Flame Series #18: Physician Heal Thy Self

Chapter 8

Some Days Are Just Bad

Doc tossed his glasses onto the desk and wandered toward the morning sun that was proudly forcing its way through the bay window. His weary body dropped onto the cushioned window seat. With a little push, he settled back against the glass and oak grid, letting his eyes travel over the spacious bedroom. The two redheads had gone to great lengths to choose colors, fabrics and even furnishings, that would please the grouchy physician. And if he wasn't in the mood to watch the sunrise, all he had to do was go down the road to the Double O. His room there was almost identical, except the oversized window faced west, instead of east.

The sound of children's laughter drew his attention to the backyard. Cooper was pushing Hadley in the wagon Festus had built, but apparently, he wasn't going fast enough to suit the demanding little redhead.

The physician thought about the family that fate had woven into his life. It all began with a thickheaded lawman that he loved like a son. It was the addition of a beautiful and patient young redhead that brought completion to the trio. Then, the bombshell that shook up all of their lives, came in another redheaded package. Along with her, a young deputy was pulled in; and an irritating, but irreplaceable, scruffy little man completed their group.

Muffled voices yelled at Poppy through the glass and waved as they passed by the window. This was his life now. A life he loved. His lungs pulled in a labored breath, but it was his heavy heart that made him feel as if he were suffocating. Was he going to lose it all?

He stared down at his hands, aged for sure; but up until a few days ago, steady as a rock. It was so subtle at first, he wasn't even sure it had happened. Just a slight tremor. It was late, he was tired and that was enough to justify it. But that was three days ago and it was no longer a lone symptom.

The tremors were becoming more frequent. Even now, the hand lying in his lap began to move. Doc glared at the shaking limb as if it were no longer a part of him, but some evil thing, that was slowly devouring his body. It wasn't just his hands that were betraying him. There were moments of confusion. He couldn't eat, couldn't sleep. This time, instead of his moustache, the sweep of his other hand brushed away the tears.

"Poppy. You ready to go?"

Doc heard Calleigh calling from the hallway. He hurriedly wiped his eyes and pulled himself together. It would only be a matter of seconds before she came bouncing in through the doorway. He so wanted to tell her how much he loved the sound of her voice. The way she called him Poppy and the grin that was a permanent fixture on her face. But she would be expecting to find the crusty old physician complaining about the yelling, among other things. So, he drew in a deep breath, to meet her expectations.

"Stop your yelling!" He tried to hide the smile as he glanced at the small image in the doorway. "They can hear your big mouth all the way into town."

"Are you ready?" As usual, Calleigh ignored his grumping and wrapped her arms around him for a hug. "Come on. That young whippersnapper wants to pick your brain."

"Look who's calling names. Cannon is at least three years older than you." Doc slipped on his vest and checked his watch. "What time did you say we would meet him?"

"Ten o'clock; and it's almost nine-thirty now. We've put him off, three days in a row."

"He might as well learn now, that being a doctor out here means you're on call around the clock."

Calleigh shrugged, as a gesture of understanding. "I know, but he's going to start thinking we don't like him."

Doc flashed a look that couldn't be described as anything but suspicious. "Do you mean, we or you?"

"Why would you ask that? I hardly know him." Calleigh attempted to skirt around the original question, as she held his jacket waiting for him to slide into it. This obviously was not going to happen, as Doc stood silently, patiently waiting for an answer—an honest one. With a defeated sigh, she let the jacket drop in her hands. "He's pompous, irritating, arrogant and more in love with himself, than his wife."

Doc's grin was spontaneous, as was the chuckle that accompanied it. "Well, that's certainly more than I expected." He turned back around, this time accepting help into his jacket. Once he adjusted the garment to hang properly, he held out his arms for her inspection. "Do I look like a wise, old doctor?"

"Wise – definitely, but never old. Now, come on pokey." She grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the doorway. Doc let her lead him toward the buggy without a fuss.

