“Homer, it won’t do your aunt any good if I fall, now would it?” Josie said as she navigated the stairs as quickly as possible.
Homer tilted his head to the left, his brown eyes studying her. Lowering his head, he answered, “Sorry, Dr. Josie.”
“It’s okay,” Josie said, reaching the bottom of the stairs. She put her right hand on Homer’s shoulder, smiling, turning him toward the door. “Lead on young man. Just remember I’m not quite as young as you.”
Homer slowed his steps. Josie sighed only to gasp as a man tore through town, followed closely by another. Homer pulled on her hand, “They’re just racing,” he said. Shaking her head at such antics, Josie followed Homer to the wagon. She would talk to someone about the dangers of such actions in town. Josie wondered if she’d ever get used to the cowboys and their ideas of fun. Was the cowboy who’d paid the two boys just having fun or was there more to that incident, she wondered?
Chapter 6
Will had been on the trail three days and nothing had changed. The trail was easy-to-follow, as it wound around and through the rolling land. What didn’t make sense was the route they were taking. First, they headed West, then South, then West and back East. Now the direction was West again, and had been for the last day. If they were going somewhere specific, they were taking a strange route to get there.
It’s almost too easy, Will thought, almost like they don’t know where they’re going.
Will’s horse pulled up and Will cursed himself for woolgathering. Studying the contours of the area, Will tried to figure out what had caused his horse to stop. There was nothing different, that he could see, that would account for what happened. There was the same dry landscape, the same brilliant blue sky he’d been seeing.
“Have they finally realized they are being followed? Well, there’s only one way to find out,” Will said as he started forward, swinging his eyes from left to right and back again. Coming on a dip in the land, Will became more vigilant, his sixth sense telling him something, he just wasn’t sure what it was saying.
Will continued forward cautiously, his horse stepping over the rocks. Will cringed, for he was trying to keep from making a sound. Finally, he dismounted, moving slowly down the side of the dip, his horse following. Into the silence Will heard, “That’s far enough.”
Will stilled, eyes casting around, but he saw nothing.
“Who are you, and what are you following me for?” the raspy voice demanded.
Will remained silent. Either the men he followed were playing games with him, or somewhere he had lost the trail and picked up a false one. The land was not as flat as some thought, so they could have doubled back without Will seeing them. His shoulders tensed as he heard the voice again.
“I asked, who are you?”
“Name’s Will, who are you?” Will answered, still trying to place where the voice was coming from, seeming to come from all directions at once.
“Well, Will, that answers the first question,” the voice replied. “Now why?”
“How about I turn around?” Will asked, his mind searching for a way to regain control of the situation.
Silence greeted his question, silence that extended far too long. Frustrated, Will quickly turned, ready to react to whatever, only to find no one there.
Stymied he stifled a shout of frustration. “What the...” he started, as he struck his right fist into his left hand.
Maybe he was getting soft, but if a person confronted someone why would they disappear? No answer came to mind, so Will shrugged and headed where he believed his questioner had gone. The daylight was fading fast. Will knew he’d better get moving if he hoped to achieve anything at all today. Perhaps the blue of the sky would stick around long enough for him to at least find the trail.
Unfortunately, the sky went from blue to a soft gray shade, then, in what seemed like three heartbeats, dark blue. Grinding his teeth, Will made preparation for a night on the ground. At least there was a bit of cover and water, which was in short supply on the route he’d been traveling.
Building a small fire, Will sat back thinking of the last few days. He’d seen someone off in the distance who’d stopped. At first Will had believed it was one of the escapees who’d doubled back, but the rider was too small. He’d finally decided it was a woman, but what she was doing riding out in this area on her own, he’d no idea. Still, it got him to thinking. There was a town close by. It was far enough away from Pond City and the escapees would be needing supplies, for they hadn’t stopped anywhere that he could tell.
Lying back, Will noticed the sky, despite the hour, was still a deep blue, with pillows of clouds floating overhead. The sounds of the insects and night creatures played about just beyond the area of his fire.
The more he thought about it, the more sense it made that the person who’d confronted him was not one of the five, but some wanderer who didn’t want to be found. As far as Will was concerned, since the man had not made any aggressive moves toward him, he’d let him go and redouble his efforts on the five with the coming of morning. His first thought was the town up ahead. After that, he would follow the signs as they presented themselves.
With that thought, Will relaxed and watching the moon rise, he slowly drifted off to sleep, the question of the women rider creeping in his thoughts at the end.
Chapter 7
Josie took extra care as she prepared for the evening’s festivities. She’d been in town for almost three weeks, spending most of her time setting up the office Amos had rented to her and getting to know the people in town.
Pulling out the crushed velvet jacket, she examined it for any rips or stains. Seeing none, she donned the jacket, and placing a hat on her head she prepared to meet more of her potential patients. Unfortunately, the kitten took exception to Josie’s hat and jumping atop the dresser, it proceeded to climb Josie’s arm and attack the feathers.
