So what hindered him?
“I said send ’er up, Preacher,” the woman bellowed from the window.
“I’ll go talk to her,” Annetta whispered to Jake. Anything to make these fools lower their weapons.
Jake ignored the offer. “Now, Miss Josephine, I thought the two of us had an understanding.”
“We did. So what are you doing on my side of the street?”
“I came to fetch Dr. Cavanaugh. She’s new in town and—”
“We know who she is,” Crawford said.
“That’s right.” The woman poked her head farther out the window, and Annetta glimpsed her doughy-white skin, dark hair, and menacing gaze. “She’s a doctor. That’s why I want to talk to her. Now, quit your jabbering and send her on up.”
Did the woman have a medical problem that required a physician? The last of Annetta’s fear began to abate.
“Jake, I’ll go talk to her.” She stepped around him.
“Not a good idea.” He caught her by the elbow. “That’s Chicago Joe up there in that window.” His lips were close to Annetta’s ear. “She’s infamous in these parts, known for killing men over minor disagreements. It’s also a fact that she mistreats the women who work for her. All along she’s maintained that the town of Silverstone belongs to her. The rest of us citizens are wont to argue that point.”
“None of that matters right now.” Annetta wetted her suddenly parched lips. “Chicago Joe is a woman, and she might need medical care.” She peered deeply into Jake’s eyes and watched his expression soften.
“Against my better judgment, I’ll give you fifteen minutes. After that, I’ll fetch the sheriff and—well, I can’t promise the outcome.”
Annetta knew her decision meant someone might get injured—or worse. It might even mean losing her own life. But, strangely enough, she knew she had to go.
She discreetly touched the handle of the gun she kept tucked into the waistband of her skirt. Then she gave the black, silk embroidered vest she wore a gentle tug to ensure her weapon was hidden from view.
“Is it agreed then? Fifteen minutes?”
Annetta gave Jake a nod. “Fifteen minutes.”
He slowly released his hold on her.
Annetta swung her gaze to the woman, half-leaning out the window. “I’m coming up…but only on one condition.”
“And that is?” The woman’s features contorted into an unbecoming mask of incredulity and impatience.
“Call this man off.” Annetta’s gaze briefly flicked to Crawford. “Tell him to put away his gun.”
“Oh, aw-right,” she groused. “You heard her, Crawford.”
Watching her carefully, he lowered his pistol.
“Now, git up here.” Chicago Joe used her gun to motion toward the wooden steps fashioned onto the side of the building and leading up to her quarters. Drawing in a deep breath, Annetta lifted her hems and began the ascent.
As Bethany walked beside Luke to the door of Ralph Jonas’s sorry excuse for a home, she prayed for wisdom in dealing with his six children. Lacey, Jesse, Nathan, Lorna, Jeb, and Michael ranged in age from thirteen to three months old. The three older ones Bethany knew from their attendance at school.
The door swung open before they reached it, and Lacey smiled a greeting. She held the baby in her arms, and a look of relief fell across her features. “Miss Stafford! Reverend Luke! Please come in.”
Luke removed his hat and indicated Bethany should precede him.
She stepped into the cabin, which resembled more of a hut with walls constructed of sticks and mud. The ceiling was high to allow the heat to rise, but no platform had been built over the ground, resulting in a dirt floor. And yet Ralph Jonas’s barn was the envy of Silverstone. The animals lived better than the people on this farm. Bethany hoped the man would soon build an equally adequate home for his family.
The baby began to cry. Bethany had noticed more than once that Lacey had become the mother figure now that her mama was dead. The young girl bore a great responsibility on her slender shoulders.
Bethany knew the feeling well.
“This baby’s been cryin’ on and off for hours, Miss Stafford.” Lacey looked as though she might burst into tears herself. “I haven’t slept all night.”
“When did he last feed?” Bethany removed her bonnet and placed it over a wooden chair.
“Well, that’s just it. He won’t feed at all.”
