Mary

by Peggy McKenzie

  “No, she’s not alright. She’s talking about leaving.”

  “She’s leaving? To go where?”

  “Back to those damned . . . people,” Liam spit out.

  “By people, do you mean the Utes?” Doc closed his open office door, locked it, and hung the closed sign in the window to curtail the possibility of any late patient arrivals. He had more pressing matters to deal with now.

  Liam frowned at him. “Yes, of course I mean the Utes. Who else would I mean?” he huffed.

  “Ah, I was afraid of that.” Doc pulled his office chair away from the desk and straddled it. Crossing his arms over the back, he rested his chin on his arms. “Why don’t you sit down, Liam. Obviously, this is something that is upsetting you.”

  Liam glared at him. “Of course I’m upset. My sister, the sister I thought was dead and whom I haven’t laid eyes on in eighteen years, wants to go back and live with those people up in the mountains. She wants to leave civilization and return to that life. What kind of life is that for a woman, Doc? I mean, why would anyone who’s been through the kind of things my sister has . . . why on earth would she even consider wanting to go back? I’m at a total loss to understand even a tiny part of this. It makes no sense, and—” Liam stopped mid-sentence and frowned at him. “What do you mean you were afraid of that? Did Mary say something to you on the way here?”

  Doc had suspected Liam would have trouble in understanding this situation fully. He hadn’t anticipated Mary would decide to return to the Utes so quickly. Had something happened between them? Perhaps if he had some idea what had gone wrong, he could help cool the tension between them. “Liam, put yourself in Mary’s situation. She was a child when she was taken. And for the next four years, she was treated horribly. Abused. Beaten. Probably starved. Forced to live without food or shelter. Her situation as a slave was untenable. A person’s mind learns to temper unpleasant outside forces to a more manageable . . . and survivable level.”

  “That’s what I’m saying. Her mind isn’t thinking straight. How could she want to go back there after everything those people did to her?” Liam paced around Doc’s office. His body as busy as his mind.

  “But the Utes aren’t those people, remember? They saved her. They made it possible for Mary to escape her captors and they gave her a place she could eventually feel safe in. A place she could, and did, call home. The Utes are not those people.”

  Liam turned his angry gaze on Doc. “What difference does that make now? She doesn’t need them to give her a home. She has a home…with me and my family.”

  Doc stood and blocked Liam’s path to stop his pacing. He placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder and force him to listen. “It makes a big different to Mary. Some are angry, violent, and full of hatred. In their eyes, the white man is the enemy on all levels and they will do anything to get them out of their lands. But the Utes have worked long and hard to get along with the white man. Personally, I can see what draws Mary back to them.”

  Liam glared at him. “I could probably understand that too, if she didn’t have a real family now. I get it. I know what my wife went through growing up. She was abandoned and bullied because of what she looked like. And I’ll be forever grateful to her adopted sisters and Rosie for loving her and caring for her and protecting her. And I understand that having a family—any family no matter how unusual the circumstances are—is better than none, but I’m here now, Doc. Right here. My sister and I have been apart for more years than we were together. Why would she turn her back on me after this miracle that brought us together? Can you tell me that?” His friend demanded answers.

  “She’s not turning her back on you, Liam. Not at all. She’s a woman grieving, that’s all. She’s grieving for the boy that was her brother because now she’s seen him as a man. Think about it. You are her brother, but you aren’t the brother she remembered. You are different so she hasn’t reconciled the two of you yet. She’s been grieving since she was ten years old for her family. It’s a very traumatic thing to witness one’s own mother and father brutally murdered right in front of you. You were there. You know how bad you hurt. She was a ten-year-old little girl. That kind of thing stays with you forever. Trust me, I know.”

  Liam’s angry expression settled at his words and he knew he’d said too much. “I’ve always had the feeling there’s more about your past than you were willing to tell. Why is that?” His friend’s keen lawyer intellect was now razor-sharp and focused on him. Damn it.

