Flame Series #18: Physician Heal Thy Self

CHAPTER 4

Goode's B&B

Chester and Lydia were the perfect couple to run a bed and breakfast. With Chester's fascination for people and the story of their lives, he was always available to listen to his guests and naive enough to believe them. Lydia was the ultimate hostess. She always seemed to know what her guests needed, or wanted, before they could even ask.

Oddly enough, it was Lydia's sewing that was fascinating the young Dillon boy. The innkeeper had made a pitcher of lemonade and a plate of cookies for herself and Phoebe, before settling into the swing to chat and sew. Both women were surprised, but pleased, when the little boy came to sit with them.

"What are you making those for?" Cooper knelt in front of the seamstress and scooted in for a closer look at her project.

Lydia held up the small squares. They were like tiny pouches made of satin. Not more than two inches long and an inch wide with a tiny flap over the top. On the outside of each was a fancy embroidered initial. "I make these for our female guests. Chester and I put together little baskets with soaps and things."

"It was a lovely surprise. I think I will be keeping headache tablets in mine, so that I don't have to keep asking Darcy for them."Phoebe said as she reached for another cookie.

"I'm sorry, I should have put one in your room, but I was waiting for Calleigh to get here." She dug through the basket and pulled out an emerald green one with the letter 'C' on the front. "Would you like to give it to her?"

"Well sure, but…" Cooper seemed hesitant to ask. "Could I have another one?"

"Did you want one for your mother?" Lydia started to search one with the letter K.

"No ma'am. Could I have one with a "P" on it?" He heard the front door open and turned to see the O'Brians and Dr. Cannon coming out.

Calleigh stepped over to the basket to look at the satin handiwork. "They are lovely. Coop, are you wanting one for Poppy?" He nodded with a grin, grateful, but not surprised, that she would know. "For his birthday – right?"

"Uh-huh. For his toothpicks." Cooper could tell by the look on Lydia's face, that she didn't understand. "My Poppy likes to chew on toothpicks and he could carry them in this and keep them in his pocket."

Chester couldn't, or wouldn't, suppress a chastising laugh. "That old sawbones always was snatchin' up those little wooden sticks from Delmonico's. I guess old habits die hard."

Lydia smiled at her husband's comment and reached out to touch the boy's cheek. "I think that is a terrific idea. And to make it really special – I will stitch the name 'Poppy' on it for you. Of course, the letters will be small!"

There is a special look that God gives to little boys when they are excited and Cooper was wearing his now. "Poppy will really like that."

"Are ya celebratin' his birthday, or can't you get that many candles on a cake." Chester laughed, as he gave the little boy a playful nudge.

"You know Poppy. He's grousing around that he's too old for any special doings, but we all know how hurt he would be if we didn't. Momma has a dinner planned the night we get home. Just family, but I'm sure she'll be cooking and fussing all day to get ready." Calleigh winked at her little brother. "Coop, I'll bet that will be his favorite present."

The boy's happiness was contagious and smiles traveled from one face to the next. Darcy Cannon was just another smiling face in the crowd. At least to everyone but his wife. Phoebe could see those golden sparks come to life in those beautiful hazel eyes. Something said had lit that malevolent fire that burned in his soul.

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Chester led his guests back to his favorite fishing spot. He regaled the boy with more stories of his daddy and Poppy, from when he had lived in Dodge. Calleigh kept a close ear on the conversation, just to make sure a bit of scuttlebutt didn't slip past her.

Newly followed behind, in an effort to escort Phoebe, since her husband had decided to forego the outing for a trip into town. Gently taking her arm, Newly pulled her toward himself to keep her from tripping over a snarled tree root. "I guess we could compare notes as to what it's like, being married to a doctor."

Phoebe had noticed the way this man looked at his wife, as though the whole world was wrapped up in that small, red-haired package. And the way he touched her—like something so precious, he felt unworthy. She couldn't help but be envious of this woman.

While she would probably never know what it felt like to have a husband so devoted, she certainly could relate to Calleigh's feelings for Newly. The way those blue eyes lit up as soon as her young cowboy entered the room. Unlike the spirited young doctor, Phoebe would never be so bold as to openly display such affection. Of course, she doubted that Darcy would appreciate that anyway.

The truth was, he wasn't much for affection, even when they were alone. But she prayed that once he was able to rid his heart of this hate – then, he would love her.

"Does she have a practice of her own?"

"She has a partnership with her grandfather. Doc is her hero, as well as her mentor." Newly explained.

"I heard your wife and the boy call their grandfather, 'Poppy'; but I notice that you and Chester refer to him as 'Doc'?"

Newly laughed at the confusion. "Everyone calls him Doc, except for Calleigh and the kids. She actually gave him the nickname when she was a child."

"It sounds like a nice family."

