Between Two Worlds (24 page)

“Aye, I’m trying me best to stay clear of her.”

“Why? Is there something you’re hiding? She thinks you were
somehow involved in bringing her here from the future. I told her that’s
ridiculous, but she’s determined to get the truth out of you, one way or
another.”

Donovan sniggered and slapped his knee. “Is that so? She’s a funny
girl, that one. Claimin’ to be a time traveler, and thinkin’
I
have
somethin’ to do with it!” His green eyes twinkled.

“Well, she
did
say you bear a striking resemblance to that
long-lost relative of yours, Sam McKinney.” Gabriel eyed the man closely.
“Maybe you
do
know more than you’re leading us to believe.”

“Us? So, you’re in cahoots with the girl now. Is that it?” Donovan
laughed again. “I’ve gotta get on me way, Doc. Places to go and people to see…
Tell Miss Marshall to come visit me anytime she pleases. I’ve got nothin’ to
hide.” With that, he turned on his diminutive heel and bounced down the walk,
whistling an Irish tune.

Shaking his head, Gabriel walked across the street to check on his
patient.

Eighteen

 “Is the whore bad off?” Lucinda asked from across the dining
table.

“Lucy! No swearing allowed in this house.” Charlotte admonished
her friend with a severe tongue.

“Little Fletch isn’t around, is he?” Lucinda glanced around. “I
apologize if I’ve offended anyone. Is the soiled dove from the saloon bad off?”
she repeated, rephrasing the question.

Delaney finished what she could of the hotcakes and sausage
Charlotte had cooked for her. She didn’t have much of an appetite. She pushed
the plate back. “I’m afraid she’s in terrible shape. That man cut her lip open,
blackened her eye, and beat her severely. She’s probably got a broken rib, and
there are so many bruises and marks on her body, she looks like a map.”

“Oh, Lord,” Charlotte sighed. “I’ve heard he’s hurt other women.
Maybe they’ll hang him if she dies.”

Delaney shot her a surprised look. “I don’t think she’s going to
die.”

“Thank God,” Lucinda said. “They should still hang the bastard.”

“Lucinda! Please watch your tongue.” Charlotte slid a look toward
Delaney, which allowed that while she may not approve of Lucy’s language, her
sentiments ran the same.

“So, you helped assist the doctor with his patient?” Charlotte
asked.

Delaney smiled. “Yes. It’s strange to think of myself as a nurse.
It’s not something I ever aspired to before. But it’s very satisfying. Medicine
is an admirable occupation. Dr. Whitman is very good at his job. I can learn a
lot from him.”

Lucinda sipped her coffee. “Did you have a job before you came to
Phoenix, dear? Teacher? Seamstress?”

Delaney had not spoken about her life to the ladies on purpose,
for obvious reasons, and they’d been too polite to ply her with questions
before. From the looks on their faces, they were dying to learn all about her
now. But how could she explain that she’d traveled back in time from the future—a
future neither of them would be able to fathom? A future where women could be
anything they wanted, not just ranch wives, teachers, or soiled doves. A future
where computers and cell phones ran the country. A future where men had not
only wished upon the moon, but they’d walked on it!

Delaney simply responded, “I worked in an office back where I came
from.”

“How interesting.” Lucinda didn’t let it go. “A telegraph office
or a bank? We have a lady who recently became a teller at the National Bank.
It’s been the talk of the town.”

“I worked in sales.”

“Exactly where did you come from?” she asked. “I don’t recall
hearing.” Lucinda’s eyebrow lifted, and both she and Charlotte gazed at Delaney
with anticipation.

“Uh,” she began. She couldn’t tell them she was from Phoenix. That
would be confusing. She was saved from answering when Georgia appeared from
around the corner with a broom in her hand. “Hi, Georgia!” she called cheerfully.

“Oh! I didn’t know y’all were still in here. I’ll come back and
sweep later.”

Delaney rose from the table and picked up her empty plate. “Don’t
leave on my account. I’m heading upstairs. I need to freshen up.” She was thankful
she was able to change the subject. “Has Fletcher gone off to school already?”

