Most Unsuitable Courtship

by Clemmons, Caroline

  Doctor Larrimore stopped at the door and speared her with a stern glare. “Mrs. Kincaid, he has the start of gangrene. If it gets worse, it’ll kill him.”

  Bill took her by the shoulders and guided her to a chair. “Sit down. I’ll pay the doc and be right back.”

  She rose and searched for paper and a pencil. When Bill returned, she had a message ready. “Bill, you have been so kind, I am sorry to keep asking things of you. But this is important. Can you send this wire for me? I-I don’t know how.”

  She gave him money she’d taken from Storm’s pants’ pocket. “I wrote out the words, here.” She handed him one piece of paper. “This other paper has names on it. Please send the same wire to each of these people.”

  “These his kin? That’s good. They sure need to know about this.” He glanced toward Storm sleeping. “I don’t know anything about Dr. Larrimore, but I know Storm sure wouldn’t want his leg cut off.”

  “His sister is a healer. I hope she will know what to do. He is a rancher. How can he ride a horse and work his ranch if he has only one leg?”

  “I’ll send this and wait around for an answer. If it’s all right with you, I’ll add ‘waiting for answer.’ Bet it won’t take long before one comes.”

  “A good idea, thank you for thinking of it. Then I will know what I should do to help him.” She sat down to wait.

  Drew opened the door. “I heard the doctor’s voice but he didn’t come see Lottie.” He looked at the bed. “Is Papa sick?”

  Rena nodded. “He is, but the doctor was here and now Papa must rest.” She rose and hugged Drew. “You are such a fine boy. Always you help with your sisters.”

  She took more money from Storm’s pocket. What would he think if he knew his wife picked his pockets? “Can you wait here with your Papa while I go down to see about your dinner? We will have it brought up here and you and your sisters can have a picnic in your room.”

  “I’ll watch Papa real good. Is he gonna be dead?”

  “No. He is not,” she snapped. Softening her voice she smiled. “He will be fine. I have sent for your aunt to come and help take care of him.”

  “Papa said I have lots of aunts and uncles and cousins and a grandpa and grandma.”

  “Yes, we have a big family. We will enjoy Papa’s ranch and visiting all our family and church on Sunday and parties and picnics.” She kissed his forehead. “I will be right back.”

  She hurried down to the lobby. Harvey greeted her with a smile. “Evenin’, Mrs. Kincaid.”

  “Harvey, I have a request for you. My husband is not feeling well and our daughter is still coughing. I would like our dinner brought to our room.” She slid a dollar across the counter.

  “That’s all right, ma’am. I’ll add the dinner to your bill.” He looked longingly at the coin.

  “I know, Harvey. This is because we make so much extra work for you.”

  The money disappeared into his pocket. “I’ll have it brought right up, Mrs. Kincaid.”

  “Thank you.” She hurried back up the stairs and sent Drew back to stay with his sisters.

  Within minutes, a waiter wheeled a cart into the room with supper for five.

  New to being in charge, she did not know how much money to give anyone. She gave him two bits. Apparently that was enough because he thanked her and a wide grin split his face.

  She opened the door to the children’s room. “Our dinner is here. We have a lot of food for our picnic.”

  She intended to roll the cart into their room but the children scampered into where the adults were staying.

  “Can we eat in here?” Drew asked.

  Would the noise bother Storm? She thought it might, but she could not be two places at once. Children required supervision at mealtime. “Sit on the floor and you can have your picnic.” She passed around plates of food and glasses of milk.

  Storm stirred.

  Rena covered her mouth with trembling fingers. The leeches must have eased his infection, for he came to himself.

  “Did I wake up in the zoo? Are there monkeys in here?”

  Susie giggled. “It’s us, Papa. We’re having a picnic, only we’re sitting on the floor instead of grass.”

  He pushed himself up on the pillows and yanked the cover up to his armpits. “Am I invited?”

  In spite of a mouthful of food, Drew laughed. “You have to be. We’re in your room.”

  “Good.” He closed his eyes briefly, and then opened them to meet her gaze.