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"This is a beautiful restaurant." Phoebe watched the pretty waitresses scurry through the busy lunch crowd. "I must admit, this far west, I never expected anything like this." She pulled her attention from the main room, to her hostess. "Is this more fun than running a saloon?"

"Well, it's certainly quieter." Kitty smiled at the brief recollection of the old days. "You mentioned at dinner the other night, that you might be settling in Nevada. That is going to be quite a change after New York and Boston."

"I'm sure it will be. Although, I am ready to trade in city life for something a little slower paced. New York is just too crowded and I'm sure you will agree with me about what a terrible place Boston is." Phoebe sat back in her chair, waiting for Nettie to refresh her tea, before speaking again.

In that moment of silence, Phoebe reflected on the report Vince Morgan had given Darcy. Vince's pale countenance created the illusion of a feeble man, but he certainly was a thorough investigator. He had included, in detail, the incident between the Dillons and Mavis Penshaw in Boston.

Phoebe offered a nod of thanks to the young waitress, before speaking again. "What you went though in Boston… that terrible woman. It was simply heartbreaking." She lifted the lid of the crystal cut bowl, scooping out a heaping spoonful of sugar. "I can't imagine losing a child like that."

The words that Phoebe had expressed so simply, clutched at Kitty's heart, blindsiding her from the past. The numbness didn't hit all at once, but spread slowly through her body, encasing her in a world of silence. As if the rest of the world had disappeared, Kitty focused on the tilt of the young woman's hand, as she released the sugar into the pale brown liquid. The tiny white granules drifted slowly to the bottom of the finely etched glass, only to be tossed about with a swift twirl of the teaspoon.

It was the clinking of the spoon being tapped against the glass, that caused Kitty to snap back to the present. How could this woman know about their loss? Calleigh would never share such a personal tragedy with a stranger. She knew the Cannons had been in town for a week, but no one else would have brought up this part of the Dillon past. No one, except Burke, would have been insensitive enough to approach that subject and he had been out of town all week.

With a pinched smile, Kitty replied simply. "Yes, it was very painful." She returned to her lunch, but her appetite had been snatched away, leaving a throbbing headache in its place. Even so, Kitty continued to listen politely to her guest.

It seemed like an eternity before Phoebe dabbed the linen napkin at the corner of her mouth, while praising the delicious meal. "Darcy and I have eaten here several times this week and it was excellent every time." She folded the napkin and laid it next to her plate. "Speaking of my husband, he is at the clinic with Calleigh and Dr. Adams. I thought I would stop in to see how everything was going. Would you like to walk over there with me?"

"Oh I would, but I have some errands to run before I go back to the ranch. Please just give your husband my regards." She watched the young woman gather her things and with a parting smile, Phoebe left the restaurant.

Tia waited until the blonde woman had gone, before approaching the table. Her first glance went to the half-eaten plate and then to her boss. "Nettie said you weren't eating your lunch. We've been getting compliments all day on the braised beef and noodles." Tia tilted her head with a curious look. "Are you all right?"

"It's not the food." Kitty waved her hand over the plate and offered a thin smile. "I just have this headache and am not really hungry. I have a couple of errands to run and then I'm going home. Maybe I'll lay down for a bit."

"I can go get Calleigh, or the marshal, if you want."

"Heavens, no! I'll be fine." Kitty gathered up her things and lightly patted the girls shoulder. "That's very sweet of you two to notice. Thank you."

Nettie watched the marshal's wife leave and wandered over to Tia. "She okay?"

"She says it's just a headache. I hope that's all it is." Tia turned back to the full dining room. "Table nine needs coffee. You get that and I'll see what Mrs. Botkin wants."

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"So, this is your headquarters." Darcy wandered around the small upstairs office.

"Headquarters?" Doc chuckled, as he looked around the cramped, antiquated room. "I'm not sure I would call it that, but it's been the only medical office in Dodge for over twenty years.

