Read Online Promise Me Texas (A Whispering Mountain Novel) by JODI THOMAS - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: JODI THOMAS
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got money for the wagon.”
“Don’t worry about it, dear,” Beth said, “I have enough for what we’ll need. You rest, I’ll be back in an hour.”
He added
wealthy
and
independent
to his list of her traits. Frowning, he decided that when they were alone, they could split the cost. After all, she needed to get away as much as he did, but he didn’t like the idea of her paying for everything now.
After she left with the sheriff, Andrew washed up. The day nurse, a duplicate of the first nurse, changed the bandages around his throat and across his forehead. The stitches along his hairline were healing, but the dozen around his neck were dark and puffy. He grinned, remembering an old professor telling the class once that a man without scars by the time he’s thirty hasn’t done much living.
As the day nurse tied off the fresh bandage, Andrew said, “The doctor dropped by last night and said the man over there is doing better.”
This second nurse didn’t seem as bright as the first, but she was friendlier. “Oh, really? I figured he was a goner for sure.”
“Doc told me to tell you to go clean the guy up as best you could and give him water whenever he asks.”
She nodded. “I might even try a little broth. He reminds me of my boy who died at Shiloh. He’s Rachael’s charge, but I got the time this morning and who knows where Rachael is. That woman wanders off more than a hungry squirrel living next to a nut forest.”
Andrew kept an eye on the nurse to make sure she did no harm. The cowboy let out low sounds of pain as she cleaned him up as best she could without untying him, but he didn’t protest. Maybe he’d tried too many times before and it hadn’t worked.
Andrew planned to tell the sheriff to watch over the guy. The doctor rarely made it in before noon, and then the smell of last night’s whiskey always lingered on his breath. When Andrew wrote about the doctor in his journal, he’d write about a broken man who sold death to support his habit.
It was his suspicion that if he took the time to investigate, he’d find someone paying the doctor to make sure the cowboy didn’t recover.
CHAPTER 6
A NDREW LEANED AGAINST THE WINDOWSILL FOR BALANCE as he studied the street. Dallas wasn’t as wild a town as Fort Worth, but it held its secrets. He’d be happy when he left. So much had happened in the past two days. He felt like he’d fallen through a trapdoor into a life he had no control over.
About ten o’clock Beth pulled up with the wagon, and Andrew let out a long breath he hadn’t been aware he’d been holding. The old buckboard was wide with the sides painted red. She’d put her horse in the harness and tied his, still saddled, to the back.
She rushed in wearing another western outfit that had to be new. This one had a long, split skirt that covered the top of her boots and a soft, white blouse with a blue scarf looped beneath the collar. The day was warmer and she wore a leather vest, fringed with Indian beads. Her hair was pulled back in a long braid, her hat worn low like she was ready to face whatever storm blew her way. It crossed his mind that if she modeled for posters, men would flock to Texas.
“I’m back,” she said, stating the obvious. “Did you get the clothes I had sent over for you? “
He turned to face her wearing the western-cut shirt, vest, and jeans. “Thanks, they’re not my style, but at least they’re clean and you did a good job of guessing my size.”
“Between uncles, cousins, and nephews, I know sizes.” She studied him. “I thought you’d be a cowboy or a live-off-the-land outlaw. It never occurred to me you’d wear any other style of clothing.”
“No, sorry. Except for the times I ride out to camp and study the land, I usually wear a proper suit.” At her blank look he added, “You know, with a vest and a pocket watch.”
“Really.” She frowned. “What about wearing a gun? Don’t you have your holster in your bags?”
“I’m
“Don’t worry about it, dear,” Beth said, “I have enough for what we’ll need. You rest, I’ll be back in an hour.”
He added
wealthy
and
independent
to his list of her traits. Frowning, he decided that when they were alone, they could split the cost. After all, she needed to get away as much as he did, but he didn’t like the idea of her paying for everything now.
After she left with the sheriff, Andrew washed up. The day nurse, a duplicate of the first nurse, changed the bandages around his throat and across his forehead. The stitches along his hairline were healing, but the dozen around his neck were dark and puffy. He grinned, remembering an old professor telling the class once that a man without scars by the time he’s thirty hasn’t done much living.
As the day nurse tied off the fresh bandage, Andrew said, “The doctor dropped by last night and said the man over there is doing better.”
This second nurse didn’t seem as bright as the first, but she was friendlier. “Oh, really? I figured he was a goner for sure.”
“Doc told me to tell you to go clean the guy up as best you could and give him water whenever he asks.”
She nodded. “I might even try a little broth. He reminds me of my boy who died at Shiloh. He’s Rachael’s charge, but I got the time this morning and who knows where Rachael is. That woman wanders off more than a hungry squirrel living next to a nut forest.”
Andrew kept an eye on the nurse to make sure she did no harm. The cowboy let out low sounds of pain as she cleaned him up as best she could without untying him, but he didn’t protest. Maybe he’d tried too many times before and it hadn’t worked.
Andrew planned to tell the sheriff to watch over the guy. The doctor rarely made it in before noon, and then the smell of last night’s whiskey always lingered on his breath. When Andrew wrote about the doctor in his journal, he’d write about a broken man who sold death to support his habit.
It was his suspicion that if he took the time to investigate, he’d find someone paying the doctor to make sure the cowboy didn’t recover.
CHAPTER 6
A NDREW LEANED AGAINST THE WINDOWSILL FOR BALANCE as he studied the street. Dallas wasn’t as wild a town as Fort Worth, but it held its secrets. He’d be happy when he left. So much had happened in the past two days. He felt like he’d fallen through a trapdoor into a life he had no control over.
About ten o’clock Beth pulled up with the wagon, and Andrew let out a long breath he hadn’t been aware he’d been holding. The old buckboard was wide with the sides painted red. She’d put her horse in the harness and tied his, still saddled, to the back.
She rushed in wearing another western outfit that had to be new. This one had a long, split skirt that covered the top of her boots and a soft, white blouse with a blue scarf looped beneath the collar. The day was warmer and she wore a leather vest, fringed with Indian beads. Her hair was pulled back in a long braid, her hat worn low like she was ready to face whatever storm blew her way. It crossed his mind that if she modeled for posters, men would flock to Texas.
“I’m back,” she said, stating the obvious. “Did you get the clothes I had sent over for you? “
He turned to face her wearing the western-cut shirt, vest, and jeans. “Thanks, they’re not my style, but at least they’re clean and you did a good job of guessing my size.”
“Between uncles, cousins, and nephews, I know sizes.” She studied him. “I thought you’d be a cowboy or a live-off-the-land outlaw. It never occurred to me you’d wear any other style of clothing.”
“No, sorry. Except for the times I ride out to camp and study the land, I usually wear a proper suit.” At her blank look he added, “You know, with a vest and a pocket watch.”
“Really.” She frowned. “What about wearing a gun? Don’t you have your holster in your bags?”
“I’m
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