Peppermint Sticks for Susie (13 page)

"Well, now, that is good," Clyde said in relief, and then he added. "I just passed the Mercantile and Angus is under siege from customers. You probably ought to get on to work, unless you are too upset from that conversation...?" he asked kindly.

"I am fine, and Alex, I really need to get to work now." He nodded and walked her right on to the Mercantile. He gave her a peck on the cheek, shook his finger at her, and then he left.

Jenny didn't bother to say anything; she just put on her apron and started waiting on customers. Most were happy to see her, and when Angus sent her a smile, she knew he was pleased. The morning passed swiftly, and they were truly busy. Angus approved of the business, but when Alex came to take Jenny to lunch, he sent her on her way.

They stepped outside and when she would have walked toward the restaurant, he took her hand and pulled her in the opposite direction, leading her on out of town. He led her to a pretty spot beside the pond at the edge of town and she smiled when she saw the picnic laid out. "You did this, Alex?"

"I thought you might prefer some privacy for lunch today. I knew that sitting would be difficult for you, and I didn't wish to embarrass you by carrying in a pillow. So, I bought lunch and brought it here."

"This is simply wonderful, Alex. Thank you." She knelt on the blanket he had spread out and opened the large basket and started taking out the food while Alex sat down beside her. The food was perfect. "You asked Stephanie what I liked, didn't you?" she asked, giggling.

"I did. I told her I was in big trouble and needed to redeem myself. She told me to leave it to her, and I did. She must have gotten it right...?"

"Oh yes. Let's eat. I am starving."

"Yes, Alma told me you couldn't eat this morning. I'm so sorry, honey," he apologized once again.

"Alex, I lo--" Her words were cut off when a shot rang out. She cried out in pain, and fell unconscious.

Chapter Nine

Alex whirled, his gun in his hand as another shot rang out, striking the picnic basket that had been so carefully prepared such a short time ago. He fired in the direction the shots came from, and heard a man cry out in pain before he saw him fall forward, dropping his gun clutching at his chest. Alex honestly didn't give a damn about the dead man; his concern was all for Jennifer. She was pale as could be, and losing blood at an alarming rate. He took his clean handkerchief and used it to pack the wound, and then he picked her up in his strong arms and took off running back to town, and straight to Alma. He knew she would tend to Jenny while he ran for the doctor.

Alma jumped when the door suddenly opened. She saw Alex was carrying Jenny, and she saw all the blood and felt fear course through her. "What happened?" she asked of Alex.

"Jenny has been shot, Alma. Will you tend to her while I run for the doctor?"

"Yes, of course. Let's put her in her bed," she said, running ahead of Alex to open the door and turn down the covers on the bed that Jenny kept neatly made.

"What is wrong?" Peter asked in concern, standing in the doorway.

"Jenny has been shot... In the shoulder," Alma said, taking charge. "Go get the doctor now, Alex. I'll do what I can in the meantime." Alex needed no further urging, running past the other man and out the door. "Peter, I need boiling water," she bossed, and then started undressing Jennifer. By the time Peter returned with a pan of boiling water and poured it into the basin Alma had stripped Jenny down to her camisole and drawers, and pulled the sheet up to protect her modesty. The bullet had passed through her shoulder and Alma was relieved by that.

"How serious is it, sweetheart?" Peter asked, then added, "Who the hell would do something like this? Jenny is a sweet young woman!"

"I think she will be fine, Peter. I don't think anything vital was hit, and the bullet passed through, so the doctor won't have to do much more than sew the wounds together. Just a bit lower and she would be dead!" Alma said tearfully as she carefully dipped a cloth in the water, which was still extremely hot. She carefully washed the blood away, careful not to disturb the wound.

Alex returned with the Doctor, who was huffing and puffing from trying to keep up with the much younger man. "Has she regained consciousness yet?" he asked of Alma.

"Not yet, Alex. What happened?" Alma wanted to know.

"Let the man breathe, sweetheart. Doc needs to tend Jenny, and there will be time for explanations then." He smiled when she immediately complied, and Peter realized her bottom must still be smarting from the spanking he'd administered early that morning. "How can we help, Doc?" he offered.

