Roy read the words on the paper and then handed the scrap to Ben. "Where did you find this, Adam?" Roy asked, leaning forward and keeping his voice low.
"It fell on the ground as I was getting Sam's luggage and purse. Her purse was in my saddlebag, and I would've known for sure if it'd fallen from there. Had to be wedged in next to her valise."
"You're positive that a gust of wind didn't blow it your way from somewhere else." Ben was playing the devil's advocate on purpose.
"If a gust of wind had caught it, it wouldn't have landed right at my feet. It would have blown higher up and past me."
"Is there any chance that this message was meant for you?" Roy asked. "Maybe somebody doesn't like your hanging around so much."
Ben spoke in the deep voice that meant "pay attention." "I don't think the warning was meant for Adam. My son didn't have his guitar smashed. My son wasn't involved in a stagecoach accident. My son didn't have his room trashed."
Roy looked at Ben and knew the man was trying to keep a lid on his temper. "Hold on, Ben. We have to look at every angle. I can't go around jumping to conclusions. It seems pretty cut-and-dried to me. Somebody is either trying to scare Sam off or…"
"Somebody is trying to kill her." Adam spoke with a snarl in his voice.
The three men began thinking up a strategy. They came up with one they believed would work.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
At least it's not freezing cold outside, Adam thought to himself as he walked into Doc's office. Delmas was awake but seemed a bit unsteady. Doc's powders are working well. Henrietta had brought her knitting and was busy at work. Sam was not there.
"Hello, Henrietta," Adam said as he removed his hat. "I apologize for not speaking earlier. I was in a hurry and forgot my manners."
Henrietta smiled. "Oh, Adam, that's quite all right. I understand." Is she winking at me?
"Where's Sam?" Adam asked casually. "She wanted to ride Fancy if she felt up to it." This was said deliberately so that Henrietta and the half-awake Delmas wouldn't be suspicious about anything.
"Sam's cleaning up the back office. She's got 'cabin fever,' I think," Doc replied.
Adam stepped into the back room and found Sam folding sheets.
"You need to shave," Sam said as she looked at Adam's face.
"I shaved this morning." Adam kissed her. Hard.
"Well, you need to do it again! You just took off two layers of my skin!" Sam was teasing – well, sort of. Her chin had gotten pinker.
"Did you take your nap like a good girl?" Adam asked.
Sam saluted and answered, "Yessir, I did!"
"You ready to take Fancy out for a short ride?"
"More than ready! I'm going crazy in this office!"
Adam looked pointedly at Sam's shirt front. "I see you got dressed." The lacy camisole was quite visible under Sam's shirt.
"It's the only way to make you stop leering at me!" came Sam's retort.
"I wouldn't count on it." Adam grinned. And he was being truthful.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Fancy was delighted to see Sam and vice versa. Sam rubbed the mare's velvety nose and spoke to her. "Ready for a ride, Fancy?" Sam asked as she turned to get her saddle blanket on its peg just outside of Fancy's stall. Fancy pranced in anticipation and snorted eagerly, small puffs of frost exiting her nose.
Sport was already saddled – had been since the morning – and his cinch had to be tightened. But, as Adam looked over at the place where Fancy's saddle was always kept, he saw something sticking out from under the stirrup flap. It looked strangely familiar.
Sam was now heading for the saddle; Adam stopped her. "Use your energy for riding. I'll take care of the saddle and bridle."
"I can take care of myself," Sam replied impatiently.
"I know you can. But I like doing things for you." He kissed her on the tip of her head.
"I kinda like your doing things for me," Sam smiled as she turned around to curry Fancy's mane and tail. "You need to look your best," she said as she worked.
Quickly, Adam snatched up the scrap of paper. Go away! The same message as the last one had said. Putting the paper into his pocket, Adam began to check every inch of the saddle. And he didn't like what he found. The cinch had been neatly sliced almost all the way through. If this hadn't been discovered, and if Sam had decided to gallop, the saddle would have slipped. Sam would've been dumped on the ground.
