Chapter 38
Lily waved away Daisy’s offer to brew a fresh pot of tea.
“The one on the table is still warm. Also, if you all keep filling me with tea I might float off.” She smiled at her younger sister. Since her return home, they had all be wonderfully considerate and caring. The three women had seen to her every need, with kindness and compassion, and she felt grateful beyond words. “But really, I am fine, thank you.”
The other woman sat on the edge of the chair pulled up alongside the settee. They were in Violet’s parlor and for the first time all day, she shared the space with only one other.
A fire burned in the hearth. Despite the warm morning, they all insisted she shouldn’t catch a chill. Quilts lay near her feet, should she feel the need for covering.
On the table, every item one might desire during convalescence. Two books of poetry, a handkerchief, glass of water, teacup and saucer as well as the teapot, a note from Alexia and a card drawn with the pencils Lily sent to her, an orange, and a cup of freshly cracked walnuts. She could think of nothing they’d missed and felt as pampered as a spoiled housecat.
Her sister reached to take her hand, then pulled back.
Doc Sullivan had bandaged her wrist where the rope had taken the skin off. Lin’s friend Mister Liu brought a salve made from herbs that the doctor approved and while it made the wound less painful, she would probably have a scar. The medical man had been apologetic when he told her so, but it did not matter to her. A visible reminder that she’d fought against those who tried to harm her was something she didn’t mind carrying through life.
The scramble through brush and over rocks left her right hand a mess, too. No bandages there, only a coating of salve and watchful eyes to see that the cuts didn’t begin to fester.
“I’m sorry. I want to comfort you, but I don’t know how.” Daisy’s gaze went from wrist, to hand, to her face. “There are so few spots on your body that haven’t suffered damage.”
“You do comfort me. Being here, taking care of my needs, keeping me company during these past few days…it is a great help, sister.”
The other woman grinned. “I guess we’re even now. I mean, after the care you gave me when I had the miserable ague.”
She laughed. For an instant, Daisy looked shocked by the sound, but she grinned, then joined in.
It had been days since they’d shared anything this joyful or comfortable.
“You’re right, we are even now. I think you’ve all gone beyond the care I gave you, actually. I mean, when you were ill I didn’t have to search for you.” She shuddered. Nightmares plagued her these past few nights. Visions of being lost forever alone on the frontier would not leave her mind. “I’m so thankful you found me.”
“We owe that to the woman from the Social Club. She ran for the sheriff as soon as you were carried off. We really need to do something to thank her.”
Violet filled her in yesterday about the woman who worked for Miss Addie, the town’s madam. The club provided a necessary service and while she wouldn’t have guessed that’s what the large building housed, she understood now why it had seemed so welcoming. She imagined it beckoned the men who frequented it, too. The music and delightful aromas wafting from its open windows would lure anyone in.
“I agree. When I’m on my feet I’ll make a call to thank her personally.” She didn’t care whether her visiting a whorehouse would meet with anyone in Wylder’s approval. The woman had saved her life, and she intended to show her gratitude.
“I’ll go with you.” Her sister raised an interested eyebrow. “Who knows? I might learn something useful for one of my stories. I heard yesterday that another one is being published in the fall. The magazine sent a check and everything.”
Daisy had the heart of an author. Denying it proved useless so Lily took a deep breath, prayed their mother wouldn’t ever find out she’d taken the younger sibling to a house of ill repute, and nodded.
“That would be nice, thank you. And congratulations on the story.” She swallowed hard and met the other’s gaze. “I am proud of you.”
A knock came at the front door. Before Daisy could rise to answer it, Lin walked on silent feet past the open parlor doorway.
Low voices, then the sheriff appeared in the hall outside the door. His hat hung from one hand and he wore a hopeful smile. “Miss Sun said you might finally be up to a visitor for a minute or two.”
Her sister rose and waved him in. “I think it would be a nice change for her. I’m sure my sister grows tired of my incessant chatter.” She smiled and went over to the fireplace. “Please, have a seat. I’ll just add a log to this, then pick up my reading.”
She dropped a length of wood in the fire. Then she sat on the hearth and opened the book sitting on the edge of the stones.
Branch Wylder entered with the air of a man who knew his business. He hadn’t been sheriff for long, but he’d already gained the town’s admiration and that included hers, too.
“How are you feeling, Miss Bloom? Better, I hope.”
“Oh, yes, much better. It’s been three days and each one brings less soreness.” She gestured to her ankle, where it lay propped on a pillow. “I’ll be glad when I can walk again, but I’m not complaining. Thank you for coming to my rescue.”
He colored slightly. The man rubbed a hand across his chin and looked to the floor before meeting her gaze. “Just doing my job, ma’am. And I can’t take all the credit. Why, if Miss Addie’s gal hadn’t come running to find me, I don’t know how I would’ve found you. She’s the one to thank.”
She nodded. “I plan to. Now, Sheriff, what brings you here today? It’s kind of you to stop by but I’m sure you have better things to do than call on invalids.”
“I doubt you’ll be down for long, Miss Bloom. I’ve seen how strong your sister is, and Miss Sun, too. Women in this house aren’t shrinking violets, and I’m sure you’re not, either.” A chuckle. The rasp in his voice made the man sound as if he’d spent countless hours around a campfire. “Want to let you know you won’t ever be bothered by that pair of villains again. Couple of marshals showed up yesterday. Seems the pair is crooked enough to sleep on corkscrews. They’ve been pulling off shady land deals across more miles than I can count. Marshals will be taking ’em away later on.”
Relief coursed through her. It had been on her mind that the two might give her trouble, especially when they saw she planned to put in her own homesteading claim. This eased her fears.
“I’m so grateful for your hard work. If not for your rescue, I shudder to think of what would have happened.”
The lawman met her gaze. “Like I said, I was just doing my job. And it wasn’t only me. Two pairs of men went searching for you. And Theo Harvey—he set off on his own to try to find you. Met himself a native down by the river, said the man asked his ancestors to watch over you. So it wasn’t only me who was workin’ to save you.”
Theo. And a native? Down at the river?
She shook her head to clear it. So much had happened in so short a time, it hardly seemed real.
The sheriff got to his feet. “Well, just wanted to let you know about those two varmints. They’re riding off to justice—and I don’t think it’s going to be pretty.”
“Thank you for the news. I’m glad to hear it.” She paused and pulled her brows together. “But, Sheriff Wylder, aren’t they injured? How can they ride?”
He slapped his hat on his thigh. A smirk lifted the edges of his moustache. “Miss Bloom, we don’t care if they’re comfortable. Fact is, the harder the ride to justice is, the more we like it.”