The Marshal's Promise

by Rhonda Gibson

  “Seth Billings! What are you doing?” A blurry Rebecca hurried into the room.

  Sweat broke out on his forehead. He gritted one word out between clenched teeth: “Standing.”

  She squealed. “You are falling.”

  And she was right. One moment he’d been standing; the next he was toppling over. The sensation of fire exploded within his side and he gasped. The soft mattress wasn’t as giving as he’d hoped and he felt as if he’d just landed on a board.

  He instinctively grasped his side. Sticky warmth covered his fingers.

  “Oh, Seth, look what you’ve done.”

  “Woman! I don’t have to look, I can feel it. Get Doc.”

  Rebecca didn’t leave the room. She pulled him upright and then swung him around into a lying position. Next she helped him get his feet up onto the bed. “Here, hold this against the wound until I get back.” She thrust a towel into his good hand.

  Anger radiated from her every pore. What had he done to create so much emotion in one woman? Seth grinned. He kind of liked this little spitfire.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Seth flinched under the old man’s hands. He gritted his teeth and silently prayed his side would be stitched up soon. He growled through gritted teeth, “Can’t you do that any faster, Doc?”

  “It wouldn’t take as long, if you’d be still.” The doctor pushed his needle into the flesh once more. “’Course, if you hadn’t tried to get up before the doctor ordered, this wouldn’t be necessary. Now, would it?”

  He chose to ignore the old man and focused instead on Rebecca’s worried face. She hovered in the doorway and chewed on her lower lip. Her blue eyes looked as if they sparkled with unshed tears. He couldn’t stand that look.

  “Miss Ramsey, would you get me a dipper of water please?” the doctor asked.

  She nodded and turned away.

  Doctor Clark looked to the open doorway. “That little gal cares for you, you know.”

  “Not in the way you think, Doc.”

  He laughed and tied a knot in the string. “I’ve seen that look before, son, and I’m telling you, she cares.”

  Seth didn’t want to believe Rebecca cared for him in the way the doctor was insinuating. “Miss Ramsey is a caring person. She’d be upset to see an old dog getting stitched up, Doc. Don’t make too much out of it.”

  Rebecca came into the room carrying a glass of water. She handed it to Doc and then left the room.

  He finished the last stitch and stood. “Try to follow orders, Seth. I can’t keep coming over here and stitching you up.” Doctor Clark cleaned up his tools and laid the blanket across Seth’s lap. “I’m not sure what kind of damage you might have done to your leg. Is it paining you any?”

  Seth refused to admit that his leg burned as if a red-hot poker were being plunged into the flesh. “I’m sure it is fine.”

  Doc raised an eyebrow. “I think I need to take a look.” He removed the blanket and felt of Seth’s leg above the bandage. “It’s hot to the touch.”

  The desire to protest turned into a moan of pain as the doctor removed the bandage.

  “You are a lucky young man. My stitches held here. But, I’m not sure if you didn’t pull those muscles.” He rewrapped the wound and then patted the blanket back into place. “I suggest you stay in bed awhile longer.”

  Seth opened his mouth to protest, but Doc’s hand came up. “Don’t even think about getting out of bed or arguing with me. If you tear the muscles in that leg any more, you may not walk for a month.”

  Seth’s gaze went to the doorway. Rebecca was nowhere in sight. “Would you look to see where Miss Ramsey is?”

  Doc Clark raised an eyebrow.

  “Please.” Seth hated begging but needed to tell the doctor something important. Something he didn’t want Rebecca overhearing.

  He nodded and then left the room. A few moments later he returned. “She’s in the kitchen feeding the baby.”

  “Good. Doc, the Evans gang is going to come after Rebecca. If I’m not up and about to stop them, they will take her. I need to be able to protect her.”

  The doctor put his instruments into his bag. “Why are the Evans boys after Miss Ramsey?”

  “She was Jesse’s girl.” Mentally Seth groaned. Now he was calling her Jesse’s girl. The doctor stared at him as if more was required of his story. Seth pressed on. “Jesse stole a large sum of money from them. Before he died he asked me to protect her. At first, I didn’t really think Maxwell Evans would come after her, but I was wrong.”

