Not that he’d given up, but that he didn’t care anymore. Pa had thrown his clothes in the dirt and told him to get. Being the youngest son of Jacob Walker, Charlie never thought he’d see the day when his own father threw him out.
But that’s what he’d done. Oh, Pa had said he’d keep paying for Higgins to represent him, but that was it. His brother, Dean, looked at him the same way. Then again, Dean and Pa were like two of the same. Spoke alike, thought alike, and acted alike. It was hard to tell one from the other.
Charlie had sandy blond hair while Pa and Dean had dark brown hair and brown eyes. Charlie’s eyes were blue like his ma’s had been. Maybe Pa would take him back if he knew Fallon was going to be all right.
Reining the horse to a walk, Charlie thought about the nurse at Doc’s. She was pretty, seemed sweet, and kind. He wondered what she would be like. If he married a woman like that, maybe Pa would reconsider and take him back. Then again, Charlie couldn’t say that he wanted to work on the ranch for the rest of his life.
That had been one of the main fights between him and his pa. As long as Charlie was under Jacob Walker’s roof, he’d work the ranch, and that was the one thing Charlie couldn’t see in his future. He didn’t know what he wanted to do, but being a rancher wasn’t it.
***
Addie paced the small room. She could only pray that Doc would get back soon. If the bullet came out, that would relieve pressure in Fallon’s brain and help him to wake up. She stopped by her patient and sat in the chair.
Her thoughts shifted to Charlie, the other side of this equation. If Fallon came to, Charlie would be out of trouble. Unless he was the one that shot the man. But the way he’d acted, she didn’t think so.
She didn’t really know him, but she liked Charlie. He seemed helpful and genuinely concerned about Fallon. Of course, Missy had said he’d hang if Fallon died. Oh, what troubles a man can make for himself. Her granny used to say that often.
Addie glanced at Fallon and took his hand. His pulse was steady. She hadn’t noticed his eyelid twitching anymore and knew that it could just be a nervous reaction. She’d seen Robert move this or that, but it hadn’t mattered. He never woke up, and then he’d died.
Holding Fallon’s hand, Addie thought about her life. Would she remain an unmarried nurse for the rest of her life? After Robert, she’d put away thoughts of marriage. But suddenly, she was thinking about what it would be like to have a man love her.
With a blush, she thought about Charlie’s kiss. Was that why she thought about marriage? And that man had such a tarnished reputation. She couldn’t trust him or Fallon. But maybe there’d be someone for her to love.
She heard the squeak of Doc’s buggy and put Fallon’s hand on his chest before running to the front of the office. She opened the door and smiled. “I am so glad you’re back.”
Doc Baker grinned. “I heard. So, you think you see a bullet in his head?”
“Yes, Charlie said it looked like a derringer size. Sorry, I don’t know much about guns.”
Doc washed his hands and took the scissors. He cut the bandage and turned Fallon’s head.
Addie pointed with a scalpel. “You can just see the back end of it.”
“By golly, you’re right. The swelling went down and revealed this thing. We’ll take it out and see if that doesn’t help Fallon wake up.”
After thirty minutes, the doc held up the small bullet. “There it is. I think you may have just saved two men’s lives today, Addie. Good work. Go ahead and clean the wound and bandage his head again. The wound doesn’t even look that bad. I did take a small part of his skull out, but he should be all right without it.”
There was a knock on the outside door.
The doc nodded at her. “Go ahead and finish up, and I’ll see who it is.”
Addie cleaned the wound and bandaged it carefully. For once, she wasn’t nervous like she had been at nursing school. Finished, she took Fallon’s hand and checked his pulse. Still strong and steady.
She turned as Doc and Charlie came into the room with another man following. By the star on his chest, Addie figured it had to be the sheriff.
“Here’s the bullet.” Doc pointed at Fallon. “I would say that is what put Fallon in the coma, not Charlie’s punch to the nose.”
Holding the bullet, the sheriff nodded. “I see. I agree.” He glanced at Charlie. “I don’t want you going anywhere. This doesn’t put you entirely in the clear. Not until Fallon comes to, if he does, and he can tell us who shot him, will you be in the clear.”
