Hattie smiled at the memory. Robert had tears in his eyes as he kissed the boy on top of the head. And then there were the small gifts he left her. He found her favorite bar of soap at the mercantile and placed it on the counter at the apothecary before giving her a quick kiss on the cheek and leaving for his rounds. He found out she had a sweet tooth and a small sac of gumdrops, her favorite, appeared once the mercantile was restocked. Flowers randomly showed up in the apothecary, and even a new chest to carry her herbs from the harbor appeared. This one had different compartments with muslin bags, making it much lighter than carrying the glass jars.
This morning he was going to be overseeing Lacy Lou and Dr. Tory in the clinic before they left to head down towards the harbor. Lacy Lou wanted to become a nurse and it appeared that Dr. Tory would be taking her to New Hope to set up the new practice there. Marty even talked about going because the weather was drier for his Ma. Hattie really knew it was because he had gotten close to Lacy Lou as they worked in the saloon taking care of the town folk.
Hattie’s heart was full as she poured hot water into the tub. The water was warm from the tap, but she wanted it hotter. Settling in, the water enveloped her and she sank down into the warm cocoon. Once she felt warm, she lathered up a cloth with the lovely bar of soap that Robert gave her. It smelled like roses with a hint of jasmine. Starting at her toes she worked her way up until every inch was clean.
She washed her hair and gave it two cool water rinses, plus a third rinse with some herbs she had crushed in a cup. The chamomile made her hair shine. Today she would leave it down and once it dried it would cascaded in soft waves around her shoulders. She quickly finished her bath and dried off before heading to her bedroom.
Looking in her closet, she pulled out a beautiful green dress with a loose top and long flowing skirt. She had ordered it from the Montgomery Ward catalog before the earthquake, but it just arrived the day prior. She was going to save this dress for a special occasion, and she thought today Robert might formally propose. That was special enough for her to pull it out. She took her time rolling her stockings up each leg and slipped her feet into soft moccasins. A short spritz of rose water and she was done.
The knock turned into a steady pounding, pulling Hattie from her wool gathering. Normally no one would come up to her private quarters and knock. They rang a bell and Hattie would greet them in the waiting area.
“I’m coming,” she said as she wrapped her shawl around her and grabbed her picnic basket from the table.
The pounding on the door became louder and more intense as Hattie walked towards the door.
What could be the matter? There were still a few minutes before Robert was to stop by, so he shouldn’t be making all that racket.
Hattie opened the door and her mouth formed a silent “O”. Jack Winters leaned against the door frame with his fist in the air as he was about to knock again. His eyes were wild, darting to and fro as if looking for someone.
Hattie stepped back as he pushed his way inside and took the basket from her hands, resting it on the floor.
“Remember what I told you, Miss Hattie? That I’d be back if anything happened to my brother.”
Chapter 10
Hattie reached down for the basket and heard the unmistakable click, click of a gun being cocked. Hattie’s hand froze above the basket and she peeked up at Jack, who was holding a six-shooter right at her. The revolver bounced in his hand as a trickle of sweat ran down his face and disappeared under his chin.
“Don’t move, Miss Hattie,” he whispered softly waving the gun in her direction.
“I’m not moving, Mr. Winters”
“I didn’t want it to come to this. I need you to come with me.”
Hattie slowly stood up and quickly glanced around. There was nothing within reaching distance that she could use to defend herself. She folded her hands in front of her. If Jack Winters was going to shoot her, she hoped it would be quick and painless.
Hattie paused, trying to think, “I have someone coming by in a few minutes.”
“You mean Dr. Childs? I know about your picnic this morning. I don’t think the good doctor will be stopping by anytime soon. I made sure of that.”
“What?” Hattie cried, her voice squeaking slightly.
“Yes, your precious Dr. Childs will not be bothering us anytime soon. By the time I’m done with you, not Doctor Childs, nor anyone else will want you.” Jack waved the gun wildly and pointed it at the object next to Hattie’s feet. “Now, pick up that basket and let’s get. Oh, and Hattie, if you make a sound I will not hesitate to shoot you.”