“What do you think you’re doing?” She asked, attempting to remove claws from her jacket without pulling threads. Seeing it was a losing battle, Josie removed the hat in frustration, tossing it toward the bed. Just a quickly, the kitten made the leap from Josie’s arms and followed the hat across the room, in a jump that surprised Josie.
“Now, you little scamp,” moving the kitten aside and pulling a feather from the hat. “Here you go,” Josie said, as she tossed the feather at Cassie. The kitten attacked the feather as if its life depended on it, chattering and growling at the same time.
Shaking her head at Cassie’s antics, Josie slammed the hat on her head and headed out the door.
Once outside, Josie checked her jacket and skirt to make sure they were still intact, and no kitten hair had stuck to the jacket. As much as she’d enjoyed Cassie’s company, sometimes she created more problems than Josie wanted to deal with. Shaking her head, Josie adjusted her hat and proceeded down the stairs.
“My, you look lovely,” Amos grinned. “Are you meeting your beau?”
Smiling at Amos and his teasing, Josie answered, “Thank you, Amos, you are too kind. As for the beau, I really don’t have time for that,” she added. Although in her heart, she wished that could be so, but having a family and being a doctor didn’t always work well together, especially for a woman.
“Not kind, truthful,” Amos interjected, offering Josie his arm. “May I accompany you?”
“Who’s going to watch the desk?”
“I’ve engaged a new employee,” Amos grinned. “I think you might be surprised.”
“Who?”
As if on cue, Mason, the redhead from the snake incident popped out of the office door. Josie eyed Amos, then extended her hand to Mason. “So, you are the new employee? Congratulations.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Mason grinned as he took Josie’s offered hand. “I’m excited. I’ve always thought it would be fun to meet people and help them out.”
“I trust snakes will not be involved,” Josie replied with a smile.
“No, Miss Josie, and I’m sorry, I r
eally am.” Mason blushed as he continued, “it was a stupid thing to do. I’ve not spoken with Everett since.”
“I believe you,” Josie returned, her smile matching the one in her eyes. “I wish you well, and stop by my office sometime. I’d love to know about you.”
Mason beamed at the attention and Josie’s words. He vowed to do just as she suggested, wanting to know more about this woman doctor.
“Well, we’ll leave you in charge. If you need anything, just hunt me up,” Amos instructed, clapping the young man on the shoulder. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours so you can go join the fun.”
Amos offered his arm to Josie as the two exited the hotel, only to almost be run over.
Chapter 8
Will watched from a distance within a stand of trees. It was mid-afternoon, the sun shining hot on this late May day. The town was having some kind of event. The men he’d been following were heading in that direction. He hoped by taking a shortcut he would catch them. So far, that hadn’t happened. Now, here he was watching from a distance in the hope of seeing Richard, whom he knew he would recognize. As far as the tracks showed, he was still with the others who had broken him out of jail. From the way they had been moving, Will surmised the others were more what Marshal White thought. It also made more sense why the jail break had occurred. Will’s fear was that Richard would take notice of him and the men would take off and he’d have a more difficult time tracking them.
The sun had started its journey to the west toward the far-off mountains. Mountains that Will had been heading to when he’d been sidetracked by current events. I wonder how the injured woman is doing and little Sally? Will asked himself, only to have his horse nudge him in the back.
Just then, Will heard someone approaching from his left. Placing a hand on his horse, Will faded farther back and watched an older man hurry toward a young girl about sixteen, possibly his daughter.
“I know you’ve been up to no good,” the man called to the girl, hurrying to try and catch up to her.
The girl ignored the man and kept walking. Walking so close that Will could have reached out and touched her. He was afraid he’d been seen, but the girl gave no indication of noticing his presence.
About twenty feet farther, the old man caught up, saying “I’m talking to you, girl.” He grabbed the girl’s arm, pulling her back. Turning her to face him, he pointed a finger in her face. “Your silence will not protect you from your punishment,” he snarled.
The girl just stared back, her eyes old beyond her age, saying nothing. The defiance was too much for the man. He drew his hand back, and with a powerful swing slapped the girl hard on the cheek.
Will almost started forward, knowing he’d no business interfering, but the girl calmly placed her left hand to the injured area. With a calm to her voice, she said, “No matter what I might say, you’d call me a liar.” The girl then turned, walking away from where Will was hiding.
The old man stood, glaring at the retreating back, then turning, he headed back the way he’d come. Will stood motionless, not wanting to attract any attention. He’d felt guilty eavesdropping, but more importantly, he’d not been seen. There could have been some awkward explanations, none of which would have made sense to most people. It would have also let the escapees know he was in the area.
Even though nothing about the exchange made sense, Will reasoned he’d never see these two or this town again. Still, if I don’t see Richard, I could go down later and pick up some supplies for myself, Will reasoned to himself.
The town was really busy now. He noticed a foot race heading up the main street. As he watched the racers, Will saw a purple jacket and fancy hat come out of the hotel. The man with the woman pulled her back just before she was bowled over by one of the runners. Not very observant, probably someone visiting from the East, Will surmised.
