Flame Series #18: Physician Heal Thy Self

CHAPTER 5

Traveling

Newly could see Calleigh and Cooper coming through the dining car, both traveling too fast. Calleigh reached their table first, with the victory cry of, I won! Newly glanced at the couple sitting across from him with a patient smile. "You know better than to run on the train. Cooper, I count on you to keep your sister in line."

The little boy struggled to keep his grin from exploding, but he was unsuccessful, as usual. "I told her she would get in trouble, but she's just like Hadley."

Calleigh leaned down, giving her husband a quick kiss, before taking the seat across from Phoebe. "He's just mad because I beat him." She tossed back the red spiral curls, as she glanced around for the attendant. "Did you order me a cup of coffee?"

The patient smile returned, but the only thing visible in those huge brown eyes was the love he had for this woman. "Now, what do you think?"

Phoebe cast a furtive glance at her husband. It was obvious that he did not see the love between these two. All he could see was the impudent behavior of his colleague. Darcy had been quite impressed with the woman's knowledge of medicine. She had been called on several times, by various professors, to assist in the lectures. After graduating at the top of his class, he was a little put out that he had not been asked, but then, the O'Brian woman was an alumnus. It was doubtful that anyone, other than Phoebe, caught the disdain hidden in those hazel eyes.

"Are you excited to get back home?" Darcy asked. Phoebe's eyes darted to her husband. It was unlike him to strike up a conversation with a child.

"Yes sir." Cooper's smile was broad, but shy. "I had a really good time, but I miss my family."

"I'm really looking forward to meeting them. Phoebe tells me that Newly has invited us out to the LadyK to meet your family."

Calleigh's blue eyes slid to the side, allowing her a private look at her husband. She could tell by the sudden flush of color and the wide eyes, that her beloved Newly was dumbfounded. It was doubtful that he would ever take it upon himself to invite anyone to his in-laws' ranch.

Obviously, it was a mix-up in communication, but she was not going to let him flounder in an embarrassing situation. "I must apologize, for not extending the invitation myself." She reached over weaving her fingers through Newly's. "Lucky for me, my husband has better manners. Would tomorrow evening be all right? We're having the birthday celebration tonight and it's just family."

Phoebe was trapped in the same humiliation that plagued Newly. All she had told her husband was that the deputy mentioned casually they should visit the LadyK. Darcy had taken it upon himself to expand it to a proper invitation. "Calleigh I-"

"Calleigh," Darcy's smooth voice quickly overrode Phoebe's. "I am so embarrassed. Apparently, I misunderstood what my wife said. Please don't feel obligated because of my stupidity."

"No, no! I'm sure it was just that—a misunderstanding. But, I meant what I said—I should have invited you myself. Tomorrow night then?"

"Well, thank you. That's very kind and tomorrow will be fine. Does your grandfather live at your mother's ranch? I am so eager to spend time with another colleague." Darcy saw the frown start to form on her fresh, young face. He tried to cover his eagerness with a laugh. "I meant, a seasoned one. You and I are both just babes in this field."

"Well, I doubt that anyone knows more about medicine than Poppy. You will be learning from the best. It's hard to say where he lives, exactly. He has a room at both the LadyK and the Double O; and of course we share an office in town."

"I understand he has an office at the ranch, as well as in town. Sounds like you have a busy practice."

"It keeps us moving." Calleigh cocked a curious eye at her colleague. "You never said where you practice."

Phoebe was always amazed at how quickly Darcy could come up with an answer. She was also impressed that the lie would flow through those perfect white teeth so easily. "Actually, we are on our way west, to set up a practice. That's one of the reasons I wanted to spend time with you and Dr. Adams—to find out what it's like to practice medicine out here."

"How far west are you planning on going?" Newly leaned closer to his wife, letting his arm slide around her shoulder. He was ever so grateful that she had bailed him out of an awkward moment, even if it meant he might be in trouble later.