  “Let’s just stay on track, shall we? Give Mary time. She’s only been in town a few hours. She doesn’t know you. We are all strangers to her, and she’s yearning for the comfort and familiarity of her people—the Mountain Utes.” He saw Liam’s mouth open to object. “There’s the family we are born into and there’s the family we choose. You know that as well as anyone. Give her time to decide which family gives her what she needs.”

  “And that is?”

  “Love. Safety. Protection. You know from your own wife’s experiences that a town like this can be judgmental and cruel and you can’t be with Mary every minute of the day.” He sighed. “And it doesn’t help that she has those marks on her face. I fear those are going to be a problem for some of the citizens of our fair town.”

  “I’ll hire a bodyguard if I have to. But I will protect my sister.” Liam’s vow was adamant. “I’ll see to it she’s protected every moment of every day. No harm will come to her, at least not while she’s under my care.”

  Doc knew his friend was sincere, but he also knew his friend didn’t have the full picture. “Liam, your sister probably doesn’t need protection. Living with the Utes all these years, she’s well-equipped to protect herself.”

  Liam frowned at him and opened his mouth to say something when Doc stopped him. “Do you remember when you had to represent Faith against the charge of murder because she shot a man who attempted to rape her? She was protecting herself, but because she was different she was charged with a crime.”

  “Yes. There are a lot of prejudices against people with brown skin. Faith would have hung on the gallows if I hadn’t . . .” His words trailed off and Doc knew he was also thinking about his own prejudices against Faith because of his personal experiences with brown-skinned people.

  “And what about Charlotte?” Doc asked.

  “What about Charlotte?” Liam frowned in confusion.

  “I heard from Big Angus she was charged with a crime because she accidentally killed a man who was trying to attack her. Why is that do you think?”

  “Well, um, I’d say because the brother of the man killed wants some kind of justice against a saloon girl who killed his brother.”

  “Exactly. He thinks Charlotte got what was coming to her doesn’t he? Just because she made her living behind the bar of a saloon, he thinks she’s fair game.”

  “Yes, he said as much in court today.” Liam grimaced.

  “Mary is no different. Even though she has red hair and light skin, those marks on her face will draw every low life piece of crap to her. They’ll treat her like she’s free for the taking and when she fights back, and she will fight back, she’ll be the one blamed for the trouble.”

  “But she won’t have to, Doc. That’s what I’m saying. I’ll make sure that she’s watched—”

  “Liam, Mary isn’t going to stand for that. You can’t keep her confined like a little girl. She’s a grown woman with a mind of her own. The point I’m trying to make is that if someone threatens her, she will be forced to defend herself. Just like your wife did. Just like Charlotte did.”

  “Well, that’s not going to happen.”

  “It’s gonna happen, Liam, and you can’t stop it.”

  Chapter 7

  Mary sat on the Hanovers’ settee in silence after Liam stormed out trying to understand what had just happened between them. His outburst was so abrupt. She knew he would struggle to understand why she wanted to go back to the Utes, but she had hoped he would at least take a moment to li
sten to her reasons. Instead, his anger took charge and he had the audacity to forbid her to go. Like she was a child he could still boss around.

  A sad wave of nostalgia tempered her irritation. To her brother, she was still that ten-year-old girl he watched stolen away. He thought she was dead just as she had been convinced that he was dead. It would take them both some time to reconcile the past to the present. How much time, she had no idea, but she would stay in town until they were both happy with her decision.

  “Has Liam gone?” A man’s voice spoke from the parlor doorway.

  She looked up and saw Mrs. Hanover’s husband standing there. She stood and invited him in. “Please, do come in. Yes, Liam was a bit overwhelmed by my unexpected return. After all, I had a few more days to make peace with the news that my dead brother was alive. I fear the shock may have been too much for him.”

  The stout, round little man joined her. “Please set down. Can I offer you some refreshments before our dinner is ready?”

