Most Unsuitable Courtship

by Clemmons, Caroline

  When he had gone, Pearl turned into an efficient healer. She slid the cover aside and unfastened the bandage. “I have the right to scold you for not taking better care of your wound, Storm Kincaid. What were you thinking?”

  Rena smiled at her husband. “I am glad I am not the only one who asks him this.”

  Storm exhaled. “Don’t torment me, Pearl. I’m a sick man.”

  “That’s my point. You’re very sick and could have lost your leg. I’ve been stewing since I received Rena’s wire, so don’t think I’m going to let you off easily.”

  A brief knock on the door, then Drake entered and shook Storm’s hand. “Met your lovely wife, you lucky man.” He handed Pearl a doctor’s bag.

  “She is, isn’t she? Temper just like Pearl’s, but she’s a marvel with the kids and can even keep me straight.”

  Storm sent Rena a look that warmed her heart. He appeared proud of her in front of his family. Her constricted lungs expanded and she stood tall.

  Pearl opened her bag and laid an assortment of items on the bed. “What do you mean, ‘a temper like Pearl’s.’ I am always sweet and cheerful.”

  Drake widened his eyes and exchanged a glance with Storm. “Not commenting on that for several reasons.” Drake peered at the wound Pearl had exposed. “When you get shot, you don’t mess around, do you?”

  “Reckon it was that Pursley woman’s treatment. She gouged around with what felt like a hay fork. No telling what she used.”

  Pearl looked at her. “Did you watch?”

  “No, I held his hand and his shoulder. Mrs. Pursley leaned over the leg with her back to us and I could not see what she did. Not intentionally, I think, but for easier working.”

  “This is still infected. By now it should have improved more with treatment.” Pearl used a magnifying glass to inspect the injury.

  “Bill found everything you listed for us. Still there are a few maggots in a jar.” Rena suppressed a shiver. “You see we used the agave as you said. Also, I put garlic cloves in his socks.”

  Storm wrinkled his nose. “I smell like a bunch of garlic. Bad as when I was a kid.”

  His sister glanced at him and smiled. “You know that’s the point. The garlic enters your system through the bottoms of your feet and helps fight the infection.” Her eyes twinkled. “Also, you won’t get a cold this week.” She sobered and handed him a piece of leather. “You may need to bite this.”

  Storm reached for the strip. “Aw, hell. You’re going to poke me, aren’t you?”

  “Sorry, there’s something in there hindering your healing. I’ll have to find and remove whatever caused this decay.”

  He clamped his teeth on the cowhide. Although he winced, he made no sounds as Pearl probed with long-handled tweezers. Sweat popped out on his brow.

  Rena wished she could take away his pain. She clasped his hand in hers. “So there was something besides the bullet in his leg? Something Mrs. Pursley used?”

  “Probably. Maybe what she used had a piece of dirt or rust on it. Any idea what would she have grabbed for the job?”

  “We were in the kitchen. Well, kitchen and living area combined. I should have paid more attention but I watched Storm. He had lost a lot of blood and I feared for him. The woman gathered things from her cupboard and utensils. Maybe a meat fork she used.”

  Pearl nodded briefly and continued her ministrations. “If so and it still had food on it, even dried food, that might be the problem. Also, a piece of his pants fabric may be trapped in the flesh.”

  Rena lifted Storm’s hand to her mouth and kissed his fingers. Still holding his hand with one of hers, she brushed her other hand across his forehead in a caress. His pain seared her insides while guilt and anguish pierced her heart.

  How she wished she could take the wound’s sting for him. “I should have been more vigilant. He changed his own bandage, and would not let me see the leg. If I had insisted, this would not have happened.”

  Storm tugged her toward him and tried to say something, but winced and bit down on the leather instead. Pain tinged his beautiful purple-blue eyes.

  Drake appeared surprised at her admission. “Nonsense, Rena. Storm is a grown man. Not the first time he’s been hurt. Probably won’t be the last.”

