Lucinda

by Paige Mallory

  Lucinda giggled in spite of herself, but when Mac entered the store, she moved to stand behind Henry, expecting him to protect her just in case Mac decided to put his hand to her, too.

  “I see you found the lady?” Mac had his hands on his hips as he looked down at Lucinda.

  “I found her and she agreed to marry me, Mac. Congratulations are in order.”

  “I hope you let her know she needs to stay out of the saloons?” Mac asked.

  “Not yet, but that discussion will be in private,” he replied, and then added, “Lucy won’t need a job now.”

  “You’d better treat her right, DocZ,” Mac threatened his friend. “You can’t be spanking her every five minutes, either,” he warned before smiling at Lucinda. “If he gives you trouble, Lucy, you just come and see me and I’ll take care of you.”

  “And who is going to protect me from you, Sheriff?” she asked, feeling brave with Henry in front of her.

  Mac laughed heartily, and was about to say something when there was a commotion outside in the street. Mac turned and hurried to see what was wrong, and Henry was right behind him.

  “You’d best stay here, honey, until we know what is going on. Henry wouldn’t want to see you hurt,” Marilynn’s father said kindly. And then he added, “My daughter would like you, Lucy. She loved Henry, and it nearly killed me to see him grieving so when we lost her. The look in his eyes when he looks at you is the same one he had when he looked at Marilynn. You be good to him, honey. He deserves a good woman to love.”

  “Thank you, sir. I appreciate the fact you are willing to accept me,” Lucinda said over the lump in her throat.

  “Henry was good to my daughter. I can’t begrudge him a chance to be happy again.”

  “Lucy, I have to go,” Henry stuck his head in the door. “The Apache hit an Army Patrol, and I have wounded men to care for.”

  “What can I do to help?” Lucinda asked.

  Henry looked at her in surprise, and then asked, “Do you have any nursing experience?”

  “No, but I can learn if you tell me what to do,” she said, determined to help out in any way she could.

  “Come on, then, Lucy. But if you feel faint, I expect you to just get out of the way,” he said firmly. “Some people can’t handle injuries of this sort,” he warned her.

  “I was there when you stitched up the Apache, and I didn’t faint then. I will do what you tell me to do,” she said firmly.

  Henry practically ran to his office and he issued orders right and left that Lucinda followed to the best of her ability. One of the soldiers was critical, and there was nothing Henry could do to save him, although he did his best. Two others were in serious condition, and the rest had minor wounds that would heal, provided they didn’t get infected. Their Captain was there, reluctant to leave his wounded men. He had his orders, however, and they were to try and reach the wagon train and bring those people into town while the Army dealt with the Apache.

  Henry told him of the experience he and Lucinda had the day before and the Captain was stunned they made it back to Snowfall alive. “Mrs. Zabarski, it was very foolish of you to follow your husband out of town the way you did! You are very lucky to be alive right now,” the older man scolded, his mustache wobbling in indignation.

  “I learned my lesson well,” Lucinda said with dignity, even though she was a bit startled to be addressed by her new name.

  “Yes, well, I certainly hope so!” he sputtered. “Doctor, will it be a problem for you to keep Peters and Jeffries until they are well enough to return to active duty?” the Captain asked. “I must ride out at once and try to reach the wagon train. I just hope it’s not too late to help those people.”

  “Your men will be fine here, Captain,” Henry said. “I wish you success in reaching the wagon train. Their scout and I didn’t get close before we were attacked, and I’m sure the Apache are watching who comes and goes from town.”

  “I am certain you are correct, Doctor, but I have my orders. Thank you for caring for my men.” He nodded and then walked from the office, the wounded who were still able to ride following.

  “You did well, Lucy,” Henry praised her. “Thank you for helping me.” He heard one of the patients moan, and went to check on him, nodding in approval as Lucy started straightening the area and putting it to rights. It pleased him that she could see what needed to be done and was doing it without waiting to be asked or told.

  Lucinda made sure the waiting room was neat as possible and then sought out Henry to see if he had further plans for her. He didn’t need her help with the patients, but asked if she knew how to cook.

