Peppermint Sticks for Susie

by Joannie Kay

  "That would be a good idea, Mr. Alex."

  Peter smiled and took Susie's hand. "You aren't going anywhere until we look at your homework, little lady."

  "I've got more spelling words, Pa!" she said in disgust. "Why's there so many words to learn, anyway?"

  Alex grinned, but he stayed right where he was, holding Jenny's hand while she slept. It frightened him to think of losing her, and once again he looked at her window. The shade was pulled down, and he knew the heavy stick was in place. If anyone tried to come in through the window, they would have to break out the glass, and he would hear them, even if he was in the kitchen or the parlor. Protecting Jenny was his main job right now, and he would do it with his very life, he vowed.

  * * *

  A week after she'd been shot Jennifer got out of bed, determined she was going to get dressed and not spend another day lying in her bed or sitting in her rocking chair. Her wound was itching and the stitches were pulling! She made up her mind she was going to take them out herself if Doc didn't show up soon and remove them. She'd begged him to do so yesterday, and he'd refused. Today they were coming out, one way or another! Jenny managed to wash up and then she dressed in clothing that was easy to put on and take off. She hated the sling that Doc insisted she wear, but she dutifully put it on so that Alma and Peter... and Alex... wouldn't scold. Then, she made her bed. It wasn't perfect, but it looked better than it had in days. Oh, Alma always changed the sheets and kept her comfortable, but it wasn't the same. Today, she made the bed, and she wasn't getting back in it until bedtime that night! Her mind was made up, and she was going to dig in her heels and throw one heck of a fit if anyone mentioned 'taking it easy' or 'resting' to her today! If she had her way she would go to the Mercantile and work, but with the stitches pulling, she knew she couldn't do that. Soon, she promised herself. Soon she would get back to work and life would be normal once again.

  She left her room, shutting the door softly, and making her way out to the kitchen. It was still early and she was certain that everyone else would be in bed. They were, and it suited her just fine. She managed to start a fire in the cookstove, and she put on the coffee as soon as the stove was hot enough to do so. Jenny mixed up batter and made a cinnamon coffee cake, which she put in the oven to bake.

  "What are you doing, Jenny?" Alma came rushing into the kitchen, a worried expression on her pretty face. "You should be in bed!" she exclaimed, scolding the younger woman.

  "I am sick of being in bed, Alma. I am not sick, and I feel just fine... except for these damn stitches that are pulling like crazy!" Jennifer replied, her frustration reflected in the fact that she swore and by the tone of her voice.

  "You sit down at the table right now; Peter will scold for certain and sure if he sees you are up and about and doing more than Doc has permitted, Jenny. Your body has had a terrible shock and you need lots of rest right now."

  "Alma, please... I do not want to hear another word about going back to bed." Jenny knew she was on the verge of losing her temper, and since the sweet woman had been nothing but kind to her, she didn't want to give vent to her frustration by taking it out on her. "I am just so sick and tired of lying about and doing nothing."

  "I understand," Alma said with a smile. "I can't believe you put on coffee and mixed a coffee cake with just one hand to use! I'm sure it will be delicious." She bustled around the kitchen, slicing off some bacon and grating some potatoes and onions to fry. The wonderful smells filled the air, and it wasn't long before little Susie joined them, rubbing her eyes in an attempt to wake up. Peter came, too, leaning down to kiss his pretty wife good morning.

  "Something smells wonderful," he said, smiling. He quickly noticed that Alma's eyes filled with tears that she tried unsuccessfully to blink away. "What's wrong, sweetheart?" he asked, concerned.

  "Nothing is wrong, darling. It's just so wonderful to see you up and about and looking forward to breakfast. I feel blessed."

  "I am the one who is blessed, Alma," he whispered, putting his arm around her and lowering his head to rest his cheek on hers. "I am regaining my strength, and I think I'll be able to work again soon and take care of you and Susie as I have longed to do."

  "It's a miracle," little Susie solemnly informed them. "Miss Koons said so yesterday when I said how you are feeling better."