  “Don’t blame yourself. We always feel our loved one’s pain.” Pearl glanced up again. “Drake, I’ll bet those children are frightened. Why don’t you check on them? Remember to smile.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He chuckled as he opened the connecting door. “Hello, I’m your Uncle Drake and I came to meet my new nephew and nieces. Who’d like to go downstairs and have some cake?” He closed the door behind him.

  “Don’t worry, Rena. He is almost as much a pied piper as Storm. Children take to him.”

  Rena listened to the sound of the children running down the stairs. “If he buys Drew food, he will win that boy as a lifelong friend. We cannot fill him up. The girls will enjoy a treat also. They have not had many treats in their lives.”

  “Took us years to fill up Storm. As a boy he ate all the time.” Pearl held up a fragment of something. “There, a piece of your britches I believe, though it’s difficult to tell what it is after this long.”

  She applied an ointment and then bandaged the leg. “I know you don’t like any sleeping drugs, but please give in this once. Your leg will throb for a while yet you need sleep to heal.”

  Rena sent him a threatening stare. “What you say, Pearl, he will do. Too long has he ignored his care.”

  He removed the leather from his mouth. Sweat dampened his hair and skin. “I believe I could swallow something this once.”

  Pearl sifted powder into a cup and then added water. “Drink this. It will only make you sleep for a few hours. By then, your thigh will have overcome the insult I just delivered.”

  Rena lovingly smoothed the cover over her husband. She dampened a cloth in cool water and bathed Storm’s face and neck. “Now you must sleep. I will be here when you awake.”

  “No, she won’t. Either Drake or I will be here. Rena will be resting.” Pearl pulled Rena into the next room. “I see the fatigue in your face, dear. You must stay strong so you can care for the children and my brother. You climb on the children’s bed and take a nap. I’ll watch over Storm. I promise to call you if there is a change.”

  The luxury of having Pearl and Drake share her vigil drew tears to her eyes. She allowed herself to be coaxed to bed. Although she longed to express her gratitude, she could not form the words. Her thoughts jumbled. She wanted only to curl up and slowly absorb the relief.

  She awakened to the sound of whispers. Lottie lay beside her sound asleep. Drew and Susie lay on a blanket on the floor. They appeared to be arguing.

  “What is wrong?”

  Both children jumped.

  Drew looked at his sister. “See, I told you she wasn’t dead.”

  Susie wiped tears from her eyes. “You was so still. I thought you got dead. I didn’t want to lose another Mama.”

  She sat up and the side of the bed. “Oh, Susie. Come here, sweetie.” She pulled the little girl into her lap and held Drew’s hand. “Do not be afraid. Mama and Papa are going to take you to your new home. We will get on a real train. We will have a big adventure and then see where we’re going to live forever.”

  Drew leaned on her. “That big man bought us cake. Then he said we had to rest.”

  “He’s your Uncle Drake. You should call him that. His wife is your Aunt Pearl. She is Papa’s sister, just like Susie is your sister.”

  Drew’s eyes grew round. “Really? So an aunt is somebody’s sister?”

  Rena explained family relationships. Then she looked out the window. “Och, I slept a long time, didn’t I?”

  “And we had to be quiet.” Susie stuck out her jaw. “I can’t help if I thought you was gonna get dead.”

  “I know you worry about people dying, but you can stop thinking about that now. You are children and children are supposed to be happy a
nd play and let adults take care of them. If anyone has to worry, Papa and I will let you know.”

  Susie pondered a few seconds. “Oh, I guess I’ll try.” She picked up her doll. “Drew, you be the Papa and I’ll be the Mama and this will be our baby.”

  “I am sick of this game, Susie. I wish I had someone who’d play soldiers.”

  Rena ran her hand across his hair. “When we get to our new home, your cousins will play boy games with you, Drew. You are a fine boy to be so patient with your sisters.”

  He blew out a frustrated breath. “Okay, Susie, I’ll be the Papa.”

  Rena’s heart swelled with pride and pleasure. Hers had to be the best children anywhere. She looked behind her at Lottie. Rena admitted her youngest was a pill, but she also was precious.

  “I will check on Papa. You stay here and play.” She eased off the bed and went to the next room.

