“Now, now. You be kind to your elders. It gets hard when you see life passing you by.” Gretchen winked at Addie. “You two beauties should catch yourselves a man while you can. Before the gray hairs frighten you too.”
Addie dug into her pancake. “This is wonderful.”
Missy nodded. “You’re going to be saying that about every meal Gretchen makes.” She was quiet for a moment. “You’re looking after Fallon?”
“Yes, I saw him yesterday. Poor man.”
“He’s a handsome one, all right. Too bad he’s knocked out. Doc said he might die that way. You think so?” Missy cut into another pancake.
Addie toyed with her fork. “It’s hard to say. Do you know Mr. Fallon?”
“It’s not mister, just Fallon. He won’t tell anyone if it’s a first or last name. Or if it’s just a made-up name. He came into town maybe three years ago. The first thing he did was take Charlie Walker's girl from him. That started the bad blood between them.”
Addie nodded. She hadn’t counted on getting information on her patient, but it might prove helpful.
Missy took another pancake from the serving plate. “Have you met Charlie yet?”
“No. Doc said his father is a wealthy rancher.”
“That’s right. The wealthiest around. Jacob Walker. One man that you do not want to cross.”
“Do you think Charlie hit Fallon?”
“Oh, everyone knows he did because he admitted it. But some say it’s hard to believe the little wallop that Charlie gave Fallon would have done that kind of damage.”
“Was there someone else around to hit him?”
“No. Not a soul. It was late at night. Fallon accused Charlie of cheating. So, the way Charlie tells it. Charlie got mad and hit him and walked out of the saloon. It was really late and raining that night, and there wasn’t anyone left in the saloon. Charlie said the door locked behind him.”
“When did they find Fallon?”
“The next morning, he was slumped on the floor with his head on the wall where he must have hit it. He had a bloody nose where Charlie hit him.”
Addie nodded. “It seems Fallon must have hit his head on the wall after Charlie left.”
“The sheriff figures it that way and says Charlie is at fault.” Missy’s eyes widened. “If Fallon dies, Sheriff Fitzgerald said he’d see that Charlie hung or at least spent his life behind bars.”
That startled Addie. “That’s awful.”
“Well, most of the town thinks it will be awful if Fallon dies. He might be a gambler, but people like him. Even the church folks. Fallon always makes a big contribution around Christmas to help the less fortunate.” Missy frowned. “Even though some of the unfortunates got that way by playing poker with him.”
“What’s Charlie like?”
“Charlie Walker. Now he is disliked as much as Fallon is liked. He never lived up to his father’s expectations, and he’s always in trouble.” Missy rested her chin on her hands. “He is as handsome as they come, though.”
“Well, it seems I came to watch over an interesting case.” Addie dabbed her lips with the napkin and set in on her plate.
Missy looked at her. “I hope you can help Fallon. I really don’t want to see either of the men die.”
Addie nodded. “Neither do I. With that said, I better get to work.” She thanked Gretchen for the wonderful breakfast and then waved at Missy. It felt good to have a friend. Yet, as Addie walked to the clinic, she couldn’t help but feel a foreboding that she’d stepped right into the middle of a feud.
And both men’s lives rested in her hands.
***
Charlie Walker rode into town on Sinbad. The horse he’d won off Fallon six months ago. He knew it would rile those in town who wished him dead because of Fallon’s trouble. But Charlie didn’t care.
Sinbad was a tall gray stallion, the fastest in the county, and the pride of Sheriff Allan Fitzgerald. Fallon had stood to win a lot on the race, including the horse, by betting against Sinbad. No one knew, but Charlie had seen Fallon two nights before the race when he shaved a little too much off the horse’s hoof. Just enough to become noticeable after a hard run.
Charlie later cornered Fallon and told him he’d seen what he had done to win Sinbad. He challenged Fallon for a chance to win the horse on a cut for the high card, or Charlie promised to tell the sheriff what Fallon had done.
Everyone thought Fallon was beyond reproach. An honest gambler. Ha, Charlie knew better. The man played the town like a fiddle. It was Charlie’s misfortune to be the only one who knew. Now, unless Fallon came out of the coma, no one else would know. They’d certainly not believe him.