  "I believe your teacher is right, honey," Peter admitted. There was a knock on the door and Alex walked in. "You are just in time for breakfast, Alex," Peter welcomed him.

  "I smelled cooking on the front porch," Alex admitted, leaning down to kiss Jenny. "You look like you are feeling much better today. I expected to find you in bed... where you are supposed to be," he scolded.

  "I am sick to death of lying in bed, and I refuse to do so another day!" She was in a grumpy mood and not about to hide her emotions from anyone. She got to her feet and stomped across the floor to open the door on the oven to check her coffee cake. It was done and ready to take out of the oven. She grabbed a dish towel, only to have Alma intercept her.

  "I'll do that, Jenny. You only have one good arm right now," she reminded the redhead.

  "I'm capable, Alma!" Jennifer protested.

  "No, you aren't, and I won't permit you to get burned to prove it." Alma took the pan from the oven and put it on a hot pad on the table. "It's bad enough that you put it in the oven without any help," she stated, unaware that Alex was listening until he remonstrated with Jennifer.

  "You put that into a hot oven, Jenny? Why?"

  "Perhaps because it wouldn't get baked sitting here on the table...?" she sarcastically replied. "I want you and everyone else to stop treating me like I am ill. I'm not."

  "Breakfast is all ready," Alma quickly inserted before Alex could say anything else. She was positive that Jenny was in for a serious scold, but she didn't want that to happen while Susie was hanging on every word from the adults she admired. "Peter, would you offer grace," she asked.

  Peter smiled at his wife and did as she requested. The meal was wonderful and just as they finished, the Doctor arrived to check on Jennifer. "I have to ride out of town and I might not be back for a day or two," he explained. "I knew you'd have a royal fit if I left those stitches in that much longer."

  "Susie, let's get you ready for school," Alma shooed the little girl into her bedroom, following after her.

  "Can I fix you a plate, Doc?" Peter offered.

  "Not this morning, Peter, but thanks. I already ate with the Sheriff and his wife." He turned to Jennifer and said, "I'm surprised to find you sitting here at the table, Miss Jenny. You are supposed to be in bed, resting. You will need to take it easy for at least another week. I don't mind if you sit up for a bit, but you are not ready to be going about your life as usual just yet."

  "I'm fine, Doctor, and I will be even better once you quit scolding and take out these damned stitches. They are pulling and they hurt more now than in the beginning! And, I am going back to work at the store tomorrow. I've rested enough for ten lifetimes!" she argued.

  "I can see you are feeling testy this morning, and it would serve you right if I let you go on back to work. I'd give you an hour, two at the most, and you'd be wishing you'd kept your fanny home and in bed!" Doc told her bluntly. "Now come into your room with me so we'll have a bit of privacy to take out these stitches, and then you are going back to bed for the rest of the morning, with no more fuss, or I'll turn you over my knee and warm your behind before putting you back to bed myself."

  "As if!" Jennifer was highly insulted, and her flashing green eyes flayed the doctor.

  "Don't think I couldn't, little girl. I slapped your bare bottom when you were born and you're not so big now I couldn't do it, and if you keep on sassing me, I will!" Doc had a temper of his own.

  "Jennifer, stop giving Doc a rough time. You're acting like a little brat right now and I won't have that out of my fiancee." When she opened her mouth to retort, he cut her off, "And if I were you, little girl, I wouldn't throw that 'you don't have
to be my fiancee' bull at me again. You got out of bed on the wrong side this morning, and you are done taking your ill mood out on everyone else. Do you hear me?" he demanded.

  Jennifer stuck her tongue out at him and then marched herself into the bedroom. Doc looked at the younger man and said, "It's her shoulder that is hurt, son, not her fanny. If it takes a warming to settle her down and keep her in bed, go to it. Just don't get so rough with her that you open up that wound again. I won't be here to sew her up. And don't you go gettin' yourself shot up while I'm gone, either. Those rustlers can wait another day or two to get locked up." With that, the good Doctor went into Jennifer's room and Alex was left to wonder if there was anyone in town who didn't realize he was a lawman, or that he was here for the express purpose of arresting the ones who were rustling cattle from the area ranchers.

