke her new name in a way that caused a sweet tremor down her spine. “I wish I could follow that furlough advice.” A playful growl accompanied his words.
“You could start by going to town with me this morning.” She smiled sweetly as she went to pour hot water from the kettle into her teapot.
“You sure go into town a lot. If I get there once a month, that’s somethin’. What you have a mind to buy now?”
“Nothing. I promised Bertha I would meet her there today.”
“You’ve gotten pretty friendly with Miss Woods, I see.”
“There is something else I learned from my visit to the Woods’ home.” Evangeline wrapped a rag around the teakettle handle and poured water through the strainer placed atop the teapot opening. “The Hanks won’t extend any more credit to them until their bill is paid.”
“You figure on payin’ their bill too,” Jake groused. “You plan on payin’ off everyone’s bill?”
Evangeline matched his frown as she carried the coffee and tea on a tray back to the table. Jake refilled his mug before Evangeline had the opportunity.
His aggravation obvious, she changed her tactics. Lifting her cup to her lips, she gave him a saucy smile. “If you are going to make false accusations, I’ll not tell you what I’m doing, and I’ll ask Artie to take me. He doesn’t question what I do.” She feigned a pout.
Jake’s eye brightened at the teasing. “He’s not married to you either.”
“Aren’t we both glad of that?”
He chuckled, and she raised her cup, blocking his view.
“Tell me your plan. Then I’ll decide if I’ll take you.”
“I showed you the beautiful yarn Bertha makes and the fine cloth she weaves.”
“You figure they could sell it to the store and settle their bill.”
“More than settle it. They could get cash for other things as well. I promised to go along and help her negotiate a good price.”
“I’d like to see you wrangle with that Hanks outfit. Cordelia’s known to buy from the locals as cheap as she can.” Jake leaned his chair back on two legs. “What time?”
“I promised to meet her at ten o’clock. We can’t be late or Bertha will worry.”
“Think Dog’ll be alright while we’re gone?”
“He’ll have to be. Bertha is too excited to delay the trip. I hope I’m not taking you away from more pressing matters.”
“They’ll be here when I get back. Besides, my crew’s able to handle the ranch while I’m gone. Escortin’ my beautiful wife ‘round town seems like the most important business I have goin’ today.”
“I guess I should check all my patients before I leave,” she said.
“Good idea. Wonder if Bart came back to the bunkhouse. I doubt he’ll show his face unless it’s to get paid.”
“Are you going to fire him?”
“Got no choice. Drinkin’ ain’t allowed on my ranch. I knew he was drinkin’. Shoulda fired him months ago. But up till yesterday, he did his work and minded his own business.”
“Won’t you be shorthanded?”
“I can manage till the cattle drive. I’ll hire more men then.”
Evangeline placed her cup on its saucer. “Can I ask you something personal? Something I’ve been curious about for a while now.”
“Sure thing.”
“Who is Johnny? You mention him in your sleep.”
Jake’s coffee splashed as he set it back on the table. He retrieved a cloth and, without looking at his wife, wiped up the spill. “I guess you should know. I ain’t never talked about it.”
“I’m a good listener.”
He returned the cloth to the hook near the sink, tarrying longer than necessary before lowering himself back into his chair. “Johnny was a young kid who should never have gone to battle. He claimed he was fourteen but looked more like ten. He joined up the last year of the war. Stuck to me like a tick on a dog. I kept tellin’ him not to follow me so close. When a cannonball exploded a few feet from us, it killed him. I came out with a wound on my face, and that was all. I’ll never forget Johnny layin’ there covered in blood.” Jake fingered the top of the table. “Before I got to him, the sergeant grabbed my arm and made me keep goin’.”
“So you dream of the explosion?”
Jake remained silent for several heartbeats. “No, I dream I’m searchin’ for him.”
“Do you know his last name?”
“It was Holt. Why?”
“Clara Barton had a list of soldiers missing in action. She has been successful in reuniting families with their kin. I realize it has been a few years, but I imagine she still has the list. I could write and see if she knows about him. All I would need is the regiment, his name, and age.”
“You know Clara Barton?”
“I know of her. She secured permission for medical teams to go directl
y to the field and collect the wounded. She opened the door for Shamus and me to do the same.”
“I told you he’s dead.”
“Do you know that for sure?”
Jake picked up his coffee. “Sure seems impossible he’d still be alive. Maybe when things settle down around here, we can write to Miss Barton and see if she can help.”