  “Yes, I know how to cook,” she agreed. “Are you hungry?”

  “I’m working on it,” he smiled. “And these men will be needing some broth when they wake up. It would sure help if you could tend to that while fixing us something?” he looked at her hopefully.

  “I’ll be happy to do that, Henry,” she said. She didn’t know what kind of wife Marilynn was, but Lucinda was going to see to it that Henry didn’t regret marrying her.

  An hour later she called him to come and eat, and was pleased when he complimented her cooking. After he checked on the patients again, he picked up a dish towel and dried dishes for her. “I know the telegraph lines are down right now, but when they are restored, I want you to send your parents a wire and let them know you are safe… and tell them of our marriage.”

  “I doubt they will care, Henry. Father won’t acknowledge it in any way since I married you without his consent and approval.”

  “You are of legal age, and just because he is a stubborn man, does not make it okay for you to behave badly. It is the proper thing to do, so we will do what is right and inform them of our marriage.”

  Lucinda made a face, but she didn’t argue with him.

  “I am sure you want to unpack your clothing and belongings,” he said quietly. “I’ll show you where you can put everything.” He led the way into the bedroom and Lucinda was surprised there were so many empty drawers in the vanity and dresser, and the wardrobe had plenty of room for her dresses. “You can arrange things to suit yourself, Lucy. This is your home now, too. I won’t mind if you change things around. When your trunk is empty, let me know and I’ll carry it to the attic.”

  “Oh, do you rent that as well?” she asked innocently.

  “I own the building, Lucy. I rent out the stores below to Conrad and Abe. I didn’t want to worry about getting kicked out once I set up a practice, and there was enough room to have living quarters and my office… so I bought the building,” he explained. “Do you mind living above the stores below? If you do, I can get a house for us…?”

  “Henry, you don’t need to start making all kinds of changes for me. I’m fine, really.”

  “Your house in Boston was nice, though,” he commented quietly, “and Snowfall is pretty uncivilized compared to what you are used to.”

  “I’m pretty uncivilized compared to most of the ladies my age in Boston,” she giggled. “Things and money aren’t all that important to me, Henry. I care about people, and to tell the truth, I knew I wouldn’t be welcomed back to my Father’s home once I left. Proper young women don’t pick up and run off out west by themselves. I am happy to be free of that, and Father’s prospects of marriage for me. However, I am still surprised at how prudish Miss McCrae is! I thought I’d left all of that back in Boston and the people here would have more common sense.”

  “Miss McCrae’s problem is that she hasn’t had a spanking in more years than she can count!” To his surprise Lucinda giggled. “You think that’s funny, do you?” he teased.

  “I’d pay someone to spank her!” she admitted, and then said, “If you truly don’t need me, then I would like to do a bit of shopping? I still have some money left, and I need to get a couple of things.”

  “Fine. Don’t go near the tents at the end of town, Lucy. There are people here I don’t know. You should be safe enough if you stay close by.”
He reached for her as she nodded, and took her hand and pulled her to face him. “I mean it, Lucy. You are not to go further than the general store, or right around this area by yourself. Don’t disobey me or you’ll quickly learn I am a man who believes in spanking a disobedient wife. And, I haven’t forgotten that I owe you a spanking for setting foot in that saloon this morning!” he scowled.

  “You’d better not try and spank me again, Henry Zabarski! I’m already too sore to sit down!” she felt her temper stir.

  “Then best you mind me, Lucy, and stay close to home. If you get into trouble, I’ll set your fanny on fire and I won’t care how sore you already are,” he promised.

  “You are my husband, not my father, and I would thank you to remember that!” she turned up her chin and marched through the Infirmary and out through the office. Henry Zabarski was the bossiest man she ever did meet! He acted as though she didn’t know how to behave, and she did! He just hadn’t seen that side of her yet, she consoled herself.

  She marched herself to the general store and Mr. Tune greeted her with a smile. “What do you need, honey?” he asked kindly, looking up from wrapping a parcel for another customer.