How Jack managed to weave them through town undetected, Hattie would never figure out. She planned on yelling to the first person they came across, but she didn’t see anyone. On any given day there would be many people outdoors, but not today. They made it to the far south section of the town where Hattie saw Jack’s horse tied to a tree.
“Get on up, Doc,” he said, pointing with the gun.
“I can’t, because you tied my hands,” she said, lifting to show her bindings.
Jack grabbed her and pushed her towards the horse.
“Get up now, and don’t make me ask again.”
Placing her basket next to the base of the tree, Hattie wrapped her bound hands around the saddle horn using it as leverage to hoist herself up into the seat. It was difficult wearing the dress, but Hattie managed to keep herself covered as she straddled the horse.
Jack placed the gun back in his holster and lifted himself behind Hattie. Taking the reins, he clicked to the horse and they began the ascent up the side of the mountain towards the far side of Timber Town.
“Where are we going?” Hattie asked, although she feared the answer.
Jack didn’t respond, instead guiding the horse with a series of clicks and tugs.
Hattie shifted in the seat, so she could look at the town disappearing behind her. The basket still sat at the base of the tree as if it was a marker for a tracker to start finding her. She said a silent prayer that someone would find it and realize she had been taken.
Jack nudged her to turn around. “Ain’t no one coming, Doc. You might as well settle down and enjoy the view. We are going to be riding for a bit.”
“I could scream,” she said.
“Go ahead. No one can hear you now that we are in the woods. But remember, I can kill you with just one knock off the horse.”
Hattie leaned back and took in her surroundings. The woods had started to darken as plants thickened around them, and the few trees still standing created a canopy above them. She darted her eyes to and fro but didn’t see an answer to how she could get herself out of this mess. And then it appeared in front of her like a sign from above. There was her hair ribbon she had tied around the trunk the day she collected tree bark. The day she encountered Jack.
It must mean that Marty was near. He was collecting more bark and Solomon’s seal from the patch Hattie discovered on her trek through the woods. If she could keep Jack talking perhaps Marty might hear them and be able to get the Marshal.
“You brother went peacefully,” she offered as a condolence.
“I said no talking.”
“I just want to let you know that it wasn’t my fault how he died. It was a blood clot.”
“I don’t care. He’s gone and now my Ma only has Brawny and me. Someone’s gotta pay for his death, Hattie. Way I see it that falls at your feet.”
“He was recovering, Jack. I swear.” There. She saw movement in brush. The second hair ribbon waved in the breeze, welcoming her to her death. “It was just one of those odd things – the clot travelled from his legs to his heart. It was instantaneous.” Marty was leaned over digging roots and she could see him from her position on the horse. She raised her voice a little louder.
“He didn’t feel any pain, Jack. You don’t have to kill me.” Marty lifted his head and his eyes went wide as he saw Hattie riding in front of the big man on the brown horse. He was about t
o shout out when Hattie shook her head. “You can let me go right here and I won’t say a word to anyone. No one must know it was you that hurt Dr. Childs. I bet not even the Marshal would be able to find you, if you just let me go.”
“Shut up, Doc.”
“Remember your mother, Jack. And your brother Brawny. They wouldn’t want to be without you. And that is what will happen if you keep me.”
“I said shut up, Doc,” he shouted as he lifted his hand to slap her upside the head. Her head snapped back as the sound reverberated in her ears. She saw Marty squat and half-crawl behind one of the trees. Jack must have heard the noise because he pivoted in the saddle and pulled his gun, pointing it at the tree where Marty crouched.
“It was a rabbit. Just a rabbit,” Hattie said, holding the side of her head.
Jack looked around to make sure no one was following them before uncocking his gun and sliding it back in his holster. “You settle, Doc. We’ll be there soon.”
