Chapter Sixteen

Previously:

"Well, let's figure out how to move him without throwing him over one of our horses. That would kill him in the condition he's in right now. Also, when whichever one of us goes fetches the doctor, they can go talk to the sheriff. We'll have to come up with a plan, and he'll help us; I'm sure of it." Jarrod spoke up; no one argued-as they happened to agree.

After making their way to the Douglas home, Heath and Fen carried the stranger up the stairs and laid him in the spare room. Mrs. Douglas-who surprised them by admitting to having been a nurse before she married- told them she'd tend to the injured man until they could get the doctor. That being the case, the two gentlemen left and made their way to the living room where Bear was sitting in a chair near the fireplace listening to Jarrod and Nick. The two brothers were in the middle of the living room having a 'lively' debate.

"Keep that up and the neighbors will come running to see what's wrong." Fen sat down on the couch. The comment had Heath giving his brothers a lopsided grin and Bear laughing.

Nick and Jarrod both looked at Fen with raised eyebrows, though it was Nick who asked, "Neighbors? The closest family has to be a good mile away."

"Like he said," Bear continued laughing. "Keep it up, and we'll get visitors."

Heath's lopsided grin grew just a tad wider upon hearing Bear's reply. Then, due to the fact he'd heard the last bit of what Nick was saying, Heath looked at Jarrod. "I may not know everything you two have been arguing about only the idea of having Leah take Nick into Modesto is actually a good one. I mean, his ankle IS injured. There would be nothing to alert the 'good' banker and Mr. Stokes what is going on."

"'They were, and are, clueless'. That's what I told Jarrod." Nick spoke up. "I mean, nothing, I mean absolutely nothing, happened while you were out searching for Bear. I'm sure Leah and I can go see the doctor and, somehow, get word to the sheriff that we need to see him without drawing any attention to ourselves."

"When it comes to the doctor," Jarrod looked from Heath to Nick and relented. "Best hurry, that patient up there," he gestured in the direction upstairs. "He's not going to last too long."

Nick hobbled out of the living room. Before long he and Leah were in the Douglas' wagon and heading into town.

'oOo`

Heath had been right. When Leah parked the wagon next to the doctor's office and helped Nick out of the wagon, the majority of people thought nothing of it. Only Mr. Stokes and Mr. Justin-who were standing outside the bank-stopped what they were doing and watched. Through the grapevine, they'd heard Nick was around. Since Mr. Stokes had learned that the famous rancher and 'two of his friends' were staying at the Douglas farm, he was nervous. "You don't think your friend did anything stupid, do you?" Mr. Stokes kept his voice extremely low as he looked at the banker.

"My 'friend' as you put it, isn't coming into Modesto!" Mr. Justin hissed back just as quietly. "And, I told you, after you found out where Mr. Barkley was staying, I've asked around. There has been nothing, absolutely nothing, happen out at that farm. So, just stop worrying about it. Mr. Douglas isn't home yet, which means my 'friend' has-most likely-did his job. If not, we'll hire someone else!" He barked as quietly as he could. He then turned around and went back into the bank, leaving Mr. Stokes standing by himself. He watched until Nick and Leah went into the doctor's office and then walked away himself.

When it came to Nick and Leah, they were relieved to see Dr. Lloyd- a blonde haired gentleman who was in his late thirties, step out of his officed just as the front door closed behind them. Having known the Barkleys for a number of years, the doctor exclaimed, "Nick! What happened?"

"Nothing that you need to look at," Nick replied and hurried to explain the real reason they needed him. Naturally, the man was horrified when he learned what was going on and what they needed.

"I can get out there without turning anyone's head." Dr. Lloyd grabbed his bag. "I always make my rounds to outlaying homes outside Modesto's boundaries. Since my nephew is doing his internship under me – and your 'new' injury is minor-no one will think of my leaving you in his care. When it comes to alerting the sheriff," Dr. Lloyd's eyes lit up and laughed as he opened his bag and pulled out a silver chain that, when he hooked it around the handle of his bag, hung clear to the bottom of the medical bag and then a tiny bit more. "On the occasions I put this on my bag, I usually have someone tease me I should get something shorter. I just laugh as what they don't know is this….it's an outward sign to our good sheriff to follow me -but not to the point where everyone knows it. Since he's back in town, I dare use it again. No, I never told the other sheriff about it. I trusted him as far as I could throw him, kind of good to know I was right about him." He then hollered for his nephew to come and tend to a patient. Then, before exiting the building, he whispered low, "He's a good one only I wouldn't tell him what's going on. More people know about this, more chance that someone will find out."

Nick and Leah couldn't help but nod, as they agreed. Soon Nick was once again explaining he'd taken a fall off his horse, but conveniently left of exactly when and where the incident actually took place.

When it came to Dr. Lloyd, he been one hundred percent accurate in everything he'd said. Not one man, woman or child that was walking around Modesto took any real notice of his departure. If anything, the most he got was greetings, along with the normal 'How are you doing?' question. Only Sheriff Langston, who had been doing some paperwork but stood up long enough to look out the window and see the doctor exit the medical office, froze. He hadn't seen 'that sign' for quite a while. He hurried and put the paperwork inside his desk, stepped outside and made it appear as if he was simply making his rounds. Though, he hit the nail on the head as he thought 'I bet everything I own I wind up at the Douglas farm.'