Nope, Charlie Walker had pretty much sealed his death warrant if Fallon died. There wasn’t a man in Lawrence that his father could buy to throw the jury. Not this time. But what Charlie couldn’t figure out, was how a little poke in the nose could cause Fallon to be in a coma.
That’s why he was going into town today. Pa had ordered a nurse to help Doc, and Charlie hoped she would keep the gambler alive.
For all the bad blood between them, Charlie didn’t want Fallon dead. That would take all the fun out of their ongoing feud. No, he wanted the nurse to help bring Fallon back from wherever it was he was hiding.
The only reason Charlie wasn’t in jail was that his lawyer, Higgins, had argued with the sheriff in front of the town council. Most of the men knew Charlie’s father and owed him, so they persuaded the sheriff to let Charlie out on bail.
Charlie wasn’t running. He didn’t know the sheriff well, but he knew him well enough not to trust him or give him any reason to go after him. Even now, the sheriff threatened to take Sinbad from him on the grounds of something wasn’t right about the whole race.
They’d come to blows once, but Chester, the deputy, had reasoned with Fitzgerald to back away. As long as Higgins was around, Charlie didn’t worry about the sheriff. There were times, Charlie wondered if Higgins didn’t have something on the sheriff.
But for now, Charlie was going to look in on Fallon and see how he was doing. Besides, his father had ordered in a nurse, and the idea of a new young woman to check out had Charlie’s interest.
Chapter 3
Addie sat with Fallon and read to him. She enjoyed reading the Psalms aloud and figured it couldn’t hurt for Fallon to hear them. So far, the man was stable with no change in his condition. Dr. Baker had spent the night looking through medical journals to see if he could find anything they could do.
After listening to Missy’s story, Addie looked at Fallon differently. She did see a slight bruise on his nose, so that part of Charlie’s story was right. Today, on her break, she was going to the saloon to see where he had fallen.
Doc had gone out to fix a cowboy’s broken leg and wouldn’t be back until later, but he had Carl coming in to give her a break.
She finished reading the twenty-third Psalm and paused to think about the words as it was one of her favorites. She watched Fallon and thought she saw his eyelid twitch. She jumped up and grabbed his hand.
“Fallon. Come back. You have many people anxiously waiting to see you. I’m Addie Sherman, and I’m your nurse. I would really like to meet you. See what color your eyes are. Hear your voice. Please, come back.”
Yet, there was no change. Gently she put his hand back on his chest. Addie went to get fresh bandages. She could change them as the wound was still bleeding slightly. Soon he wouldn’t need a bandage.
Addie thought it was odd for a surface wound to bleed this long. The injury didn’t look that large or deep, but head wounds could be tricky. She came back with the items, set them down, and then turned his head.
Today, the sun was bright and shining in the window. She cut off the bandage and pulled it away. She was surprised that there was yet more blood. She dabbed it away with cotton, but as she did, she saw something in the wound.
Grabbing her chair, she sat down and tilted his head so that it would be in the sunlight. Pulling aw
ay his hair, she stared in the wound to see what it could be. It wasn’t clear, so she went to Doc’s desk and got his magnifying glass.
Holding the glass up to Fallon’s head, she stared into the wound and gasped. It looked like the base of a bullet. Hurriedly, she wrapped Fallon’s head in the bandage and went to the door.
She looked for Carl, but he had gone. A sudden chill ran through her as she wondered if Fallon had been shot, who might be lurking about to finish him off. Who could she trust?
The shadow of a man on horseback broke the pattern of light and caught her attention. He stopped in front of the doctor’s office. She didn’t know who he was, but he was a nice enough looking man. He tied the horse, walked to the door, and entered as if he owned the place.
“You, the nurse?”
“Yes, can I help you?” He didn’t look sick or injured.
“I want to see Fallon.”
“Are you a relative?”
The man laughed, a somewhat mocking one at that. “No, ma’am. I’m Charlie Walker, and I have a real interest to see that Fallon stays alive.” He pushed rudely past her.