“Yes. He mentioned that Dr. Whitman told him some stories about
growing up. That was nice of the doctor to spend some time with my son. He
misses having a pa something dreadful.”

Delaney gave Georgia a close look over. She noticed her eyes
brightened when she brought up Gabriel. Her skin had a peachy glow to it. She
had a darling figure, the sweetest personality, and that southern drawl… She wondered
why Georgia hadn’t remarried yet. Surely there were some good men in town who
would do right by her and the boy.
Maybe she’s hoping to snag the good
doctor.

Hmmm.
Delaney wondered. Fletch…now
there was a smart child. It was obvious he hadn’t told his mother about the
boxing lessons. It was probably a good thing. Delaney hated to admit it, but
Gabriel had been right about that. She shouldn’t have pushed him into teaching
Fletch about fighting without Georgia’s approval. Oh well. No harm done if
Fletch was able to go to school this morning braced with more confidence.

“Let me have your plate,” Charlotte said, taking it from Delaney’s
hand.

“Thank you for the breakfast. It was delicious, as usual.” She
noticed there was a tremor in the landlady’s hand as she carried the plate
away. Charlotte wasn’t very old. Maybe she suffered from a nervous condition of
some kind. There were a lot of reasons for women to be nervous in the Wild
West. She’d seen firsthand. Delaney, herself, had felt the urge to crack her
knuckles more than once since arriving.

Lucinda scooted back from the table and stood up, lifting a ribbon
fob from the pocket of her blouse and looking at her pocket watch. “Oh, my! I
didn’t realize it was so late. I’ve got an appointment at Belle’s dress shop.”
Her face broadened into a grin. “I’m trying on my wedding gown this morning.
There are a few alterations to be done.” She patted her round tummy and laughed.

“That’s exciting,” Delaney said. “When’s the big day? I’ve
forgotten to ask.”

“Next Saturday. Of course you’re invited. Dr. Whitman, too.” She
winked. “He’s already received his invitation. I’ll slip one under your door
for you.”

“I had no idea it was coming up so soon.”

“I’m too old for long engagements.” Lucy chuckled. “I was ready to
marry Ike the day he asked me, but he’s a traditional man, and also
superstitious. He wants everything done right, so we’ve spent the past few
weeks planning. We’re going to be married in the Methodist church down the street,
and he wants me to wear white.” She laughed heartily again.

“Because you’re as pure as the driven snow,” Charlotte teased,
reentering the dining room. Her tone was jovial. If it was a dig to Lucinda’s
reputation, Lucy didn’t seem to mind. In fact, Delaney got the feeling the joke
was on her, since the two women burst out laughing together. Georgia tried to hide
a smile under her hand.

“Thank you for the invitation, Lucy. I wouldn’t miss your nuptials
for the world.” Delaney meant it, but wondered whether she’d still be in 1888
next Saturday. She didn’t plan on it, no matter how fond she was of Lucinda.

“Well, I’m off. See you all later.” Lucinda picked up her skirt
and sashayed out of the room. Charlotte, too, retreated to her own room after announcing
she had some darning to tend to. That left Delaney and Georgia alone. They
smiled at one another, and then Georgia began to sweep the floor.

Delaney liked the young woman. Plus, she was as curious as a cat.
Was the southern bell her rival? She wondered if Georgia had a crush on
Gabriel, so she decided to broach the subject of men before heading upstairs.
She pushed her dining chair in and asked, “Are you taking a gentleman friend to
Lucy’s wedding?”

Georgia glanced up, acting surprised at the question. “Me? No. I
guess Fletch will be my escort.” She grinned and went back to sweeping.

“Aren’t there any nice young men in town you’re interested in?
There must be someone who’s caught your eye.”

Georgia stopped again. Her head tilted from side to side. “Not
really. I don’t have much time to look, between working and keeping Fletch out
of trouble.” Her cheeks were naturally tinted a lovely pink, Delaney noticed.

She persisted. “You seem to have a good head on your shoulders.
You’re intelligent and well spoken. If you were to marry again, you’d want
someone who was your equal—an educated, worldly man.”