  “I’m going to look at some yard goods, Mr. Tune. Please don’t rush on my account. I’m in no hurry.”

  “Gladys, this is Henry’s new wife, Lucinda. Lucy, this is Gladys Anderson, Abe’s wife. Abe has the gun shop below your home.”

  “I’m pleased to meet you, Mrs. Anderson.”

  “Likewise. Doc Z is a good man. Abraham and I think a lot of him.” Her expression said she didn’t think much of Lucinda.

  Before Lucinda could say anything, two cowboys came into the store, and they were both drunk. “Hey, lookee here, Johnny. Here’s just what we need. Two women for sale.”

  “That’s enough, you two. Get out of my store until you sober up!” Marilynn’s father ordered in disapproval.

  “I don’t think so.” Just that quickly, the one called Johnny drew his gun and shot the store owner. Mr. Tune fell to the floor behind the counter. Gladys let out a scream when the other man grabbed her.

  “You just come with us somewhere quiet where we can have some fun,” he grabbed her and lifted her off her feet.

  The one called Johnny reached out for Lucinda, and she reacted instinctively, flipping him through the air. He landed on a barrel and when it broke, he crashed to the floor, unconscious. The other man let go of Gladys and took a swing at Lucinda. She kicked out, and the fight was over.

  “Gladys, please run and get Henry!” Lucinda bossed as she ran behind the counter to help Mr. Tune.

  “What happened in here?” Mac demanded as Gladys tried to run past him.

  “Bill was shot! Lucinda saved us. I’m getting Doc Z!” she said, crying as she pushed past Mac.

  “Are you all right, Lucy?” Mac asked as he looked at the two men, then came behind the counter to kneel beside her as she tried to stop the flow of blood from Mr. Tune’s head.

  “I’m fine! Those two are drunk, and they were going to take us somewhere and rape us. Mr. Tune told them to get out and the one called Johnny shot him.”

  Henry came running a few minutes later, the look on his face full of concern. He quickly saw that Lucy had stopped the bleeding and it wasn’t long before Bill Tune opened his eyes. “Are you all right, sir?” Henry asked.

  “The girls? Those two…”

  “Lucy and Gladys are fine, sir. Let’s get you over to my office so I can check you out,” Henry said, helping him to his feet. “Lucy, you come with me,” he said firmly.

  “Doc, I don’t know what you’re thinking, but Lucy didn’t do anything to cause this,” Mac spoke up.

  “I warned her to stay out of trouble!” Henry growled.

  “Now just a minute, Henry Zabarski, I…” she broke off when he turned his furious blue eyes on her.

  “Not another word, wife. Now you come with me…”

  “Son, you’re angry for no reason at all,” Bill tried to reason with his former son-in-law, but it was all he could do to stand at the moment.

  Gladys was still in the office when they got back, and she was openly crying. She threw her arms around Lucy and hugged her. “Thank you, Lucy. Thank you. I was so scared I didn’t know what to do! You were wonderful!”

  “I’m glad we’re both okay. Do you want me to get your husband?” Lucy offered.

  “No, I’m okay… Just a bit shaken,” she admitted, but even as she was speaking, there were pounding footsteps on the stairs outside and a large man came inside and knelt on the floor beside the chair where Gladys was sitting.

  “Mac told me to get up here. Are you hurt, Gladys?”

  “No, Abraham. Doc Z’s new wife protected us. I never saw those two men before,” she said, and told the entire story to her husband.

  “I’m grateful, ma’am. Grateful,” he said emotionally. “Gladys, I don’t want you out by yourself until this Apache flare up is over. Too many men in off the range with nothing to do but drink and act like fools.”

  “Bill, are you all right?” Abe asked as he came out of the infirmary, a bandage on his head.

  “I’ve got a headache, but I’m fine. Feel stupid for letting that fellow get the best of me like that.”

