“Tell you what, son. Why don’t I help you today and then next week if the weather is a bit warmer, you can come into town and help me.
“With what? I ain’t a doctor.” The boy stood his ground, staring up at Colin, disbelief and mistrust coming out of him in waves.
“Not yet, but maybe you could be when you’re older. You look strong enough to rub down my horse. And she just had a foal, which takes a lot of rearing. I also have a couple of small chores around the house. You could collect some wood for the fire, that type of thing.”
The boy spat on his hand and held it out to Colin. “You got a deal, Doc.”
Colin grimaced but took the child’s hand anyway. If being in prison had taught him anything, it was that self-worth was the most important thing a man could have. Once you lost that, there was no hope for you.
“Let’s get you home, son, before your ma starts worrying.”
Jude took his hand as they walked back to the office to collect his bag and then onto the mercantile. Colin ran through a list of things he could bring with him. Fay would have been ideal but she was recovering. What would he do if she became ill and he wasn’t in town? He looked at the child beside him. He was sure Woody or someone else could look after the horse. This boy and his family needed his help and he wasn’t going to let them down.
Chapter 20
Cara walked back and forth across the room.
“You’ll wear a hole in the carpet at this rate. What are you pacing for?”
“Sorry. I thought Colin might call today and he hasn’t turned up.” Cara immediately regretted being honest as Jolie smiled nastily.
“You worried something happened to him? I’d say he saw sense and just ran off.”
Cara turned on their visitor who seemed to be spending all her time in La Maison when it had been arranged for the old occupants to move somewhere else. “Why do you have to be so mean all the time? I haven't done anything to you.”
“I ain't mean, kid, just realistic. Wait till you have a few more years on you and you will be just like me.”
Cara walked over to the pegs where the coats were hanging. “I will never be as mean-spirited as you. Never.”
Throwing her coat around her shoulders, Cara stepped outside, slamming the door shut behind her. The sound of Jolie’s laughter rang in her ears. Pearl said Jolie had her reasons for being so nasty but honestly that woman was more than she could bear.
She walked down the street. Where would she go now? She hadn't really thought this through. If she called to the doctor's office it would look like she was chasing Colin. But what else could she do? She was so caught up in her thoughts she walked straight into Seamus, sweeping just outside the saloon.
“Ouch. In all tarnation what the hel…oh, it’s you. Pardon me, Miss Donnelly.”
The man’s cheeks turned red as he realized he had been about to curse at a lady. He held onto his snow shovel as if it were the only thing keeping him standing.
“Sorry, Mr. Malone. It was my fault. I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
“No harm was done. A dainty thing like you couldn’t hurt a fly.” Seamus gestured to the snow pile. “Not sure why I am even trying to clear a path. That sky is heavy with another snowfall due any time now.”
Cara giggled, causing the man to frown.
“What? You laughing at me?”
“Sorry. No, sir, but it’s just that you called me dainty. Nobody ever said that before. Usually, they say I could fall over my own feet.”
At the incredulous look on his face, Cara explained. “You know, with me being so tall and that. Her voice tapered off as the man kept frowning. “I will be on my way. Sorry again for having disturbed you.”
“I don't know what’s got into people today. Between you and Doc Deane, I ain't a hope of getting any work done. I may just have to drink my own profits.”
Colin? He’d been in the saloon. This early?
“What are you looking at me like that for? I ain't started drinking, I just said I had a mind to.”
“No, it's not that. You said something about the doctor. I was hoping to speak to him.” Cara’s cheeks flushed at the knowing glance Seamus sent her.
“You will have a job finding him. He went off with the O’Malley boy. Jude says his ma and pa are really sick. The whole lot of them. God help Doc as he'll need it. I told him to leave them be.”
“Why?”
“They don’t have a dime between them. Owe money at every place in town you can think of. Too busy having more babies.”
“Mr. Malone, that’s hardly any of our business.” Cara’s cheeks were flushed with the embarrassment of discussing such a subject with a stranger.
