Texas Twilight (15 page)

“No,” a voice called out. “I came with her,
John. Do you remember me?”

A tall young man stepped forward, a worried
expression marring his face. The face was familiar to John but he
couldn’t quite place from where. “Uhhh.”

“It’s Theodore Browning, “Charity piped up.
“You know Leonard Browning from Y Knot. He’s the attorney for the
ranch.”

“I’ll be, Theodore. You’ve grown two feet
since I saw you last. I have to admit I would not have placed you
on my own. How old are you now?”

“Twenty.”

“Well, welcome to Rio Wells. You too,
Charity. Gosh, I’m happy to see you.” He gestured toward Lily.
“This is Lily Anthony from Boston. Dr. Bixby.” He pointed past
Bixby. “That’s Tucker Nobel. All the town’s people that have come
out to support our sale.” John caught sight of Mr. Shellston
watching them from the other side of the street with interest. When
the man noticed John looking his way, the banker walked off.

“Where are your things?” he asked.

“I left them at the hotel.”

“Good. I think that’s the best place for you
now unless you want to be crowded in with us at the office.” He
shook his head. “Don’t think you’d like that. Depending on how long
you stay we’ll work out other arrangements.” He laughed, still
delighted at seeing his baby sister. “For now we have to get back
to work.”

“Dr. McCutcheon,” a female voice called, as a
slender young woman made her way through the people.

“Hello, Louise,” he replied. “Louise is the
postmistress and works across the street from the hotel,” he said
to Charity. “What can I do for you?”

“I’m looking for some new dishes, at a good
price, of course.” Her brows rose in hopeful interest.

John pointed. “Right over in the corner. I
think there are several sets.”

A smile blossomed on Charity’s lips. She
gestured at Theodore. “We can help too. With more of us working,
these things will be gone all the faster.”

A
handful of
shoppers mulled around, the majority of Dr. Bixby’s collection of
eclectic stuff, gone. “Okay,” John said as he motioned the workers
to gather around. “Let’s finish up and get the remainder of the
items off the street before night falls. We don’t want to be
accused of creating an eyesore. There’s not much. We can put it
round back, in the alley for now.”

“I’ve been thinking about that,” Bixby said.
“Why don’t we give the remaining things to the Grady’s to sell in
the mercantile? To make amends. Maybe we’ll get back into their
good graces. They’ve been fine neighbors all these years and I hate
to see our friendship deteriorate over this.”

John nodded. “Good idea, Bixby.”

“I haven’t seen ‘em leave yet,” the old
doctor replied. “I’ll go ask. If they agree we can take it over now
and be done with it. “ He handed John the cash he’d been collecting
and headed down the boardwalk toward the mercantile. Tucker also
gave the cash he had to John, who combined it with the money in his
pockets. The wad was so large he had to use two hands. “I’ll take
this inside. Come on, let’s go in.”

Harriett greeted them at the door looking
rested and happy. “How did the big sale go?” she asked the young
women as they entered.

“Good, Tante. It was a success.”

The group crowded into the waiting room and
filtered into the kitchen, where a tea kettle was just starting to
let off some steam. Whistling pierced the air. “I’m having tea.
Would anyone else like some?”

John opened the cupboard drawer and stuffed
the cash inside. “I think Doc Bixby should have the honors of
counting the take when he gets back. Without all his stuff this
wouldn’t have been possible.”

John pulled out a chair for Lily and she sat
at the table with the two boys. “So, Theodore,” he said, “what
brings you to Rio Wells?”

Theodore’s face reddened a bit then he spoke
up, “I wanted to try something new.”

John looked over his shoulder at Charity to
see if she had anything to add. She’d traveled in the stage with
him for the past week. She shrugged.

“I’d like to find employment,” the young man
added. “You wouldn’t need any help in the doctor’s office, would
you? Help of any kind? I’m good with numbers and office type work.
I’ve had experience at my pa’s place.” The young man’s gaze moved
slowly over to where Charity was standing and all of a sudden John
thought he might know the reason for Theodore’s journey.

