by Kari Trumbo
Penny’s arms felt like lead. She said a quick prayer that Cori didn’t have a tubal pregnancy. She’d read about a new procedure a doctor in Virginia was trying and had had some success with, but here in the foothills of Montana, that option wasn’t available. Penny knelt before her patient and felt her forehead. She was indeed raging with fever.
“I need some cold cloths, ice if you have it. I have to get this fever under control right away.” Penny threw her bonnet on the table and used her injured arm to roll up her other sleeve. After riding through the chilly dark, the room seemed stiflingly hot.
“I’m Ned, by the by. Josiah is my cousin twice removed. I didn’t even know he was married. Congratulations, ma’am. You couldn’t do no better than Josiah.”
Penny reached for the cloths and the cold water. “Thank you.” She didn’t elaborate as to what she thanked him for. She wasn’t sure which either.
She dipped a rag in the water and wrung it out, laying it on Cori’s head.
“Cori? My name is Penny and I’m here to help you. Can you hear me?” She grabbed the woman’s hand and waited for a moment for a response, which she didn’t get.
Josiah came back in from outside. “Sorry Penny, no ice.”
“I’ll make do. Why don’t all of you go out to the stable? Do you have anywhere you can sleep out there, Ned?”
“Miss, I don’t have no stable. Nowhere else to sleep either. We were going to put her in my room for privacy, but there’s no fire there.”
Penny nodded. “Can you take Josiah back to your room? Moses and I are going to need some privacy with his wife.”
Josiah’s eyes went wide for a moment. “I don’t want to invade a man’s room. I’ll go see if the boarding house is open and has room for me.”
“I’m right behind you, Josiah.” Ned grabbed his hat and the door swung shut behind them.
Penny shook her head. “Moses, tell me what else. Everything, even if it seems unimportant. So I can think about what might cause this fever other than what I think it might be.”
Moses rubbed his whiskered chin. “I can’t rightly think of anything else, Missus Penny.”
She had the absurd thought to correct him. Not that it would do her any good. In fact, it might make him feel guilty, which she didn’t want.
“You said it started about three days ago. Has she had any water or food since then?” She dabbed the cloth back in the cool water and then back on Cori’s head.
“No, ma’am. I couldn’t get no good water in that cabin, and I couldn’t leave her to go find none.”
Penny took a cup with some cool fresh water in it and opened Cori’s mouth. She poured it in as slowly as possible. Some dribbled down the side of Cori’s lips. She made no movement, but it did elicit a groan. Penny smiled. That was progress.
Chapter Thirteen
Josiah walked in behind his cousin the next morning to find his Penny sleeping in the rocking chair where Cori had been. Moses must have moved Cori into the bedroom and stayed with her because they weren’t anywhere in the one main room of the cabin. He measured his steps to avoid startling her. She looked so peaceful with her luscious long dark hair spilling from the loose bun barely hanging on the back of her head. She must have done that while working on Cori because it had been down when he left her. She would probably think she looked frightful, but he’d give about anything to see her looking like that every day for the rest of his life, if the good Lord would allow it.
He knelt in front of her and pushed the offending hair away from the soft crescent of her eyelashes, which fluttered open. Her eyes focused on him momentarily. She sat up, squinting against the stiffness in her back.
“How long have you been in that chair?” He stood and offered her a hand to stand up. She wobbled on her tired legs and he took the opportunity to grab her around the waist to steady her. She rested her arm against his chest, blinking against the light shining in the window.
“I’m not sure when I finally got Moses and Cori settled. It was just getting light outside when I sat in the chair to rest.”
Ned puttered around the small nook behind her where he kept his cooking equipment. He put a small scoop of coffee beans into a grinder and gave it a few turns. The loud sound grated on his ears. Penny looked over at him briefly before she turned back to Josiah.
“When Moses comes out for the morning, I’ll go in and check on Cori.”