***
Selena hurried in past Jake and put on her apron. “Señor, I am so sorry to be late.”
“Nothin’ to be sorry about, Selena. Me and Evangeline beat the rooster out of bed is all.”
“Is something wrong? Is it Dog?” The housekeeper wrung her hands.
“No, everything is fine.” Evangeline gave her a reassuring smile.
“I will have the breakfast pronto.”
“And I will get dressed in the meantime.” Evangeline rose as Cookie’s familiar whistle signaled he was headed toward the house.
Jake remained seated, savoring his coffee. What if Johnny is alive?
“Hey, Boss, what you up so early for? Dog okay?” Cookie’s face showed fatigue.
“Yeah, he’s doin’ fine. Can’t a body get up early to greet the day without everybody assumin’ somethin’s wrong?” Jake scolded.
“How’s Miss Juliet?”
“Sleepin’ soundly on the floor next to Dog.”
Juliet entered the room just then. “I’m up.” She yawned and gave Jake a big hug.
“How’s Dog?” Jake hugged her back, kissing the top of her head.
“He woke up cryin’ so I laid down next to him. I think he’s gonna be fine. But he probably needs to go out.”
“Cookie, call Manny to help me.”
Manny joined Jake in the bedroom a few minutes later. Together, they managed to get the big dog outside. It took a few tries, but Dog finally maneuvered around on three legs. He was slow and wobbly, but he took care of business—after which he collapsed on the ground and gave Manny a mournful stare.
Manny rubbed his chin. “I think he wants to go back to bed now.”
Juliet had brought the bedding out to the porch, so Jake and Manny laid Dog on it.
“Señor, are we going to stay here and move the dog every time he needs to sniff a tree?”
“Maybe Solomon can make a cart to push him around in so Juliet can tend to him.”
Evangeline appeared, holding a pan of fresh water. Clean bandages were tucked under her arm. She showed Juliet how to change the animal’s bandages and pulled something from her apron pocket. “If he starts crying a lot, you can give him this tablet. If you can get him to swallow it, he’ll feel better.”
Manny knelt beside Juliet. “If Dog will let me touch him, I can get him to take it. My pa taught me how to get horses to swallow medicine.” But when Manny tried to pet the animal, a growl rose from the canine. Manny jerked his hand back. “Or I can show Juliet.”
Jake covered a chuckle with a cough.
Evangeline looked away before speaking. “Cookie, can you have my other three patients stop by the house after breakfast so I can look at their wounds?”
***
Evangeline gave Duke some powder for his headache, but there wasn’t anything she could do for his disposition.
“Next time I see Bart, I’m gonna pound his no-account hide into the dirt.” Duke pressed his right fist into his left hand for emphasis.
“Let it go, Duke,” Artie remarked from the kitchen chair while Evangeline looked at his wound. “He’s probably long gone by now.”
Duke seemed to shake it off, and Artie said no more.
“Well, young man, your stitches look clean. In a few days, if all goes well, I can take them out.” Evangeline gathered up the soiled bandages. “I have a cream that helps reduce scarring. Do you want some?”
“Sure thing.” Artie smiled his thanks.
“Ha! You afraid the ladies won’t like you so much with a scar? Not that they like you so much now.” Duke punched Artie’s arm as he rose from his place at the table.
Artie ignored him.
“You got too purty a face for a man anyway. A mark would make you look manlier like me,” Duke said.
“You’re gonna have wounds on the top of your head. Maybe you should shave your head so the ladies can see those scars?”
Duke strutted about the kitchen. “Maybe you should shave your head to make the ladies think you’re older.”
Artie rolled his eyes, and Duke slapped him on the back. “Now don’t get all mad, kid. You know I was joshin’.”
Artie placed his hat on his head. “Yeah, well, ain’t my fault God made me so good lookin’.” He slapped Duke’s back in return.
Evangeline couldn’t help but laugh at their tomfoolery. “Where is Bo?”
“He won’t leave his bed.” Duke placed his hat gingerly on his bandaged head. “Been cryin’ ’bout Bart may be lost and somebody ought to go find him.”
“Bo is awful attached to Bart. Can’t figure out why,” Artie said as the two men headed out the door.
***
Evangeline knocked on the bunkhouse door before entering. She found Bo huddled under his blanket, rocking back and forth. She placed her black bag on the table.
“How are you feeling today?”