“Hmm. We have Tucker here already. That’s
something I’d have to give some thought to, being I’m so new. I’ll
let you know.”

Just then Bixby came in the back door. “Boys,
girls, the Grady’s will be happy to take the rest of the stuff off
our hands. Let’s get it moved to their back door. They’ll take it
inside.”

Everyone stood up to go, including Lily.

“Wait, Lily, I want to talk with you,” John
said. He signaled for the others to go ahead.

“You should take Harriett back to the hotel,”
John suggested. “It’s been a long day and she looks tired.”

“But I’d rather help with the clean up.”

“I appreciate that, but now with Charity and
Theodore we have plenty of able bodies to help. And, besides, what
else do I have to do today? I don’t see a drove of patients
breaking down my door for services.” He laughed. “Just get Harriett
back and get her something to eat. Soon your dream of having your
own shop will be realized. And, tomorrow is going to be a long and
busy day. You should rest up, too.”

“All right. But only because of my aunt. It
does not feel right to have all of you doing all the work.”

“I understand.”

“Good. I am not one of those little figurines
of a milking maid I have seen in china shop windows. You know the
ones, with a little kerchief on her head and a milk bucket in her
hand? I am not made of porcelain. I will not break.”

John couldn’t stop the grin that was wobbling
his mouth.

“What?”

“Nothing.” She was eyeing him suspiciously.
“Oh, just in case you’d ever need it, the combination to my safe
is—ten, ten, thirteen”

“Why?”

“Just to be cautious. One never knows when
trouble might strike. It’s the numerical equivalent to JJM—John
Jake McCutcheon—in case you forget. If anything were to happen to
me, I want you to be able to get to it. Who knows, the jewel could
actually belong to Harriett.” He placed his hand on the small of
Lily’s back and encouraged her toward the door. “Now, go on.”

The sun dipped behind the distant peaks as
John sat relaxing on the porch of his office, enjoying the
peacefulness of the now quiet street. It felt good to rest and just
do nothing. Gave him a moment of solitude to examine his feelings
about his life and living it in this new town, among other things.
In about an hour, after Charity had time to clean up, he’d head
over to the hotel and pick her up and they would go to dinner and
catch up on things at the ranch. He was glad she’d taken the matter
into her own hands and come for a visit, even if she had almost
surprised the life out of him. Still, he couldn’t get over his
parents letting her come all this way on her own—well, with the
company of Theodore Browning, he corrected himself.

“You’re quiet tonight,” Bixby said, striking
a match and lighting the lantern hanging next to his shingle. John
had yet to hang his.

John scoffed good-naturedly. “You don’t know
me well enough yet to recognize if I’m being quiet or not.”

“I do, indeed,” he replied matter-of-factly.
“What’s on your mind?” Bixby took his time pulling another chair
closer to where John lounged, and sat down.

A few moments passed before John said, “A lot
of things.” He crossed his legs out in front of him and laced his
fingers behind his head. The street was near vacant being it was
Sunday and most people would be sitting down soon to supper. The
pungent air, thick from the mineral spring, coiled around him. It
was a far cry from the crisp mountain freshness he’d grown up with,
filled with scents of pine and wild grass, but he was resigned to
embrace his new life with an open mind.

“Lily Anthony being one of them?”

John looked over at the old man and slowly
shook his head amazed at the old man’s astuteness. “Could be.”

“She’s a pretty one, McCutcheon. Nice, too.
You could do a lot worse.”

Was he
that transparent that everyone could see what he was thinking? And
feeling? He’d made no overt advances toward the young woman or
spent that much time with her since reaching Rio Wells—well, maybe
he’d spent a lot of time with her, but her aunt
was
his patient. What was he supposed to do? “I
suppose you’re right.”

“So. What’s stopping you?”

“
You’re
one irritating old man, Bixby. Anyone ever tell you that before?”
The white kitten jumped from the roof of the telegraph office
across the street, landed on some crates stacked three high, and
then made for her master. “I’m just sitting here minding my
own
personal
business and you come out and give me the third
degree.”

Bixby picked the kitten up when she reached
his feet and stroked her back. She started to purr. “Well?”