  She indicated the serving trolley. “We have food for you. Shall I help you eat the way you helped me at the O’Hara’s?”

  “No, thanks.” He met Rena’s gaze. “I sure would like something to drink.”

  Rena held up a coffee carafe and a pitcher of milk. “Hot coffee or cold milk?”

  He closed his eyes again. “Already too hot. Need water.”

  Rena leapt to her feet. “I will get some from the children’s pitcher. I used ours to bathe your hot skin.”

  She brought in the jug and poured him a cup of water. After he sipped all he wanted, she set aside the cup and touched his cheek. Heat radiated from his fevered skin.

  “I must bathe your skin again.” She wrung the towel and smoothed the damp cloth along his skin. “The doctor was here. He said you have a bad infection.” She shuddered. “He used leeches.” She could not help wrinkling her nose at the thought.

  “They serve a purpose. Guess this was one of the times. Not something I want to see if they’re sucking on me.”

  A rap at the door and Bill entered. “Have a wire back. Man at the telegraph office said it’s the longest one he’s ever seen.”

  Rena took it from him. “Thank you. Bill, my husband and I are not eating our dinner, so you might as well help yourself or the food will be wasted.”

  Bill did just that and joined the kids on the floor. Obviously, they delighted in the amiable man’s company.

  Rena read from the paper in her hands. “I must find maggots and garlic and a plant called aloe vera. It’s an agave.” Her tongue stumbled over the unfamiliar words.

  Storm shared a smile with Bill before he touched Rena’s arm in a caress. “A-gah-vay is the way you pronounce that word, honey. It’s a desert plant. Lots of uses.”

  “I’ll find what you need, Mrs. Kincaid. Plant’s bound to be growing around town somewhere. Maggots, well, I can find those, too.” He shoved a bite of potatoes into his mouth.

  “Eat first. You have worked hard today and already you have helped. You saved our lives, did you not? And I did not know how to send a wire or that I should say I would wait.”

  Storm leaned her way. “Doesn’t sound like that requires many words.”

  “There is more about what I must do to help you. Every step is clear.” She resumed reading. “Oh, wonderful. Your sister is taking the first train. She and her husband are coming here to help.” Tears filled her eyes. “How wonderful to have family who will rush to your aid.”

  “They’re your family too, honey. I’m glad they’re coming.” Storm appeared to be tiring and drifted to sleep.

  She laid aside the note and smoothed the damp cloth over his forehead. “Sleep now. Rest will help you heal.” With a gentle tug, she pulled the sheet across him.

  Bill set his empty plate back on the food trolley. “Reckon I’ll go search for the supplies you need, Mrs. Kincaid.”

  “You must call me Rena and my husband Storm. We are friends now.”

  Pleasure sparkled in his warm brown eyes. “Thank you, Miz, um . . . Rena. I’ll see what I can find. May have to wait until daylight, so if I don’t show up again tonight, you’ll know I’ll come up with what you need first thing tomorrow.”

  “Thank you, Bill. We are fortunate you are with us.”

  When Bill had gone, Rena sat beside her husband. The children still sat on the floor, but had finished eating. “You saw that Mr. McAfee put his plate and cup back on the serving cart. You must do the same thing.”

  She readi
ed the children for bed and returned to her vigil. Now that his sister sent instructions, a sense of empowerment rose in her chest. No one would cut off Storm’s leg. She would insure he held his own until his sister Pearl arrived in two days

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Early the next morning, Bill rapped on the door. Carrying a glass jar and a bundle, he made his way to the table beside the chair.

  “Found these nasty critters last night.” He held up the jar. “Had to wait ‘til this morning to find the agave.” He unrolled the bundle to display large agave leaves wrapped in a wet towel. “Hotel cook put me on to a woman who has a kitchen garden. She gave me the garlic.”

  “Where’d you find the maggots?” Storm removed the sheet from his bandaged thigh.

  “In the hotel rubbish bin. Cleanest place I saw the nasty things.”

  Rena untied the bandage around her brave husband’s leg. She fought to hide her revulsion while she held the jar of maggots.