"It is." Even as he spoke, his eyes never left the redhead and little boy. "Maybe you can come to Dodge someday and meet them all."

They had reached the others and Calleigh turned around, calling to her husband. "Are you going to fish, or are you going to talk?"

"Just hold on, I'm coming. Let me get the blanket down." Once again, the redhead had put a smile on her husband's face. He spread the blanket under the tree and gave Phoebe a helping hand to sit. "Will you be all right?"

"Of course. I just want to watch." She wrinkled her nose in a distasteful gesture. "I'm not really a worm type of girl. You go ahead."

Gunther'sApothecaryGunther'sApothecary

Darcy begged off of the fishing jaunt, by confiding in Lydia that he needed to go into town to purchase a gift for Phoebe. He swore the innkeeper to secrecy, as it was to be a surprise for his wife. His true destination was the apothecary, but he didn't want to arouse the suspicion of the other visiting doctor.

The little bell above the door tinkled, alerting the shop owner to the arrival of a customer. Aggie Gunther, waddled to the front of the store to offer assistance. Darcy was about to brush off the heavyset woman with a curt response, until she commented on the bed and breakfast. "I see you're in the Goode's buggy. You must be staying at the inn."

Darcy glanced out the window at the horse and rig. This old woman had definite potential as the town gossip. Chances were, she would be talking to Lydia. "Yes, I was looking for a surprise for my wife." He reached into his pocket as he spoke. "Oh, and I need to give this to the pharmacist." He had intended on delivering it himself, but before he could stop her, she had snatched it from his fingers and trotted back to the druggist.

"Clovis, would you fill this for this nice young man, while I help him find a gift for his wife?" She turned back around, excited to help her new customer. "What is the occasion?"

"The occasion?" Darcy's attention was on the obese man behind the counter. From all appearances, these two shared a love of food, if nothing else.

"For your wife." Aggie attempted to draw his attention, by lightly touching his arm. "You said-"

"Oh, yeah, my wife. It's uh…her birthday." Darcy eased his arm out of her grasp, as he detested the thought of being touched by those sausage shaped fingers. He did, however, follow her around the small shop, looking at the various items she suggested. It was becoming difficult to answer her questions, as he knew very little about Phoebe's likes and dislikes.

"How about a bottle of perfume?" Aggie pointed to the small display she had set up herself. "Mr. Gunther back there relies on perfume if he's been in the doghouse." Darcy found her laugh as annoying as her demeanor. "This bigger bottle is jasmine and that small one is lavender. Do you think she would like one of these?"

This was turning out to be a grueling afternoon. Darcy was relieved to see the pharmacist had finished his order and placed it upon the counter. "Jasmine. She likes jasmine." He forced a smile and followed the woman to the back counter, where the bill was tallied and he quickly handed over the money.

Darcy relished the sweet sound of that little bell above the door, because it meant he was escaping the clutches of Aggie Gunther.

GoodeGoodeGoodeGoode

The smell of fresh baked rolls, dripping of warm honey, wafted through the house, pulling in the guests faster than the fish that had jumped at the bait, back at the fishing hole. The rolls brought them in, but it was the fresh caught bluegill and fried potatoes that kept them at the table. Of course, as Chester was so fond of saying, what good were potatoes without a bowl of 'speckledee' gravy? The meal ended with a hot apple pie, that did not allow for seconds once it passed in front of Calleigh.

The guests and hosts shared time and conversation on the front porch, until the hour grew late and the thought of sleep became irresistible.

Goode's Bed & Breakfast: The Sunflower Suite

Calleigh's grin stretched wide, as she threw herself onto the overstuffed mattress. Newly was more than ready to catch his little nymph. She landed with a thud, knocking the air out of both of them. "Miss me?" There was little chance to answer, as she had captured his lips with hers.

Finally, they did come up for air. "I am so glad that other couple left, so that Cooper could have a room of his own." Newly buried his face into the crook of her neck. "I do love him, but…"

She giggled, as she situated her slight body under his. "But you love me more?"

"I don't know if I love you more, but I sure love to make love to you more." Calleigh pushed him back enough to look him in the eye. A look passed between them that clearly said, that statement made no sense, but they liked the way it sounded.

It had been a week and the two young lovers were starved for each other. They touched, they kissed, they whispered sweet words and made love as if it were the first time. Muted sounds journeyed from the room, out into the summer night. Soft, sweet sounds, that surely drifted into any open window that was close by. But neither cared.

Goode's Bed & Breakfast: The Rose Room

Phoebe changed into a pale blue peignoir. She had purchased it just for this trip, in hopes that it would give Darcy the encouragement he needed. Her steps were quiet as she walked up behind him. At first glance, it was as if something outside, beyond the open window, had captured his attention. Then she realized he was a million miles from the Goode's Bed and Breakfast. His thoughts were back in Dodge City, a decade earlier.