“Ah, Sheriff. You know I don’t have a dinky gun like that and wouldn’t use one if I did. Me and Fallon might not get along, but we wouldn’t shoot each other.” Charlie’s face clouded with frustration.
“Just the same. I want you to stay in town.” The sheriff threw the small bullet in the air and caught it. “I’ll keep this if you don’t mind, Doc.”
“I’ve got nothing I want with it. I’ll let you know if he comes to.”
“All right. Remember, Charlie, you stay in town.” The sheriff left the room.
Charlie shrugged and looked at her. “Looks like I need you to nurse him back to health. Hope you’ll do that for me.”
Addie stared at him. “I’ll do that for Fallon. He’s my patient.”
Doc grinned. “That’s telling him, Addie. After a while, when Carl comes in, I’ll take you to dinner. I don’t guess you had lunch.”
“No, I didn’t. I spent the time reading to Fallon.”
“You must be almost as hungry as me. Do us a favor, Charlie, go find Carl and see if he’ll come over and watch Fallon for us.”
Charlie winked at him. “You bet. I think I saw him at the livery.” Charlie left the room.
Doc sat down and looked at her. “Well, now you’ve met the two involved in this scenario. What do you think?”
Addie sat in the chair nearest the bed so she could keep an eye on Fallon. “I’m not sure. I’ve heard mostly stories about the two. Charlie seems like a nice enough man. He did ride out to get you. I doubt if he’d do that if he shot Fallon. So, someone else in this town must want to do Fallon harm.”
“Yes, I’d say that’s a very correct diagnosis. Who is the question?”
“He did have a visitor today. Dahlia Worth came in to see him. I’d say she likes Fallon. A lot.” Addie grinned as she said it. She wondered if Fallon knew that.
“Oh, did she. I always wonder about those two. I get the feeling that Fallon isn’t the marrying kind. Not that I can say Dahlia would be either. Life is hard. Those two both look like they’ve had it worse than others.”
She shot the doctor a quick look. “Why would you say that?”
“Oh, just some things I know. Well, I see Carl coming, bring your appetite, and let’s go to Callie’s.”
Addie patted Fallon’s hand and then went to the front to retrieve her wrap and bag. “I’m ready, Doc.”
He nodded but suddenly stopped and turned to face her, trouble worrying his brow. “Could be I need to hire someone to watch the office. Wait just a minute.”
She heard him telling Carl about the bullet and that he better lock the door after they left.
Chapter 5
Charlie walked Sinbad down the main street to the hotel. Even though his father had kicked him off the ranch, he made sure to give Charlie enough money to live comfortably at the hotel and dine at the café.
Charlie dismounted and handed his horse to the boy out front. He stared at the kid and thought how he should remember the kid’s name by now, but he didn’t have any idea what the boy’s name was.
Charlie flipped him a dollar. “Take Sinbad to the livery for me.” He had turned when that odd prick in the back of his head told him to turn. “Kid, what’s your name?”
“Sammy. Sammy, Taylor.” The kid’s eyes filled with fear. “I didn’t do nothing wrong.”
Charlie grinned and threw him another coin. “No, you didn’t do anything wrong. I just felt bad not knowing your
name after seeing you out here every day.”
A smile brightened the boy’s face. He couldn’t be but maybe ten. Charlie looked around. “Why aren’t you in school?”
“Ma is sick, and I have to help out so the family can eat,” Sammy spoke as matter-of-factly as if he were reporting the weather.
Charlie walked toward him. “Has your mother seen the doctor?”
“No, it cost too much. She said she was better today.”
“Well, Sammy, the doc is a friend of mine. Where do you live, and I’ll see that he takes a look and gives her some medicine?”
The boy shook his head. “I don’t know. We don’t take charity.” His young face looked burdened.
“It’s not charity. No sir. You do a good job outside the hotel, taking people’s horses and buggies to the livery. I’d hate for you to get sick.” He hoped the boy would believe him. Why had he never noticed or cared about the kid before today?