“Hmm…”
“And Pa…well, he’s been hollerin’ an awful lot because the baby won’t quit cryin’, but he’s cryin’ on account of Pa’s hollerin’!”
“Where’s your father now?”
“In the barn. Jesse and Nathan went with him.” Lacey paused and looked down at the crying baby. “Pa’s proud of the boys. They killed a couple of rattlers this morning.”
“Snakes?” Despite the heat a cold terror made its way down her spine, spreading to her limbs. “In here?”
“Yep. They must’ve got under the wall or something. Nathan started hollering when he got up to milk the cows. For a while, everyone was hollerin’ or screaming.” She glanced at her baby brother. “Or cryin’.”
Bethany turned on her heel to run but slammed right into Luke.
“Now, Beth, calm down.” His hands rested on her shoulders. “Lacey said the snakes are gone.”
The girl came up behind her. “Why, Miss Stafford…you ain’t scared of rattlers, are you?”
“Of course she’s not.” Luke smiled at the girl before giving Bethany a pointed look.
She thought she understood. Revealing her fear of those venomous creatures would only burden Lacey all the more—either that or give her brothers ideas for tormenting their schoolteacher should they happen to learn the information.
Regaining her composure, Bethany faced Lacey. “I believe in maintaining a healthy respect for poisonous snakes.” She took the bawling baby into her arms and tried shushing him.
Luke cleared his throat. “I reckon I’ll go find Ralph and leave you and your, um, healthy respect to quieting that baby.”
“Very funny.”
Luke apparently thought so. He left the high-walled hut chuckling.
FIFTEEN
I THINK YOU’VE GOT A GOOD CASE OF GOUT.”
“Gout?”
“That’s right.”
Annetta sat back on her haunches and peered up at Chicago Joe. Having considered the woman’s pasty pallor and her notable size, Annetta determined she didn’t properly care for herself. The empty whiskey flask on the table was another telltale sign. “You must stop drinking at once and begin taking walks every day— after your foot heals, of course. In the meantime I suggest a diet that includes dried cherries, apple cider vinegar, and black bean broth.”
Chicago Joe’s doughy face contorted. “Black bean broth?”
Annetta stood to her feet. “And soak that foot in Epsom salts. I have some at the clinic. I’ll bring them to you.”
“Apple cider vinegar?” An incredulous shadow crept over Chicago Joe’s bland features.
“The mercantile carries it.” Annetta strode to the window and peered outside. The curious spectators on the street had grown in size, both men and ladies alike. To avoid giving them the bloody scene they expected, Annetta knew she’d best leave. Fifteen minutes had nearly expired. “If that’s all, I’ll be on my way.” She turned and regarded her patient, garbed in a revealing black and white checked housecoat. Her inflamed foot rested on a footstool.
“I trust that you will keep my ailment to yourself.” Chicago Joe’s dark eyes slanted in warning. “Or it’ll be the last secret you share.”
It took every ounce of Annetta’s courage, but she refused to be cowed. “I hold my patients’ conditions confidential. You have my word on it.”
“Good. Because if the Winters find out I’m sick, they’ll think they won. Old goats.”
Folding her arms, Annetta tipped her head. “Won what?”
“The town!”
“Hmm…” So Jake had been right, not that Annetta doubted him.
“I laid claim to this land before the war and hired men to build and run my saloon. I’m in charge of the, um, entertainment part of business. Let’s say it’s my way of supporting the soldiers coming and going out of Fort Yuma. But then those churchgoing busybodies, Ed and Doris Winters, showed up with their people and built across the road. They had government papers and I didn’t. So now they and those Bible-totin’ preachers have plans to run me out of business.” Chicago Joe smirked. “They sure try…except my business is booming and I’ve managed to pay off every Territory official that comes to close my doors.” She tried to stand, winced, and sat back down. “So now you know.”
“Nothing personal,” Annetta retorted, “but your business sickens me.”
“Good thing you’re a doctor then. Heal thyself.” The woman snorted.
