It was just past dusk as the trio rode into the outskirts of town. After Heyes described the whereabouts of the doc's house to his partner, the Kid hung back and let the other two get ahead of him. As they proceeded into town along the main street, he turned his horse into the first alley he saw and made his way through the back streets.
Doctor Granger was just about to pour himself a nightcap when he heard the soft tapping on the door. He opened it to reveal a handsome if rakish young man with dark hair and dark eyes smiling back at him.
"Dr. Granger?" he inquired. "My name is Joshua Smith. I believe I've found something that belongs to you."
He stepped aside to reveal Evangeline standing behind him, looking partly contrite and partly defiant in her trail-worn clothing, waiting warily to see what her uncle's reaction was.
"Evie! Your aunt was so worried! But I knew you would come back." He embraced her warmly. "Do come in, Mr. Smith."
A woman's voice called from within, "Henry? Who's out there? Do you have another patient?"
Evie didn't look too eager to meet her aunt's ire. She quickly volunteered to tend to the horses and pulled both by the reins toward the back of the house.
Dr. Granger held the door open, looking up and down the street as he did so.
"Is your partner here? Is he okay?" The doctor looked concerned. "That is, if I'm correct in assuming your partner is Thaddeus Jones."
As they entered, Heyes explained, "You are correct, Doctor. Mr. Jones has come into town by a different route and will momentarily be knocking at your back door. I was hoping you would take a look at his leg before we leave Glenview – just to make sure it's healing okay."
"He shouldn't be riding on it yet," Granger stated, shaking his head.
"I know. But try telling him that."
"I did! Twice. But he did it anyway."
"That's pretty much how it works with Thaddeus. Stubborn isn't a strong enough word."
"Can I offer you a brandy?"
"Don't mind if I do," Heyes answered appreciatively, sitting down in the proffered wing chair.
oooo
The Kid led his horse the last couple blocks along the alley, keeping to the shadows, his right hand resting near his gun. As he approached the back of the doc's house, he saw Evie leading the other two horses to the small stables. He walked into the outbuilding just as she was lifting the saddle off her own horse. Always the gentleman, he hastened to her side and reached to take it from her.
"Here, let me do that, Evie. You shouldn't be lifting that."
Evie turned and laughed up at him, "I told you I was strong! A stunt rider, man or woman, takes care of his own tack!"
"Well, I gotta admit, you're the strongest little gal I've ever met, but I can't let you do that when I'm around to do it for ya," answered the Kid, taking the heavy saddle from her.
Evie started to protest, but remembered something she'd once heard Mama Brindizi say. She had been advising one of her daughters. Seems the daughter was having problems with her husband, who also worked in the Circus. He was one of the lion tamers and she worked with the elephants. When Evie had accidentally walked in on the conversation, Mama B. was telling Sofia she should let her husband help her fill the large watering trough for the elephants, even though she was perfectly capable of doing it herself. "Men need to feel like women need them around," Mama B. had counseled. Evie had never really understood until this moment. She bit her tongue and let Kid heft the saddle, instead picking up the currycombs and commencing to vigorously brush Suzy's coat. Meanwhile, the Kid unsaddled the other two animals and poured out some feed for all three. When she started brushing down Fabrizio, he took one of the combs and began on Mario. The names she had bestowed on the two geldings may have been unusual, but they suited their personalities. Mario was stolid and dependable; Fabrizio more high-strung and flighty. The two worked in companionable silence.
"Well, Suzy and her two Eye-talian buddies are all settled in for the night," Curry finally announced. "We better get in there before my partner talks your uncle and aunt to death."
Evie looked like she was about to say something. She opened her mouth, then shut it. She gazed steadily at the Kid, her eyes sweeping over the broad shoulders, the strong jaw, the blue, blue eyes; it was as if she were trying to memorize all his features. Kid stood looking back at her silently, waiting for her to speak. Finally she said simply,
"Of course, let's do."
oooooo
Meanwhile, Heyes and the good doctor had been getting along famously. Dr. Granger had heard a lot about the keen mind of the famous outlaw leader and he was not disappointed. Of course, he did not let on overtly that he knew Mr. Smith's true identity, but both men were well aware of the fact. After discussing various other subjects, Dr. Granger shared Evie's background. Even though Heyes already knew most of it, he listened politely. For his part, he took pains to reassure the doctor that his niece had behaved respectably with the two men and that she had simply run off out of a longing for adventure.