  The doctor shut his bag and sat in the rocker. “What’s happened to change your mind?”

  Seth sighed. “Twice he has sent men after her. Luckily the reverend was here the first time, and I stopped the second man.”

  “I see.” The doctor templed his fingers and touched them to his chin in thought. “You know, I really don’t want you left alone and I’d rather Miss Ramsey stay with you at all times. She’s young and can help you up, if you were to fall again.” The doctor shot him a sharp look. “I don’t expect that to happen, but I will mention to her that I’d like for her to stay here at all times, and if she needs to run any errands, she should ask young Grace or Mrs. Brown. Will that be helpful?”

  Seth chuckled. “I believe that will keep her safe and inside the house. Thank you.”

  The doctor nodded. “Good. Now that that is settled, I have other patients to go see.”

  * * *

  “Thanks, Doc.” Rebecca showed the doctor to the door. She fumed at the fact that he’d made her as housebound as he had Seth. His words had been kind and almost flowery in the way he’d praised her care of Seth, but it hadn’t taken away their meaning. She wasn’t to leave the house until Seth could. Why did she allow it? Why hadn’t she said, “No, I’ll come and go as I please”? The simple truth was her father had taught her to respect her elders. Even though he hadn’t stood up for her when she’d been asked to leave home, she still respected his wishes.

  “Miss Rebecca, I don’t mind running errands for you after school.” Grace held a little red ball that she and Janie had been playing with. She held it down for the baby to slap at.

  Rebecca put a smile on her face. “Thank you, Grace. I know you don’t mind.”

  “During the rest of the day, it won’t hurt me none to get out for some fresh air so I’ll be happy to run any errands that might crop up,” Mrs. Brown said, using a ribbon to mark her place in the book she’d been reading.

  “I appreciate that, as well, Mrs. Brown.”

  “Rebecca, why don’t you start calling me Edna?” Her eyes bore into Rebecca’s as she waited for an answer.

  Just a few days earlier, Mrs. Brown had offered her friendship. Now she was making it clear she thought they were good enough friends they could drop the formality and use each other’s given names. The older woman needed a friend. “Thank you, Edna.”

  Edna pushed herself out of her chair. “Good, I’m glad we are done with that.”

  “Can I call you Miss Edna, too?” Grace looked up at the older woman.

  A smile tugged at Edna’s lips. “I don’t see why not. Being called Miss Edna makes me feel younger somehow.” She tested her leg before walking to the kitchen.

  “Miss Edna, why do you walk like that?” Grace set the ball down and followed her newest friend into the kitchen.

  Rebecca picked up Janie and walked into Seth’s room. She found him propped up with a pillow and rubbing his leg. “Can I get you anything from the kitchen?”

  His chocolate gaze met hers. “Would you mind coming in for just a few minutes?”

  She moved farther into the room and stood a few feet away from the bed.

  “I know you don’t like being stuck in the house and I really am sorry to put you in this position.” His Adam’s apple worked up and down his throat.

  Rebecca could tell him it was all right, but she didn’t want to. She didn’t want to stay in this house for who knew how long. Why hadn’t he just stayed in be
d like the doctor had told him to?

  “I guess I should have followed Doc Clark’s orders and stayed in bed.” He tugged on a thread in his quilt.

  “You guess?” She wasn’t letting him off that easily.

  A grin tugged at his mouth. “All right, I should have done as I was told.”

  Her heart wanted to melt as the dimple in his left cheek winked. “Yes, you should have. Now, we are stuck together for who knows how long. So, I’ll ask again. Do you need anything from the kitchen?”

  He licked his lips and a boyish grin crossed his face. “A cold glass of milk would be nice, and chocolate-chip cookies, if we have any left.”

  Rebecca nodded. “I’ll be right back.” When she got to the door, she turned and looked back at him.

  He’d rested his head against the headboard of the bed and closed his eyes. His hand had returned to his leg and he was rubbing it once more. You didn’t say no to Doc about staying because you wanted to be with Seth, she thought, wishing she could ease his pain.