Just to be sure, Adam checked Fancy's bridle. He could find nothing wrong with it and was somewhat relieved. Then he casually walked over to Fancy, rubbed her face and neck, then her belly and her legs. He looked at her hooves.
"What are you doing?" Sam asked.
"She hasn't been ridden in a while and I wanted to make sure she was okay."
"Why wouldn't she be?" Sam looked at Adam curiously.
"She's been cooped up in this barn for several days. And it's been so cold. I wanted to check for muscles that didn't feel right. And she needs to go to the blacksmith and have her hooves trimmed soon. She's okay for several days."
"Adam, are we going to ride or not?" Sam was impatient.
Adam thought fast. "I've got an idea. Why don't we ride bareback today? Sport's been in this saddle all day and I bet he'd like a rest from it."
Sam loved to ride bareback but had never seen Adam do this. "That's a wonderful idea!" So she snatched the saddle blanket off while Adam unsaddled Sport. "I do need a leg up, though," Sam mused.
"Always glad to oblige," Adam said with a devilish gleam in his hazel eyes. Grabbing Sam's leg, he gave her a boost. "Mmm, mmm, mmm!" he said appreciatively as he looked at Sam's backside.
Sam hissed at him and headed outside. Adam swung up onto Sport's back and followed right behind her, his eyes looking up and down both sides of the street. At this time of the day, most folks had finished business and errands. The only person Adam saw was Ted, sitting in a chair with his hat pulled low over his eyes as though he might be taking a snooze. That tidbit stayed in Adam's mind. He needed to talk to Roy again but wasn't sure how he'd be able to sneak in another visit.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sam wanted to go faster than a walk, so Adam agreed. We might be less of a target if we're moving fast. "I'll race you to the Red Rocks! On the count of three, okay?"
Sam grinned. "Onetwothreego!" And she was halfway down the street by the time Adam knew she had moved.
Sport caught up with her quickly and, together, they raced side by side. At the very last minute, Adam nudged Sport and he surged ahead. Adam was waiting by the time Sam arrived. But he hadn't been waiting long – Fancy was quicker than he had thought she was. And nobody had used either of the riders for target practice.
Sam made a face as she reined in next to Adam. "We let you beat us," she lied.
"Sure you did." And Adam leaned over, tugged on Sam's hair and brought her face close to his. "You're a remarkable woman, Samantha Nielsen."
His kiss caught Sam so by surprise that she almost fell from Fancy's back. Adam grabbed her in the nick of time.
Flustered, Sam righted herself. "You need to shave." And she turned Fancy around and headed back to town. Adam let her win but he stayed close behind her.
And Ted was sitting in a different chair this time. Right by the livery stable. Was he watching?
While Sam was busy talking to Fancy and giving her some sweet feed, Adam saw Jess. "Have you seen anybody hanging around here? Maybe taking care of Fancy?"
Jess shook his head. "I knowed Doctor Sam was sick, and I been takin' care of that mare myself. Ain't nobody else been doin' nothin'. As far as folks hangin' 'round, there's been lots of folks who been keepin' horses and buggies in here when it's been cold. No strangers though."
Fishing in his pocket, Adam slipped Jess some money. "You've been very good to Sam and to Fancy. I appreciate your taking the time to do it – I know how busy you are." Adam knew that Jess had not been that busy, but an ego stroke never hurt.
Jess took the money. "Is Doctor Sam still staying at Doc Martin's?"
Remembering the strategy, Adam answered. "No. Doc says she can go back to the hotel later on tonight."
Jess smiled. "I know she'll be glad!"
Adam said nothing but just nodded his head. He went to stand by Sam's side and took her by the elbow. "You've had enough excitement for today," he said. "Let's go to Doc's and eat some of that stew."
"My sweet tooth is looking forward to the pie," Sam answered. "I've never seen one so big and so beautiful."
Ted was gone when Adam and Sam headed towards Doc's office.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Drucilla was taking another turn at helping out at Doc's office. But she had ulterior motives – she had taken a liking to Delmas. And he had taken a liking to her. Maybe he couldn't get up and move around very well because of his pain powders, but he and Drucilla were sharing "special looks" at each other.