  "I'm sorry I snapped at you, Doc," Jennifer made the apology she knew she needed to make once he was through removing the stitches and covering her wound. "I feel so much better, and..."

  "And the reason you feel better is because you've been resting like I told you to, honey. You aren't ready to go back to that Mercantile for at least another week, and I've already told Angus MacGregor that. He won't be allowing you in the store until I say so." He gave the redhead a smug smile, and it was all Jennifer needed to lose the fragile hold she had over her temper.

  Alex heard her shrieks and got up and literally ran to see what was wrong, expecting to find someone outside her window, or even in her room! But, when he rushed through the door it was to see her pick up her hairbrush to throw at the good doctor! "Jennifer, if you throw that I promise you I will use it on your bare backside!"

  Chapter Ten

  Jennifer heard the sharp note in Alex's voice and suddenly realized she'd gone too far. Instead of throwing the brush at the good doctor, she dropped it on the bedside table and then turned her back to the men so they couldn't see the tears pooling in her green eyes.

  "See if you can get her back into bed, son. She needs rest," Doc said, heading for the door. "I'll be by in a couple of days to check on you, Miss Jenny." His temper was completely gone.

  "Okay," she replied, barely able to speak over the lump in her throat. Jennifer was mortified that she'd behaved so badly, and she simply wanted to be alone.

  Alex shut the door after the doctor left and then he said, "I have a good mind to turn you over my knee and bare your bottom for a damn good spanking, little girl." He heard her sniffling and knew she was crying. He told himself it was time to exercise some patience. "I've been shot before, Jenny, and I do know how you are feeling. It's not fun to want to get up and do everything you are used to doing, but I know from experience that if you don't allow your body to heal properly the next few weeks will be rough on you physically." He paused, allowing her to ponder his words. "Are you able to undress and get yourself into bed, or should I send Alma in to help you?"

  "Just leave me alone, please," she finally managed to say, and Alex knew she wanted to be alone so that she could have a good cry.

  "I'll check on you in a little while, honey." He turned and left the room, closing the door behind him. He stood there long enough to hear that Jennifer was crying. Alex felt it was best to give her the promised few minutes alone. He really didn't want to spank her while she was feeling so low.

  "Do you want another cup of coffee, Alex?" Peter offered.

  "Sure." He sat at the table with the other man and helped himself to more coffee from the pot that was sitting on a hot pad.

  "Doc told me that Miss Jenny is real put out with everyone right now...?"

  "She is acting like a spoiled brat," Alex admitted. "It best stop, too, or she is going to learn that she is well enough to get her butt smacked."

  "Alma said that Jenny already had the coffee on the stove and a coffee cake in the oven when she came out to start the stove. I couldn't believe that Jenny was able to get a fire going in the stove with only one good arm."

  "She's pushing for sure." He finished his coffee, then got to his feet. "I'll go back in there and see if Jenny is settled in bed like she is supposed to be." His mind was made up to give her a reason to regret it if she wasn't complying with Doc's orders. To his surprise, Jennifer was in bed, and she'd obviously cried herself to sleep. Her pretty cheeks were streaked with tearstains. Quietly, so he wouldn't disturb Jenny, Alex left the room and closed the door behind him. He heard Alma walk in the front door.

  "Was Susie on time for school?" Peter asked of her as Alex entered the kitchen.

  "Yes. Miss Koons was ringing the bell just as we arrived," Alma answered with a smile. "We ran all the way there, too!" She then turned to Alex. "Did Doc get all the stitches out of Jenny's shoulder?"

  "Yes, he did; then she threw a fit and was ready to throw her hairbrush at him when I went into the room because she was raising so much heck over him we could hear her clear out here. She's asleep now," he added when Alma gave him a look full of worry and compassion.

  "I am so relieved you got Jenny to go back to bed. She was up much too early this morning, and in spite of what she claims to the contrary, she isn't feeling all that well." Alma walked across the kitchen and put hot water and soap into the dishpan, and she filled another empty dishpan with hot water to rinse the dishes.

  Alex got up, picked up a dish towel, and started drying the dishes Alma washed.