  She walked into the kitchen. Edna and Grace sat at the table with glasses of milk and a plate of cookies on the table between them. “Looks like you two had the same idea as the marshal.” She handed the baby to Edna.

  “Actually it was Miss Grace’s idea.” Edna tickled the baby under the chin. “Would you like some milk, too, little one?”

  Rebecca gathered up a few cookies and put them on a dessert plate. Then she filled two glasses with milk. She placed them on a tray with the small bottle of laudanum and a spoon. “I’ll be back in a moment to get Janie’s bottle.” She started to walk out of the kitchen.

  Edna’s voice stopped her. “Don’t worry about the baby. We’ll fix her up, won’t we, Miss Grace?”

  Grace answered with a giggle. “We sure will, Miss Edna.”

  “Thank you both. I don’t know what I’d do without the two of you.” And she didn’t either. Thanks to both of them, Janie hadn’t been neglected while she fussed over the marshal.

  What was she going to do? Her heart melted each time he smiled. She knew there would never be any chance of them becoming a family so she needed to put distance between them. But now, well, she couldn’t. Just before reentering his room, Rebecca silently prayed. Lord, please help me.

  A knock at the door stopped her silent prayer. Rebecca set the tray down and moved to answer it. She pulled it open to find Reverend Griffin waiting on the other side.

  “Good afternoon, Miss Ramsey. How are you today?” He leaned on a cane and smiled.

  She pulled the door open and took a step back to allow him entrance. “I’m well, thank you.”

  He took off his hat as he passed over the threshold and held it in his hand. “I was wondering if the marshal is up for visitors.”

  “Let’s go ask him.” Rebecca shut the door and then, picking up the tray, led him to Seth’s room. “You have a visitor,” she said as they entered.

  Seth sat up straighter. “Hello, Reverend.”

  Rebecca indicated that the reverend sit down in the rocker and then she turned to Seth. She placed the tray on his lap, poured half a teaspoon of the medicine, and held it out for him to take.

  Seth arched a brow. He frowned at it but didn’t say anything.

  “Doc said to give you a small dose.” She answered his unspoken question.

  Seth took the laudanum and then grabbed one of the two glasses of milk and took a long drink. “That stuff taste horrible.” He set the half-empty glass back down on the tray.

  “Then eat some cookies to get the taste out of your mouth,” Rebecca ordered. She handed the second glass of milk, the one she’d poured for herself, to the minister. “You better hang on to this. He’ll drink yours, too, if you aren’t careful.” She smiled to show him she was teasing.

  “Hey,” Seth protested, and then he took a big bite of one of the cookies.

  “I believe you, Miss Ramsey.” The reverend accepted the glass and took a deep drink of the cold milk. “That is mighty tasty. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. I’ll leave you men to chat.” Rebecca picked up the spoon and medicine bottle. She started to leave and then turned back around to Seth. “Share those cookies, Seth Billings.”

  A startled look passed over his features and he pulled his hand away from the cookies. Seth extended the plate in the reverend’s direction and asked, “Would you like a cookie?”

  The reverend chuckled and took two. “The rest are yours, son.”

  Seth nodded and picked up another cookie, his gaze met Rebecca’s and then in mock hunger he shoved the whole thing in his mouth.

  Rebecca ignored him. She turned to the reverend and gave him what she hoped was her sweetest smile. “Lucky for you, Reverend, he’s going to get groggy in just a little while.”

  The preacher laughed. “I’ll be sure not to overtire him, ma’am.” He turned his attention to Seth. “Doc sent me over with this new cane. He said you can get out of bed in a few days as long as you use the cane to lean on.”

  Rebecca left the room and closed the door behind her. She leaned her head on the wood and sighed. Thanks to the reverend’s visit she put off spending any more time with Seth until this evening. Was the reverend’s arrival God’s way of answering her prayer? And if so, did that mean that once more He was leading her in a new direction? Sadness enveloped her at the thought.

  Chapter Twenty

  Seth was sick of it.