She slipped her hands around his waist and pressed her face to his back. "It's a beautiful night." Phoebe was making every attempt to pull him back to the present. "Make love to me, Darcy."

His body tensed under her embrace. Darcy turned around, gently but firmly, taking her hands from his waist. "Sweetheart, I just can't think of things like that now. You know how important this is to me." He tried to appease her with a kiss to the forehead. Suddenly, his eyes took on a look of excitement, but not for his wife. "I need to show you what I made."

Darcy pushed her aside and walked to the bed, kneeling down beside it. Slowly he pulled out a shallow pan with a dozen toothpicks, lying in a pool of liquid. "These have been soaking all day."

She was too confused to share in his excitement, but one question forced its way out. "What is that smell?"

"Peppermint." His excitement overrode her confusion. "It's good for the digestion. In New York, you can buy toothpicks that have been marinated in peppermint." Darcy's tone dropped, revealing his distaste for the west. "Of course, it will be years before that practice comes to this God forsaken place."

"You're giving him toothpicks soaked in peppermint?"

"Peppermint - along with a little surprise." There was no pretense in his enthusiasm now. "I found exactly what I was looking for in the apothecary."

Phoebe couldn't deny the excitement in his eyes. Of course, she couldn't deny him anything at all. "You're not going to poison him – are you?" She knew it was more than a possibility, but she continued to pray it would never go that far again. It was getting more and more difficult to cover his mistakes – even with money. "Darcy, you said that you just wanted to ruin him."

The sweet Darcy that she loved, seemed to materialize before her eyes. He pulled her into his arms, with a smile and a warm laugh. "I'm not going to poison him. This will only give him the symptoms of an illness. Adams is a good doctor, but this should confuse him." A bitter laugh escaped under his breath. "He'll suspect everything from senility, to Parkinson's. At least that's what I'm hoping. I want him to begin to question himself. To think he's lost the ability to practice medicine." Darcy's lips drew back, revealing a row of perfect white teeth. "He won't be able to play God anymore."

"Then can we leave?"

"Of course, sweetheart. As soon as his professional reputation has been destroyed." Darcy suddenly remembered the perfume. His attention was still on the wooden sticks, when he reached over to the table for the small plain bag. "Oh, here. I got this for you."

Phoebe stared numbly at the gift, as she pulled it from the brown paper sack. Gradually, her gaze left the pretty purple bottle and settled on her husband. "Darcy, don't you remember? I'm allergic to perfume. You had to put that camphor-"

In an irritated gesture, Darcy waved his hand to stop her from speaking. He uttered a curse under his breath. "Yes, I forgot. I had to buy something. That obese little woman was dragging me all around the store. Well, maybe we can give it to Lydia, for being so kind to us."

"Sure." Phoebe squeezed back the tears. She remembered watching Newly meeting Calleigh at the train station, with a bouquet of fresh flowers. The gift itself was of no monetary value, but to Phoebe, it was priceless. For a moment, a fleeting moment, she had hoped that Darcy had taken notice of the kindness the deputy had shown for his wife.

Darcy instantly realized his mistake. He could see the pain on her face and for a moment, feared she would refuse to continue helping him with his plan. He quickly crossed the room with an apology and took her into his arms. "I'm sorry. I guess I wasn't thinking."

He brushed his lips along her cheek. "Forgive me?" She failed to respond, except for a soft moan. "I still need your help, Phoebe. I need you to give them to the boy."

Phoebe let her head fall back, as he left a trail of kisses down her throat. His lovemaking was unexpected and the sensation was blurring her thoughts. "The…boy?"

"Just tell him how special the toothpicks will make his present. Tell him they came all the way from New York. He's a kid, he won't know. It doesn't look as suspicious when you spend time him. Cooper likes you." Darcy knew exactly what it would take to convince her, as he led her back toward the bed. He would give that much, but not a bit more.

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Phoebe was careful not to wake her husband, as she slipped out of bed. He had made love to her, or at least that's what he called it. Darcy was the only man she had ever known, in the Biblical sense. Sometimes she could convince herself that all men were the same. That true romance only existed in those cheap novels.

That was, until she stood at the open window, letting the cool night air caress her face. The breeze was gentle and comforting. It was the soft, intangible sounds of the young lovers in the next room that pierced her heart. She closed her eyes, imagining what it must feel like, to share such pleasurable sighs and intimate laughter with a lover. Phoebe squeezed her lids tight, fighting to keep the tears from falling.

She whirled around, clasping her hands to her ears and stepped away from the window. Phoebe drew in a deep breath to fight off the pain, as she stared at her husband. She so desperately wanted what that young couple had, even if it meant someone had to be destroyed for her to get it.

"I will help you." She whispered. "Then, we can get a fresh start."

TBC