He met Smoke’s eyes and inwardly cringed at the raw savagery he witnessed in the young man’s cold gaze. Spalding had seen firsthand the lightning speed of Smoke’s draw. Had witnessed the coldness of the man when angered. Fresh from the ordered world back east, the doctor was still somewhat appalled at the swiftness of frontier justice. But deep inside him, he would reluctantly agree that it was oftentimes better than the ponderousness of lawyers jabbering and arguing.
Sally said. “The third one was called Moore. Glen Moore. South Colorado, I think. I’m tired, honey.”
Spalding stepped forward. “That’s all, Smoke. Let her sleep. I want to show you something out in the living room.”
In the big room that served as kitchen, dining, and sitting area, the doctor dropped three slugs into Smoke’s callused palm.
He had dug enough lead out of men since his arrival to be able to tell one slug from another. “.44s, aren’t they?”
“Two of them,” Smoke said, fingering the off-slug. “This is a .44-40, I believe.”
“The one that isn’t mangled up?”
“Yes.”
“That’s the one I dug out of her chest. It came close to killing her, Smoke.” He opened his mouth to say something, sighed, and then obviously thought better of it.
“You got something else to say, Doc?”
He shook his head. “Later. Perhaps Sally will tell you herself; that would be better, I’m thinking. And no, she isn’t going to die. Smoke, you haven’t eaten and you need rest. Mona agrees. She’s fixing you something now. Please. You’ve got to eat.”
“You will eat, and then you will rest,” Belle said, a note of command in her voice. “Johnny is with the posse, Smoke. Velvet is looking after the kids. You’ll eat, and then sleep. So come sit down at the table, Smoke Jensen.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Smoke said with a smile.
“I was waiting to be certain,” Sally told him the next morning. “Dr. Spalding confirmed it the day before those men came. I’m pregnant, Smoke.”
A smile creased his lips. He waited, knowing, sensing there was more to come.
Sally’s eyes were serious. “Colton is leaving it all up to me, isn’t he?”
“I reckon, Sally. I don’t know. I do know that your voice is much stronger.”
“I feel much better.”
Smoke waited.
“You’re not going to like what I have to say, Smoke. Not…in one way, that is.”
“No way of knowing that, Sally. Not until you say what’s on your mind.”
She sighed, and the movement hurt her; pain crossed her face. “I’m probably going to have to go back east, Smoke.”
Smoke’s expression did not change. “I think that might be best, Sally. For a time.”
She visibly relaxed. She did not ask why he had said that. She knew. He was going after the men who attacked her. She expected that of him. “You’re not even going to ask why I might have to go back east?”
“I would think it’s because the doctor told you to. But you won’t be going anywhere for weeks. You were hard hit.” He smiled. “I’ve been there, too.” He kissed her mouth. “Now, you rest.”
Mona and Belle stayed for three days; Bountiful lived just over the hill and could come and go with ease. On the morning of the fourth day, Sally was sitting up in bed, her color back. She was still in some pain and very weak, and would be for several more weeks.
Smoke finally brought up the subject. “The Doc is sure that you’re with child?”
“Both of us are,” she smiled with her reply. “I knew before the doctor.”
Discussion of women’s inner workings embarrassed Smoke. He dropped that part of it. “Now tell me why you think you might have to go back east.”
“I have several pieces of lead in me, Smoke. Colton could not get them all. And he does not have the expertise nor the facilities to perform the next operation. And also, I have a small pelvis; the birth might be a difficult one. There is a new—well, a more highly refined procedure that is being used back east. I won’t go into detail about that.”
“Thank you,” Smoke said dryly. “’Cause so far I don’t have much idea of what you’re talking about.”
She laughed softly at her husband. A loving laugh and a knowing laugh. Smoke knew perfectly well what she was saying. He was, for the most part, until they had married, a self-taught man. And over the past few years, she had been tutoring him. He was widely read, and to her delight and surprise, although few others knew it, Smoke was a very good actor, with a surprising range of voices and inflections. She was continually drawing out that side of him.
“Mona’s from back east, isn’t she?”
“I’m way ahead of you, Smoke. Yes, she is. And if I have to go—and I’m thinking it might be best, and you know why, and it doesn’t have anything to do with the baby or the operation—Mona will make all the arrangements and travel most of the way with me.”
“That’ll be good, Sally. Yes. I think you should plan on traveling east.” She knew the set of that chin. Her leaving was settled; her husband had things to do. “You haven’t seen your folks in almost five years. It’s time to visit. Tell you what I’ll do. I’ll come out for you when it’s time for you and the baby to return.”