  “No, my stomach is too nervous to drink, or eat, much of anything at the present.”

  “Has something happened between you and Liam?” The man was very observant. Perhaps that’s why he was so well thought of around these parts, at least according to Doc.

  “I fear I may have said something to upset him. I was just trying to be honest with him, but perhaps I could have been more sensitive . . . or less direct. You see, in my village, people say what they mean.”

  “Would you mind if I ask what it was you think you said to upset your brother? I can’t imagine anything would have tempered his joy at learning the sister he thought lost had returned to the land of the living.”

  She could tell the man was trying to help, but he didn’t know what she’d said to her brother within hours of reuniting with him. “I told him once we had reunited sufficiently, I would be returning to my family—the Utes.”

  He nodded his understanding. “Oh, I see. Well, I suppose I can see how he might be upset by that statement. Did you explain to him why you wanted to return?”

  “I didn’t get a chance. He just got angry with me, forbid me to leave, and then stormed out. I wish I could talk to him, but I don’t know where he went.” She sighed in frustration.

  “I understand. Perhaps Liam can use some time to reflect. After all, he does have a hair-trigger temper, although he’s worked on calming it a bit over the last few years. Faith has certainly helped with that.” The man sitting across from her remained deep in thought for a minute or so. Then, he looked up at her over tented fingers resting against his chin. “I know Liam very well, my dear. I think we should let him cool off overnight. It’s been my experience, once he has time to ponder the matter, he usually reconsiders his impulsive position. Wait until morning and then the two of you can sit down again and look at this situation with a fresh pair of eyes. How does that sound?”

  “I am tired. Perhaps that’s best,” she agreed. Thoughts of her warm bed stuffed with fragrant pine boughs and covered with soft bearskins by a low crackling fire called to her exhaustion, but she was too far away and would have to be satisfied with the uncomfortable looking bed upstairs in her temporary room.

  “Why don’t I see how long before dinner? You can get a good meal and a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow, everything will look brighter in the beautiful mountain sunshine. I promise you that.”

  The man seemed so confident. Mary clung to the notion “I hope so. Thank you, Mr. Hanover, for your kindness and your hospitality.”

  “Call me Hiram. Please. And don’t give it another thought. We needed another redhead around this house. Since Charity left, the house has been so empty for Aggie and me.”

  She caught a glimmer of sadness in the man’s tone, but he stood and offered her his arm so perhaps she imagined it. Together, they left the parlor and walked down the hall arm-in-arm toward the dining room. Mrs. Hanover and the woman she and Doc had passed in the kitchen were busy carrying in dishes of food, aromas intertwined until her troubled stomach now clambered to know what was inside each dish.

  When Mrs. Hanover was finished bringing in the dishes, her husband pulled out her chair and when she was seated he kissed her on the cheek. Looking up at him, she stroked the side of his face and smiled. Their display of feelings for each other was new to her. Though her and Liam’s parents loved each other, they never had open displays of affection like this. And she had never once seen her adopted Ute father show affection to his wife even though they had been committed to each other many years before they took her in. She sensed these people, and their relationship, was something special.

  Hiram pulled out Mary’s chair and seated her on his left side while his wife sat on his right. Soon, Aggie was dipping spoonful upon spoonful of food onto Mary’s plate, explaining each one in detail. Mary obliged her hosts and tasted each one. She soon realized she loved the layers of flavor in this food compared to what the Ute’s diet contained. There were no spices to liven up a tough rabbit or gamey buck. The only cure was a sound pounding to tender the meat and a few wild herbs and a boiling pot of water. She had to admit, she could get used to this kind of fare. Another spoonful of onions and potatoes cooked with heavy cream and she decided she couldn’t eat another bite.

  “Save some room for dessert, Mary. Sarah made a peach cobbler that is unbelievable.” Hiram’s voice pulled her out of her musings.