  Chapter Twenty Six

  Storm sat propped up on pillows. He smiled at Rena when she opened the door. Pearl and Drake sat near the windows in quiet conversation. They looked up and also smiled when she entered.

  Pearl indicated Storm. “He slept soundly, which is important. I hope you did the same.”

  Rena blushed. “I must have for I did not even know when the children came in.”

  His sister nodded approval. “You were exhausted, both physically and emotionally.”

  Storm smiled at Rena and stretched his hand toward her. “Feel better?”

  “Yes, do you?” She took his hand and he pulled her to sit beside him.

  His relief at having Pearl and Drake join him and his family proved how worried he’d been. Not for a minute did he doubt who had tried to break into the jail last night. And whoever the killer was, he would learn where he and Rena stayed and that they had reclaimed hers and the children’s treasures.

  He had explained his fears to Drake, who agreed with the danger. Drake had arranged for a private rail car to take them home, and the car would arrive sometime tonight. Tomorrow, they would board the train and head for Kincaid Springs. In the meantime, counting Bill, three of them were on guard plus two smart women.

  Surely once they were on their way, they’d be safe. With the largest portion of the cache here in Vernon, the remaining killer might concentrate on recovering his spoils from the jail. If not, he and Drake and Bill would be ready for him.

  Bill rapped on the door before he entered.

  “Sheriff Foster’s deputies tracked the man from the cabin. Sure enough, he circled and rode into town.”

  Drake’s usual smile disappeared. “So, he’s here in Vernon?”

  Bill sat in one of the extra chairs Harvey had brought in. “The deputies aren’t as good at sign as Storm, but they’re good enough to follow a clear trail. If Storm here was following, he’d know which horse the fella rode.”

  “Nice of you to have confidence in me. Only have to keep him at bay until tomorrow morning when we leave.” Storm faced Pearl and Drake. “I invited Bill to come with us. He’s looking to relocate and I figure we can always use another good man in Kincaid Springs.”

  Drake’s eyebrows shot up. “And on the trip. Not sure this robber is going to give up easily. You cost him a lot of money.”

  “That we did. Could be he’s related to one of the men who died. That would make the vendetta personal.”

  “We have to take precautions on the way to the depot tomorrow.” Drake raked his hand through his dark hair. “I believe we should board that car as soon as it’s here. Get your horses on the freight car at the same time.”

  Bill glanced from Drake to Storm. “I see the most dangerous part of the trip as going into that livery. Too many stalls with dark corners to hide in. But I’m not leaving my horse behind.”

  Storm pushed himself higher on his pillows. “No way I’m leaving Thunder and I’d hate to leave Brownie.”

  Drake held up a staying hand. “No reason for anyone to lose a good horse. I’ll arrange for someone the sheriff knows to bring the horses and gear to the station. We’ll have our hands full getting kids and luggage and Storm there.”

  He acted affronted. “I can understand you mentioning kids before me, but luggage? What am I, a sack of potatoes?”

  Drake grinned at him. “Something like that. May have to hoist you over my shoulder like a sack of feed.”

  “Like hell. Days when you could do that are long gone. I’ll walk. May need a little steadying from time to time, but I can get there on my own steam.”

  Bill stood. “I’ll go speak to Sheriff Foster right now. So far he’s been real accommodating. Even offered me a job.”

  “And no wonder. You saved Rena’s and my bacon. Best sharpshooting I ever saw.”

  Drake nodded. “I heard how you helped with the kids and then took that shot from the roof. Impressive, McAfee. You’ll be more than welcome in Kincaid Springs. We can use you here and on the trip, that’s for sure.”

  ***

  Before dawn, the expanded group boarded the special Pullman car Drake had ordered. They’d be stuck waiting for hours in the train car, but better that than a daytime procession from the hotel that would leave them open to gunfire.

  Storm gratefully slumped onto the bed readied for him. “Must have been five miles from the hotel.”

  Drake stood at the berth’s edge. “Son, your sister wants you to take something for the pain. We know you don’t like giving in, but I believe she’s right. Getting here from the hotel took all your strength. The rest of the trip will keep you jostling.”