Bo turned to face her, his lip swollen to twice its size.
“Let me see.” She placed her hand on his jaw and rotated his head to get a closer look. “If you chew on your lip, it’s not going to heal. I might need to add some more stitches. I’m going to give you something to help you sleep. When you wake up, your lip should be normal size.”
Bo’s large hand grabbed her arm as she turned toward her bag. “No thank you, ma’am, I don’t intend to sleep. I need to go find Bart.”
“I think …” Evangeline saw the determination in his puffy eyes. She removed his hand from her arm. Staring into the young man’s eyes, she knew there was no way to stop him. Lord, I need your wisdom.
“If you promise to stop bothering your lip, I’ll tell Mr. Walters you are well enough to work, and you can ask him about finding Bart.”
“I promise.”
“May I ask why you have such affection for the man?” She hoped her repulsion didn’t show.
Bo lowered his voice. “Don’t tell Bart, but he reminds me of my pa.”
“How?”
“Pa went to the war too. He was nice when he wasn’t drinkin’. Then he come home from the war, and he weren’t nice no more, even when he was sober.”
“How is your pa now?”
“Don’t know. He up and left one day when I was twelve. Ma never would tell me why he left. But I know why.”
“I’m listening.”
He looked at the floor. “I told him I hated the mean pa, and I wished the nice pa would come back.” Bo rose from his seat. “Excuse me, ma’am, I got to go find Bart.”
Evangeline’s heart broke as he walked away. A child’s guilt is a powerful thing.
CHAPTER 18
Jake turned at the sound of the wagon, a protective arm around his wife. Bertha waved with childlike enthusiasm from her perch. “Miss Evangeline, lookee here. I brung what you asked.” Her voice rose above the creak of the old wagon.
Jedidiah’s restraining hand kept his daughter from leaping out of the wagon before it stopped. As soon as he helped her down, she hugged Evangeline.
Jed shook Jake’s hand. “I hope your wife’s plan works.” The older man took off his hat and wiped the sweat from his brow with his shirtsleeve. “Since the blizzard two years past wiped out most of our sheep and the drought ruined our crops, it’s been hard.” He put the hat back on. “Never thought of sellin’ Bertha’s weavin’ to the general store.”
“Evangeline’ll be sure Mrs. Hanks does right by Bertha,” Jake said with confidence.
“Hope so. Ain’t seen Bertha this excited in a long time. Your wife’s a fine woman.”
“Yes, she is.” Jake listened as Evangeline gave instructions to Bertha.
“Don’t forget, my frien
d, to wait here. Count to one hundred before you come in.”
“I will, friend.” Bertha beamed. “I will count to one hundred. Pa will help me.”
Jake took his wife’s arm and led her toward the mercantile. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Thomas Farley coming out of the saloon next door, dressed like a gambler except for the knee-high riding boots. He stopped to grab a cigar from inside his jacket pocket when he looked up and locked eyes with Jake. “Marcum, I’d like a word with you.”
Under other circumstance, Jake wouldn’t have given the man the time of day. But Evangeline and the Woods didn’t need the man in their business.
Farley led Jake around the corner of the livery and looked around as if to ensure no one could overhear. “Are you aware there’s been a considerable amount of cattle rustling?”
Jake’s fist flexed involuntarily, expecting some insult to follow.
“I have been doing some investigating,” Farley said.
“So I heard.” Jake’s fist tightened.
“Then you may have also heard not every ranch has been hit.” Farley pointed his finger at Jake’s chest. Jake stepped back, but Farley adjusted his stance to close the gap. “You and I need to get together and discuss this. Come up with a plan for catching the thieves.”
“My guess is you already have a plan.” Jake stared at the man without flinching.
Farley kept a poker face. “Perhaps you might … help me perfect it.”
“Who do you suspect?”
Farley bit off the end of his cigar and searched for a match before answering. “I prefer not to share my suspicions here.” He lit his cigar and puffed on it methodically. Smoke rings filled the momentary silence. “Mrs. Farley would like to extend a dinner invitation to you and your wife for tomorrow night. We could discuss it then.”
Farley’s voice took on a superior tone which irked Jake. Sarcastic words formed on his lips, but the wiser notion of finding out what his neighbor was up to stopped him. “I’m sure Evangeline would enjoy an evenin’ out. Why not ask some of the other ranchers so we can all discuss it?”
“The two of us have the largest investments and should come up with a plan first before informing the others.”
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