Chapter Seven
The doctor came and drained an area of fluid off the shoulder joint. The knot decreased and the sharp pains slowed down for Jarrod. He bound the shoulder tighter on Jarrod's bare chest.
"Keep the sling on, Mr. Barkley except to sleep. Once these things happen—-can be a lifelong problem. Want to keep it real still. Let it heal. I will be back tomorrow. One or two scotch. Laudanum just at bedtime. And you best prepare for a week or more in St. John. More like two. You will ruin that shoulder for life if you get on that bumpy stage or a horse. I will guarantee that."
"Thank you, doctor," Tessa answered for her scowling husband.
He shook his head at Jarrod, "Take my advice. You won't regret letting that shoulder heal."
"Thank you, doctor" in a frustrated voice-repeating Tessa.
She waited until the door closed.
"Can I do anything to make you more comfortable?"
"No thank you," and he turned to the wall.
She sighed and closed the door behind her.
"Heath? Can you stay with Jarrod for an hour or so? I need to send some telegrams and pick up some items. We will be here for two weeks it seems. I think you should go on and proceed south to the horse sale. Eugenie and I will do fine until Jarrod heals. If I don't kill him first—-"
"Boy howdy, Tess. He has met his match with you." as he laughed and hugged her.
"We will see. It may be a long two weeks."
"Tessa, Jarrod can be an ass. All men can. We don't like not being able to fix something—-I think the Good Lord put us on the earth to fix stuff—to build, to fight—not sit around or wait. Nick broke his fool arm over a horse nobody could ride. I will tell ya about an old man named Brahma one day too. And i'ffn I am being honest, I am pretty hard-headed. When I know what I want—-but don't want to know what happens if I fail at it."
She cocked her head at him, "I think you spoke a lot of truth brother Heath. And as a woman, I tell you to go find what you want; Nick stewed about going back to San Diego even after all these years; said it plain the night before the wedding. Look how that worked out—I am betting she works about better than you even imagine."
Heath looked embarrassed, "I didn't say anything about a she."
"No, you didn't. But no horse or man or land could beat Heath Barkley. I have only been Jarrod's wife for eight months but I have figured that out." and she kissed him on the cheek.
Her insight bewildered him and it showed on his face.
"Will be back soon. Punch him if you have to—-" and she winked leaving the hotel room.
—-&—-
After making sure Tess and the family were settled in at the hotel with money and letting Nick know they would be delayed for at least two weeks, he set out after midnight in the cool air of the White Mountains into the desert towards Tucson. He rented a horse at the livery and headed to the horse sale—and maybe a small farm in the Gila Valley and a town called Turnbull.
—-&—
The Mormon community had settled half a dozen towns on his journey south through Pima county and Graham—-ten years before the Apache had ruled this area with a fierce bloodletting. The Calvary had protected the settlers well since then.
He enjoyed the solitude of the three-day ride and the views of these untouched vistas. He was pleased he had rented a horse as he traveled down the river valleys.
He had a week until the Tucson sale began when he took the turn into Mount Turnbull, Arizona. It was a crossroads town with a post office, store, and several bars at the base of the looming mountain. There were two mines in the area. One of the bars was attached to the livery and another with rooms to rent above. The letters from Sally were always postmarked from here. He figured he would get directions south.
He rented a room at the saloon. Baths were not available but he was given a bucket of water to make do.
"Bathed in much worse," he laughed. He put his soiled clothes of three days in his knapsack and changed into fresh pants and shirt.
He walked downstairs and ordered a beer. A beautiful sunset streamed through the window.
"What's for grub?"
"Stew—and me handsome," replied a scantily clad barmaid who had seen better days.
"I will take two servings of the stew. Bread? And another beer."
He put a nice tip on the table.
"Honey, you can have all the stew you want and me for that."
He laughed and went back to his beer.
The stew was grisly but filling. He avoided the barmaid on the way out but left another coin. He saw her quickly cross the room to collect it before the manager did.
He went over to the post office. An old man was locking up for the day.
"Can I find out some information?"
"Depends," he snarled.
He pulled out one of the letters from his vest pocket, " I am Heath Barkley. Looking for a Sally. Directions would be helpful."
The man's countenance changed immediately and he smiled widely.
"I have been hoping you would show up. She works a couple of days a month for me for extra money—when I ride down to Tucson to see my son. Always posts letters for ya. Always checks to see if you have written back. Good lady, she is. Sometimes hauls a mail route down to the mines when it's important."
Heath immediately felt remorse. "A mine route? That's hard work."
"You can find her over at Hanky's store. She does their bookkeeping and then some nights behind the bar at Nat's. Or sings when there is a crowd on payroll days. She's a songbird for sure. She stays in my back room several nights and then catches a ride back to her Pa's."
Heath looked horrified.
The man recognized his surprise mixed with some guilt, "The girl's gotta earn a wage. Her Pa is up to his gills in bad years—-got a new Mormon step mama with several young'ns. And the little one of their own. Looks just like her Mama."
Heath tried to digest all that he heard, "the letters about butterflies and cooking and the farm, her Pa, new stepmother, knitting? What did he think she was living on?"
The postmaster creased his brow at her, "Whatcha waiting for boy, go claim your woman and child."
"Child?"
"She didn't tell ya? Shouldn't have said anything about it I guess. Said the kid was yours. Always wrote to kid's father. Never wrote to anyone else as far as I know."
Heath shook his head, "Where did you say Hanky's is?"
"Behind the stock pens to the left of Mains road."
Heath could hardly breathe.