Read Online Promise Me Texas (A Whispering Mountain Novel) by JODI THOMAS - Free Book Online
Authors: JODI THOMAS
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The doc’s not helping him, don’t you understand? For some reason, he’s killing this young man.”
The nurse shook her head, not wanting to believe such an outrageous claim. “Tell the cowboy to act like he’s asleep when the doctor checks on him at noon, and don’t untie him no matter what. He’s a man in his last days, the doctor told me for a fact. You’ve only prolonged his suffering by not letting me give him the shot he needed.”
She wanted to believe the doctor, but Beth could see her fighting with the truth. “I’m not killing him with the shots, miss. They make him sleep. Doc told me it was better than him dying screaming.”
Beth could see how the nurse had been pulled into this crime, but young men don’t just die. “Has the bite been treated?”
The nurse shook her head. “Only bandaged.” She held her head up. “Doc said it was fatal, so there was no need. I don’t know what else is wrong with him. Doc said his number was up.”
“It’s all right. I’ll see to him from here on out.” Beth tried to look like she knew what she was talking about. “I’ve been trained in these matters.”
The nurse gave a jerky nod and ran.
For a moment the room was silent, and then Beth heard Andrew whisper as he neared, “You were right. They were trying to kill him, and that woman knows the truth even if she won’t admit it.”
Beth smiled at her make-believe husband. “As long as we’ve been married, and you haven’t learned that I’m always right, dear?”
They both moved to the young man, who was shaking like a newborn calf. “Thanks. About the time my mind would start to come back, she’d poke me with another shot. Each one sent me further under,” he whispered in a voice that sounded like he hadn’t used it for a while.
“Who are you? Why are they doing this to you?”
“Name’s Colby Dixon, and I have no idea why anyone would want to kill me. Three days ago I was on my way farther south to my ranch. I thought I’d spend a night here before I headed on. Biggest mistake I ever made.”
She wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Are you in pain?”
“Yeah, but it’s better than being in that dark hole of nothing.” He swallowed a little water and drifted back off talking. “Watch over me, lady, until I come back around. I thought you were an angel. Glad to know you turned out to be real.”
“I’ll do that, Colby,” she said, knowing he hadn’t heard her.
Andrew pressed his finger along the side of the boy’s throat. “His breathing is regular and his pulse seems solid.”
“Do you think he’ll live?” she asked, not sure she wanted to be told the truth.
“He’s at least got a chance now. I noticed a nurse giving him shots yesterday every time he made a sound. The doctor only checked him once, and I didn’t miss how frustrated he looked. I thought it was because the fellow wasn’t getting any better, but maybe it was because he wasn’t getting any worse. Now, if the drug in his system can work its way out, he should start to improve.”
“You a doctor
and
a train robber?”
“Neither. I did take a semester or two of medical school when I was nineteen but I didn’t go back for the second year.” He thought about telling her he’d tried every profession. Nothing fit. How can a man be good at nothing in this world?
“You found my horse.” He changed the subject.
“I thought you might need her when you’re able to ride. Levi told me where the pinto was.” She looked out the window. “I should have taken her to the barn last night and brushed her down, but it was so late and I don’t like walking these back streets alone. As soon as I can, I’ll go feed her this morning.”
“How’d you know that pinto was mine?”
“I know horses, Andrew. I noticed her the night of the robbery. Some people notice color and markings first. I remember the way the pinto moved that night. Head high. Front legs dancing in the mud as if she wanted no part of
The nurse shook her head, not wanting to believe such an outrageous claim. “Tell the cowboy to act like he’s asleep when the doctor checks on him at noon, and don’t untie him no matter what. He’s a man in his last days, the doctor told me for a fact. You’ve only prolonged his suffering by not letting me give him the shot he needed.”
She wanted to believe the doctor, but Beth could see her fighting with the truth. “I’m not killing him with the shots, miss. They make him sleep. Doc told me it was better than him dying screaming.”
Beth could see how the nurse had been pulled into this crime, but young men don’t just die. “Has the bite been treated?”
The nurse shook her head. “Only bandaged.” She held her head up. “Doc said it was fatal, so there was no need. I don’t know what else is wrong with him. Doc said his number was up.”
“It’s all right. I’ll see to him from here on out.” Beth tried to look like she knew what she was talking about. “I’ve been trained in these matters.”
The nurse gave a jerky nod and ran.
For a moment the room was silent, and then Beth heard Andrew whisper as he neared, “You were right. They were trying to kill him, and that woman knows the truth even if she won’t admit it.”
Beth smiled at her make-believe husband. “As long as we’ve been married, and you haven’t learned that I’m always right, dear?”
They both moved to the young man, who was shaking like a newborn calf. “Thanks. About the time my mind would start to come back, she’d poke me with another shot. Each one sent me further under,” he whispered in a voice that sounded like he hadn’t used it for a while.
“Who are you? Why are they doing this to you?”
“Name’s Colby Dixon, and I have no idea why anyone would want to kill me. Three days ago I was on my way farther south to my ranch. I thought I’d spend a night here before I headed on. Biggest mistake I ever made.”
She wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Are you in pain?”
“Yeah, but it’s better than being in that dark hole of nothing.” He swallowed a little water and drifted back off talking. “Watch over me, lady, until I come back around. I thought you were an angel. Glad to know you turned out to be real.”
“I’ll do that, Colby,” she said, knowing he hadn’t heard her.
Andrew pressed his finger along the side of the boy’s throat. “His breathing is regular and his pulse seems solid.”
“Do you think he’ll live?” she asked, not sure she wanted to be told the truth.
“He’s at least got a chance now. I noticed a nurse giving him shots yesterday every time he made a sound. The doctor only checked him once, and I didn’t miss how frustrated he looked. I thought it was because the fellow wasn’t getting any better, but maybe it was because he wasn’t getting any worse. Now, if the drug in his system can work its way out, he should start to improve.”
“You a doctor
and
a train robber?”
“Neither. I did take a semester or two of medical school when I was nineteen but I didn’t go back for the second year.” He thought about telling her he’d tried every profession. Nothing fit. How can a man be good at nothing in this world?
“You found my horse.” He changed the subject.
“I thought you might need her when you’re able to ride. Levi told me where the pinto was.” She looked out the window. “I should have taken her to the barn last night and brushed her down, but it was so late and I don’t like walking these back streets alone. As soon as I can, I’ll go feed her this morning.”
“How’d you know that pinto was mine?”
“I know horses, Andrew. I noticed her the night of the robbery. Some people notice color and markings first. I remember the way the pinto moved that night. Head high. Front legs dancing in the mud as if she wanted no part of
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