Sammy’s face brightened. “Oh, I see. We live on the other side of the tracks. There’s a bunch of tents set up, and we live in the fourth one from the west end.”
“What time do you get off from your job here?”
“Mr. Blake lets me go after seven.”
“That’s a long day, Sammy. You’re putting in man’s hours. I think you ought to get man’s wages.”
The boy’s eyes widened. “Don’t make trouble with Mr. Blake. He said if anyone complained, he’d fire me.”
“I won’t. You run along and take care of Sinbad for me.” Charlie was about to go when he stopped. “Wait a minute. I’d like it if you rode my horse. That’s a long walk to the livery.” Charlie hoisted Sammy onto Sinbad. The horse was gentle as a lamb, and by the way that Sammy hung on, Charlie figured that the kid knew how to ride.
“Thanks, Mister.”
“Charlie Walker. I’ll see you later, Sammy.”
Charlie was surprised at the good feeling he had. He turned to go into the hotel and caught sight of the church up the street. Its white steeple pointed up as if to say the answer you seek is here.
Shaking his head, Charlie walked into the hotel to freshen up before going to dinner at Callie’s Café. They had the best food, and tonight was stew night. Not to mention, Callie had told him she’d be making apple pie.
He stopped at the desk and saw Mr. Blake, the hotel manager. “I’d like to offer you a proposition.”
“Oh?” The man raised an eyebrow, which was quite a feat to get the furry thing seen above his glasses. “What would that be?” Mr. Blake didn’t like Charlie. They both knew it, but Charlie had no idea why. Other than that, his reputation was marred with fights and shenanigans.
“The boy you got outside. I’d like—”
“If he’s caused you trouble, I’ll fire him. Sorry.”
“No, no. He’s doing a great job. I’d like to see him get a raise. His mother is sick and—”
“Is that what he told you?”
Charlie nodded.
“The kid is an orphan. He won’t stay put in the orphanage, so the sheriff said as long as he stays out of trouble and can keep a job, he won’t put him back in the place in Topeka.”
“Well, I’d like to pay you some extra to give to him. So, he doesn’t think it’s charity. You’re sure there is no mother in the tent city on the other side of the tracks.”
“Oh, I’m sure there are plenty of mothers over there, but none of them are Sammy’s. The boy has a slick tongue. He used to hang out in the saloon and help Fallon.” Mr. Blake glared at him. “But I guess he won’t be doing that anymore.”
“No, not for a while.” Charlie nodded and went up the stairs to his room. He sat down on the bed and stared out the window. What was he going to do? Pa said he was forbidden to go home.
Well, maybe it was time to act like a law-abiding citizen. For some reason, the kid had shaken something inside him. Then again, perhaps it wasn’t the kid, but the nurse tending Fallon. Something about her rattled his roguish ways.
He stared in the mirror at his own image. Handsome, always full of jokes, ready for fun but never work, and alone. He had a family but couldn’t go home. Hardly had any friends.
The one friend he did have was lying in the doc’s office in a coma. Maybe dying. He wondered if the doc got the bullet out yet. After washing up and changing his shirt, Charlie left the hotel and walked to the café.
Upon entering, he waded through the crowded tables and saw the doctor and nurse. Charlie wasn’t going to pass that up. He strode to their table and pulled up a chair. “Is it all right if I sit down?”
Doc frowned. “Seems to me you already did.”
“How’s Fallon? Did you get the bullet out of his head?”
Doc nodded.
“Did he wake up?”
Addie shook her head. “Not yet. I have been giving him water, and he’s been swallowing, so that’s a good sign. Many of those in a coma die of dehydration.”
Charlie frowned. “That’s not like rabies, is it?”
Addie laughed. “No, you’re thinking of hydrophobia. Dehydration is a lack of water. A body can’t last much more than three days without water.”
Doc grinned and buttered a roll.
Charlie grabbed a roll of his own. “I hope he comes out of it all right. What do you think his chances are?”
Doc glared at him. “You mean your chances?”
“Hey, I didn’t shoot him. Someone else is responsible for that. As I said, I just popped him in the nose for cheating.”
