Battles and Blessings Chapter One
A/N If Triton is an actual town anywhere, I don't know it.
*Triton's small saloon was filled with noise as the patrons laughed, talked and drank together. Naturally, some of the men even flirted with the waitresses. That is, all but one. The patrons had quickly learned that the black haired waitress known only known as Cassie was a dependable waitress and polite enough only her eyes would not be turned in any directions. When pressed for the reason why, she simply turned around and walked away. Because of this reaction, many of the patrons, along with the other residents of the small town, were saying the young lady was carrying a torch for someone. Naturally, they'd tried to find out for whom, but it had done them no good.
"Hey, Cass," a young blonde haired, know it all, cowhand reached out and took a hold of the waitress's wrist. "Come sit with us," He laughed and started to pull her to him-even though she was resisting- when there was a commotion outside. A blood curdling scream and then a couple of shots rang through the air. Instantly, Cassie found herself free of the young cowhand. She, along with others, ran to the front door of the saloon. She managed to slip in between the patrons in order to step out onto the boardwalk. Her heart jumped when she saw the sheriff handcuffing the town drunkard, who had blood on his sleeve- and the deputy kneeling down by a stranger. There was blood on the side of the man's head, and liquid running down from the side of the eyes down to the bottom of the ears. The question 'who is he?' could be repeated more than once, no one had to tell Cassie who the injured party was. That is, she was eighty percent sure she had seen him before. That being the case, she ran straight for the fallen stranger.
Cassie knelt on the ground and looked at the man who had passed out. It was indeed the gentleman she'd seen a few times. Due to the circumstances, there had been other people around- and they'd been occupying the man's time- all she'd ever caught was the last name of Barkley. The rising and falling of his chest was a witness that, despite the blood on the side of his head, the man was alive. "What happened?" she asked the deputy.
The deputy hid his shock. He had not expected to see the waitress, see the concern in her eyes and hear it in her voice. "Blasted Jack," The deputy shook his head in disgust, "He, his alcohol and…and that," He pointed to an empty bottle, "is the cause. Not sure what liquid was in it only that area around his eyes is starting to blister." He gestured towards the stranger lying on the street. "It wasn't water in that bottle. This man needs medical help. Any further explanations can wait." He paused and then asked, "Do you know him?" His eyes added, "'And is he more than a friend?"
Cassie would have replied only the doctor arrived and started insisting they move 'the stranger' to his office. When the deputy and another man started to do as the doctor requested, Cassie followed-she didn't care what looks she got -even though she knew people were silently asking the same question the deputy had just asked. She would have cleared up any assumptions right then only she was far more concerned about the injured gentleman than she was with the thoughts of other people.
Once the deputy and those helping him laid the injured man on the bed that sat in the back room of the doctor's office, they left.
"You can wait up by my desk." Dr. Thomas, a red haired gentleman in his late thirties nodded towards the bedroom door and then added, "I'll take care of your friend."
If it weren't for the seriousness of the situation, she'd have slapped the doctor for the way his eyes took on a look of speculation – one that said 'or should I say boyfriend- or even husband? As it was, she knew that – unless she spoke up- people would assume many things when it came to the gentleman. Speak up was something that she would have done only she was just mad enough at the man's silent nosiness that she didn't. "You do that." She replied, keeping her eyes directed at the bed.
Nothing more was said as she watched Dr. Thomas begin tending to his patient.
/
Victoria was standing in front of the small table that was set just inside the living room arranging a vase of flowers when the front door opened and slammed shut. She whirled around prepared to chastise Nick. Instead, she was amazed to see it was Audra that had stormed into the house, and the young woman looked more than upset. "What's wrong?" She asked once Audra had practically marched into the living room and sat down.
"I waited in town for one of my brothers to pick me up only to find myself having to ask Fred for a lift home when I found out he was heading out this way. Where are they? I thought they were supposed to be home today." Her brothers had taken separate trips…all dealing with business in one form or another.
Victoria glanced towards the old grandfather clock her late husband had bought her many years before. "Heath's upstairs taking a bath, he rode in forty five minutes ago. I'm sure the others will be home soon. Let's just be glad Fred helped you out." The fact that she somewhat worried was a fact that she was going to keep to herself for now. Audra might be maturing in many ways…only she still stressed out far too easily.
"I suppose you're right." Audra sighed. It had been too quiet the past week with just her, her mother and Silas in the house. "I was just looking forward to having everyone home."
Victoria smiled. She knew how her daughter felt and told her as much. "Silas is making a special dinner for the family tonight. Why not go help him?" In spite of her sons' teasings, Audra was becoming quite the cook. Spending time in the kitchen with Silas would give the young woman a distraction.
"I think I will." Audra smiled as she stood up and walked out of the room.
No sooner had Audra left than Heath walked down the stairs. "Was that Nick I heard?" Heath was smiling from ear to ear as he asked the question….only to be surprised to be told different. When he heard what Audra had had to say, he frowned slightly. "I knew I was going to beat the others home, but I didn't think I was going to win by a mile-as it were." Just as he finished speaking, the sound of someone riding into the yard slipped through the slightly opened window.
"Sounds like one of them just made it home." Victoria smiled, and then excused herself-sure that it wouldn't be long until everyone was home again.