She looked back to see Marty sneak out from behind the tree and sprint towards Silverpines.
Run, little rabbit, run.
Clive Adair found Robert behind a stack of straw bales in the livery stable. He was on his way to fetch his horse to leave town when he noticed the pair of boots sticking from behind the straw. Removing his gun from the holster he made his way carefully to the boots, kicking one as he continued to look around.
He couldn’t be too careful. He covered his tracks to Silverpines, but they could still find him. He toed the boot again and a moan came out from behind the straw.
“Doc?” He called as he leaned over. There was that doctor that was going to marry his Tess. He hadn’t seen her since he walked out of the Town Council meeting and it tore at his heart. He couldn’t afford to love, especially in his line of work. Anyone he loved instantly became a target to punish him. But love her, he did.
The doc moaned again and rolled over on his side. Holding his ribs, he attempted to sit up. Clive reached down and offered a hand. Robert grabbed it and Clive hoisted him to a standing position. Clive could see the start of a goose-egg on the back of his head.
“Got any idea what happened to you, Doc?”
Robert reached out to steady himself on the straw wall. He felt the nausea rise in his throat and ended up retching on the ground. When he was done, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and turned to Clive. “No. He jumped me from behind. I wasn’t even here when I was attacked.”
“Who would have done this?” Clive was trained to look for clues and usually in a situation like this it was someone close to the Doc that would have attacked him. A regular attacker would have left him for dead on the street. Instead, someone took the time to hide him away, but in an area where he eventually would be found with little effort.
“I don’t know. I left the apothecary and was headed to visit Mrs. Miller, when I was jumped from behind. He must have been waiting for me in the alley next to the mercantile. I didn’t see him.”
“What time did you leave the apothecary?”
“About 8 this morning.”
Clive pulled out his timepiece. It was nearing half past noon. “So, you’ve been out for about four hours. That means whoever did this is either still in town or has a head start.”
“My bag.”
“What?”
“My bag. I had my bag with me when I was going to Mrs. Millers. Do you see it anywhere?”
Clive looked around, not seeing the bag in question. “It isn’t here. Perhaps the attacker took it.”
“What time did you say it was again?”
“Half past twelve, why?”
“Hattie. I was supposed to meet her at 11 o’clock for a picnic today. She is going to worry that I’m not there. I need to get to the apothecary.” Robert took a step and lost his footing. Grabbing ahold of the pole next to him, he rested his head against it waiting for the nausea and pain to subside. “Adair, I need you to find Hattie or Dr. Tory. I need assistance.”
Clive helped him down on one of the bales and yelled to the livery owner. “Stay here, with him,” he pointed. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Clive ran to the clinic where he saw Lacy Lou and Dr. Tory through the window. Stepping inside he asked, “Have either of you seen Hattie? Doc Childs has been hurt.”
“No, I’ve not,” Lacy Lou said, placing her finger on her cheek.
“I’ve not either,” volunteered Chelsea. “But now you mention it, I haven’t seen Hattie for a bit either.” Grabbing her medical bag, she headed towards the door. “Where is Dr. Childs? I’ll go tend to him. Lacy, you help Mr. Adair here find Hattie.”
Clive pointed in the direction of the stables and Chelsea hurried out to see to her mentor’s injuries. “Let’s check the apothecary next door.” Clive walked out of the clinic and turned towards the apothecary. He then noticed a young man running as if the hounds of hell were nipping at his heels.
“He’s got her! He’s got her,” he cried.
“Marty, who’s got her? And who are you speaking of?”
“Miss Hattie. She was tied to the front of a horse. She was saying how this man was going to kill her because of his brother dying.” It dawned on Marty, and his eyes got big. “It was one of the Winter’s brothers. Pete just died and Brawny wasn’t happy when he came to collect the body. Was taking him home to be buried.”
“How many Winters brothers are there?”
“Two,” piped up Lacy Lou. “Brawny and Jack. Everyone else was killed, or in Pete’s case, died afterwards.”