“There’s someone else.”

He stopped stroking and looked over at him.
“Who?”

“My intended in Boston.”

Bixby gave a low whistle and resumed the
affection he was giving to the kitten. “Well, that changes things,
don’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want it to change things?”

John looked at the man. “What do you mean?
Change things so I can proceed with Lily or change with Lily and
proceed with Emmeline?”

“You tell me. In my way of thinkin’ a man is
free until he’s married.”

“Even if there’s an understanding? An
engagement?”

Bixby removed his glasses and swiped his hand
across his face. He resettled his spectacles on his nose. “That’s
right. Engagement is a time of discernment. It’d be dishonest to
marry someone if a person has fallen in love with another. Now,
running around and looking for it is something different entirely,
of course. I’m not talking about that—sometimes things just happen.
But, breaking a promise is a lot kinder than a life of misery,
regrets. Just my opinion.” The kitten squirmed and jumped from the
old man’s embrace, hiding beneath the boardwalk when a dog trotted
by. “But, once those vows have been said, that’s another story
entirely.”

John grunted, thinking about what Bixby had
just said. What were his feelings for the two women? Both were
beautiful and strong in their own right. Falling in love with
Emmeline had been easy, and fun. But life wasn’t all lollipops and
roses and was never meant to be. Protectiveness for Lily surfaced
and he had to tamp it down, reminding himself that most likely it
was the highly charged Comanchero attack that made him feel so.

“You ever been married?” he asked, looking at
the old man.

“Nope.”

“Why not? I’m sure there were plenty of women
around Rio Wells that would’ve loved to have hitched up with
you.”

“Just never meant to be. Time marched on and
then I found myself ready to retire. Be careful, boy. Days are
long, but years are short.”

“I can’t believe that.” It was a moment until
Bixby returned his look. Even in the fading light, his haunted
expression couldn’t be masked and John wished he hadn’t started
this line of conversation.

“Actually, I was in love once,” Bixby finally
admitted. “But that was many, many years ago. She was a married
woman.”

John wanted to ask if she still lived in this
dustbowl of a place. If he ever ran into her from time to time. He
wanted to, but wouldn’t. His ma was big on not prying into other
people’s business. You might learn something you didn’t need—or
want—to know. The proverbial Pandora’s Box, so to speak.

Tucker opened the door and stuck his head
out. “I’m going down to the livery to see Theodore, see if he needs
anything.”

“I’m sure Cradle has him all set up. Sure
glad he had that inexpensive room for that young man to rent. I
like him, he’s nice,” Bixby said. “But, go. Have some fun. Just be
sure the two of you stay out of trouble.” The door slammed and
Tucker disappeared back inside, apparently intending to use the
quicker route to the livery out the back.

John hitched his head. “He’s a good boy, too.
It’s a shame about his hand.”

“It is indeed.”

The atmosphere had turned a little
depressing, so John decided to ask the question he’d been curious
about for several hours. “So, did you count the money?”

Bixby straightened. “Sure did. I can’t
believe how much hard-earned cash those townsfolk were willing to
throw my way to haul that junk away.” He laughed. “Never thought
anything good would come from my collection. “Three hundred
seventy-three dollars even.” He shook his head in disbelief. “I
have you to thank. I’d never have gotten that place cleaned out on
my own and it would’ve fallen to you or someone else after I’d died
to—”

“Now, wait just a minute,” John said, cutting
him off. “Who said anything about you dying? I’m just glad we had
such a great turnout.”

“Tomorrow I’ll give Lily and Harriett their
half. It’ll be a good start for them.”

“That’s generous of you, Bixby, and I for
one, appreciate it.”

Three men walked up the boardwalk in their
direction from Main Street. When they were closer John recognized
Sheriff Dane and the deputy, Pete Miller. The third man was
unfamiliar. John and Bixby stood.

“H
ow’re you,
Sheriff?” John asked, shaking the sheriff’s hand while taking in
the hard expression of the third man. He wondered who he was.
Uncertainty swept through John’s mind as he looked at
him.