Adam managed to show Doc the second slip of paper and had cued him in on the plans made earlier with Roy and Ben. And now the two men had to sit and act as though nothing was bothering them.
"I still think Delmas should come back with me to the boarding house," Drucilla said to Doc as she stirred the stew. "I can take care of him."
Doc pretended to reluctantly concede. "He can go tonight after supper. But you must make sure he takes his pain medications for that leg. The bandages on that leg need to be changed every day – either I can do it or you can do it. I see no sign of infection at all."
Drucilla was thrilled beyond words. "I know infection when I see it. I'll let you know immediately if there's a problem."
"Oh, I almost forgot to add something." Doc said as he glanced quickly at Adam. "I know it's a bother, but could you spread the word that Sam is now released from my care and can go back to her hotel tonight? The restaurant is hosting the Cattlemen's and Farmer's Association supper tonight, and I know that plenty of people there will be interested to hear that Sam is back to normal."
Drucilla was beaming. She had never been privy to such interesting information and felt quite important. She could mix and hob-nob with people she didn't usually socialize with. "I'd be delighted," she said, hardly able to contain her glee.
Sam looked at Doc as she was filling bowls of stew. "I can go back to a real bed and have my own room back?" Then, "I can still come back to the office and work with you, can't I?"
"Of course," Doc answered. "I can keep an eye on you that way."
Adam liked the way Doc was handling this. Everything was going smoothly.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Drucilla was letting the pie warm up and sat down at the small table to eat. "My, this smells wonderful. And how fortunate we have so much good bread to go with it!"
Sam had already started to eat. She buttered some bread, took a bite, and immediately began to choke. Both Doc and Adam were at her side in an instant; worried looks creased their faces. Was something wrong with the stew? Only Sam had begun eating.
"What's wrong with you two!" Sam sputtered as she coughed. "I ate too fast and a bread crumb went down the wrong way. Lord, you would have thought there was poison in this food."
"I thought you choked on a piece of meat," Adam said.
"I was ready to give you a good slap on the back," Doc added.
Both Adam and Doc noticed that Delmas and Drucilla were eating and not choking. Perhaps Sam's choking really was from an errant bread crumb.
So Adam and Doc began eating. There were no problems. The stew and the bread were, indeed, delicious.
After that part of the meal, the pie was still not warm enough to eat, so Drucilla and Sam washed the dishes. But Drucilla just couldn't wait another second – she was facing the delights of telling a roomful of people first-hand news.
"I'm just too full to eat any pie," she said, though that wasn't really the truth. "Doc, if it's okay, Delmas and I will go on to the restaurant and tell everybody about Sam going back to her hotel room and about Delmas coming to the boarding house."
"But I haven't had any pie yet," Delmas said.
"Why, Thelma made a pie just this morning. You can have a big slice after we run our 'errand'."
Delmas shrugged. It didn't matter to him whether he ate pie now or later. He smiled at Drucilla; the woman actually blushed.
"Be sure that you tell my father," Adam said, a little more forcefully than necessary. "He needs to know what's going on. It's important to him."
"I'll tell Mister Cartwright first thing!" Drucilla said enthusiastically.
When the last of the dirty dishes were washed, dried, and put away, Doc gave Delmas crutches and repeated his cautions to Drucilla about keeping an eye on Delmas's leg.
Drucilla fairly flew out the door, almost snatching Delmas out of his crutches. Doc, Adam and Sam managed to control their explosive laughter until Drucilla was well out of earshot.
"I wouldn't hurt that woman's feeling for the world," Doc said, wiping his streaming eyes. "She and Thelma and Henrietta have been so good to me – to us. But I wonder if Delmas knows what he's in for."
Adam continued to chuckle. And continued to hope the plans from this morning would work out.
Sam looked at the pie and touched its crust. "I don't know about you two, but I'm having some of this." She reached for a knife to make the first slice.