“Do you know how to find them?” he asked Lacy Lou.
“They used to live in Timber Town. But I think their Ma lived a little further north than that. Between here and New Hope.”
“Thanks, Lacy Lou. I’m going to go find the Marshal and then I’ll go get Hattie.”
Clive returned to the livery to let Robert know what he found. Robert insisted on accompanying them when they formed the search.
“You aren’t in any shape to be riding a horse, Dr. Childs,” Chelsea said as she placed the finishing bandage around his head. “You have a terrible concussion.”
“I can’t just stay here if Hattie has been taken. Are you sure they said it was one of the Winters brothers?”
“Yeah, that is what Marty saw when he was in the woods.”
“Well that means it is either Jack or Brawny. I doubt Brawny would be behind this, we had an understanding. I’ve never met Jack.”
Clive nodded. “You get yourself ready if you are going. I’m going to grab the Marshal.”
Robert was just mounting one of the horses when Clive returned with the Marshal and Marty. Both carried two rifles and had holsters hanging on their hips. Marty placed one of the rifles in the scabbard on Robert’s horse and the other on a black mare. It didn’t take long for them to saddle horses and head out towards the path that came out of the woods south of town.
When they arrived at the entrance to the woods, Robert’s heart sank. He recognized Hattie’s picnic basket. Dismounting, he went over to examine the basket. The side was destroyed as if someone had kicked it or dropped it. Alexzander came to stand beside him.
“There was a horse that stood here for a while. Look at the way the shoes pressed into the dirt. The tracks lead off that path, so they are probably headed up into the mountains.” Alexzander gazed at Robert, “Are you sure you are up for this? No shame in staying here. That is a nasty bump.”
Robert growled as he headed back to mount his horse. “I’m sure. Let’s go get her.”
They rode for about two hours, stopping occasionally so Alexzander could study the tracks in the dirt. “This way,” he said, and they continued their trek. They reached the end of the woods and entered a clearing where a small log cabin stood with a stream of smoke coming from the ceiling.
The scene was idyllic. Everything was quiet, the only sound the creek running next to one side of the house. Goats grazed in a pen and chickens ran chasing bugs in the grass.
Robert stepped his horse cautiously into the clearing as the sound of gunfire rang out above his head.
“I don’t see her,” Marty whispered. They had moved back into the woods, tying their horses further back and then returning around to the side where they could get a clear view of the house. They were laying on their stomachs looking at the scene unfold before them.
“She’s there,” Clive noted.
“How do you know?” Robert’s head was killing him, but all he wanted was for Hattie to be safe.
“That your doctoring bag there on the ground?” Clive pointed with his rifle.
“I see it.”
“Next to it is the shawl Doc Richards normally wears.”
Robert looked. Hattie’s black knit shawl was there on the ground. He would have missed it if Clive hadn’t pointed it out. “There is also movement from behind that window.”
“How can you see that?”
Robert looked through the sight on his gun, but he didn’t see anything. Wait, there was a slight movement from behind the curtain.
“I’m headed down.” Clive pushed himself up and grabbed his rifle.
“I’m the Marshal, I’ll go with you.”
“No offense, Marshal, but this may not end well. I need you to remain here, so you can take anyone in custody and make sure these men get home.”
Alexzander nodded. Marty looked at Clive. “Are you some kinda gunfighter?”
“No, son. I’m not. My real name is Dawson Elliot. I’m a member of the Pinkertons.”
With that he was gone, disappearing into the woods. A few minutes later he emerged from behind the house.
“There he is!” Marty whispered.
Just then the door opened and out came Jack Winters, holding Hattie as a shield.
“I know you are out there,” Jack yelled to the trees. “We just need the medical bag. Let us get that and no one gets hurt.”
Hattie yelped as he pushed her towards the medical bag but didn’t release her from his body.
Wanted: Medicine Man (Silverpines Book 5) Page 10