"But it was my understanding that you had an office at both the LadyK and the Double O."

"Those aren't really public offices. Oh, we'll treat someone if they come by, but it was Kitty's idea for us to have working offices at home. We have a lot of men working those two ranches."

The sadness he had experienced this morning, threatened to overtake him again, when he thought of Kitty. Even before Calleigh and the little ones, she had loved him like a daughter and went to such lengths to pamper and spoil him. Would he become a burden to her? Doc sucked in a deep breath and swiped at his moustache to ward off the fear that hovered around him.

"That makes sense. But, why do you only staff this office two days a week? I mean, there are two of you. Shouldn't it be open all week?" Darcy tried, unsuccessfully, not to let his own cynicism creep into his tone. "What if someone needs you? Surely, you wouldn't just let them die."

Doc was caught off guard by the sudden change in the young man's tone. Before he had chance to explain that they were always on call, the front door opened and Phoebe was offering her assistance to an elderly lady.

Gert Prosper, grinned her toothless smile at the pretty young woman that had helped her up the steps. Faded blue eyes, twinkled in a nest of wrinkles on the chubby old face, as she glanced over at Darcy. "Is this your handsome young man?"

Phoebe witnessed the puzzled expression that passed between the two doctors. "I escorted Mrs. Prosper down Front Street and I told her about you." She smiled proudly at Darcy.

"I'm embarrassed to think of what she's told you, Phoebe can be quite biased." The charming young man stepped forward, accepting the elderly lady's hand. "I'm glad to meet you." He could feel the plump fingers encased in the thin wrinkled skin and quickly let go of her hand. "Dr. Adams, I don't know what you can do for this charming lady, she seems to be the picture of health."

Doc chuckled, as he stepped forward, ushering his patient into a chair. "That is an excellent diagnosis. Gert brings a smile to this office every time she comes."

"It's my ticker." Gert announced bluntly. "Wearin' out, just like all my other parts." She glanced back at the young man and saw him lead his wife toward the door. "Ya don't have to leave on my account. I'd feel right privileged to have two handsome doctors taking care of me." Darcy accepted her offer with a gracious smile.

Doc retrieved his stethoscope from the cabinet. "You just keep coming for these check-ups and we're going to keep that heart beating for years to come."

"Where's Little Doc? Gert questioned, seconds before Doc placed the black, flat, metal piece to her chest.

"Miriam Watkins' husband came by to get her. He's just sure that baby is coming—for the third time this week," he added dryly. "First time fathers!" Doc finished with his examination and walked over to the medicine cabinet. "Well Gert, you're doing just fine. You just keep taking this medicine and I'll see you in another month."

He gave her the small bottle, which she tucked away in her tattered reticule. Doc took her hands in his and gently pulled her to her feet. "I'm not as pretty as the young lady here, but why don't you let me assist you down the stairs?"

Gert patted the hand securely bracing her arm. "I never say no to a handsome man. Especially a single one." She cast a sly wink at the old physician, before turning back to Phoebe. "Young lady, it was nice to meet you and your husband. I hope you like Nevada."

Doc glanced back at the Cannons, as he stepped out onto the landing. "I'll be right back."

Darcy maintained his casual pose leaning against the desk, until Doc was out of sight. Phoebe flinched back, when he suddenly rushed across the room and peered out the window. "Phoebe, come keep watch. I need to get something out of his cabinet."

Reluctantly, she got up and walked over to the window. "What are you doing?"

Darcy jiggled the tip of his pocketknife into the antiquated lock until the glass door eased open. He cast his wife a stern look, as he slipped the knife back into his pocket. "Do you want to know?"

Phoebe could hear the contempt in his tone. There was no response, as she quietly turned back toward the window. She heard the click of the lock as he secured the cabinet door back into place, just as Doc appeared on the steps. "He's coming back up."

"Just act natural." Darcy swept his hair back into place and resumed his casual pose. "We'll be leaving in a few minutes."

TBC