“Doc Deane should know better than to get involved. There’s a whole passel of O'Malley's. Thirteen at the last count. He’ll be lucky to get back to town by New Year’s Eve at this rate. They won't be able to pay him, either. Stupid eejit will probably end up getting sick and dying if what they got is catching.”
Seamus hit his shovel against the door, dipped his head and disappeared, leaving Cara staring after him. She wondered what had put him in such a bad mood. He had seemed like a genial chap when she met him on previous occasions. It couldn’t be the thought of Colin putting himself in danger, could it?
Colin dying? They couldn't be that seriously ill, could they? He was an intelligent man. He wouldn’t put himself at risk. He was a doctor. He would have to help them. He couldn’t ignore a sick adult, never mind sick children. Colin wouldn’t have thought about their ability to pay.
How on earth would he cope alone with so many? He should have some help. But who could she ask? The streets were almost deserted, everyone in town busy with their own problems. Christmas may be a time to be merry in the story books but in reality, most people were just scraping by. Certainly in this town.
Cara took a step in the direction of La Maison. Maybe Jolie would help her? Or some of the other brides? As soon as the thought crossed her mind, she dismissed it. Jolie wouldn't lift a finger and it wasn’t fair to ask the other brides to put themselves at risk. What if it was contagious, or deadly?
Cara stood there biting her lip. She couldn’t ask anyone else, yet she couldn’t leave Colin alone. He’d need help. She might not know much about doctoring but she knew a bit about nursing and a lot about how to look after children. There were two people who would help. She picked up her skirt and hurried in the direction of Colin’s home. Arriving breathless, she knocked briskly on the door.
“Where’s the fire? Oh, it’s you. He ain’t home,” Cookie snarled, almost shutting the door in her face.
“Colin needs help.”
Cookie pulled her inside, not roughly but none too gently, either. “What do you mean he needs help? What’s happened to him?”
Cara was finding it difficult to breath. Wearing a corset and running were not a good combination.
“Cookie, quit shouting at me. Colin has gone to see the O’Malleys. They’re sick. Fever. Seamus…”
“I’ll go see Seamus and find out what needs to be done. You best get back to the other brides. No sense in you making yourself ill running about the town.”
Although his words were gruff, Cookie seemed to have thawed slightly. She gave him her best smile but it didn’t have any effect.
“Thank you for your help. Seamus said the family were starving. Perhaps you could bring some food with you.”
“Aye, I know what to do. I been dealing with trouble since you were a twinkle in your pa’s eye. Now go home or Doc will kill me.”
Cara turned and went to leave. On impulse she gave the older man a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thank you for helping him.”
“That’s what real friends do, lady. They look out for one another, not stab each other in the back.”
Cara didn’t respond. Why did she think a quick smile was going to mend fences destroyed almost ten years previously?
Chapter 21
As Cara picked up her skirt and h
urried in the direction of La Maison, she spotted the livery. She stopped. If Cookie was going to speak to Seamus and then go to the store, it would be a while before he got to help Colin. But there was nothing holding her in town. Maybe she could rent a small sleigh. She’d need directions to the O’Malley house.
At first glance, it seemed the livery was deserted but then an older man came toddling out.
“Mighty cold day for you to be out and about, young lady.”
“I came to see if I could rent a small sleigh, Sir. I need to go to the O'Malley homestead. Do you know it?”
“Name’s Ezra, not Sir. Not sure I’d call it a homestead, ma’am. More like a shack out near the mine. What do you want with them? Not the type of family your sort would normally associate with. You best be off back to where you came from. Inside, warm and dry.” He made to shuffle off.
Cara stood taller. She was sick of people telling her what she should and shouldn't do.
“Excuse me, Mr. Ezra, but I intend on visiting the O’Malley household. So if you don’t mind, can you please tell me if you have a rig available? Otherwise, I will walk.”
