Flame Series #18: Physician Heal Thy Self

CHAPTER 3

Time to Relax

Calleigh tapped one foot against the edge of the table leg, as she stared out the window. Trees whizzed by, along with farmhouses and various pastures of horses and cows. But the only thing she could see, were the two very special, very handsome guys, waiting for her at Goode's Bed and Breakfast. She laughed softly to herself; three-if she counted Chester.

"Would you mind if I sat here?"

The voice was soft, but still enough to startle the daydreaming redhead. Calleigh straightened up in her chair and with a nod, silently invited the young woman to join her "Would you like some coffee? The porter just left a fresh pot."

"That would be lovely." The woman reached across the table as she identified herself. "I'm Phoebe Cannon."

Calleigh raised up to grasp the woman's hand. "Calleigh O'Brian."

The blonde offered Calleigh a friendly smile. "You were at the conference. It is doctor, isn't it?"

Calleigh nodded. "Yes, I guess I should have said, Dr. O'Brian. But after four days of being surrounded by nothing but doctors, the title stops being very impressive." Calleigh tilted her head to one side, as she tried to place the unfamiliar face. "I'm sorry, I don't remember seeing you there."

The young woman offered a polite laugh. "Oh, I'm just here with my husband. He's the doctor in the family. I've been watching you all week. You were the only woman there and I was fascinated, the way you held your own with all of those men. Not just in the lecture halls, but after hours as well." A soft blush fluttered across Phoebe's cheeks. "I would never have the courage to stand up to them."

The thought of being watched so closely didn't sit well with Calleigh. "I guess you could say courage, is a family trait. My mother is an incredibly strong woman."

"Is she a doctor, too?"

"No." Calleigh paused to take a drink before steering the conversation in a less personal direction. "Actually, there was one other woman. Madeline Grayston, from Colorado. She got a telegram that her father was sick and had to leave after the first day." The short tale came to an end and Calleigh flashed a quick smile before asking a question of her own. "Are you headed back home?"

"Not yet. We're going to spend a few days in Garden Plaines. They have the quaintest little bed and breakfast there."

"Really." Calleigh settled back in her seat to get a better look at the woman. If there was one thing her dad taught her – it was to always be cautious around strangers. It seemed too coincidental that they were both heading for such an out of the way place. "How did you come to hear about this place?"

Phoebe reached for the sugar, as she started to explain. "Darcy – that's my husband – invited me to come with him. He said we could make the trip into a vacation. I found an advertisement on the college bulletin board. Have you been there before?"

"Actually, that's where I'm headed now. I used to go frequently when I was attending school here. The Goodes are lovely people."

"Will you be staying there alone?"

"No."

Phoebe quickly noticed the omission of details. "Is there a Mr. O'Brian?"

Calleigh was slightly hesitant before answering. "Yes, there is."

Phoebe finished her coffee and pushed back from the table. "I really should be getting back to my husband. He was only supposed to be taking a catnap." She stood and paused for a second. "It was nice to meet you. I hope we can have dinner or something, one evening at the inn."

"Sure." Calleigh watched her leave the dining car. Maybe she was being overly suspicious. The woman really hadn't said anything wrong, it just seemed like too many questions. Calleigh chided herself for being so distrustful. Being away from her family for a week had left her a touch irritable. Well, she thought, maybe I can make it up to her at the bed and breakfast. A grin slowly shoved those thoughts aside,, as she pictured her boys waiting for her.

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Phoebe slipped into their private car and closed the door behind her. Darcy looked at his wife with a mixture of surprise and disappointment. He tossed the magazine he had been reading to the little shelf attached to the wall. "What are you doing back so soon?"

"She was suspicious. I could feel it." Phoebe dropped down onto the seat beside him. "If you want me to get close to her, you're going to have to trust me. I can't rush her." His irritation was placated for the moment. At least until she spoke up again. "It's not too late to just go on to-"

"Phoebe!" The brusque tone matched his narrowed eyes. "Must we go through this-again?"

Try as she might, Phoebe was unable to turn away from his gaze and the touch of his hands. With a defeated shrug, she shook her head. "No, I understand. I just wish there was another way."

Darcy pulled her into his arms. "I know you do and…I love you so much for doing this for me." His lips brushed lightly across her temple.

Goode'sGoode'sGoode's

"Poppy would love this. Wouldn't he, Newly?" The channel catfish wiggled and squirmed on the end of Cooper's line, as he held it up for approval. "He's the biggest one yet."

"Do you need some help there, son?" Chester had settled back against the sturdy trunk of the old Elm tree. He waited for an answer, before giving up his comfortable position.

"No sir." Cooper kept his eyes on his catch, but his grin was clearly visible. "I got it."

"Poppy. That what he calls Doc, is it?" Newly responded with a quiet nod. "Doc, with grandkids. Who'd a thought? Ya know, that man never did appreciate a good cup of coffee. I'll bet he's still as cranky as ever."

"He is with most of us, but not with these two little ones. Calleigh was so little when she came, that she started to soften that shell and these two have him wrapped around their little fingers."

"Don't he just look the picture of his daddy?" Chester still had that touch of southern accent in his laugh. "I'll bet Mister Dillon is sure proud of that boy. And he's got a little girl too, huh?"