Moses emerged from the room stretching his arms above his head. “Did someone mention my name? Seems like I can’t never sleep much past sunrise even when I know I can.” A broad smile crossed his face. “I think the missus is doing much better today. She seems to be sleeping peaceful-like. I can’t thank you enough.” He moved over to the table and pulled out a chair, plopping down into it, obviously still exhausted.
“I’ll just go back and check on her. I’m not sure how much longer I can stay.” She looked outside. Her father would be waking up soon. He might already be up. He would find that note and rush to Mable’s to find out where she was. If Mable told him, he would be here in an hour. That was one thing that was a certain about Bill Hanover: he would go to the end of the earth for those he loved, and fight hard once he got there.
She rubbed her shoulder as she swept through the room to the small back bedroom, the only walled in area in the small cabin. How Cousin Ned planned to take these people in for any length of time was beyond her comprehension, but he was willing. That was really all that mattered.
Cori lay peacefully asleep on the bed. Penny approached and touched her forehead, it was warm to the touch, but not feverish. Her face no longer looked pinched in discomfort. Though her thin face with cheekbones etched above the hard line of her jaw revealed how poor she and Moses must have been. Perhaps they had worked for people who paid them so minimally that survival wasn’t likely. Penny had heard her father talk of such things happening, not just in the South, but all over the nation. She shook her head. But for the darker skin, Cori could be a sister. They both had almost black hair. Where Cori’s was curly, Penny’s lay straight. They were perhaps close in height and truly, with her mother’s Indian heritage, Penny was only a lighter shade. She also had her mother’s green eyes, which Papa had always claimed danced when she got into mischief.
As if the thought of her father had made him materialize, she heard his voice beyond the bedroom door.
“Josiah Williams, what have you done? Don’t try to deny it. This is her bonnet right here!”
There wasn’t anything more she could do for Cori anyway. She rushed out the door to stop him from looking for her and waking Cori.
“Penelope Hanover, what is the meaning of this?” He stood with his legs splayed and his arms across his broad chest, holding her bonnet in his fist. Tiny Mable stood cowering at his hip.
Penny knew that standing up to him would only lead to anger. He would want the story straight and quick.
“Mable came to find me last night, Papa. There is a woman in the back bedroom who had a terrible fever and there wasn’t anyone else Josiah trusted to help but me.” She pressed her hand to her shoulder. The activity of the last twelve hours made it throb more than it had in weeks.
Bill looked at all the faces around him, settling on Moses. “Your wife?” he asked.
Moses stood and nodded his head. “Yessa. Cori is my missus and I’m praising Jesus that she could come help.” Moses looked confused by the turn of events. Though they had been through a lot last night, Penny had never felt it necessary that he know the truth.
Penny hung her head. “I checked on her just now. Cori is doing well. Her fever broke last night, and she is now sleeping well. I would say give her time to sleep as much as she can.” She looked to Moses, knowing he wouldn’t let his wife do anything until she was well.
Moses nodded and his brow inched up. He and Ned were obviously in the dark about the situation and she would leave it up to Josiah to fill them in. She would have to suffer the ride back to Cutter’s Creek with her father.
“Come along, Penelope.” He directed her out of the house and to the waiting wagon. He helped Penny into the back, and Mable sat with him in the front. She heard his great heaving sigh as he unwound the lines from the brake and flicked them. She settled down in the back of the wagon. She wasn’t sure how he’d gotten there so quickly, but she was sure the ride home would feel like an eternity.
~~~
Josiah watched Penny leave with her father. It took every ounce of energy he had not to rip that door off the hinges and take her back. Her father could make them marry or keep her from him forever. Since he hadn’t marched them directly to the preacher here in Rocks Peak, chances were good he was looking at the other option.
Ned clapped him on the shoulder. “You listenin’, boy?”
Josiah turned and growled. If he opened his mouth, the words he’d say would be something he’d have to ask forgiveness for.