  Storm held out his hand. “Give them to me, honey. I’ll show you how to use them.”

  Gratefully, Rena passed him the container.

  He opened the lid and sprinkled a few on his sore. Using the tips of his fingers, he pushed them to the wound’s center. “They eat the infected flesh. Pearl uses them to debride a wound of dead skin.”

  “She wrote to leave them on the wound until the maggots are fat and start falling away.” She forced herself to watch the creatures. If this helped Storm, she could hide her aversion and disgust.

  “They’re good for eating the ruined area, but we have to get them off before they eat the good tissue.”

  After a couple of hours, she picked the larvae from his sore and dropped them back into the jar. “Now I must clean my hands with soap.”

  Storm chuckled. “Pearl’s a big one for washing hands.”

  “Does not matter. I must wash that creepy sensation from my hands.” She scrubbed with her lavender soap.

  When she had dried on a clean towel, she went to the agave. I am to slit a leaf open and place it on your injury.”

  Holding the telegram, Bill cautioned, “Keep as much of the liquid as possible.”

  Using Storm’s cleaned knife, she slit the plant’s broad leaf. Inside, a jelly-like substance threatened to drip. Carefully, she laid the moist side against his wound. “Now I should bind the agave to your leg. Pearl said we should change the leaf every six hours. Except at night. Apparently I don’t have to redo this while you sleep.”

  “Hope you’ll be sleeping when I do, Rena. You’re looking mighty tired. I reckon that’s my fault.”

  “No, it is not. I am tired because of all we have been through in the last two weeks. I am sure Bill is tired also.”

  “Yes, ma’am, I am. Too much excitement for me.” His face split in a wide grin. “I’m ready to settle down to a nice quiet life of keeping the peace.”

  Rena placed garlic cloves in Storm’s socks as Pearl instructed. Next, she bathed his face and upper body with cool water. Afterward, he fell asleep.

  “Thank heavens, he appears to be resting peacefully. We owe you a great debt, Bill.”

  He shifted as if the praise embarrassed him. “No thanks necessary. Happy to help out any way I can.”

  “Then I have another request. Will you remain here while the children and I go to the sheriff’s office to search for our money?”

  “Sure will.” He held up a newspaper. “Old copy, but I haven’t read it so it’s new to me.”

  ***

  Rena braced herself and entered the sheriff’s office and jail. The children accompanied her.

  “Mrs. Kincaid.” Sheriff Foster tipped his hat as they entered.

  Two deputies stood guard, each holding a rifle.

  “I’m sorry we could not come earlier, Sheriff Foster, but my husband is ill. He said we were to come here and identify our belongings.” She opened her valise and pulled out the container she had rescued. “I brought the box in which my grandfather kept his money and jewelry.”

  “Sorry to hear your husband is ailing.” He gestured toward the back of the office. “We’re holding the crates in a jail cell. Word must be out. Someone tried to break in last night. Had two deputies on duty to watch the cache and they scared the man off.”

  “You think it was the man who escaped capture at the cabin?”

  Sheriff Foster rubbed at his jaw. “Could’ve been. We don’t know what that man looks like, so can’t say. All the deputies can tell me is the person was tall with dark hair.”

  “What shall I do to identify my things?”

  “You know how much money you lost?”

  “Ja. We had saved five thousand three hundred and fifty-five dollars and seventy-three cents. Some was in paper, some in gold. Also jewelry from my grandfather’s family and from my mother.”

  She looked toward the cell where she spotted two wooden crates. “The children said their father kept his money in a tin box with family papers and a cameo brooch. It would be nice to have the papers, especially if there is a Bible, so they know their birthday and the full names of their parents.”

  “We’ve been trying to make sense out of their spoils. May find your things still together. Come on back.” He jangled his keys as they walked.

  “Together would be nice. The man I shot tied my things in a tablecloth. Surely they would have divided so much between them.”

  He opened one of the crates, “Don’t think they did. Might have spent some of their plunder, but most of the booty is as you described. Never saw the like. Men must have all been crazy.”