"He does and she looks just like her momma and sister." Newly leaned up to make sure Cooper wasn't getting too near the edge of the bank. "Got their temper too."

"I do remember that." He slapped his hand across his stiff leg with another laugh. "Whooee. I did not want to be around when Miss Kitty got angry. You know, we used to go fishin' and she would always bait my hook." Chester shook his head, his expression clearly missing some of the old days. "Mighty fine woman, Miss Kitty is." The innkeeper leaned in closer, as if to confide a secret. "You know, I always thought there was sumthin' betwixt them two, but they never let on."

Newly smiled at the man's obvious, naïve nature. If Chester didn't know about the marshal and his lady, he was the only one in Dodge that didn't. "They certainly are devoted to each other and very happy."

"Yes sir and when Miss Calleigh showed up and introduced herself as Mister Dillon's daughter... " He leaned back now, making a clucking noise with his tongue. "Well you coulda knocked me over with a feather." He paused with a perplexed scowl. An undercurrent of mumbling accompanied his words. "Not sure I really understood that…she sure does look like her ma…I mean Miss Kitty, who isn't her ma,ll but…" Chester paused again. He swallowed hard and stared at his guest with similar brown eyes. It was more of silent exchange,l that maybe they should move on to the next subject. "I figgered I was mighty lucky to have found a good woman myself. She takes good care of me and she shore can cook."

"I understand you met her on the stage."

"I did." The drawl was back, as he felt this conversation more comfortable. "You know, I always enjoyed meeting the stage and seeing all the people coming and goin'. Wonderin' where they were headed and…" He rubbed his shoulders back and forth on the rough bark to ease an itch. "One day – Lydia just stepped off the stage. I was smitten the minute I saw her."

If Newly remembered correctly, Chester was smitten with every girl he met, but this one obviously was different. "Love can be that way. You both seem very happy together. " Newly tried to pay attention to his host, but his mind wandered back to his own little redheaded heartbreaker. She had been gone five days and was finally on her way home. Now he knew how she felt, when he would take off with Matt to chase down some bank robber or the likes. "What time is that train supposed to be in, Chester?"

"I think Lydia said five. Are you wantin' to go?"

Newly pulled the watch from his pocket. 4:20. Close enough, he thought.

"I can stay here with the youngin', if you want to go get her." He pushed his stiff leg to the side, so that he could stand.

"Thank you, but he's going to want to go with me. The two of them are really close and he'll want to meet her at the station."

Chester began to gather the basket Lydia had made for them. "Miss Calleigh does go on about the boy. I felt like I already knew him before he even got here. That's real nice that they're close. I got a brother, Magnus, that I wish I seen more often, but…" He let the idea fade into a wistful smile.

"Hey Cooper, if we leave now, we can pick a bouquet from Lydia's garden to give to Calleigh when she gets off the train."

"She'll like that. I can't wait to tell her all the stuff we did this week! Will you help me with the poles?" Newly was right, the boy was as excited to see his sister, as he had been to pull in those channel cats.

LadyKLadyKLadyKLadyK

Kitty quietly closed the book, as her audience was finally asleep. She retrieved Bootsie from the floor and tucked the fuzzy toy in beside her baby. Was it instinct, or habit, that prompted Hadley to rub the fluffy brown ear repetitiously across her lips?

She could hear the faint creaking of the floorboard, when Matt entered the room.

"Is she asleep?" he whispered. Kitty smiled up at him and took the hand he offered. They stood beside the bed, watching the child they had created. "Have I ever told you - you make beautiful babies?"

Kitty turned into his arms. "I love you." Lips were drawn together, hearts beating one against the other. There were no more words, as he led her back to their room.

O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0

The door to the balcony was open and the lace curtain taunted the night air, offering itself to the fluttering breeze. The two lovers lay cocooned in each other's arms. Matt felt the faint vibrations of her trembling body. "Kitty? Sweetheart, are you crying?" She turned, to bury her face in the security of his chest, confirming his suspicions.

Matt smiled into the darkness, as he rolled over just enough to draw her in closer. "He's only been gone a week." He didn't expect an answer and wasn't surprised that the flow of tears increased. Although he didn't really understand women, he had learned that sometimes words were not needed. The only thing his wife wanted was to be held while she cried. And holding Kitty was something he did very well.

The tears finally subsided, along with the tiny gasps of air, as her breathing returned to normal. "He's growing up, you know."

"I know."

"This time it's just two weeks, but before long-"

Matt tried to hold in his laugh, but his body betrayed him. "Honey, he's not even seven yet. I think we still have a couple of good years left with him."

She swatted at his chest, but made no attempt to pull away. "Stop it. You know what I mean. He's growing up too fast." Kitty sighed heavily. "What do you suppose they're doing?"

"Sleeping."

"Matt."

"Honey, he's fine. You know nobody will take better care of him than Calleigh and Newly. He is probably having the time of his life. Chester will be telling him ridiculous stories and Lydia will be spoiling him rotten." He stopped, brushing a lock of hair aside and replacing it with a kiss "But you know what?"

"What?" He could hear the pouting in her voice.

"I'll bet he's missing his momma." He didn't really expect a verbal response, but it pleased him when she snuggled in closer.

TBC