Disclaimer: Magnificent Seven does not belong to me. This is fan fiction, not for profit. Any references to people, places, businesses, etc. are entirely fictitious.
Chapter 1: A Gathering of Crows?
Sign…
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"Reckoned this was too good to last," muttered Nathan.
The physician glanced around the hospital clinic. His dream. Then turned his gaze back to the stage depot. A welcoming committee gathered around the newly arrived stage.
"Concerned citizens, pah!" grumbled Nathan.
Mr. Conklin, his sister, Abner Thompson, and the mayor, stood waiting for the stage door to open. Miss Conklin, dressed as always in mourning black, stood beside her brother. Today Conklin and the telegraph operator had also donned black suits for the occasion.
"They look more like a bunch of crows."
Nathan's dark eyes settled on the mayor. Josiah stood near the other three. He wore his usual attire. The big man looked oddly out of place in his brightly striped serape. Aside from the gun belt around his hips, Josiah also carried his hammer. The stage coach opened to reveal Louisa Perkins in a fashionable teal dress. Nathan chuckled as the black clad folks backed away to allow the woman to step down.
"Don't reckon you folks were expecting her."
The sheriff appeared from the jailhouse door. A big grin lit up his face. Buck raked one hand through his dark curls, then strode across the street to meet Louisa. While the gathered committee might not have been hoping for the red-headed woman's arrival, Buck certainly was glad to see her. Nathan didn't know what to think of the woman. Buck's on again off again lady friend couldn't seem to stay gone for too long. The pair linked arms and strode off in the direction of the saloon.
"She makes Buck happy," smiled Raine.
Nathan didn't respond to his wife's observation. He frowned as a man with dark-hair and a narrow mustache appeared next. The man stood still, framed in the open coach door. He posed for a moment, assessing the gathered townsfolk. The nattily dressed man flashed bright white teeth in a broad smile before he stepped down and allowed himself to be swarmed by Conklin, his sister and Abner. Josiah stood back, a frown on his face.
"Guess that must be Dr. Chambers."
Something in Nathan's sour tone alerted Raine. The Four Corners Hospital had been the physician's workplace for going on ten months now.
"A town can have more than one doctor," reminded his wife. "Josiah said you could stay working here."
The physician reached for his framed medical license. He'd been a stretcher bearer during the early days of the war between the states. Doctor McCoy was the first one to tell Nathan he had more than just strong arms and quick feet. Nathan had a good mind, a keen eye, talent for recognizing the differences in injuries. Skills needed for triage said Doc. Nathan sorted patients into groups to ensure Doc saw the most severe injuries first.
"You know that ain't what I want."
The kindly older man had taken to keeping Nathan at the surgical tent when possible. Nathan had assisted Doc McCoy and others. The territorial licensing board had accepted that time as meeting the requirement for training under physician direction. McCoy had encouraged Nathan. The doctor had even willed him his medical books and tools. Reading those books, learning, helped Nathan pass the licensing exams. And while McCoy was no longer available to write a letter of recommendation, there had been several other physicians he'd worked with that vouched for him. After more than two years as a healer in this town, Nathan had finally achieved a medical license. He'd mounted the precious document on the wall where folks could see it when he first set up in this building. However the newly achieved license wasn't good enough for some people. Sneaky people at that.
"Mighta been different if they'd come to me and told me about wanting someone with more experience first," admitted Nathan.
He might not have heard about the new fella at all if Abner hadn't asked Josiah, as mayor, to be part of the welcoming group. Josiah told his oldest friend. 'An offer was extended to some doctor from Atlanta. This fella Chambers will be here before the end of the month. You could stay, but as senior physician he'd be in charge.' Nathan didn't have a problem working with other medical professionals. But the way this whole thing had come about… it just didn't sit well.
"Shouldn't have had to hear about a new doctor taking over the Four Corners Hospital from Josiah."
Nathan understood that Abner was head of the budget committee. But why had the newest member of the town council been approached about searching for a new physician? Not the whole council? Mary, Gloria and Virgil were on the council too, but they hadn't known anything about another doctor coming to Four Corners. The expenses for the search never went to a council vote. Nathan handed the framed license to Raine. She looked worried.
"You and Jimmy head on home now," urged Nathan.
Nathan smiled at her and their son. His other dream. His family. Raine took the license from his grasp. He reached out and chucked little Jimmy under the chin. James Derham McCune Smith Jackson opened a toothless mouth and yawned before settling again. Her gentle caress along the side of Nathan's face accompanied her low voice.
"Don't be long."
Raine shifted their son's weight. The two-month-old baby napped in a papoose sling very similar to the one Vin used for Dora. Jimmy's sling was a bit fancier though, embroidered with Raine's ornate beadwork. Her compassionate brown eyes gazed at her husband.
"I'm only gonna stay long enough to give that fella the keys and show him the supplies," he soothed.