“Moses was asking you what that was all about. We both thought she was married to you. You had no business bringing a young lady out in the middle of the night.” Ned narrowed his eyes and waited.
“There was no one else. Carol talks too much and Mable had her store. Though, it looks like Hanover was able to tear her away from it when he wanted her to come.” He swiped his thumb over his nose. “I didn’t even want Penny to come. I didn’t want her know anything about this. Mable chose her.”
“Are you ashamed of what you done? Do we embarrass you, Josiah?” Moses stood to his full height.
Josiah stepped back. “It isn’t that. I’m glad you have a place now. I’m happy for the few families I’ve been able to help over the last few months. I just know that this is a dangerous job and the less Penny knew…the better for her.”
Moses frowned. “I’d say after last night that Penny wouldn’t agree with you. You’d best get yourself back to Cutter’s Creek and have a good long talk with her father and her. She deserves to know why you suddenly found us to be in need out here. She’s bound to ask you.”
“I’ve a feeling it’s a bit too late for that.” Ned swirled the grounds in the bottom of his coffee mug.
Moses crooked a smile and poured his own cup. “I don’t think it’s too late. Never too late. You might have to earn your way back into his good graces, but if you’n the young lady were meant to be, you’ll be. Ain’t nothin’ bigger than Jesus.”
Josiah nodded. Moses was right. He’d find a way. Penny was his. He’d known that since he first laid eyes on her. When she spoke, her every word sealed every crack in his heart. Hadn’t he just wished that things could have been different, that he could win her love the way he had the first time. “Be careful what you wish for, Josiah,” he mumbled.
Ned and Moses ignored him, now deep in their own conversation. He strode out to the post where he’d left his horse the night before and saddled her back up. Moses was right. Best deal with this right away before Bill got the chance to let this simmer too long. He’d be honorable and offer to take Penny right to the chapel or do whatever Bill required. It was the least he could do.
Chapter Fourteen
Somewhere between Rocks Peak and the clearing Penny fell into a fitful sleep. She felt the jostling around her, but could not keep her eyes open or her mind from wandering. The drone of Mable’s voice, chattering away to her father, faded to nonsense and back again. She was talking about Josiah. Penny tried to listen closer.
“If that boy is late again…” Mable’s voice continued.
That made no sense. They weren’t waiting on Josiah. She closed her eyes and Josiah came through the door of the sweet shop. He smiled at her and she felt at first the apprehension. He was keeping something important from her and not keeping dates with her. Then the excitement of seeing him sent her senses to whirling; it raised her pulse and flushed her skin. She was picking up cups…why was she picking up cups? The scene almost faded as one-half of her mind warred with the other.
A short, stocky stranger covered in light dust strode into her dream and waved a gun at Mable, but right on his tail was Beau, though no one seemed to realize he was there. Penny tried to open her eyes, tried to claw her way from the dream. She knew what happened next and didn’t want to ever relive it.
The man aimed his gun at Josiah, but Beau hit him from behind and the gun when off as his arm arced out of control, sending a ball of fire into her shoulder. Penny’s scream pierced the air. The next thing she was aware of was her father in the back of the wagon with her, holding her in his strong arms as she shook.
~~~
Josiah rested his head against his horse’s neck and listened to her teeth grinding the oats in front of her. He had to think of just what to say, and yet he couldn’t focus on it. This morning he needed to talk to Bill Hanover, but first he must join Beau and get Shorty down to the jailhouse. He was hopefully awake enough to admit to what he did. Beau’s word would carry weight with the sheriff, even if his own did not.
He brushed her mane a few more strokes and hefted his saddle to the tack wall of his small stable. His oxen had been cared for by Beau that morning. If he hurried, he could get all the things done he needed to quickly before Penny’s father could figure out what to do about the situation Mable had created.
He quickened his steps to the doctor’s small office and met Beau in the front. He quirked an eyebrow.
“I didn’t think you’d be back for this. Where is Penny, and is Cori gonna make it?” Beau leaned against a wall.