  With shaky hands, she moved aside bundles. Nothing looked like her tablecloth. She spotted a black tin box and pulled it out. She showed it to Drew. “Is this yours?”

  He shook his head. “Ours was brownish green and thicker.”

  “We will keep looking.” She picked up a bundle. “May I set these out on the floor while we search? I’ll replace them after we’ve finished looking.” She inspected the pile that represented so many lost lives. Sadness settled in her chest and squeezed her heart.

  “May as well leave them out, Mrs. Kincaid. We have to try and identify the owners and contact kin if we can find them.”

  She set another bundle down. “How will you even find everyone’s name?”

  “We sent wires to the sheriff of each county these men went through. At least as far as we know. Asked for names and kin and anything that would identify the belongings.” He opened the box Drew had culled. “See here, now this helps. Has letters with the names of the owners.”

  “There’s ours.” Drew pointed at a large metal carton.

  Rena opened it. Inside she found a Bible, letters addressed to Abigail Hansen, a delicate cameo, and a little money. She opened the Bible. “Wonderful. Your birthdays are here, and those of your parents and their marriage date. This is precious information worth far more than the cash. We will save the money for you each to have for your own when you are older.” The children had no idea the funds were so meager.

  Susie touched the ivory face on the brooch. “I wish Mama hadn’t got dead.” She looked up with tearing eyes. “If she had to, I’m glad you found us and are our new mama.”

  “I am sorry your parents are dead, but you know your new papa and I will love and care for you always.” She hugged the children to her. These three and her loving husband were her real treasure and all that really mattered. “You may sit over there and very carefully look at your family’s things while I search more.”

  For an hour, Rena and the sheriff sorted the bundles and boxes. She despaired of ever finding her dowry. Near the bottom of the second crate, she saw familiar fabric. “There it is.” She lifted the heavy bundle from the crate with difficulty.

  She untied the knotted cloth and revealed the bounty. Hope blossomed in her heart like a rose unfolding in the sun. After opening Abram’s family box, she carefully inspected everything and replaced her treasure as it had been, with the jewelry on top.”

  “Whe
w, that’s quite a lot of money, Mrs. Kincaid. I’ll have one of the deputies walk you to your hotel. I believe there’s a safe there for guests.”

  “I believe my husband will guard it for me. He is ill, but his aim is not in danger. I also am a good shot. I will appreciate the escort, though, especially since someone has tried to break in here.”

  She had forgotten how much the money weighed—more than Susie or Drew.

  The guard took it from her. “Looks heavy. I’ll carry it for you, ma’am.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate your help.”

  “Good day, Mrs. Kincaid.” Sheriff Foster looked up from the jail cell. He appeared lost in deciphering the puzzle of lost owners.

  Back in the hotel, Rena thanked the deputy who deposited the valise in the room, greeted Storm and Bill, and left. The children swarmed around Storm’s bed.

  Bill rose from his chair. “You get all your things back?”

  “Even the tablecloth. And the children found their parents’ belongings too.”

  “How come you got that box?” Drew ran his fingers over the carving on the top. “Sure a funny picture.”

  “This belonged to the grandfather of the man who adopted me. The carving on top is of a prophet with the scrolls. Scrolls were the first Bible. See here inside, there is a painting of a prophet.”

  Drew’s mouth gaped. “You mean you was adopted too? Like we’re gonna be?”

  “In a manner of speaking, and so was Papa.”

  “That’s right, son. Lots of people in our family have been adopted.”

  Beaming, Susie and Drew looked at one another. Lottie patted the box.

  Rena sent the children to play in their room with a promise they could visit Papa and show him their recovered items later.

  She turned toward Storm. “Someone tried to break into the jail last night. Sheriff Foster had extra deputies on guard who drove away the man but didn’t capture him.”

  Bill’s brow wrinkled. “Who breaks into a jail?”

  “He was tall with dark hair. They could not chase him for fear of someone else breaking in. Sheriff Foster told them under no circumstances were they to leave the crates alone.”