  “I’m so full, I don’t think I could eat another bite—”

  Just then a spoonful of crust and cooked peaches landed on her plate with a puddle of thick cream on top.” Her eyes grew round at the sight. “Well, maybe just a bite.” She picked up her spoon and when the sweet creamy confection hit her tongue, she couldn’t help but moan her delight. Before she realized it, she was scraping the remnants of cream and crust from her plate.

  “Mary, Hiram tells me you are anxious to get back to the mountains. I hope your wanting to leave doesn’t have anything to do with our hospitality.” Aggie asked between bites of cobbler.

  “No, of course not. I’m not really in a hurry to leave. I intend to spend as much time as Liam and I need to reconcile our past and began a new future as the adults we are now. I suppose I should have waited to discuss leaving well after we had discussed my arrival. I was trying to be honest with my brother and not give him false hope that I would always live here.”

  “So you wish to live in both places? Is that possible?” Aggie pressed her for answers between bites.

  “I hope so. I feel there are a great many things to be learned from both worlds and leaving one or the other behind for good would serve no purpose.”

  Hiram surprised her with a belly laugh and he pounded on the table. “Mary, I wholeheartedly concur.”

  It had been three days since he had brought Mary O’Brien to town and he hadn’t seen hide nor hair of the woman. He could admit to himself that he liked the time he spent with her on the trail over the mountain from The Springs to Creede. She was observant. She knew a lot about wild herbs and plants, and the two of them had a connection. At least, he felt something when he was with her. What that something was, he wasn’t ready to analyze just yet.

  “Doc, I’ll finish cleaning up here. Why don’t you go take care of whatever it is that’s troubling you.” Hope puttered around their patient’s bedroom and tended to the exhausted new mother nursing her newborn son.

  Surprised at Hope’s comment, he frowned. “What do you mean what’s troubling me? What makes you think something is—”

  She gave him that look. The one that said don’t try to fool me, Doc. Remember, I’m married to Billy Buchanan and I know all the tricks in the book when it comes to hiding troubles. The woman had a talent for reading a man’s mind. It was that talent that made her the perfect assistant. She could sense what he needed before he asked for it, but it was also that talent that made it difficult to hide things from her. And there were times when she didn’t need to know everything that was running through his mind.

  “Well, I do have a
few things pressing in my absence to The Springs and back. I suppose if you’re sure you’ve got everything under control . . .”

  “I think I can handle whatever Mrs. Wilkinson needs. If not, where can I find you?”

  He packed up his black leather medical bag, glanced at their sleeping patient. “I’ll be making rounds in town. Maybe I’ll go by and see old man Spencer. He’s got that nasty cut on his leg that has been festering for about a week now. Every time I get it halfway healed, the old man rubs the wound full of gunpowder and sets it ablaze.”

  Hope’s eyes rounded in surprise. “Is he still doing that?”

  “Yeah, he’s still doing that. His mind is about a half bubble off, so I gotta watch him a little closer than most. Otherwise, he keeps this up, he’s gonna lose that leg.”

  “Good luck then,” Hope called to him on his way out the door. Mr. Spencer’s old house was not too far from the Hanovers. Maybe he should stop by and— no, if anyone there needed help, she had promised to let him know.

  His long stride made short work of the few blocks back to Main Street. From Main, he turned and walked west. Spencer lived just on the outskirts of town in an old run-down house that had been abandoned by its former occupants. The place had been for the taking complete with a rusty old pump out back. It was barely inhabitable, but Spencer seemed content there and that was all that mattered he supposed.

  Doc had just rounded the corner to Spencer’s walkway when he heard a commotion. He heard men’s laughter. It seemed good-natured so he turned away, but when he heard the faint sound of a woman’s voice, he sensed something wasn’t right.

  He immediately turned to the house across the street and followed the sound of the voices around back. When he rounded the corner of the house, he saw three men surrounding a woman in the alley. He could tell their attention wasn’t wanted.