She skirted around him to block his path. “Good. I need you to ride out to the Murphy ranch and tell Doc that I need to see him immediately.” She scribbled a note and folded it. “Give him this.”
“Is it about Fallon?”
“Yes. And it’s important.”
Charlie opened the paper. “A bullet?” He looked at her. “Are you sure?”
Knowing that he had a stake in Fallon’s health, she motioned for him to come back with her. Gently, she pulled away the bandage and held up the magnifying glass. “Look and tell me what you see?”
Charlie bent down and squinted. “Looks like a derringer load.” He stood and looked at her. “Shouldn’t you pull it out?”
“I need the doctor to do that.”
“Why didn’t he see it before?”
“The area was swollen, and I didn’t see it yesterday. It is possible that as the swelling has receded, the bullet has moved, making it visible. But I believe if we can get the bullet out, Fallon will have a better chance of surviving.”
Charlie smiled, grabbed her, and kissed her. “Sorry, but that’s the best news I’ve had since this happened.”
“You didn’t shoot him?”
“No, I don’t own a derringer. Besides, we might not get along, but we’d never kill each other.” Charlie shoved open the door. “I’ll get Doc. Thanks for the news.” He jumped on the big gray horse and galloped out of town.
Addie felt her lips where he’d kissed her. Not since Robert had a man even touched her. She should be appalled at Charlie’s manhandling ways, yet she wasn’t. Besides, she understood why he’d be so excited. It hadn’t been personal, and that diminished some of the excitement of Charlie’s rash kiss.
She went back inside the room and sat with Fallon and read more Psalms to him. For the first time since arriving, she had some hope for his recovery. Robert’s wound had been so much more severe. The bullet had lodged deep inside his head, and there had never been much hope of his recovery.
But this bullet might well fall out before the doctor came back. Yet, she liked the idea of the doctor seeing it too so that no one could say that Charlie, or even she, had planted the bullet to get Charlie out of trouble.
Though why she would care one way or the other, she didn’t know. Yes, as Missy had said, Charlie was a handsome man. He’d kissed her, but only because she was convenient. She scolded herself for thinking such odd thoughts about men she didn’t even know.
Staring at Fallon, she thought his eyelid twitched again. With hopes rising, she took his hand in hers. “Come back, Fallon. There are people who care about you. I care about you. Please come back.”
“That was a touching scene.”
Addie whirled to see a woman standing at the door.
“I heard you talking and hoped he was awake. I guess he isn’t.” She sashayed up to the bed. “Fallon, you worthless galoot, wake up.”
Addie stood closer to her patient. “And you are?”
The woman stared at her. “Dahlia, and if you believe it, Dahlia Worth. I work in the Ace Saloon with him.” Her face softened as she ran a hand through Fallon’s hair. “We’ve been together for three years.”
“You’re his wife?”
Dahlia broke out into a mocking laugh. “No, I’m not anyone’s wife.” The laughter had stopped at the woman’s last word. She whirled and faced Addie. “Is he going to live?”
“I hope so. His heart is strong and steady. He has a good chance.”
“Good. We’ve had a lot of good times together.” She sighed and pushed a wayward strand of her red hair from her face. Dahlia plucked at her skimpy outfit. “I guess you can tell I’m a saloon girl. But I do care about Fallon.”
“I think it helps the patient for those who care about him to come and talk to him. Would you like to read a few Psalms? I find that they soothe the patients.”
Dahlia stared at her. “I doubt anything in that Bible would soothe Fallon. Besides, I can’t read.” She shrugged. “But thank you. I’m glad he’s got a kind nurse to look out for him. Makes me feel better about his chances. I thought old Jacob Walker would get him some dried, bitter woman to stay with him.”
Addie remained quiet.
Dahlia turned from Fallon and walked in her swaying way to the room’s door, and then turned. “If Fallon knew what you looked like, he’d wake up right away.”
“Please come again, Dahlia.” Addie could see that despite the woman’s harsh words, she cared for Fallon.
“Thanks. I might.” And she was gone, leaving in her wake the smell of cheap perfume.