  “There’s a wild bunch in town right now,” Abe said, shaking his head. “Doc Z, your wife is sure special. She saved her and Gladys from them two. Mac is gonna have to clamp down tight on all the strangers in town. It ain’t safe for the women folk to walk the street in broad daylight now!”

  Mac came inside and said, “You going to be okay, Bill?”

  “Yep. No need to fuss. I’m going back to the store before I get robbed blind.”

  “I got someone watching the place for you. I sent for Hughie. Why don’t you go and lie down; you don’t look so good.”

  “I’m fine,” the man grumped, and then said, “Thanks, Henry,” as he let himself outside.

  “You got those two locked up, Mac?” Abe demanded.

  “Yes. They’re so drunk they won’t remember a thing tomorrow,” Mac stated. “One of them has a bad cut on his back, Doc. I’ll understand if you want him to rot in hell.”

  “I’ll get my bag,” Henry answered, resigned to treating the man. “Lucy, will you stay with my patients and keep an eye on them? One of the men keeps waking up and wanting to leave. He needs to stay in bed.”

  “I’ll keep him there,” she promised, wondering why he was so angry with her. His blue eyes were still full of rage, and she feared he was going to spank her the very second they were alone. Soon everyone had left, and Lucy went to check on the patients. One of the men was awake, and she told him he was too injured to follow after his Captain. He nodded, and then went back to sleep.

  Lucy was surprised that she felt like crying, but she did. Her life had changed so much since she left Boston. She was no longer under her Father’s thumb, but now she had a husband, and somehow it was worse. Henry said he cared about her, and she knew that she had feelings for the man, in spite of the fact he spanked her several times. He married her to keep her reputation in tact, but would there ever come a time she didn’t make him so angry just by being herself? Lucy decided it was pointless to sit around feeling sorry for herself. She was a married woman now, and she needed to make the best of things. Perhaps baking a cake for her husband would help him see her as more of a lady and less of a problem maker? She busied herself, trying not to think of Henry tending a man who’d wanted to harm her. She just finished putting the cake in the oven when she heard one of the patients calling out.

  She hurried into the infirmary to find the other man wide awake… and in some pain. She did her best to reassure him he would be fine, but told him she had to wait until the Doctor returned before she could give him something for the pain. She hoped it wouldn’t be too much longer. Fortunately, Henry came back a couple of minutes later, and he praised her for waiting to check with him before acting on her own. He gave the man something to ease his pain, an
d it didn’t take long for the soldier to fall asleep again.

  “You are going to be a good nurse, Lucy,” Henry said with a proud smile. “You have no idea how pleased that makes me. As long as it is something you wish to do…?” he asked her. “I won’t force you to help out in here if you don’t want to. Mari couldn’t stand it…”

  “I want to help. I like to be useful,” Lucinda stated.

  “Perfect.”

  “Henry, I don’t want to ask you this and upset you, but why were you so angry with me earlier?” she had to know. His temper was gone now.

  His face turned red, but he admitted, “Gladys said Bill was shot and you were fighting… I was afraid for you, and angry you were attacked, and I was afraid I’d be too late to help Bill.”

  “You were reliving Marilynn’s accident…?” Lucinda asked quietly.

  “I was. I’m sorry.”

  “For what? You are human. You came and you were able to help Mr. Tune.”

  “I’m proud of you for handling those drunks, Lucy. I want you to know that, and I am sorry I yelled at you like I did. I have a temper, honey,” he confessed with a wry grin.

  “I have a temper, too,” she giggled, and then surprised them both when she hugged him. “I’m baking you a cake.”

  “Now that sounds real special, honey.”

  “I wanted to get back in your good graces,” she confessed. “I thought maybe you were regretting marrying someone who can be less than a lady at times.”

  Henry saw the doubt and confusion in her pretty green eyes and felt like kicking himself. “You defended yourself. I’m pleased you know how to do that, honey. There are times when I have to be gone, and it will help to know you can keep yourself safe. And, at the risk of having my head handed to me, I don’t want you setting foot outside alone right now. There are too many others like those cowboys in town. I don’t want you hurt.”

  “I hate being restricted,” she complained.