"Alma has already done a good job cleaning around the wound. The bullet passed through, and there isn't much else to do but sew the wounds shut. I hope Jennifer doesn't wake up until we're done," he muttered, and went right to work. He first poured something on the wound that burned like fire if Jenny's reaction was a sign; she moaned, even though she was unconscious. Doc carefully put stitches in front and in back, and then bandaged her carefully. "You give her a couple of drops of this in some cocoa or tea when she wakes up, Alma. It's for pain, but don't overdo using it. I'll come by later today to see how she is doing." He turned to look at Peter, "Appears to me that you are getting stronger, young man? How are you feeling?"

"Better, Doc," Peter told the other man. "I'm trying to do more every day, and it is working."

The doctor nodded and smiled. "I can't be right ALL the time," he said, "And this is one time I'm glad to be wrong. You keep on like you've been doing. Could be you just had a long illness that kept you down and now that you're over it you need to get your strength back."

"I pray you are right, Doc. I want nothing more than to be a husband and father again." Peter was sincere, and he moved to put his arm around his wife's waist and pull her close. "Alma has really come through with holding this family together, but I want to get back to work and take care of her."

"Don't push too hard, Peter. You were ill for a long time," Doc cautioned. "If Jennifer has any problems between now and this evening, send for me and I'll come right away." He hurried off, having left people waiting in his office to come to Jenny.

"Thank you, Doctor," Alex said, holding out his hand. "How much do I owe you?" He didn't like to be in debt, even for five minutes. It was the way he was raised to believe.

The doctor answered him, pleased to get paid so quickly for his services. He had bills to pay, too, even though a sincere 'thank you' from someone was often the only pay he received. In his heart a 'thank you' was more than enough, but supply companies wanted money to ship medicines and such. "Thank you, young man," he said gratefully, and then hurried back to his office. Alex's generosity would keep him practicing for a while longer.

There was a knock on the door. Peter left Jenny's room and went to answer it, not a bit surprised to see the Sheriff standing there. "Clyde, come in."

"Peter, you're looking good...!" he said, clearly surprised.

"I'm slowly getting better," Peter said with a smile. "I suspect that this isn't a social call...?"

"No, it isn't. Is Alex here with Miss Jenny?" he asked.

"Yes, he is. I'll get him if you'd like to have a seat at the table."

Clyde pulled out a chair and sat down, looking around Alma's spotlessly clean kitchen. Something was simmering in a pot on the stove, but there was nary a dish out of place.

"Thanks for coming, Clyde," Alex said quietly. He quickly explained what happened, and that he'd left a body lying out at the picnic site. Clyde asked several questions, which Alex answered. It brought them no closer to 'who' did this. "If you recognize the man, Clyde, I would like to know."

"I understand, Marshal." Clyde nodded in sympathetic understanding. "Doc told me that Miss Jenny should have a successful recovery. We should be thankful for that."

"I am thankful, but I want answers."

Clyde got to his feet and offered his hand. "I'll be back to let you know what I find out, Marshal."

Peter was coming out of Jenny's bedroom to get some tea for Alma and heard the Sheriff refer to Alex as 'Marshal'. He nodded to himself. He could picture the man as a lawman, and it also explained why he was able to bring down the man who shot Jennifer so quickly and save their lives.

"Does Jenny know you're a lawman?" he asked, prepared to insist that she had a right to the truth since she was in love with Alex.

"She knows, friend. She was keeping my secret because I am working undercover to catch the rustlers who have been plaguing the area."

"Her feelings are very real, Alex."

"I plan to marry her and settle here, Peter," Alex admitted to the other man with a smile on his face. "It pleases me that you care enough for Jenny to protect her from heartache."

"She is a good woman; she bought my little girl peppermint sticks when I didn't have a penny to spare. How could I overlook that kindness? Susie doesn't ask for much, and one day soon I am going to take her to the mercantile and have Angus give her an entire jar full of candy." His eyes were wet with tears, but he didn't care. "Jenny is special to this family."

"She loves little Susie, and so do I. Susie helped me pick out my hat the very first time I met her, and she won my heart right then and there," Alex admitted.

"Alex, Peter!" They heard Alma calling for them and hurriedly ran to the bedroom. Jenny was trying to push Alma away so she could get out of bed.

"Here now, young lady!" Alex gently scolded as he carefully stopped her and pushed her down. "You stay put in this bed, honey."