  Peter kept a straight face as he asked, "Do you want an apron, Alex?"

  Alex grinned, and then said, "I've done a lot of dishes in my time, friend. Besides, as many meals as I've been taking here lately, drying a few dishes is a small thank you for Alma."

  "You don't need to thank me, Alex. We're happy to have you."

  "Thank you."

  * * *

  Reverend Jeffrey Dixon straightened his black tie in the mirror before he opened his front door and stepped outside. The first person he spotted was Alex Martin and he felt his temper immediately rise to the boiling point. The man came along out of nowhere and took the one woman in town worth having. Jeffrey had spent so much time patiently cultivating a relationship with Jennifer Shelley only to lose her to a saddle tramp passing through town. If he'd thought it was hard to have Mrs. Neely watching his every move, he couldn't get his nose inside the Beckley home to even speak to Jenny. Neither Peter Beckley, nor his wife, would allow him to see Jennifer, and he was positive they weren't even telling her that he'd stopped by to pay his respects. After all, he was her minister, and calling on the sick was his duty. It was expected of him. He decided to give it one more try while Martin was inside the Mercantile.

  He briskly walked to the Beckley home at the edge of town and walked up the steps to the front porch to knock on the door. Alma Beckley answered, a smile on her face until she saw who it was. "Miss Jenny does not wish to see you, Reverend."

  "It isn't that I doubt your word, Mrs. Beckley, but I want to hear that from Miss Jenny. She has been very active in my church since I arrived in town and I simply cannot believe that she doesn't wish for me to pay a sick call. I wish to ascertain for myself that she is not being held under duress."

  "Preacher, my wife doesn't lie." Peter Beckley pulled the door open wider to glare at him. "Why would Miss Jenny want to see you after you got her kicked out of the boarding house and attempted to get her fired? She sees through you for what you are. Now get out of here and don't come back."

  "You'll sing a different tune when I tell the good people of this community that you are encouraging Jennifer Shelley in her immoral behavior with Alex Martin. They will have nothing to do with you... and I imagine they will forbid their children to play with your daughter." No sooner did he finish speaking than Jeffrey found himself pinned against one of the posts holding the front porch overhead. He gasped for air as Peter's forearm cut off his air supply.

  "If you say one word against Miss Jenny, or implicate my family in any way, Preacher, I will see your tongue cut out so you'll never speak again. Got it?" Peter angrily demanded.


  Jeffrey tried to nod, even as he wished for his gun.

  "Peter, darling, let him go. He is not worth getting into trouble with the law."

  "My wife made me give up my old ways, Preacher, but I wouldn't go pushing me too far. I don't have any patience when my family is threatened." He shoved the man down the steps of their home. "Pick yourself up and don't ever come back."

  Once he was gone Peter looked down at Alma and said, "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I know I promised you that there would be no more violence in my life, but I'm still a man. I won't let anyone threaten you and Susie and get away with it."

  "I'm thinking that since you've started eating better, Peter, you are regaining your strength," Alma told him with one of her gentle smiles, letting him know that she understood.

  "I'm getting there, Alma," he admitted, putting his arm around her shoulders and leading her inside. He was a fortunate man and he had the good sense to know it.

  * * *

  Jennifer felt her face burn with embarrassment when she woke and recalled the childish way she'd behaved earlier. She got out of bed, put on her wrapper over her gown, and then slid her bare feet into slippers. She ran her hairbrush through her long hair, recalling how she'd threatened to throw the brush at the Doctor. How awful. She owed everyone an apology. Alex was right about that. Just because she was frustrated, it didn't give her the right to treat everyone with such disrespect. Once she was presentable, Jenny straightened her bed, and then she opened the door of her bedroom. Alma was standing at the stove, stirring a pot. She turned to face Jenny and smiled.

  "Alma, I am so sorry for the terrible way I acted this morning. I am so embarrassed," Jenny admitted.

  "Oh, I understand, Jenny. Don't give it another thought. Does your arm feel better now that the stitches are out?" she asked.

  "It's still a bit sore, but the pulling is gone, and that is a huge relief."