Nathan watched his wife walk the short distance towards their home. As Raine passed the jail, JD tipped his hat to Raine and said something that made her laugh. Had Josiah told the others about the man from Atlanta coming to take over at the hospital? Nathan hadn't, but he had hoped for the support of his friends this day. Nathan realized that Vin and Chris probably wouldn't even be in town until Saturday. His dark eyed gaze continued further down the street to the Clarion's new location. The covered front porch on Ezra and Mary's home was empty. While the other's might not have known about the other doctor's arrival, Nathan knew Ezra did.
"Where are you, Ezra?"
Nathan had heard Mary questioning Ezra about the legality of the search. She thought something was wrong with the way it had been done too. Ezra supposed the folks that started the search for another physician had outside financing. Private funding wasn't against the law. But who paid? And why? Nathan turned his gaze back to the welcoming committee.
"Sucking up to folks already."
The fella from Atlanta shook hands first with Mr. Conklin. Then, in a motion reminiscent of Ezra's courtly manners, he lifted Miss Almira Conklin's hand up towards his chest and bowed his head over her fingertips. Next, he turned to Mr. Thompson. Lastly, the man turned to the mayor of Four Corners. Nathan sucked in a breath. Although Nathan knew, as mayor of the town, his friend Josiah had to appear to greet Chambers, his presence in the welcoming committee still felt like a betrayal. There was a sick feeling in his stomach. The physician knew it wasn't anything his knives or herbs could cure. But it hurt.
"Do you have to look so happy to see that fella?"
Nathan realized the welcoming committee, along with the man from Atlanta, were headed towards the Four Corners Hospital. Nathan stepped outside to the covered porch. He swallowed his disappointment. Nathan set down his black medical bag. He took down his neatly painted sign 'Dr. Jackson, Attending Physician' next and placed it beside his bag with his personal equipment. A memory flitted through his mind. The Standish Tavern. The sick expression on Ezra's face when he found Nathan, Josiah and JD in his mother's hotel and casino.
"Wonder if this is how Ezra felt when we helped his Ma with her saloon," Nathan murmured.
Footsteps sounded behind Nathan. He turned to meet the group. Conklin led the way. The man waved his arm towards the building as if he owned it. Conklin spoke to the new fella.
"This is the Four Corners Hospital where you will be working," grinned the odious man.
Chambers twisted the pointy end of his mustache. The older man reached into the dark blue carpet bag he carried and pulled out his shingle. Fancy gilt letters crawled across the board, Dr. Chauncey B. Chambers. The man flashed a smile at Nathan.
"Here, hang this from the nails there," ordered the pretentious man.
Nathan blinked in surprise at the man's audacity. Then he realized this Chambers fella probably didn't have any idea that he was the physician Chambers had been hired to replace. Mighta thought he was just taking down the sign.
"I'm not the handyman."
Nathan reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a heavy set of keys. He extended the keys towards Chambers. As he usually did, Nathan spoke with a quiet, professional tone.
"Just wanted to make sure you had the keys." Nathan shrugged. "Can show you where the supplies are…"
"That won't be necessary," interrupted Conklin.
The ill-mannered man reached to snatch at the keys, but Nathan moved his hand. The keys could go to the person the town… or at least Abner Thompson… had hired, not this interfering wretch. Conklin's lips curled up in a sneer.
"And I can show Dr. Chambers the supplies," Conklin glanced through the front window. Gloating he added, "And we'll note anything missing…"
Nathan's eyebrows had gone up with Conklin's offer to show Chambers the supplies. Conklin hadn't been in the hospital clinic during the time Nathan had been there. But the rude man's other implication could not be allowed to go unchallenged.
"Ain't nothin' missing," huffed Nathan. He struggled to keep his voice even. "Only took my personal…"
"The books?" mocked Conklin.
"The books are mine. I've already taken them home."
Nathan glanced at Josiah. The big man had been thoroughly drunk after Doctor McCoy's wake. That had been several years ago… before they judge hired them as lawmen for this town. Did Josiah even remember the wagon ride back atop the crates of books and materials?
"Josiah, do you remember Doctor McCoy leaving me all his medical books and stuff?"
The big man tucked his hammer under one arm, then steepled his fingers together and smiled.
"Yes, we both knew the good doctor from the war," nodded the grizzled man. "He was very supportive of Nathan."
Conklin's face settled into a disgruntled frown, but Chambers looked confused. He glanced from one man to the other, his gaze finally settling on Nathan.
"Are you my assistant?" asked Chambers. "I've known many fine, hardworking…"
"No," interrupted Nathan. "I'm the doctor that's been taking care of the folks in this town for the last three years or so."
Nathan picked up his black medical bag and his sign. He began the walk home. Nathan tried not to grin at the sound of Chambers irate voice.
"Well where is my assistant? You don't expect me to do everything do you? I need an assistant!"
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