Quicksilver Passion (148 page)

Doc grunted in agreement.
Most of the town, including her bartender, died and the rest of them fled. We had to burn the Nugget after we used it for a hospital. Buckskin Joe’s slowly turning into a ghost town.”

Al’s dead and Silver’s gone? Where?”

Doc led him into his office and the other man sat down.
No one knows, Cherokee. She was from someplace back East, maybe she went back there. Some folks say they’ve seen her about dark out here in our cemetary putting flowers on the graves, but who knows?”

Cherokee leaned back in the chair and sighed.
As pretty as she was, she’s probably a big star somewhere or she’s married some wealthy man.”

Maybe.” Doc had already decided he wasn’t going to tell Cherokee about Silver’s scarred face. Since he was blind and would probably never cross her trail again, let him keep his memory of the great beauty she had been.

Doc examined him, then shook his head.
Cherokee, I wish I could tell you something, but I’m just a country doctor. That wound at the base of your skull affected some nerves that have something to do with your eyes.”

Cherokee cursed under his breath.
I can barely see forms, tell daylight from dark. Whenever I look around, I see misty rainbows around everything.”

You may get better and you may not. I wish I could tell you something else; but only time will tell. Maybe one of those fancy doctors in a big place like Denver could give you more hope.”

I have a hard time even doing something simple like rolling a cigarette.” Cherokee put his face in his hands.
I’m no good to anyone this way.”

Doc thought about Silver. It seemed ironic somehow—she had fled because she didn’t want anyone to see her ruined beauty and the man she loved was almost blind. If Doc had any idea where she was, he would try to get them together again.

Doc rolled a cigarette and handed it to Cherokee, then lit it for him.
Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You can still handle a shovel, can’t you, if someone tells you where to dig? Those old partners of yours are getting pretty feeble. I imagine they’ll be glad to get you back.”

Cherokee took a puff of the cigarette and grinned.
Yes, of course. How are the old rascals anyhow?”

Haven’t seem them for a while, but then they only get into town when they run out of supplies. Come to think of it, an old friend of theirs was in town a couple of weeks ago or so, and asked directions out to their claim.”