Fired Up

by Mary Connealy

  “Dr. Riker . . .” Glynna tried to use his formal name as was proper, but then she insisted he call her Glynna. She had to get going and name herself. “I think—”

  “I know you don’t like that house.”

  Glynna was pretty sure he was talking over her to prevent her from saying no. “It’s not—”

  “I can’t say as I blame you.” He cut her off again. “But this wouldn’t be about you going home; this would be about you helping a friend.”

  She didn’t really blame him for thinking she’d kick up a fuss about going. It’d taken most of a month to persuade her to go out yesterday, for the first time since Flint had died. “If you’ll just—”

  “I’m sure if you just think of Ruthy first, you could see your way clear to—”

  “Dare!” Her jaw was clenched until it was hard to talk. “If I’ll just think of Ruthy first?” Her voice rose with every word. “Did you really just say that to me?”

  This time he seemed to hesitate. Too late. But at least he did it. “I didn’t mean—”

  “Oh, yes, you did. You meant I’m such a weakling and so fragile that I’d put my own delicate feelings ahead of the life and death of my friend’s child.”

  From the look in his eyes, Glynna discerned that he had no idea how to respond to that, not without sticking his foot further into his mouth.

  Into the silence, which Glynna was proud to say she’d scared him into, she said, “Of course we’ll come. And we need to hurry because Ruthy is one to get an early start.”

  “You won’t tell her, will you?”

  That reminded Glynna that this had started with Dare asking her and her children if they could keep a secret. Glynna looked at her youngsters. “We won’t tell her, will we?”

  Paul said, “I can keep my mouth shut.”

  Janny chewed on her fingernail and didn’t speak, which was its own kind of answer. Janny wouldn’t say a word.

  “Good. Let’s get on our way, then. Do we take the wagon again?” Glynna looked to Dare, wondering if he could handle sitting on a horse for the ride to the ranch.

  “Jonas and Vince are harnessing the team.”

  Arching a brow, Glynna said, “You were that sure I’d go?”

  “No, not one bit sure. But I convinced them I was going, and they decided I’d fall off my horse before I got there. The wagon is for me, but you’re more than welcome to ride in it. And just possibly save your friend’s baby’s life, in the event there is a baby.” Dare smiled, teasing. A great smile.

  Somehow, though his hair was shaggy and curly and barely finger-combed, and his mustache drooped and he never dressed up much, he was about the finest-looking man Glynna had ever seen. Of course her first husband, Reggie, had been a decent-looking man, as well. Too bad he had a mind as twisted as a Texas cyclone, the sneaking soul of a chicken-killing weasel, and all the honor of a thieving coyote—all things she’d noticed after they’d been married awhile.

  And Flint, well, he’d been neat and clean when he’d stepped off the stagecoach in Little Rock. Not a good-looking man, but considering the treacherous place Glynna found herself in at the time, she’d hardly cared about his appearance. In fact, he’d looked like a knight in shining armor. Only later had she realized he was a devil in disguise.

  “Oh, and I haven’t told my suspicions to Jonas or Vince yet, either. So the secret is just between the four of us.”

  Glynna said, “We’ll get our wraps on and be right out. Go sit down before you collapse.”

  Dare left, and she smiled, liking the idea of sharing a secret with him, for some reason. Then she turned to find her coat and saw Paul staring after Dare, frowning. . . . No, it was more than frowning. It was suppressed rage.

  Glynna quickly wiped the smile off her face before her son could think she had the slightest liking for Dare Riker—the nice, handsome man who’d saved her life and set her free from purgatory.

  “Ruthy! How are you?” Glynna as good as yelled at Ruthy, but she yelled in what she hoped was a perky, friendly way.

  Truth was, she spied Ruthy reaching for a rock bigger than her head, and she’d called out to distract her friend from lifting the heavy stone.

  Ruthy straightened and smiled. Her red hair was still neatly pulled back, and her dress was clean. Glynna hoped that meant Ruthy hadn’t been hauling rocks for long.