Ignoring the blasphemous retort, Annetta surveyed the room more closely now. Chicago Joe’s furnishings were, by far, the nicest she’d seen in a long while. A plush red velvet settee, matching armchair, and footstool were positioned closest to the window, and beyond them a wide bed with a thick mattress stretched out along the entire length of one wall. A silky red quilt had been heaped upon it.
She brought her gaze back to Chicago Joe. She had to muster every drop of professionalism in order to see the woman as her patient and not a harlot. “I don’t care about town politics when it comes to caring for a person with a medical need.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Please do.” Annetta arched a brow. “Which is the reason I crossed the street in the first place. I wanted your…employees to know that if they take ill, I’m the new physician in Silverstone.”
Chicago Joe sat forward. “Just watch yourself, Missy.” She gave a toss of her head, and several fat curls fell from their pins. “You mind your own business, and I’ll summon you if you’re needed.”
“I will come and go as I deem necessary. I’m a doctor.”
Chicago Joe sighed. “I’ll say this much for you. You’ve got a lot of guts.”
“Take care of that foot.” Annetta turned and strode from Chicago Joe’s quarters. As she descended the outer stairwell, she spied Jake and Sheriff Montaño waiting at the end.
“You all right?” Concern lit Jake’s brown-eyed gaze.
“I’m fine.” Annetta had to admit that it felt good to have someone fret over her well-being. That hadn’t happened in a long time.
“Muy bueno.” Sheriff Montaño removed his hat and wiped his forehead. “But you should not have gone up there on your own. Chicago Joe has a mean streak.”
“I handled myself perfectly well.” Annetta squared her shoulders and hoped neither man would sense how weak her knees felt.
“What did Miss Josephine want?” Jake helped her off the last step, which wasn’t necessary, but she took his arm anyway.
“She had a medical question and I answered it. That’s all I will say.”
“Fair enough.” Jake inclined his head in a way that made Annetta know he understood. After all, he kept many confidences in his job as a reverend.
His job …
Annetta felt her heart cooling. Was Jacob McCabe’s concern just now how his ministry manifested? How had she started to believe his actions were personal?
The sheriff ordered the crowd to disperse, although Ed and Doris Winters sought Annetta out instead of returning to the boardinghouse.
“What happened up there?” Mr. Winters asked.
“I heard her place is a velvet den of iniquity.” Mrs. Winters shaded her eyes with one hand. “Is it? What’s it look like?”
Annetta shook her head. “I answered some questions. That’s it. There’s nothing more you need to know.”
“Now, wait just a minute here. We have a right to know. Our town board brung you here from out East.” Mr. Winters swung his gaze to Jake. “Ain’t that right?”
Jake crossed his arms and leaned against the nearby door-frame. “It doesn’t matter if the town board sponsored her or not. What goes on between Netta and her patients is nobody else’s business.”
Netta…he called me Netta. She’d forgotten that Gregory used that nickname also. Her gaze traveled up Jake’s arm until she saw the strong set to his jaw.
“On the other hand, I know you both mean well. Your concern isn’t in vain.” Jake glanced at Annetta. “Ain’t that right?”
“Yes.” The word tumbled from her lips before she could think about it. In fact, Jake’s nearness was having an all-around strange effect on her.
Jake crossed the road, tugging Annetta along with him as her hand was still hooked around his elbow. He steered her toward the clinic. When they arrived, Annetta pulled the keys from one of her skirt’s deep pockets and unlocked the door. She stepped into the small reception area, feeling suddenly emotionally drained.
Jake entered and closed the door behind him. “You all right, Netta?”
She hadn’t realized he’d followed her in. She considered him, tall and ruggedly handsome, standing by the doorway. “I’ll be fine. Thank you for defending me. I realize it could have cost you your life.”
Jake removed his hat and ran his fingers through his thick brown hair. “Praise God that Crawford wasn’t trigger-happy this mornin’ or else things might have gotten ugly.” He moved forward, wearing a curious expression. “What possessed you to cross the street in the first place?”