“Fallon doesn’t cheat at cards.” Doc shook his head.
“Hah, that’s what you and this town think. Fallon cheats all right.” Charlie sat back and flagged down the waitress and ordered. “That’s why I hit him. He pulled a card from the bottom of the deck, and I caught him.”
“Charlie, it would be better for you to hush up about Fallon until we see if he’s going to make it or not. The sheriff is intent on seeing you hang.” The doc shook his head. “You’re in more trouble than Fallon right now.”
Addie set her fork down. “But if Charlie didn’t shoot him, then who did?”
Charlie grinned and pointed at her. “See, she’s got the right idea. Find out who has access to a derringer that shoots the kind of bullet you dug out of Fallon’s hard head.”
“The sheriff has the bullet now. He’ll look into it.”
Charlie frowned. “I don’t know. I don’t trust him.”
Doc stared at him. “Well, I don’t think he likes you either.”
His food came, and Charlie dug in. He’d take an occasional glance at Addie. She was a fine woman. Once their gazes met and held for a short time. He could get used to eating across a table from her.
Addie finished first. “If you gentlemen don’t mind, I’d like to get back to Fallon and try a few things to see if I can’t wake him.”
Doc nodded. “You go ahead. I’d like to talk to Charlie.”
She nodded and left the café.
Charlie sat back and watched the doctor. He was an odd man, but everyone knew him as honest and trustworthy. Charlie braced himself for a scolding.
“I was thinking before I left the saloon. Addie said that Dahlia had visited Fallon. What do you know about those two?”
Charlie was surprised he wasn’t getting a lecture, and the question took him by surprise. “Dahlia, she works the saloons. Has most of her life from what I know. Fallon too. They’ve known each other for a long time.”
Doc held his knife. “Does Dahlia own a derringer?”
“I don’t know. I stay away from her because the woman is trouble. Whatever you think of me or Fallon, Dahlia is danger bottled up in a pretty lady. If Fallon comes to, he’ll tell you the same.”
“Then you think she might have shot him?”
“Do I think she’s capable, yes. Do I think she did, no.” Charlie rubbed his temples. “Doc, there’s a kid outside the hotel who takes horses and buggies to the livery. Sammy Taylor. He told me his mother was sick and lived in the te
nt city. Then the hotel manager said the kid was an orphan.”
“I’ve seen him. I don’t know his story. He should be in school.”
“That’s what I said. I wonder if you’d go with me to the tents just to check it out. The kid made up quite a story.”
Doc sat back and look surprised. “Could be I need to check you over at my office.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I think maybe you have a heart, and after all these years, I didn’t think you did.” Doc guffawed. “But I’ll go with you. My buggy is outside. You have my curiosity raised.”
The tent city was on the other side of the tracks. The town’s neediest congregated near the tracks and hoped for handouts. Charlie counted down four tents to the west side and nodded to Doc as he pointed.
“Sammy said that was the one he lived in.”
Doc stopped the buggy and took out his black bag. “Looks like I could spend all day out here taking care of people. I should have come sooner.”
Charlie walked up to the tent. “Hello, in the tent?”
An old man came out. “What do you want?”
“It’s my understanding that Sammy Taylor lives here. With his mother.”
With a disgusted chuckle, the old man shook his head. “Aye, he sleeps in my tent when it’s raining or cold, but he has no mother or father. He pays me to sleep in my tent.”
Charlie looked around. “The boy is alone?”
“As alone as one can get. If that’s all, I’m busy. I’ve got a bottle to drink and a nap to take.” With that, he turned away and shut the flap.
Turning back to Doc, Charlie shrugged. “I guess that’s the truth of it. The boy is an orphan.”
Chapter 6
Addie went to the office to relieve Carl. She took off her coat and washed her hands before going into Fallon’s room. She’d planned to sit him up a little and give him some water. He’d taken some this morning, and she thought the more he drank, the better his chances of waking up.
She pulled him up and put a spoonful of water in his mouth and waited to see that he swallowed and didn’t breathe it in. With delight, she saw that he did swallow and gave him more.
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