The runner, trying to avoid the two, slipped but regained his balance and ran even harder, quickly catching up to the leaders. The sound of laughter, along with the band, pulled him forward, along with the desire to catch the woman if she fell. He stopped, wondering why. She was already safe, pulled from harm by the man by her side. As he watched, she laughed. Her hat askew, trying for dignity, she suddenly started laughing, pulling the hat off. She turned and, looking in the hotel window, re-positioned the hat, laughing the whole time. She said something to her companion, who joined in. His feet started in her direction, wanting to hear what she thought was so funny, when reality punched him.
“Not now,” he whispered, “not ever. Your type doesn’t fit with mine.” But even as he spoke, a part of him wanted to deny the truth. Here was someone who could see the humor in such events. Here was someone who could help him enjoy a life that was too somber.
Shaking his head at such silly thoughts, Will backed into the trees, watching the merriment from afar. “You’ve a job to do,” he chided himself, all the while watching her as she continued mingling with the townsfolk.
When the baseball game was finished, Will still hadn’t seen any sight of the escapees. He moved to mount up, intent on heading away from town, instead he turned his horse toward town.
“Okay, so I’m a fool,” Will said to the horse. “I’m going to get some supplies, and if I run into the lady, well, I’ll have some memories to keep me company for...” he let his voice fall away as he neared the hotel.
Chapter 9
Leaving Amos after the debacle with her hat, Josie moved among the people as she partook of food, and laughed at the antics of the children and adults. While she wanted to give a good impression, Josie by nature was not self-conscious, and people responded to her joy in living. Most were surprised that she was a doctor, but most were kind enough not to show it. Josie decided she would just have to be patient, prove herself to them. Time would be on her side, she hoped.
She was coming up to Amos again when she felt a twitch between her shoulder blades. Turning, she caught a glimpse of movement by the trees.
“Amos?” Josie asked, taking a hold of his arm. “Did you see that?”
“See what?”
“The movement over in the trees.”
Amos looked in the direction Josie pointed to, and seeing nothing, replied, “Probably an animal, or a couple wanting to get away from prying eyes. Things like that are not uncommon out here.”
Josie smiled, “You’re probably right,” she agreed, not wanting to make a fuss. Still, Josie was sure it was someone watching. She couldn’t pinpoint how she knew that, but she did. The feeling was much like the other day when she was out riding to visit one of her patients.
Amos pulled her back to the present as he leaned down to whisper, “Here comes our illustrious mayor,” pointing to the well-dressed, gray haired man bearing down on them.
“Mayor Green, may I present Doctor Josephine Forrester?” Amos declared, shaking hands with the mayor.
“So, doctor, what brought you to our town?” The mayor questioned, smiling down at Josie, which seemed funny as he was only about two inches taller than Josie.
With a grin, Josie answered, “A train, and then the stage.” At the mayor’s startled look she continued, “I’d always wanted to live in your fine state, and a new town is a good place to start.”
“Yes, it is growing,” Green preened, after he laughed at Josie’s joke. “We may soon be the largest town in this area.”
“I’m sure it will be with your guidance, Mayor Green,” Josie agreed.
“Please call me John,” the mayor requested. “We are more informal here, and you must come by the house and meet my wife. It’s the two-story house with the columns out front just north of downtown.”
“Thank you, John, and please call me Josie.” Josie smiled as she shook the man’s hand before he headed off to speak to another of the town’s residents.
About that time, the local band started playing and the dancers were taking places on the makeshift dance floor.
The band worked hard, but they just weren’t the musician
s she’d grown up with, Josie noted. Standing there listening, Josie let her mind travel back to the dance she’d attended while in medical school. There hadn’t been as many women students as men, but the number was more equal than most would have expected. Since Iowa was one of the first state schools to take both men and women, by extension the medical school had also. The dance had been a way to relax after a series of grueling exams. Oh how they had...
“May I have this dance?”
The voice pulled Josie back to the present. Memories flying away as quickly as they had come. Just as quickly, Josie focused on Amos. “Of course.”
“You were somewhere else, weren’t you?” Amos asked as the two moved out with the other dancers.
“I was remembering a dance back in Iowa when I was in school,” she answered, a throb catching in her throat as she finished.
As the two moved through the steps, Josie gulped to stop the tears.
“Want to talk about it?” Amos asked, his gentle voice breaking into Josie’s thoughts again.
“Perhaps later,” Josie smiled. “Now it’s a time to smile.”
As the dancers twirled, Josie lost herself in the rhythm of the music, no matter how bad it was. Soon the exuberance of everyone drove the sadness from her mind. As Amos and she departed the dance area, Amos pulled his watch out, adjusting his glasses.
“Is that a new timepiece?” Josie asked, eyeing the intricate work on the cover.
Amos smiled, caressing the watch, then as he opened it replied, “It was my grandfather’s.” Snapping it closed, then lovingly returning it to the place of honor in his vest.
“I’ve never seen you even wear a watch, let alone glasses.”
“Don’t have much need of a watch in the hotel, or glasses for that matter. Now, I probably should think about heading back so Mason can come have some fun, too.”
Josie's Dream (Grandma's Wedding Quilts Book 9) Page 3