He gave her footwear a significant look before returning his gaze to her face. “It’s plain Ezra not Mr. I got a wagon Daniels could rent you but you don’t look strong enough to manage it.” At the mutinous look on Cara's face, he added, “What about a horse? You a good rider?”
“Yes, sir, I mean Ezra. My father put me on a horse before I could walk.”
“Old Samson over there, he’s a steady one. You’ll be safe with my horse. But are you sure you wouldn’t be best off going back to your house and staying by the fire? You’re one of them brides, ain't you? You don’t know nothing about our Colorado weather.”
“No Ezra, I don’t but I do know I have to go to the O'Malleys’ and I have to visit today.” Cara stroked the horse’s face. “I don’t have my purse but I assure you Doc Deane will settle my account. Thank you for Samson. Can you help me up?”
The man grumbled, but he helped her as he gave her detailed instructions on how to find the O’Malleys’.
“You listen to me, girl. I is old enough to be your grandpappy. If you see any sign of snow, you turn around and get yourself back to Noelle. Did you hear me? This here territory, I mean state, is no place for a little lady like yourself to be playing around.”
Cara bit her lip. She knew he was trying to be kind but she didn’t like that he was treating her like a child. With a few words whispered into the horse's ear, she turned back to the man and gave him her promise and her thanks, and then she was off.
Thankfully, Samson was an obedient horse and she hadn't any problems managing him. She hadn't been lying—her father had taught her to ride from a young age but side saddle was what she was used to. Trying to ride astride in a skirt was a challenge, but she found she enjoyed the feel of being more in control of the horse. The day was cold but there was no sign of more snow. The air was crisp and refreshing. It was so liberating being away from the town—the curious stares of the residents and the worries of the other brides over the future. Even those who had married and seemed happy must be concerned whether the town would get the railroad or not.
The snow was deep in places but Samson seemed used to it. She let him take his own pace, not wanting to risk injuring the horse.
As she rode, Cara allowed her thoughts to dwell on Colin. Taking himself off to help a family who needed him was just what the Colin she had known as a child would do. He wouldn’t care whether they could pay his bill or not. All he would care about was making them better.
How could a murdering, cowardly deserter turn his back on his friends yet race to help a family of strangers? Well, they might not be strangers to Colin. After all, he had lived in Noelle since shortly after the war ended. But then she hadn't noticed him being particularly friendly with anyone, apart from Cookie and Mick.
Samson grunted, bringing Cara back to the present. Up above lay a house–even from this distance she could see it was worn down and beaten-up. She patted the horse reassuringly on the side before she rode up slowly. The door opened as she came closer. Two boys, aged about six and seven, came up to the horse, their faces lacking any sign of welcome. She thought she recognized them as the boys who had hid in the shed on Christmas day but she couldn’t be certain. They didn’t seem to recognize her.
“What you doing here? We ain't got nothing for ya.”
She gulped at their reaction. She was tempted to return to Noelle. But thoughts of Colin made her stay. “I am looking for the O’Malleys’? Is this the right house?”
“Nope. You can keep on riding.”
“Jude O’Malley, lying’s a big sin. Ma said so.”
An older girl took a swipe at the boy's head but missed. She rubbed her nose in her sleeve before looking back at Cara.
“What you want, ma’am? Jude wasn’t lying when he said we ain’t got nuttin'.”
Cara fought the urge to turn back. The child in front of her was dirtier than any she had ever seen. Her dress was so short, it was almost indecent. She could do with a bath and if Cara wasn’t mistaken, her hair was moving with a life of its own. Cara swallowed hard, about to apologize and turn, when she heard his voice.
“Cara, what in God’s name are you doing here? Is something wrong?”
“No. When you didn't turn up this morning I went to find you and so the bar man said you had gone to help someone and I thought—well, I…maybe I could help too.”