“You sure have a lotta questions for a guy who don’t talk much.” Josiah looked around to see who listened to them.
“Don’t worry. The doc is upstairs dealing with Shorty. He might be able to move enough to go down to the jail this morning. So…talk.”
“Cori should be fine. Penny got the fever down and her father showed up this morning.”
Beau laughed. “Guess you didn’t plan that too well, eh?”
“This isn’t funny, Beau.” Josiah looked up the stairs, waiting for the doctor.
“No, it isn’t funny for you, but it is for me. Penny looks to be a good woman. The kind that might make a guy stop running around.” The side of his mouth crept up. He pulled something from his waist pocket and handed it to Josiah.
He took it from Beau and the dainty fabric slipped over his fingers. The initials PSH shone in lovely green embroidery. He balled his fists, wanting to punch the smirk right off his face.
“Where did you get this?”
“Bank your fire there, Josiah. I’m not going after your girl yet, but you sure do get riled up easy.”
“That doesn’t answer my question. How did you get that?” He stood nose to nose with Beau. Even though Beau stood a few inches taller, he wasn’t afraid.
“She gave it to me when I saw her last night, walking home.” Beau snatched it out of his hand and tucked it back into his pocket. “And I am returning it to her.”
Josiah sat in a chair and swiped his hat off his head. “I might lose her over this, Beau. I don’t know what I’ll do if her father don’t see reason.”
“Let’s worry about Shorty first, and then we’ll deal with bringing ol’ Bill Hanover around.” He pushed off from the wall and paced the small room. “I just hope that my word is enough to keep Shorty in custody. The judge should be here tomorrow. He’ll be more likely to listen to the both of us than the sheriff, since he arrested you. He’s more likely to think you did it. Not to mention, you left when he asked you not to. He may just arrest you out of spite.”
“Please don’t mention that. If he doesn’t know, I’ll not scream it from a rooftop.” Josiah watched Beau in the cramped space.
Beau stopped and looked at the stairs. Heavy footfalls slowly made their way down. Shorty, wrapped in bandages like some freak from the dime novels, staggered down the stairs. The only unwrapped area was a slit for his eyes. Something close to a growl tore from the walking pile of laundry. He pushed forward and would have fallen had the doctor not grabbed his shoulder, holding him in place.
> “Gentlemen.” The doctor nodded at both of them. “Shorty is well enough to be taken to Sheriff Brentwood. Though, I’ll need to visit him daily to apply this salve until he heals.”
Shorty swung his arms at Josiah and cuffed him with his giant, wrapped hand. The clack of Josiah’s teeth hitting together rang in the small room. Beau grabbed Shorty’s arm and twisted it behind him.
“You ready to go visiting, Shorty?” Beau ground between clenched teeth.
“He won’t be able to answer. I had to bind his jaw shut. There were extensive stings on his cheeks and moving his jaw will open the wounds back up. The wraps are more to prevent the wounds from opening and to keep him from scratching them. Those stings itch something fierce.” The doctor shook his head. “I’ve never seen so many on one person. Usually it’s just a man’s back that gets hit because, well, they are running away. It was like Shorty took a nap on top of a nest. He’s got bumps…everywhere.” The doctor shook his head.
Josiah’s lips flattened. “I’ll cover his expenses, including the time you need to take to visit him at the jail.”
The doctor nodded and turned back to his office in the back room. He waved to the men and disappeared behind an office door.
Beau shoved Shorty forward. “Time to let the sheriff know what you done. The wasps were to pay you back for Josiah’s time in the brick house. Now you’ll pay for shooting Penny.”
They kept Shorty walking a pace ahead of them. People in the street stopped and stared at the strange procession. Women walking to market and men heading for the mill cocked their heads in wonder at the wrapped up man led down the street by Beau and Josiah. Josiah looked back and forth without moving his head and spoke in a gravely whisper to Beau. “I didn’t figure on having an audience for this.”