  Luke and several other men were working at the rock pile. Speaking too loudly himself, Luke said, “Ruthy, you should take Glynna into the house. It’s too cold out here . . . uh, for the children.”

  By the way Luke spoke, and the way Ruthy glared and plunked her hands on her hips, Glynna suspected Luke had been objecting to Ruthy helping from the minute they’d started.

  “It is a bit chilly, and we’re not bundled up very well.” Glynna turned to help Janny down from the back of the wagon and whispered, “Try and look cold.”

  Janny let a grin peek out, her second that day. Glynna prayed it was the second of many more to come. Wiping away the smile, Janny crossed her arms over her chest and did a serviceable job of shivering.

  “It was colder than I thought it’d be on the ride out.” Janny stuck her bottom lip out and it almost looked like her baby girl was fighting tears. “But I will stay out here with you if you want me to help carry stones, Mrs. Stone.”

  Paul, jumping down from the wagon behind Janny, muttered into Janny’s ear, “Carry stones, Mrs. Stone.”

  Glynna saw the spark of humor in Janny’s eyes and turned to face Ruthy in such a way as to block the sight of her supposedly distressed daughter—who looked to be on the verge of giggling.

  “I’d be glad to stay and help,” Paul announced and then walked toward the jumble and began heaving rocks out of the way. It struck Glynna that her son, though still not broad-shouldered, was as tall as some of these men and nearly as strong.

  “Maybe after we warm up, we could come back.” Glynna did her best to sound doubtful, which was no hardship. She would help pick up rocks if it was needed, of course. She wasn’t afraid of hard work. But there were, with Jonas and Vince and Paul, and Luke’s hired men, a large crowd of men to do all this heavy lifting. Glynna thought she would probably just get in their way.

  “And I think Dare should come inside, too.” Glynna waited to be overruled by the stubborn doctor, but he surprised her.

  “I thought I’d have more strength, but I need to get off my feet for a fact.” Dare walked toward the rubble, sounding like he meant every word.

  Luke had made headway clearing a narrow path, but not even a horse could get through it yet, let alone a wagon. On foot they’d have to climb over a few of the big flat rocks.

  Ruthy gave the pile of rocks an almost comically frustrated look as if she couldn’t bear to leave such a mess. Then her good manners took over. “Yes, of course. Anyway, I need to get a good meal on for everyone.” She raised her voice. “Luke, I’ll make enough for the men, too.”

  “Nope,” Dodger said, shaking his head. “I’ve left Tennessee behind in the bunkhouse this morning. His joints ache something fierce in the cold, but Old Tenn ain’t got any pride if he can’t help somehow. At least let him make the cowhands a meal. Reckon he’s already started it anyhow. Just plan on your family and friends, Mrs. Stone.”

  Glynna recognized gray-haired Dodger Neville and gave him a smile. He’d helped save her, too.

  Dodger touched the brim of his hat, then went back to heaving rocks.

  Glynna directed Janny ahead of her. They followed Dare through the debris and headed for the house. Glynna kept waiting for Dare to find a way to go back and prove a mountain falling on his head couldn’t keep him from work, but instead he went with them toward the house. He looked a little pale by the time they reached the two-story log-and-stone cabin.

  Once inside, Ruthy said, “Come on into the kitchen. I heard about the cut on your back, Dare. You can straddle one of the kitchen chairs and not put any pressure on your stitches. I’ve got coffee left from breakfast. Yo
u can have a cup, and there are sugar cookies. We can visit while I get a noon meal started.”

  “Ruthy,” Dare said, reaching out to stop her from leaving the room, and suddenly his weight shifted and Ruthy was holding him upright. “Is there somewhere I could lie down for just a few minutes?”

  Glynna rushed to Dare’s other side to help bear his weight. She looked at Ruthy across the broad expanse of Dare’s chest, each of them with one of his arms around her neck.

  “We’ve got a spare bedroom right this way.” Ruthy guided them to the room Glynna had slept in alone. It was now unused, and Ruthy had done her best to give everything in it to Glynna just yesterday. But Glynna had enough bedsteads, and so she’d refused to take this one. Now she was glad of that.

