“If that means you can’t recall, it’s been too long,” the stable owner said.“Gabriel and me are about to go in for our noon dinner.I’m sure Mrs.Rogers has enough for another.How does that sound to you?”
“Much obliged, sir,” Paddy murmured.
“Look at that, Mr.Marlowe.Manners and all.If your friend could bring himself to scrape some of that dirt off his face and hands, I think Mrs.Rogers will be well pleased having him at our table.”
This was working out better than Caleb hoped.
Better than most things in life generally did.
He addressed Malachi and his son.“I need to go out of town.I can’t say for sure how long.Think you could spare Gabe for a few days to watch over things at my ranch and take care of Bear?I’ll pay him same as last time.”
Gabriel tried to suppress his excitement, unsuccessfully.Malachi looked doubtful.
“If you’re worried about trouble,” Caleb said with a quick side look at Paddy.“After last night, I don’t think any fellas will be going out there anytime soon.”
Gabe’s father put a big, callused hand on his son’s shoulder.“Who’s gonna help me in the livery?We got a shipment of oats coming tomorrow and a full stable of horses to tend to.”
“I can work the stable,” Paddy chirped up.“I know horses good.And…and I owe you.”
Malachi Rogers thought about it for a moment.“Then I guess that’ll work out.”
Ten minutes later, after smoothing out the details, Caleb mounted his horse in front of the livery.Paddy had taken off his hat to wash his face and hands.Having handed over the reins, the boy stood patting the buckskin’s neck.For the first time, with his ginger-colored hair slicked down and darkened by the water, he looked his age.
“When I get back, maybe we can set and talk about the future.I’m gonna need help on the ranch, at least until my partner gets here.”
As Caleb rode out, Paddy’s bright face stayed with him.He wasn’t too sure why he’d said that.Taking on responsibility for a kid was no small thing.And, considering his own upbringing, he had no example to look to as far as how it should be done.Even so, someone had to step up for this boy.
He thought about how many street rats he’d seen in his travels.Towns seemed to breed them.
Besides, maybe that was part of building a home too.Not just land and cattle and fences.Maybe it was deciding a lost kid didn’t have to stay lost forever.
ChapterNine
Doc woke up with a start,instantly alert, his pulse racing.On the blurred edge of a dream, a sound or a movement—some threat of danger—jarred his defenses.He was unaware that he’d fallen asleep.
He sat rigidly still, leaning against the wall by the bed, listening for a repeat of the sound, trying to identify what had awakened him.It was a hiss.Or a growl.Or a light footfall.Something.
For two days he hadn’t slept at all.He hadn’t intended to today either.His neck was stiff.His butt was asleep.Doc pressed a hand to his chest.His heart was still pounding, and every nerve in his body hummed.From the light in the shack, he guessed it was still afternoon.He shot a glance across the room.The door to the outside was closed.The road agent called Lucas was not in his usual place, watching every move he made.
Perhaps he’d been awakened when the young outlaw went out.Maybe the sound of the door closing had startled him from his nap.
He turned his head slowly and looked up at his patient.Her head was moving restlessly in the cot, mumbling incoherent words under her breath.She was due to have the dressing on the wound changed again.
A low, raspy, hissing growl from beneath the cot fired a bolt of white-hot lightning through Doc and sent him scuttling backward.
“What the blazes!”
He stared at the shadows beneath the bed for the source of the sound.Black, gleaming eyes stared back at him.
“Get!”
It didn’t move.
He leaned down to get a better look at what was hiding there.
The creature had a tapered snout.A fox?No, the ears were round and close to the head, giving it the look of a miniature bear’s face.The fur was thick and golden-brown, too dark and with no raccoon’s mask.If it were a weasel, it was the largest he’d ever seen.From one side of its mouth, the head of a fat, lifeless rat dangled, and the rodent’s long tail hung out the other side.
“Get.Go!”
