Do Not Forsake Me(30)

Randy poured some fresh water into the second washbowl and began washing. She heard Jake pumping some water in the kitchen, knew he was scrubbing his teeth with baking powder. He still had nice teeth, still had that handsome smile that unnerved her. She found it amazing that in all his father’s beatings, he’d managed to keep from getting some of his teeth knocked out. Then again, he could have lost baby teeth that way, since he was beaten as far back as a child can remember.

She shivered at the unwanted vision.

“Randy,” he called from the kitchen.

She went to the bedroom door and looked across the dining room to where he stood in the kitchen doorway. “What is it?”

“You promise me one thing, and I damn well mean it.”

Her heart fell even farther. Something was up. “What?”

“I said to stay right in this house. That means even if you hear shooting. Don’t you dare go running out into the street, you hear me? If you’re needed, someone will come and get you.”

“Jake—”

“Promise me!”

She felt the tears wanting to come. “I promise.”

Shotgun in one hand and rifle under his arm, he gave her a grim smile. “Don’t worry. I know they’re around. That makes all the difference.” He walked out.

“Jake—” she said softly. She hurried to the door, pulling aside the lace curtain at the oval window there. She watched Jake emerge from the pathway beside the house and walk through the front gate and into the street. The pain came again, this time so bad that she doubled over. She knew she should ask Brian about it, but Brian would tell Evie, and eventually it would get to Jake, and she just couldn’t bring herself to tell him. She grimaced from the pain and closed her eyes, praying the same prayer she prayed every single morning. “God, be with him.”





Nine


Jake walked into town, thinking how Guthrie had mushroomed over just the year and a half since he moved the family here. Born out of the land rush, the town was a grand mixture of clapboard, stone, brick, and frame homes and buildings, and already boasted several banks, barbers, supply stores, feed stores, pharmacies, a lumber company, restaurants, doctors, lawyers, and of course, saloons.

Brian was in the process of urging the other doctors in town to help with fundraisers and petitions to create a property tax that could be used toward building a hospital. It pleased Jake greatly to know what a good man Evie had married. They were perfect for each other, two people who saw the good in others and were both interested in healing pain and saving lives. Jake still wondered how he could have had a hand in creating such a gift to the world as Evie was.

He headed for the stables where he kept three horses. Every day he had the owner, Tobe Baker, saddle one of them so it would be ready in case he had to ride out of town quickly.

“Mornin’, Jake!” Tobe greeted him. The old man stood barely over five feet tall and had to tilt his head back to look up at Jake. “I hear your son married the Donavans’ daughter yesterday.”

“Sure did.” Jake leaned against the doorjamb, watching the street. “Saddle Prince for me, will you?”

“Sure thing.”

Jake studied his surroundings. It was early and things were quiet…maybe a bit too quiet. He glanced to his left, where at the far end of the main street he could see his house as well as Brian and Evie’s place. Brian had built an addition to the house that he used as an office. He kept three cots there for patients who might need to stay overnight. Lloyd’s house was across the street from his own, and Jake was glad he’d left his son out of this. Lloyd deserved some time with Katie.

He lit a cigarette, taking a careful scan of every rooftop, every alley. A farmer from outside of town drove a wagon down the street, nodding to Jake.

“You’re up early, Fenton!” Jake called to him.

“Left before the sun was even up,” the man called back. “Hope Ruben’s feed store is open.”

Jake waited, thinking about Randy and how soft and willing she always was early in the morning. He wanted to go home and crawl back into bed with her, but he needed to settle his mind on why Bo Buckley and Gordy Bryant were in town…and who the third man was.

Tobe brought out a huge black gelding, saddled and ready to go. Jake always wondered how the little man managed to handle such big horses, let alone get a saddle on one. “Thanks, Tobe.”

The old man grinned a toothless smile. “You take care of yourself, now.”

Jake nodded, keeping his cigarette at the corner of his lips. “Did Bo Buckley and his bunch leave some horses with you last night?”

Tobe nodded toward a couple of stalls at the back of the shed. “Yes, sir. Right over there. Got a third one penned up out back.”