“Thank you but you need to leave now.” Colin took the reins and led the horse a little way from the house. “There’s fever in the house. I don’t know what type. Looks like Fergus won’t last much longer and Ellen, their ma, is in labor. I can’t put you at risk.”
“You can't do everything yourself. You need some help.”
“The older kids will help me.”
“That girl is about nine. From the look of her, she isn't much good at looking after herself, never mind anyone else. I’m not leaving you.”
“Cara, I am ordering you to go back to Noelle. Now.”
Cara took her feet out of the stirrups. “You can't order me around. You are not my father, my brother or my…” She was about to say husband but she couldn’t. “I am staying here whether you like it or not. Those children need our help. Now, make yourself useful and show me where to put Samson.”
“Cara, what do you know about doctoring?”
“Not much, but I know more about children than you do. I worked as a nurse in Denver and as a maid at the orphanage back in Boston. Now, are you going to stand there wasting time or are we going to get this done?”
She saw the look of admiration in his eyes before it was gone, replaced with one of acceptance. He held out his arms to help her down from the horse.
“Jude, look after Samson. Mary, show Miss O’Donnell around.”
He stamped back into the house, his anger at her lack of obedience evident for everyone to see.
“Wouldn't like to be in your shoes, lady. He’s so angry, he may just beat you when you get back to town.” The boy called Jude spoke, looking at Doc Deane.
“Don’t be cheeky, Jude. A gentleman never hits a lady,” Cara reprimanded the young boy.
“Pa hits Ma all the time. He says it keeps her in line.”
Cara opened her mouth to reply but shut it just as quick. She wasn’t about to get the children on her side by criticizing their pa. Although if Mr. O’Malley got the urge to bring her into line, she would slap his face for him. See how he liked it.
Jude was still staring at her. “Well?” she asked.
“Why did you help those boys? My friend told me you gave them food. Why?”
Cara bit her cheek in an effort not to smile at the boy. “I thought your friends may be hungry. It’s Christmas time. The season of goodwill. A time to be nice to everyone.”
Jude didn’t answer her but stood scratching his head. She itched to do the same. These children needed a good wash but first she had to see
what awaited her inside.
Chapter 22
Cara followed Mary into the house, taking off her coat as she walked through the door. She came to a sudden stop at the sight that greeted her. Not only were there more children in various states of undress, but everything in the house was covered with the same coating of dirt. The sink was full of dirty water with congealed fat floating on top, and more dirty dishes piled up on the floor beside it. The stove was black with grease and the kitchen table—it was covered in things that moved. Cara shrunk back from the task in front of her. No wonder the family was ill.
Mary didn’t seem to notice her reaction. She had picked up a toddler who was screaming loudly.
“Mary, are you the eldest?” Cara asked the girl, speaking loudly so she would hear her over the screams of the baby.
“Yes, Miss. Well, eldest girl. Abe is fifteen. He’s out in the barn. I don’t know where Sean and Paddy—they are fourteen—have got to. I is thirteen this coming March. The other twins are next to me. They is sick in bed. Doc moved them to the floor in ma’s room.” The girl gave a quick glance at the closed bedroom door and continued. “Then there is Peter, Fergus Junior, Jude–that’s him you met outside. Sammy is in bed, this one is Rachel, and I think Charlie is in the outhouse.”
There was no way Cara was going to remember all their names. She gave the girl a smile. “When was the last time you all ate?”
Mary shrugged her shoulders. “Doc Deane brought some food but I ain’t got a chance to start cooking it yet. It’s in those bags over there.”
Mary indicated a couple of burlap sacks over near the wall. Cara sent a prayer of thanks the girl had more sense than to open the bags in such a dirty space. She turned to hang her coat up on a peg but saw there were none.
“Fell down a while back. Abe said he’d fix it but he ain't got around to it yet.”
Cara put her coat gingerly on the back of a chair. She rolled up her sleeves asking Mary if her ma had an apron she could borrow. Mary glanced at the room off the side of the living room.
The Maid_The Eighth Day Page 8