Dr. Granger sighed, "That's what I suspected. It's what I told my sister, Helena, when she wanted to raise a search party. I feared Evangeline would be bored here after the exciting life she's led. I had hoped she would simply get it out of her system and come back to us and that she'd be ready to settle down now. But after her life with the circus, I'm just not sure she's going to be happy living an ordinary life."
The younger man took a slow sip of his brandy, then answered thoughtfully,
"Maybe she doesn't have to. Evie told me something on the trail, Doc. She told me that she dreams of starting her own horse ranch, where she could raise and train horses. I know that's unusual for a woman, but I can vouch personally that she has the requisite skills. That is, if it's something you and her aunt would be comfortable allowing."
Dr. Granger's eyes gleamed as he answered,
"Helena might not be, but I'll convince her. That's simply a capital idea! I have some property just outside of town that would be ideal. And I know Evie saved up quite a bit of her pay while she was in the circus. She's probably got enough set aside to purchase some good breeding stock. It will certainly keep her busy and maybe even make her happy."
Heyes smiled and sipped his brandy again.
The Doc pulled out his pocket watch and consulted it, then asked with concern,
"Why hasn't your partner arrived yet? Do you think something happened to him?"
"Oh, I expect he's out back helping your niece with the horses," his guest answered blandly.
Granger frowned.
"She's been out there some time. Should I be worried?" he asked protectively.
"Not for a minute," Heyes assured him. "My partner is the consummate gentleman."
The most he would ever do, thought Heyes, with a real lady, was steal a kiss. And he wouldn't even do that after promising. That was something he could always count on: The Kid's word was good.
Just then they heard the door open and footsteps in the back hallway. Then Evie's voice,
"This way, Thaddeus. They're probably in the parlor."
Dr. Granger turned a critical eye to the man whose leg he had patched up as he walked through the door, scrutinizing his gait. There was a noticeable limp and Mr. Jones's face looked too pale for his liking.
"Howdy, Doc."
"I need to examine that leg, young man. Come into my examination room."
The doctor stood up to lead the way. Heyes rose from his char as well.
"Does he have to come in, too?" Kid scowled.
"Yes, he does. I will need to show him what to do to care for the wound and explain what signs to watch out for. Evangeline, you go help your aunt in the kitchen. I've invited your friends to stay for supper."
Evie looked uncomfortable. "Do I have to?" she began, but trailed off when she saw the expression on her uncle's face.
"Evie, postponing her wrath will not minimize it. Better go and face the music," he answered, then turned to his reluctant patient.
"Come along Thaddeus, time for you to face the music, too."
One they were in the room, Dr. Granger lit the lamp. Heyes sat down in a chair and the Kid just stood there looking miserable.
"Drop 'em," commanded Heyes.
Curry rolled his eyes and began to unbuckle his gunbelt. He handed it to his partner, then started on his other belt. When that was undone, he unbuttoned his trousers, and pushed them and his long johns to his knees. The doctor frowned as he squatted to get a close look at the injury.
"Humph," he snorted. "I told you not to ride for three days! Get up on the table."
Kid climbed up on the examination table resignedly and lay on his side. The doctor bent over the leg, Heyes joining him, helpfully holding the lamp so they could both get a better view.
Dr. Granger poked and prodded a bit. Kid flinched, but didn't cry out.
"Hurts, doesn't it, son?"
"Just a little sore," he answered through gritted teeth.
After more poking and prodding, the Kid flinching and biting his lip to avoid cursing, the doctor murmured, almost to himself,
"Well I must say someone did an admirable job of stitching up that hole."
Then he straightened and said somewhat accusatorily,
"If I hadn't, the stitches would most definitely have pulled loose by now."
"How is he, Doc?" asked Heyes.
"It's not infected. That's what I was most worried about. The stitches stayed closed and the bandage has remained clean. But do you see how red and swollen this area is? The tissue is quite inflamed. I am going to insist quite firmly that he really must not ride horseback for at least five days. You can stay at the hotel in town. And I want to see him back here in three days."
"Is...uh...that man Jenkins still in town?" Heyes asked casually.