  Over the past week he’d watched Rebecca create a routine. While Edna fixed breakfast, she made her bed, and then both ladies helped him get up and into the kitchen. While he and Edna chattered with Grace, Rebecca made his bed.

  After breakfast Rebecca started dinner while Edna entertained him with several rounds of checkers. Rebecca didn’t seem to mind that they were playing games while she worked.

  His gaze moved to her back as she washed up their supper dishes. “Miss Ramsey, do you ever just relax?”

  Rebecca glanced over her shoulder at him. “Well, of course I do. I play with Janie all the time, I sew in the evenings and listen to you read the Bible.”

  That was true, but he missed the times they’d chatted over breakfast, dinner and during their walks home. She’d pulled away from him and Seth couldn’t help but wonder why.

  He looked to Edna. The older woman sipped her evening coffee and shook her head. Seth waited until she looked up and then nodded at her. He prayed she understood that he wanted her to agree with him. “How about we all go on a picnic tomorrow? Get out of the house for a while.”

  Edna grinned. “I think that is a good idea.”

  Rebecca dried her hands and turned to face them. “It is a wonderful idea.” Her eyes lit up but then faded. “But I’m not sure Doc would agree with us.” She stepped closer to the table.

  “Why not? It’s not like I’m going to do any work.”

  Edna pushed away from the table and carried her cup to the dishpan. She dipped it into the water and washed it.

  Rebecca handed her the dish towel. “No, but didn’t he say you had to stay in the house for a full week?”

  Seth laughed. “Well, yes, but he also gave me this cane because he knew I wouldn’t stay in bed for a week.”

  Edna rejoined them at the table. “You and I could do all the work, Rebecca. All Seth has to do is ride in the wagon to the riverbank.”

  “I don’t know, Edna.”

  Seth watched the women stare at each other. “We don’t have to go to the river. How about we have it in the backyard?”

  They both turned to him and frowned. He laughed. “All right, maybe not the backyard.”

  Rebecca sat down at the table.

  Inwardly Seth grinned. She was joining them, just what he wanted.

  “Maybe we could have it beside the church. That way we aren’t stuck here, but we won’t be far from the house if Seth gets tired.”

  He saw Edna’s head jerk to the side and her mouth gape open. It was obvious the older woman had never heard Rebecca refer to him with
his given name. “That sounds good to me. And it would be close enough that if you ladies forgot something you could come to the house and get it,” he said.

  Edna nodded and her gaping mouth turned into a smile. “I like this idea.”

  Rebecca stood and returned to the dish tub. “I do, too, but if the doctor comes by this evening, we’ll tell him our plans. I don’t like doing anything behind his back.”

  “Fair enough,” Seth agreed. He pushed away from the table and headed to his cushioned chair in the sitting room. For the first time in days, he had a real reason to smile.

  Doctor Clark showed up just as Seth closed his Bible for the night. Rebecca opened the door for him.

  “I’m sorry I’m running late this evening. Mrs. Clark is getting tired of these late nights.” He crossed the room and sat. “I’m seriously thinking of looking for another doctor to take over my practice. Then the missus and I can relax for a spell.”

  Edna laid her sewing to the side. “You mean for the rest of your lives.”

  “That, too.” Doc looked to Seth. “How’s the old body feeling?”

  Seth laid his Bible on the table. “I’m getting stronger every day.”

  The doctor looked to Rebecca. “He wants something. What is it?”

  Edna laughed. “He knows you well, Seth Billings.”

  Rebecca set her sewing aside. “A picnic.”

  Seth explained, “We want to go on a picnic tomorrow but Miss Ramsey thinks we need your permission.”

  Doc winked at Rebecca. “Smart woman.”

  Edna put her sewing into a basket beside the couch. “Why don’t you and Mrs. Clark join us?”

  Rebecca nodded. “That’s a great idea. I have lots of ham and bread made up.”

  The doctor stood. “What time are you ladies planning and where?” He walked toward the door.

  “Noon at the church.” Edna answered.

  Rebecca picked up Janie and walked with the doctor to the door. “Tell Mrs. Clark she doesn’t have to bring a thing.”

  “If I know my wife, she’ll bring dessert, anyway.”