As Wes lifted his second forkful of eggs, Charles walked through the kitchen acting as if he didn’t see anyone in the room. He took a handful of fresh towels from the counter and vanished into the hallway.
Lowering the fork, Wes stared at his brother. “Bergette’s here?”
Adam nodded without stopping eating.
“Hell,” Wes shrugged. “I thought this place was too good to be true. What’s she doing here?”
“It seems Papa Dupont wanted her to marry a McLain. Thought it might help him win a state office,” Adam mumbled. “I’ve made it plain that I’m not interested, but I could put in a word for you if you’re interested in the job. To the old man one McLain is as good as another and Bergette’s always been so fond of you.”
Wes shoved a forkful of eggs in his mouth. “You do that, little brother,” he challenged. “I’d love to talk it over with the sweet little thing.”
Adam leaned back and enjoyed his coffee. “She’s come to tell me she forgives me and I can go back to Indiana with her. She doesn’t seem to care that I’m no longer interested in marrying her.” He grinned. “But you’ll hear all about it from Bergette. She should be down soon and my shortcomings are her favorite topics.”
“Rose!” Wes finished his eggs and grabbed his hat. “You think you could wrap up a few of those biscuits for me? Miss Bergette may love my brother here, but she hates the sight of me. If I’m lucky, I can get out before Charles wakes up the witch and she flies down the stairs to stomp on me.”
“You ain’t afraid of her, are you?” Rose laughed.
Wes looked surprised she’d ask such a question. “Any man would be a fool not to be.”
Rose handed him a tea towel wrapped around hot biscuits. “You come back anytime. I’ll protect you, honey.”
Wes laughed. “I just might do that, darling.”
Adam followed his brother to the front door. “Send word when you camp tonight and I’ll join you for supper.”
“I’ll do that if you bring Nick. I’d like to hear what old Wolf’s been up to these past months.”
“Nick doesn’t follow orders, but I’ll tell her about the invitation.”
They moved onto the porch as dawn lightened the sky above the run-down houses across the street. “You’re crazy about the girl, Adam,” Wes said.
“She’s not right for me. We’re too different, but she’s in my blood. Half the time I’m so mad at her I can’t get words out, and the other half I have to fight from crushing her against me.”
The balcony creaked above them and both men silently saluted a good-bye. Wes walked to the side of the porch where he’d left his horse tied. Adam leaned against the wall and listened. Someone was above him, he could feel a presence even though he guessed whoever it was wouldn’t move until he went back inside.
After waiting a few minutes, he decided he didn’t care who heard him talking with Wes. Unless it was Nichole, no one else would understand what they were talking about.
Walking slowly back in the house, Adam turned down the hallway to his bedroom. If he was lucky, he could get a few hours sleep before the day started.
Sister Cel stepped from his room as he reached for the door.
“Morning, Sister,” he whispered. “You’re up early.” In truth he’d decided the nun never slept. He’d seen her moving about the house after midnight and always before dawn.
“Morning, Doctor,” she answered formally. “I brought Nichole a tray, but she’s sound asleep. I guess she hasn’t recovered from the loss of sleep while taking care of Dancing.”
Adam yawned. “I think I’ll try to catch a few hours of shut-eye myself. I spent the night in my office chair after I fell asleep reading.” He stepped past the nun. “Will you wake me if any patients come in this morning? I don’t have any scheduled, but that doesn’t mean much in this town.”
“If I have time, Doctor. If I have time. I have much of the Lord’s work to do this morning. I’ll pass the message along to Rose if I leave the house.”
He didn’t pry. The nun usually left with a basket of food each morning. No one questioned her or objected. Several of the farm families paid in trade and she saw that none of the food went to waste.
“Thanks,” he mumbled.
“If the Lord meant us to sleep the day away, He wouldn’t have the sun come up every morning.” She crossed her arms, as if judging him. She reminded him of a bully who only picked on one person, and somehow he was the unfortunate one.
But Adam knew her better than to fall for her badgering by now. “Is that in the Bible, Sister?”
“Well, if it’s not, it should be,” she said as she moved away, already in a hurry to be about her work. “And if you read the Good Book more often, you wouldn’t have to ask.”
Adam stepped inside his room and chuckled as he locked the door. He stretched out on his bed and closed his eyes, thinking today had to be calmer than yesterday.
Just before he fell asleep, he felt Nichole slide in beside him and put a blanket over them both. She must have been tired, for she’d only removed her Colt and boots.
She didn’t say a word, or make a move to wake him. She only curled next to him as she had twice before and placed her hand on his chest.
“Good night,” he whispered without opening his eyes.
“Good morning,” she answered sleepily.
She felt so right against his side, he couldn’t help the long sigh that escaped his lips. Adam curled his arm about her and spread his fingers out across her back. Then, he felt it. The bindings. She wasn’t just walking the night. Whatever she was up to, she’d been a Shadow.
The thought brought a chill no blanket could warm.
EIGHTEEN
AFEW HOURS later, adam slipped from Nichole’s side and began his day. Two men, badly beaten, were brought in by the deputy. Russell claimed they got in a fight when left locked in the same cell, but Adam found it strange that the pair seemed to bear no hatred toward one another or fear when left side by side to wait.
As he treated each, he found bruises only a fist would make on both bodies, but neither man bore any marks on his hands. They were silent about the fight and no one could remember how it started.
By midafternoon the sky seemed to boil with clouds. Adam finally took a break. While the nun jotted down information on his next patient, he slipped through the back of the examining room and into the kitchen.
“Got any coffee?” he whispered to Rose as Charles polished a sterling silver tea set at the table. Bergette’s butler had the habit of ignoring everyone unless he needed something. His very stance told Adam how much he hated being in such primitive surroundings. Even the tea set he worked on was small and common compared with what he was accustomed to. His every stroke silently spoke of his distaste.
“I keep it on the back of the stove warming for you, Doc.” Rose smiled proudly. “Whenever you want it just yell. There ain’t no need of you having to leave work. I’ll bring it to you.”
“You don’t have to wait on me, Rose. I work here just like you.” He pointed with his head. “And Charles.”
“No, sir,” Rose objected. “Not like the rest of us. You’ve got the gift as my ma used to say. You got healing hands. And that’s somethin’ rare.” She glared at Charles. “We all ought to respect that.”
Adam poured his coffee. “They used to say my dad had a gift with horses. But my talent comes from books I read. I had a professor in medical school who used to say, ‘Be kind, help as much with the suffering as you can, and try not to bury too many who come to you.’ I do no magic, just the best I can to help.”
“Say whatever you like, but I know the truth.” Rose raised her head with pride. “I was in the general store this morning picking up a few things, and I heard one of the women say you are ten times the doctor Doc Tillie was. ’Course he still used his barber chair to do most of his surgery.
“I told them I was your new cook and they all treated me like I was somebody special. So don’t go telling me you ain’t got a gift. You would have saved Dancing too if Mole hadn’t come over and rekilled her.”
Adam laughed. “All right, I’ll keep it as our secret if you’ll set another cup of coffee in my bedroom in a few minutes. I usually drink two cups.”