Georgia continued sweeping. “I don’t think we have many men here
in Phoenix who fit that bill. In case you hadn’t noticed, there are mostly
cowboys and farmers roaming the streets. Not that I’m opposed to farmers,” she
added quickly. “My Alan was a farmer. He was a good man.”

Delaney snapped her fingers, as if a thought had just occurred to
her. “Dr. Whitman is an educated, good man. He’s smart and funny, and very
handsome. He could certainly provide for a family.” She saw Georgia nibble at
her lip.

“He’s very nice,” Georgia drawled. “But I thought he was courtin’
you.”

Now it was Delaney’s turn to be surprised. “What gave you that
idea?”

“It seemed pretty obvious to me when he was here for breakfast the
other day. He never took his eyes off you. I think he’s sweet on you. If you
don’t mind me saying, I think the two of you make a nice pair.”

Delaney’s cheeks warmed.

“In fact, I believe you were meant for each other. I saw a vision
of you tied together with string.” She bowed her head as if she were
embarrassed. “I have a special insight about those kinds of things. My mama
always called it my third eye.”

Delaney’s mouth gaped. What could her vision mean? A third eye.
Didn’t that refer to something supernatural? Was Georgia a psychic? Did she
even believe in such things? She liked the young woman from Virginia, but
surely Georgia was teasing, feeding her a bunch of baloney. Or was she? Her expression
looked serious.

“But I’m probably not staying long,” Delaney stammered. “It
wouldn’t be fair for the doctor to court me. I’ll be going back home soon. I
like you and Fletcher. You both deserve a man who will take care of you.
Gabriel would be such a man.”

“Are you playing Cupid, Delaney?” Georgia asked with a sly grin.

“I guess so.”

“Thanks, but I don’t need a man right now. I’ve got a good job,
Fletch and I have a home, thanks to Charlotte, and we’re happy here. That’s all
I need for now. If I’m destined to meet someone as fine as Alan was, it’ll
happen when the time’s right. Doc Whitman seems like a great guy, but he’s
great for you. Not me. Remember, I saw the string in my vision.”

They barely knew each other, yet Delaney felt instantaneously
close to Georgia. She reminded her of Meredith, a girlfriend she could confide
in and share her secrets with. Meredith… Delaney wondered if she were missing
her. But how could she? Meredith didn’t even know she was missing.

“I do like Gabriel,” Delaney replied wistfully. “But I live very
far away. I don’t know if he and I would be able to maintain a long-distance
relationship.”

Georgia leaned on her broom and stared into her eyes, gazing so
intently, it seemed she could see into Delaney’ soul. “Love can build a
bridge.”

Delaney gasped. “Why’d you say that?”

“Say what?”

“You just said love could build a bridge. What made you say that?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. It seemed appropriate considering
your situation.”

Delaney wondered if Georgia knew more about her situation than she
let on. She grabbed her hands and squeezed them. “Thank you! I think you’ve
helped me figure something important out.” She dashed out of the room and up
the stairs, leaving Georgia to her housework.

After washing up, Delaney slipped into a more suitable outfit for
nursing and scurried down the stairs. The house was quiet, so she flew out the
front door and trekked downtown with her skirt swishing and boots clicking on
the walk.  Her destination was Gabriel’s clinic. She nodded and said hello to
folks all along the way. When she passed by the White Dog Saloon, she heard her
name shouted.

“Miss Marshall!”

She looked up and shaded her eyes with her hand. It was one of the
girls who’d brought Jasmine to the clinic. “Hello!”

“Howdy, Miss Marshall. Can you tell me how Jasmine is? I’ve been
so worried.”

“I’m headed to the clinic right now. I’ll come by later today and
give you an update.”

“Thanks, ma’am,” the young woman said before retreating back from
the rail.

When Delaney passed by Belle’s Dress Shop, she peeked in the
window and saw Lucinda admiring herself in a floor-length mirror. She was squeezed
into a silk organza gown with tiny pearl buttons trailing down the back. When
Belle caught her with her face pressed to the window, Delaney lifted a
tentative hand and waved. The shop owner returned a sober half-smile. Lucinda’s
head turned. She glanced over her shoulder and waved her pudgy hand.