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Excerpt from Ch 2

"I trust him to do his best with the knowledge he accepts." Cassie answered, and then admitted she wished the town had another doctor. "He refuses to use updated medical knowledge. Sure, in order to keep his license, he knows about various things only that's it. Ask anyone in this town and they'll tell you they only go to him because there is no one else in this town who is actively practicing medicine. The burn salve is probably one of the few things he uses that is currently used by the medical profession. At least, I think it is."

"Get these bandages changed before he gets here." Nick did his best to relax as she stood up and walked out of the room. The whole time he was thinking on the town drunk and what his motivation for doing what he had…that is, if Cassie was right that he wasn't as intoxicated as was thought.

"You did what?" Cassie stood on the porch of her home staring at her good friend, a blonde haired woman by the name of Mary C. Mitchell. Mary was twenty-five and had five children already. Course, that was probably helped by the fact that the woman had married at sixteen. Mrs. Mitchell had a heart of gold and was friendly to almost everyone – in spite of what some "good" people thought; her husband was the same way. Still, Cassie couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Look, I may not know who your friend is only," Mary folded her arms. "I do know you. You're not a loose woman even if you do wait tables in a saloon. So, whoever that is in your house can't be bad. That being the case…as you know…I can say from experience tending to any sick or injured party takes time. Now," she chuckled, "whether your boss likes it or not, he's my cousin and I have a boat load of information I've never told anyone. And, no, I'm not telling you. Just know-you have a job waiting for you after you're done here. I, Elizabeth and Clara will bring by food now and then. After all, you'll need more than what's in your small garden. Also, if you need anything else, just say so." She refrained from saying anything else as, unlike many people in town, she cared little for speculation and hear- say.

Elizabeth and Clara … now it was Cassie who was forcing herself to watch her words. If those two self-righteous, hypocritical women were helping her, their help was only being given because of the influence of Mary. Though, Cassie simply thanked her friend. "I thank you only, without a telegram office in town, there's nothing else you can do." She kept her concerns about his eyesight and scarring to herself.

For a moment silence hung in the air, before Mary made her promise to get word to Mary if any more help was needed. Mary then bade Cassie goodbye and walked away.

Cassie turned around and went back into the house.

"Who was that?" Nick, who had been able to tell Cassie had a visitor-but couldn't tell what they were saying, asked once he heard the bedroom door open and shut.

"Mary." She went on to explain who her friend was and what she had did and said. "I don't know what my boss did in his past only it can't be anything illegal. Mary would never hide anything like that." The whole time she was trying not to laugh-simply because her imagination could come up with a thousand things her employer wouldn't want known.

Nick, who was thinking along the same lines, did chuckle before growing sober. "Taking care of me is costing you a lot."

"Not really," Cassie began unwrapping his hands, wishing to get the ointment she'd been using and new bandages on before she started lunch for both of them. "Not since Mary went and got it into her head to do what she has. And, before you say it," she paused what she was doing. "My reputation is the same as it was before. That is, people who talked about me before are still talking. The ones who have taken their time to get know me-like Mary has- are still speaking to me." She then continued the unwrapping. It wasn't long before Nick felt the cool, soothing sensation of her ointment.

"Doc hasn't been by lately. What will he do if he finds out what I'm allowing you to do? That is, using your ointment over his salve?" While Nick felt strongly he was doing the right thing in letting Cassie tend to him with her herbs and ointments, he still feared she might receive trouble from the 'doctor'.

"He won't be coming by anymore." Cassie stated flatly, and then admitted she'd fired the man.

Nick, who could pretty well guess why, still decided to see what Cassie had to say the events of the day before. "Why?"

Cassie didn't answer until she had his hands wrapped up once more and began taking off the bandages which she had put around the affected area only. "Let's say he made some rather unnecessary comments and suggestions. It might not have upset me so much only he hadn't even taken off any of your bandages. If he had, he'd have seen the burn areas on the palm of your hands aren't so bad. When it comes to the area around your eyes," she sighed, "I don't know what the final result will be only I'm still holding out there as well." Then, more out of frustration and anger with the doctor, she exclaimed, "Land sakes, it's not like the incident took place months ago." Then, with the sound of someone who knows they may very well have crossed lines they shouldn't have, she lowered her voice and told him she could go apologize and ask the doctor to come back. "You were his patient, not me. I had no right to fire him."

Nick couldn't but smile as he felt the last of the bandages being taken off, though he kept his eyes closed – making it so she could easily apply any ointment she needed to without the fear of getting any into them. "I have a confession to make; I heard some of what he said. I was starting to get out of this bed with the idea of making my way into the front room-so I could tell him off. Only, you had already kicked him out by the time I stood up."

Cassie stared at him, remembering how he'd been laying in the bed when she'd entered the room after the incident with the doctor. She picked up fresh bandages and began covering his eyes and the area around them once more. "Why didn't you simply stay standing or at least sit on the edge of the bed?"

"And risk the wrath a very kind hearted, gentle nurse?" Nick lifted his bandaged hand and, finding her arm, rested his hand against it. "Thanks for not taking any of that man's suggestions. You're a saint."

For a split second, Cassie was glad Nick Barkley's eyes were covered-as she was blushing while feeling awkward at the same time. "I'm no saint." When asked how long much longer he was going to have to have the bandages on, she admitted that she was erring on the side of caution. "I was going to take them off for good tomorrow. I'll have to keep applying the ointment for awhile, but …." She paused and then asked if he wanted her to leave to leave his face uncovered – again reminding him she'd never been to any medical school.

"You're doing the best you know how; that's the important part. I appreciate it." He lowered his hand and asked about a telegram office.

"Like I told Mary, I wish we had one. My word, we don't even have a post office. Have to travel seven miles to send any letter anywhere." Cassie spoke the last words in disgust. There may not be a lot of people living in Triton only the place wasn't so small as to warrant traveling seven miles just to mail a letter. "Now," she stood up, "Your legs weren't hurt. How about sitting on the porch and getting some fresh air."

Nick smiled in spite of the situation and sat up. "I was going to do that even if you didn't suggest it. I can only stand being in bed for so long!"

Cassie couldn't help it; she laughed, agreed and led him out of the house.