"Oh, dear, I quite forgot. Indeed he is. You can't stay in the hotel. He'll see you. And I am afraid there is no doubt that he would go straight to the sheriff."
"What about ridin' on a train, Doc?" Kid ventured.
"Yes, a train will be fine. As a matter of fact, there's a midnight train heading for Denver. I think you should both be on it. Which means I won't be able to follow up, so Mr. Smith, I am counting on you to make sure your friend elevates his leg for ten minutes out of every hour, does not put undue strain upon it, and absolutely stays off a horse for five days. I will give you a supply of fresh bandages so you can change them daily. If you are able to procure any ice, it would also be a good idea to ice the leg several times a day. You'll need to remove the stitches in seven days."
"I'm sittin' right here," Kid complained, but the other two men continued discussing him as if he were an inanimate object.
"That'll be fine, Doc. We have a friend in Denver we could stay with while Thaddeus heals up," said Heyes, thinking of Soapy. "But we're, uh, a little short on funds for the train tickets. And we find ourselves with a couple extra horses and gear. Perhaps you'd be interested in buying them from us…? You could resell them to the livery in the morning?"
"I have a better idea," he answered, "I'll purchase them myself and make them a welcome home present to my niece."
"Well, they're gonna cost you", Heyes joked slyly. "Cuz these two horses already know how to do some tricks."
ooooo
After a quick washing up, the reunited family and their guests sat down to a late supper of sliced roast beef, beet salad, mashed yams, and corn on the cob. The only parts of the meal that weren't delicious were the rather flat, hard biscuits that the boys chewed politely.
Evie looked around the table apologetically,
"Sorry about the biscuits. I made them."
Aunt Helena snapped, "You've going to have to improve your cooking skills, young lady, if you expect to catch a decent husband."
Evie's face crumpled, but the Kid spoke up loyally if not truthfully,
"These biscuits are wonderful, Mrs. Whittaker! Best biscuits I ever tasted."
The girl looked at him gratefully, but his partner gave him a glance that clearly communicated, Quit laying it on so thick.
That's when Dr. Granger made his big announcement:
"Helena, my dear departed wife June always used to say that having more than one woman in a kitchen is a recipe for trouble. I think it's time our Evie had her own place."
Helena shot him a shocked look while Evie stared in surprise.
"Evangeline, I have some property just outside of town. Now it's a little run down, but there's a small cottage, and a decent-sized barn. I've been looking to get a tenant out there, fix up the place. But it occurs to me, I might do well to keep it in the family. It would be an excellent set-up for someone who knows something about horses. Someone who could breed horses, train them, maybe even give riding lessons to town folks."
Evie stared at her uncle, speechless, daring to hope. Mrs. Whittaker opened her mouth to protest, but her brother quickly forestalled her,
"Not now, Helena. We can't have it all our way. We've got her here with us at long last, but we can't break her spirit, too."
Then he turned back to his niece and continued,
"Now, Evie, I haven't mentioned it yet, but your father left you some funds which I have taken the liberty of investing for you. The dividends along with the money you've saved up should be enough to buy a few mares and a stallion. You've already got Suzy and just tonight I've purchased two fine geldings that I'm told already know a trick or two. Just might be suitable for riding lessons. I'd like to make them your welcome home present."
Evie looked from her uncle over to Heyes and the Kid and asked in a small voice,
"Mario and Fabrizio? You're not going to keep them?"
"No, Evie," Heyes answered gently. "We won't be needing them. We're catching the train at midnight."
Evie was torn between excitement over her prospective horse ranch and disappointment that the inevitable broken heart was looming right around the corner. The rest of the meal she remaine quiet, and she didn't even complain when her aunt asked her to help wash up while the men retired to the study.
But when the last plate was dried and the last cup returned to the shelf, and she emerged from the kitchen to join the others, she was dismayed to find their guests had already departed.
"And they didn't even say goodbye?" she asked her uncle in disbelief, feeling hurt and abandoned.
Dr. Granger patted the leather sofa next to him and she came over to him and sat, leaning against his chest as he wrapped an arm around her paternally.
"They wanted to, Evie, dear," he explained quietly. "It was I who suggested they slip out without any dramatic farewells. I hope you will forgive me. You do understand that nothing could come of this?"
"Yes, Uncle," she answered softly.