“You did.”
“Me?”
Annetta tipped her head and smiled. “Would you care for a cool glass of tea?”
“Sure would. Thank you.” Jake moved to an armchair in the waiting area.
With her smile lingering on her lips for no good reason that she could think of, Annetta walked to the back of the clinic and stepped outside to the building’s seldom-used kitchen. She’d brewed a large jar of tea yesterday in the sun. Then last night she’d allowed it to cool when the temperatures dipped, and this morning she had stuck the jar into the ground beneath the back porch, in hopes it would stay somewhat cool. Retrieving it, she decided her efforts had not been in vain.
She poured the sienna-colored liquid into two tall glasses and couldn’t help thinking it matched the color of Jake McCabe’s eyes. Shaking off the notion, she returned to the waiting room. She handed Jake his tea and watched as he drank most of it at one time.
“Mmm,” he said, eyeing the glass. “Good tea.” His gaze came to rest on her. “Now how did I influence you to cross the street this morning?”
Annetta took a long drink and then moved toward the splintery bench opposite Jake. “You said you preached to those women, and I wanted to let them know about my vocation as well. They might need me.”
Jake sat forward. “Netta, promise me you won’t venture over there alone in the future.”
“What do you care what I do?” The ironclad wall around her heart went up.
Jake rolled his broad shoulders. “I can’t give you a good reason. I just care.”
“Like you care about the soiled doves across the street?” Annetta stood and strode to the front windows. Business up and down the street seemed back to normal.
“No, I think my caring for you is different in that you don’t have family or a man looking after you.”
She laughed, a bitter sound to her own ears, and whirled around to face him. “Oh, and you’ve appointed yourself that man?”
A look of chagrin and something else…hurt, perhaps…fell over his features. He set his glass down on a nearby table.
“I reckon I’ll be on my way.” Sweeping up his hat, he placed it on his head and walked to the door.
“Jake, wait.” Annetta suddenly felt remorse over her harsh words. This man had not only befriended her but also saved her life.
He paused but stared at the doorknob.
“Please forgive me for being so rude. You’ve been more than kind, and I do appreciate it.”
He sent her a weak smile. “All’s forgiven.�
�� His hand turned the knob, but Annetta quickly put her body between him and the door.
“If anyone asked me who my friends are in Silverstone, I’d name you as one of them.”
Jake stepped back, pursed his lips, and gave her a single nod. “That’s real nice.”
But there was more on Annetta’s mind. “Did you mean what you said about those women across the street?”
“Remind me.” Jake pulled his brows together. “What in particular did I say?”
“About them being able to go to heaven even if they’re…impure?”
“Anyone can go to heaven, and we’re all sinners. There’s none righteous, no, not one.”
“But why didn’t God stop it?”
“Stop what, Netta?” He placed his hands on his hips.
For whatever crazy reason she wanted to tell him what happened to her the night Gregory was murdered, but the words wouldn’t come. She’d never told anyone, not even her parents or her best friend in Parkersburg. Instead, she’d closed off her world and focused on becoming a doctor. Then she came here to escape the memories. Except they’d been haunting her of late.
“The bad things that happen to people. Why doesn’t God stop them?”
“I don’t know if I have a pat answer for that, although I do know God has a plan and a purpose for all His children.”
“What if you’re not His child? Then what?”
“There’s a lot of evil in this world.” Jake backed up and leaned his shoulder against the wall. “Evil men commit evil crimes. Many of those ladies across the street suffered at the hands of diabolical men who not only stole their womanhood but also decimated their self-worth until they felt so low and useless that working in a brothel seemed like their only choice of vocation.”
“Yes, you’ve said as much earlier…and I agree.” She dropped her gaze to the plank floor.
“So what’s really on your mind, Netta?”
She glanced up at him, sensing his sincerity.
“Should I tell you what I think?” he asked.
“All right.”
An Undaunted Faith Page 15