  Glynna, mindful of Ruthy’s possible condition, tried to bear more than her share of Dare’s weight.

  Ruthy quickly stripped back the blankets, and the two women eased Dare to a sitting position.

  “I’ll just rest a few minutes,” Dare said. His head drooped forward, and Glynna steadied him. Then he seemed to gather his wits and reached for his boots.

  “What were you thinking coming out here, Dare Riker?” Ruthy said.

  Glynna brushed his hands aside and pulled his boots off, reminded of the times she’d tended her first husband when he’d come home battered.

  After dropping his second boot with a thud, Glynna looked up from where she knelt at his feet to smile. It was wasted on him because his eyes were already closed. Glynna and Ruthy helped him to lie facedown on the bed, and then Glynna pulled a blanket over him.

  Janny had followed at a distance, and she now stood in the doorway.

  “Should we leave him?” Glynna asked. She thought he’d fallen asleep too fast. “Is he unconscious?”

  “No reason he’d pass out,” Ruthy said. “He’s just exhausted and wounded and needs more rest, the half-wit. Why’d he think he could come out here today?”

  Glynna, feeling like she was betraying Dare, shook her head as if confused. “Men are just stubborn, I reckon.”

  “We’ll look in on him from time to time.” Ruthy guided Glynna away, and the three headed for the kitchen, closing Dare’s door behind them.

  “Let’s get coffee,” Ruthy said. “I’ll do some quick work to start a meal and then we’ll sit in the front room.” She bustled toward the stove. “We’re close enough to him in the kitchen that we might wake him with our chatter.”

  Glynna loved the idea of chatter. She and Janny ate a few delicious cookies while Ruthy worked with amazing speed and skill. Ruthy pulled the coffeepot close to the edge of the stove and lifted it to serve Glynna.

  “Is the coffee all right?” Ruthy wrinkled her nose. “I might’ve let it boil too long.”

  Glynna’s stomach had been turned by coffee when she was with child. “It smells fine to me.” Taking the cup from Ruthy, Glynna took a sip. “It tastes fine, too.”

  “I’m going to have tea instead, I think. Janny, do you want a glass of milk?”

  Once Ruthy got everything in order, they followed her to the front room, which held ugly memories for Glynna. As they settled into soft chairs and shared their drinks and talked, some of those memories faded a bit, replaced by this pleasant interlude. It was perilously close to normal.

  Chapter 4

  “You slept all morning?” Luke asked as he rose from the kitchen table. “Why’d you come if you were feeling so puny?”

  “I underestimated how beat up I was, I guess. I felt pretty decent when I first woke up, but after the ride out here, I was all done in.”

  Glynna thought Dare looked much better after a long nap, and he’d done more than his share of eating, so he must be feeling better. She also knew he wasn’t ready to discuss Ruthy’s special condition.

  After spending the morning with her, Glynna knew almost certainly Ruthy was expecting. Between the perfectly tasty coffee upsetting Ruthy’s stomach, and her moving at about half the usual speed—which was still faster than anyone else—and right now Ruthy looking a little pale. But then she was fair-skinned, so it was hard to judge. All in all, though, Glynna felt sure that Dare had diagnosed Ruthy correctly.

  Glynna hadn’t known for a while when Paul was on the way. But none of that could be mentioned as the reason Dare had come.

  “I’m feeling better now. I can help some,” Ruthy said.

  “Nope, all the stones a man can lift are gone now,” Luke replied. “We’re tying a team of horses to bigger ones and we’re getting in each other’s way. Even with the horses, a few of the rocks can’t be moved. I’ll send a man into town to get some dynamite. By the time he’s back, we’ll have only the huge boulders left. We’ll do some blasting this afternoon, and that’ll be about it.” Luke stood to get back to work. “Ruthy, don’t be surprised at the racket.”

  Jonas, Vince, and Paul rose to head out with him. Dare poured himself another cup of coffee. Glynna noticed the man was still barefoot and doubted he’d had any intention of heaving rocks with the men.