"We were looking at settling in Nevada. I understand the population there is exploding since they have had the silver strikes. Surely, they must be in need of medical help."

"I'm sorry. Where did you say you have been practicing?" Newly's smile never altered, as he returned to the original question.

"We're from New York, but I did practice in Boston for a short time. Phoebe's father fell ill and we were both devoted to him, so I took a leave of absence to care for him." He reached over in a rather awkward gesture, patting his wife's hand. "Unfortunately, his case was terminal and we lost him." Darcy watched the O'Brians share a look that he didn't understand, but it didn't seem important enough to concern him.

"Darcy, we need to go back to our room. I have a couple of things still to pack." She waited until he stood to pull back her chair, before bidding the O'Brians goodbye.

Calleigh watched the visiting couple walk down the narrow walkway of the dining car. She waited until they were out of earshot, before turning her full attention to her husband. The question was written all over her face.

"Honey, I swear, I did NOT invite them to your folk's ranch. I would never, ever do-"

A pair of sweet, supple lips, silenced his attempts to vindicate himself. "I know that, but I also know that you could. Kitty would always entertain anyone you were to bring home."

Newly appeared as if a thousand pound weight had been taken off of him. "I know she would, but I didn't—and Phoebe knows I didn't."

"Yeah, the look on her face pretty much matched yours." Calleigh reached over, claiming Newly's full cup of coffee for her own. "What did you say?"

"I think it was like, you'll have to come out some time; or, come see us. I said it in passing when we were fishing. Do you think Phoebe lied to Darcy?"

"No. I think Darcy knew that you would be too much of a gentleman to call his wife on an obvious lie. He sure is anxious to meet Poppy." What started as just a glance at her husband, required a longer look. "What's that look mean?"

Newly grinned, as he took her hand in his and brought it to his lips. "You think I'm a gentleman?"

Calleigh pointed her tiny nose up in the air. "Gentlemen are the only kind of men I allow in my life." She glanced over at the youngest male in that category. "Coop? What's the matter?"

The boy was still staring at the empty hallway where the Cannons had been. "They're not like us, are they?"

"What do mean – like us?"

Cooper's gaze was now fixed on his sister. "They don't touch like you guys. Or momma and daddy." Calleigh's blue eyes sought out brown and the look that passed between them confirmed the boy's observation.

"When daddy takes momma's hand – he always kisses it." Coop tilted his head, focusing on his brother-in-law. "Like you just did to Calleigh. That man kind of...patted that lady, like we do to Ranger."

Although both of them had noticed the same thing, Calleigh had to point out to her brother that such open acts of affection weren't shared by all married couples.

"I'm not a baby anymore," he uttered with a weary sigh. "I know that 'cookie' thing isn't real. But married people like to touch each other. Don't they?"

Newly hid behind a grin, leaving this subject to his wife. "Well, yes we do; but some people are shy and don't do that sort of thing in public."

"Well, you guys are never shy and neither are momma and daddy. I guess that's because he's so big, everybody would be afraid to say anything to him, huh? And you would just shoot them."

Newly couldn't hold back the laughter, but he had enough sense to grab his little sharpshooter before she could strike. "You know your sister too well." He pulled her in to give her a kiss and then set her free. "We better get ready, I think we're about to come into the station."

Cooper turned around, leading the others to the door, mumbling to himself. "Grown ups are so confusing."

It wasn't often that Phoebe was angry with Darcy, but this was more than she could ignore. The instant the latch clicked into place, she whirled around to confront him. "How could you do that to me? Newly knows that he did not invite us! All he said was-"

"Phoebe. Phoebe." Darcy pulled the angry woman into his arms. "Don't be mad at me." As usual, his kisses absolved him of any wrongdoing. "I knew he wouldn't challenge it. The sooner we get this done, the sooner you and I can begin a new life."

"A new life?" Phoebe instantly clung to his words. "Do you promise?"

"Of course I do." The ardent liar plied her with kisses once again. "It will be over soon," he whispered.

TBC