Grace, Through the Years

PT.4

Bard had led Doc and Grace to a rundown shack where two others were waiting for him. One who was injured. Pulling Doc by the arm. He motioned towards the shack. "You come with me. You're needed in here."

Grace sat on the horse watching. "Pap-Pap?"

As they entered, one of the men stood. "Well, wondered when you'd get back. He's real bad."

"I'm here with the sawbones."

The second man was now looking up and seeing Grace who slid down off the horse and followed behind them. "What's that?"

Shrugging his shoulders. "Ah, started out as an interference but just might be a bonus."

"What?" Second man was now confused.

Tossing his head, "She's Dillon's kid."

"Oh, now wait a minute. I know you have a beef with Dillon but she's just a kid. I… I..."

"Look, Carlin, she's bait. We were going for the woman but the kid fell in our lap and the way I hear it the big man will move mountain's for these two. So when he comes moving mountains, we'll be a waiting."

"And you just might be sorry too." Doc spurted out.

"Your hands I need. Your mouth I don't. Now get to fixing him up. He needs to ride."

"That ain't likely anytime soon." Doc answered.

"Well, you best change that, Sawbones." Bard yelled out. "Or you are unless and we just might have to dispense with you. Or maybe we'll start with this little lady now." He grinned, fiddling with Grace's curls.

Grace brushed his hand away. "Get your hands off of her." Doc growled.

Grace quickly rushed to Doc's side. "Pap-Pap?"

"It's ok, Honey. You stay with me."

"Pap-Pap, is this man really sick?"

"Yes, Honey, and they want me to help him."

"Why didn't they just bring him to your office? And why are they being so mean to you?"

Scrubbing his mustache. "Gracie Honey, they're not very nice men. But this man is sick and I am a doctor so I will help him."

"Pap-Pap, why was he saying things about Poppa and bait?"

"Don't you worry, Honey."

"Are these bad men?"

Sniffing and then shaking his head. "Yes, Honey, they are."

Scrunching her face. "I'm not worried. Poppa will come and he will put them in his jail."

Bard heard Grace talking to Doc and was snickering. "Little one, your Poppa did that once. But not this time. Un huh."

Now standing defiant with anger in her face. "My poppa will come here and find us and he will lock you in his jail. You hurt my Pap-Pap. When my momma tells him he will be real mad." Now she stomped her foot.

He laughed. "Little one. You are funny."

"And you are MEAN!" Then she kicked him as hard as she could in the shin."

"OUCH! You little... I ought to take you..."

Carlin began laughing. "Kid got'cha good, huh?"

"Ah, shut up."

Doc continued to work on the injured man. He had been shot. He removed the bullet and stopped the bleeding. Now to reduce the fever and watch for infection. "Look, I'm going to need more clean water. Is there a well here?"

Carlin answered quickly. "Yes, just behind the cabin. I found it while we were waiting."

"Well, I'll need lots of it. I need to break his fever and enough to clean these sheets for clean cloth."

"Look, Doc, we don't have time for that."

"Well then, you might as well bury him now. If this fever don't break and he gets infected he's a dead man. Your call."

Matt, Festus and Reilly were picking up on tracks that Festus had followed. Burke told him that was the direction they had taken Doc and Grace out of town. Festus figured the horse Doc and Grace were riding would have different tracks because Hank said something about it had worn shoes when he saw the horse at the stable earlier.

"Matthew? You know'd ol' Doc won't let not a near nothing' happen to little Gracie. Ol' Doc, he loves Gracie with all his heart, Mathew."

Nodding, "Yeah, Festus, I know. But I can't help thinking."

Festus just swayed his head, his eyes glazing up. His heart was feeling the pain for his friend.

"Festus, let's just keep moving. Kitty's out there too."

"Aw, Matthew, Miz Kitty can take care of…"

"Yeah. Let's just find them."

"Alright, Red. Let's get a move on. We have some riding to do."

"What?" She raised her brow.

"Yeah, that's right. You and me, Red. We have to meet up with my boys."

"Meet up where? Where we going? And why? For what?"

"Ah, now, Red. You're trying to spoil all the fun. Just start moving." Now he was pointing his gun in her direction.

Pursing her lips together. "Which way?"

Snickering, "Now that's a good girl. Straight ahead. Oh and don't try nothin' funny."

"Huh. I wouldn't dream of it." She mumbled.

As they were riding, "So, you going to tell me what this is all about? Or we just riding for the scenery?"

"Aw, Red, you're not enjoying the company and nice ride in the country."

"I generally like to be asked about such things. And I prefer enjoying such things with my husband not strange men. My guess would be you're an outlaw."

"Now why would you think the worst?"

"Oh, maybe the gun pointed at me. Just a guess." Smirking at him.

"Well, I'm not going to disappoint you, Red. Your husband will join us. Actually that's the intention."

Furrowing her brow. "What? Why? What's this all about?"

"Whoa. Not so fast. First, you're bait. Second, payback. And third, Dillon sent me to prison and now he's gonna pay."

"Uh huh, you put yourself in prison with whatever it was you did. Matt just did his job. I get now that you're one of the ones that escaped from Leavenworth."

"Score one for the lady." He laughed.

"So I guess we're meeting up with the other one?"

"Other three. Two were waiting for us. It's not far. One of our friends, he was hurt. I had to come into town for the Doc."

Kitty's face dropped. Now she realized he was one of the ones that took Doc and Grace. "Doc Adams?"

"Haha, yeah that ol' sawbones. Heard he was the only one in the county. Folks say he's good. We'll see if he's worth keeping him alive."

"What?" She snapped.

"Relax, Red. Act like he's kin."

Grace snuggled up to Doc. Pap-Pap, when do you think poppa will come?"

"Soon, Honey. Soon." Doc was staring out the window, praying someone knew they were gone. Missing. He knew Kitty would be devastated when she found out Grace was missing. He doubted Kitty had any idea she was with him. He was watching the wind blow through the branches of the large tree. He began smiling. He was thinking about Grace telling him about earlier. She told him what had happened with Mrs. English yelling at Billy and her for climbing the big oak. And how Grace had climbed so high. Then the fight that got her in trouble and Mrs. Pry dragging her home dirty beyond belief. Tugging his ear, rubbing his mustache, he was looking around the room. He notice the men now in a sleepy mode as well as Grace. He slowly moved close to her, cuddling her.

"Gracie Honey. Pap-Pap needs to talk to you. But we need to be really, really quiet. Can you do that?"

Shaking her head, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I'm listening."

"Gracie Honey, we're gonna play a game."

Grace's eyes got real big as she was smiling up at him.

TBC