  As Luke swung the back door open, thundering hoofbeats came from the trail to the south, the direction away from the avalanche.

  Glynna and Ruthy rushed to peek out and see what was going on, Janny crowding in beside them. A pinto pony came galloping toward them. The horse had a rider slumped over its neck.

  Luke charged out with the men on his heels. Jonas and Paul weren’t armed, but the other two had their hands steady on their guns, ready to draw.

  A crowd of armed cowhands came boiling out of the bunkhouse, Dodger in the lead.

  The man, nearly lying on his horse’s neck, was dressed in a deerskin shirt and fringed leggings. He had feathers hanging from two long black braids. His unsaddled horse wore a bridle with no bit.

  An Indian.

  As the horse tore into the ranch yard, it skidded to a stop and reared. Luke rushed forward but didn’t get there in time to stop the rider from tumbling off and landing on the hard ground. A puff of dust kicked up, and the horse leaped over the unconscious man and charged off the way it’d come.

  Luke dropped to his knees beside the man, then looked up sharply. “Get Dare.”

  Glynna whirled and raced back to the house. She hoped Dare was up to this.

  “Dare, we need help!” Glynna shouted. “A doctor’s help.”

  When she slammed the door open, Dare was already pulling his boots on. “What happened?”

  “An Indian, outside. He’s hurt. Luke needs you.” And those words, Luke needs you, seemed to put starch in his backbone.

  He strode from the room. “I brought my doctor bag. It’s been left behind in the wagon on the far side of the gap.”

  He was outside so fast he got past Glynna, and she had to hurry to keep up with him.

  “Vince!” Dare barked orders as he rushed toward the unconscious man. “Get my doctor bag out of the wagon. Don’t go alone. Where there’s one Indian, there can be a whole band of ’em.”

  Vince slapped Jonas’s arm, and the two of them sprinted for the wagon.

  Dropping to his knees beside the collapsed man, Dare knew what was wrong instantly. “Measles.”

  Almost by reflex, he disarmed the man. There was a hatchet hanging from the left side of his belt and a knife tucked in a scabbard on the right side. Dare tossed them out of reach.

  His gaze swept everyone gathered around. “Who’s had measles? It’s contagious. Anyone who hasn’t had them should get back and stay as far away as possible.”

  Rolling the man over onto his back, Dare studied the red spots that covered his face, neck, and hands. Looking up, he saw that no one had backed away, except he didn’t like what he saw in Luke’s eyes.

  “Have you had measles?” Dare asked.

  Luke shook his head. “People get them all the time and they get over ’em fine.”

  “True enough. But not Indians. This might be deadly for an Indian. You’d likely survive it, but there’s no sense spending time sick if you don’t need to.”
>
  Luke nodded, then looked at Ruthy and got to his feet. “We should go inside.”

  “I’ve had measles,” Ruthy said. She stepped up to Luke’s side. “I had them twice as a child, as a matter of fact. I was told there are two different kinds, and I’ve had them both.”

  “Get Luke out of here, Ruthy. And have him wash his hands in hot water with lye soap.” Dare looked between the two, and finally, with Ruthy almost dragging Luke, they headed back to the house.

  Dodger turned from talking with his cowpokes. “We’ve all had measles. There’s not a man here who’s been spared. We can help however you need us, Doc.”

  “I’ve had them and so have both of my children.” Glynna came and knelt across from Dare.

  Luke stopped and spun around before he’d gone too far. “I remember the Kiowa boys I played with when I was young talking about a disease going through their tribe. It was before my friends were born, and before my family moved here. Pa said later that from the description, it sounded like cholera. Some said it nearly wiped out the whole Kiowa and Comanche nations. Measles aren’t like that, are they? Not when so many here had them and survived.”

  “Measles aren’t usually serious for whites, but they can devastate an Indian tribe.”

  “That makes no sense.” Luke looked again at the man, who was now lying faceup. “Red Wolf?” He took a step toward the man, but then Ruthy grabbed his arm and held him back.

  “You know him?” Dare asked.