"Alex, I was afraid you were hurt and Alma was afraid to tell me...!" Jenny said, crying.

"I'm fine, Jenny. You are the one who is hurt, but Doc says you'll be fine in a few days."

"What happened?" she asked, obviously in pain from the grimace she made when she tried to move.

"I'll be right back," Alma promised, and Alex smiled his approval, positive Alma was going to make some tea or hot cocoa to lace with the laudanum Doc left with them.

"Alex?" Jenny whispered.

"I don't know the man who shot at us," he said. "Clyde is out there right now, and he'll do the cleanup for me; I shot him," he added when she looked at him quizzically.

"Is he a rustler, do you think?" she whispered.

"Peter knows the truth, honey," he gently told her. "He overheard the Sheriff and I talking. I am pretty damn sure my cover is blown anyway," he added in disgust. "Why else would anyone shoot at us?"

"Because we've been riding out to Kieran O'Malley's ranch so much. We might have been spotted by one of the rustlers."

"Yes, that could be true, or I might have been recognized. I've arrested a lot of people over my years of wearing a badge, and I've been to lots of towns just like this one. Even an innocent comment made in front of the wrong person and I'm in trouble. I hate it that you were shot, honey." He leaned down and kissed her tenderly.

"I'll be fine," she hastened to reassure him. "It just hurts some right now," she admitted.

"Alma is fixing you something to drink; Doc left medicine for the pain, and she'll get you feeling better soon." Alex wished he could take her pain away. Between her poor backside and shoulder, she had to be truly miserable.

Alma returned, a cup of tea laced with honey and the laudanum resting on a matching saucer. "Here now, Jenny, let's drink this. It will help you feel better," Alma said, helping the other woman drink from the cup.

"Ummm, honey and mint," Jenny said with approval. She drank more of the tea, and didn't need to be coaxed, which was why Peter followed his wife into the room once more. He wanted to make sure that Miss Jenny took her medicine. Alma tried so hard to make it 'good' and she must have succeeded because Jenny gave her no fuss whatsoever.

"Mama, Papa! I'm home!" they all heard Susie call out as she came home from school. Peter turned to go and intercept her, but he wasn't fast enough to stop the inquisitive five-year-old from scurrying into Jenny's room. Her eyes widened in fright as she realized something was wrong.

"Come here, Susie, and give me a hug," Jenny held out her right arm and beckoned for the little girl to come closer. "I'm okay," she insisted when Susie hesitated.

Susie went closer and even climbed up on the bed to sit beside Jennifer. "What happened to you, Miss Jenny?" the child asked.

Alex was impressed when Jenny told the truth, but in simple terms, without exaggerating anything or making a big fuss. Jenny looked at him and said, "You took care of that bad man?"

"Yes, honey, I did."

"Good. He was bad to shoot at you and Miss Jenny."

"Your Mama is taking good care of me, and I'll soon be fine," Jenny said, but her words were starting to slur, a sure sign the medicine was working. "I think I am going to need to rest now, Susie, but you come and see me again before you go to bed, okay?"

"Sure, Miss Jenny. I have a peppermint stick saved and I'll give it to you; it'll make you feel better."

"That is so sweet of you, Susie," Jenny whispered, a tear leaking from her eye and running down her cheek. "Alex...?" she turned to him, and he understood.

"Miss Jenny needs to rest now, honey, but she wants me to tell you that she thinks you are very special for offering her your peppermint stick, but she would rather you eat it for her." He lowered his voice to a whisper and said, "I don't think Miss Jenny likes peppermint sticks very much."

"Ohhhhh!" Susie nodded in comprehension.

"You and me will go shopping for something for her; how is that?" he asked.

"That would be a good idea, Mr. Alex."

Peter smiled and took Susie's hand. "You aren't going anywhere until we look at your homework, little lady."

"I've got more spelling words, Pa!" she said in disgust. "Why's there so many words to learn, anyway?"

Alex grinned, but he stayed right where he was, holding Jenny's hand while she slept. It frightened him to think of losing her, and once again he looked at her window. The shade was pulled down, and he knew the heavy stick was in place. If anyone tried to come in through the window, they would have to break out the glass, and he would hear them, even if he was in the kitchen or the parlor. Protecting Jenny was his main job right now, and he would do it with his very life, he vowed.