  “I think you’re ganging up on me.”

  Pearl stepped forward with a bottle and spoon. “Yes, I never mind Drake backing me up when I’m confronted by a difficult patient.” She uncorked the bottle and poured a spoonful. “Open up.”

  If he admitted the truth, he needed something to take the edge off his hurting. As long as it didn’t dull his mind. Remaining alert and focused meant staying alive.

  The children explored the car, asking questions about every feature. Pearl accompanied them and answered patiently. Rena stayed by his side, doing her best to make him comfortable.

  Sheriff Foster pushed into the car. “Bad news. Man staked out in the livery caught my deputies. Shot Borden. When Davis opened fire, the man escaped.”

  “Borden all right?” Storm asked.

  Anger turned the sheriff’s face red. “Got him in the chest, but missed his heart. He’ll be out for a while, but he’ll recover. Damn that killer! He’s taunting us.”

  “Thanks for the warning, Sheriff.” Drake stood and shook the sheriff’s hand. “I’m Drake Kincaid and this is my wife. Appreciate your help.”

  Storm sat and swung his feet to the floor. “Drake believes he’ll follow us. I have to agree. McAfee saved Rena and me, we have her part of the treasure back, and he’s more likely to overpower us than an entire town.”

  Lines creased Sheriff Foster’s face. “I hope you’re wrong. I want that son of a gun. He can’t shoot people in my town. Durned if I’ll give up until we capture him.”

  Storm said, “If we see him, we’ll let you know.”

  “Appreciate it. Your horses are loaded. I wish you folks a safe journey.” He peered around the car. “Always wondered what one of these looked like inside. Nice way to travel.”

  Storm smiled, remembering his first train trip at age fourteen in a car much like this one. “Makes the trip easier, especially with kids.”

  “Well, I like it fine here in Vernon. Leave train travel to you.” Sheriff Foster turned to Bill. “McAfee, you always have a job waiting if you change your mind.”

  “Thanks, sheriff.” Bill checked the door after the sheriff left.

  A long ten hours later, the rumbling sounds and jerking of their car coupling with the train let them know the journey had finally begun.

  Although they’d been wakened early and spent what should have been a boring day cooped up in the Pullman car, the children were too excited to be quiet. They each watched from a window
and chattered constantly. Rena held Lottie for a while then deposited her on a seat to return to his side.

  He reached for her hand. “When we get to Fort Worth, they’ll move the car to the Austin train. From there, we continue on a tap line to Kincaid Springs.”

  Her fingers twined with his. “I do not know what is a tap line.”

  He loved having her near. How had he thought he didn’t need a wife yet? He couldn’t imagine life without this woman. “Means it’s dead end. Goes from Austin to Kincaid Springs, but nowhere else. Grandpa talked the railroad into building it.”

  “How on earth could he do that?”

  A chuckle rumbled from his throat. “Bought shares in the railroad.” He could hardly wait for Grandpa to meet Rena. And vice versa.

  “He must be a strong man to have raised such a strong family.”

  “You bet he is. Close to eighty now, but you wouldn’t know it to see him. Pearl helped his arthritis and Fiona—she’s his wife Sarah introduced him to—keeps track of his diet. He grumbles, but he’s happy to have so many people who care about his health.”

  “I hope the rest of your family is as nice as Pearl and Drake. And I hope they like me.”

  “Of course they’ll like you. I can hardly wait for you to meet them. Grandpa and Fiona will likely have a big party to introduce you to our family and friends. He likes to give parties and Fiona is good at arranging them.”

  All day they chatted and played games with the children. He explained the names and relationships of people she’d meet. The kids asked about their cousins, so he described each one.

  Pearl checked on his wound, but left him and his family to themselves while she chatted with Drake and Bill. By this time, the kids were comfortable around all the adults. They went from one to the other with questions.

  At dark, a porter came to make up the beds.

  When he’d left, Rena announced, “Okay, kids, bedtime. Drew, you take a top bunk. Susie and Lottie get a lower bunk.”

  Bill indicated his chair. “I can sleep here just fine.”