Addie looked at Fallon. “You have some people that care about you. I hope you wake up. Don’t disappoint them as Robert did me.”
***
Fallon drifted in clouds of white only to fall into a dark pit. On and on, he rose and fell. There wasn’t any pain. No noise or fear. Except when he was in the blackest of holes. He’d only been there once.
How long he’d been in this nether place, he wasn’t sure. Not dead, not alive, just not. He wasn’t ready to die, but he wasn’t sure if he wasn’t already dead. Maybe God didn’t know what to do with him.
That was a problem. Not that he had been a big believer, but he knew there was a God because he’d seen evil. Oh, not the devil, but he’d seen what evil could do to the sons of men. The war. So horrid and full of death.
Then he’d met that man. Or was he a devil? Fallon had never been sure. But he’d run from the man and never wanted to see him again. So, he drifted between good and evil. Not ready to sell out to the Lord, but not prepared to go against Him either.
Is that why he was here? “God, do you hear me? I don’t know what to do. Where to go. Or even if I can go or do anything. I just float.”
But it seemed there was a new voice to listen to. Fallon thought it must be an angel, telling him wondrous words that made his soul feel whole and content. Like the sheep in the pasture. The cool water and green grass. Her voice would come and go.
Whenever she talked, he felt at peace.
He wanted to ask if she was an angel. She sure sounded like one, but more white clouds drifted past him. He wanted to ride on one, but his head hurt. Funny, it hadn’t hurt before. If he could, he’d put his hand to his head, but nothing worked. He just floated.
Chapter 4
Charlie rode Sinbad hard and fast. Could it be that someone had shot Fallon? At least, that should clear him, but who would want to kill the gambler? Dahlia came to his mind, but she loved the man more than hated him.
He reined Sinbad over a ravine and then up the last hill to the Murphy place. Charlie hoped the doc was through doctoring whoever needed it. He galloped into the yard and jumped off his horse.
“Doc!”
Ray, one of the hands, came out. “What is it?”
“Is Doc in there?”
“Yeah, he just set Blue’s leg. Com
e on in.” Ray looked at him warily as they’d tangled in a fight in town last month over a saloon gal.
Charlie walked inside the small cabin and saw Blue passed out on the bed.
Doc looked up at him. “You hurt?”
“No, I got a note from your nurse?”
With a squinted eye, Doc gazed at him through his mop of unruly steel-gray hair. Finally, he stood and went over to him. “I hope you didn’t scare her any.”
With a grin, Charlie shook his head. “No, of course not. Besides, I get the feeling your nurse doesn’t scare easy.”
Doc read the note and glared at him. “Why would you say that?”
Charlie backhanded the doc in the gut. “Because she has to put up with you.” He laughed. “She showed me the bullet. Looks like to me someone shot Fallon in the head with a derringer.”
“Is that so. Well, if you don’t mind, I’ll withhold my diagnosis until I see my patient.” He shoved past Charlie and to the door. The doc took out a bottle of powder from his bag and handed it to Ray. “Mix a spoonful of this in water and give it to him when he wakes.”
Ray took the bottle from him. “Will do. He’ll be all right?”
“In time, if he keeps off that leg, he’ll be good as new.” Doc looked at Charlie. “Let’s go.”
Charlie held the doc’s buggy for him while he got his big frame inside. “I’ll meet you in town. I rode Sinbad pretty hard.”
“All right. Might as well stop and get the sheriff on your way in. If it is a bullet, that might clear you.” Doc picked up the reins and slapped the horse.
Mounting Sinbad, Charlie nodded at Ray. “Hope Blue heals fast.”
Ray nodded. “See you around town.”
Charlie trotted out of the yard and back toward town. A sense of relief fell on his shoulders. The sheriff had warned him that if Fallon died, he’d hang or, at best, spend life in jail. Pa had thrown up his hands and told Charlie he was on his own.
Not that Charlie blamed anyone. He’d been in trouble all his life. Pa usually paid for the damages and got him out of jail. This time though, Charlie had seen something in his pa’s eyes that scared him.
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