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“I—you’re not like any woman I’ve ever met before. How did you become so strong and fearless?”
Spring wondered what this was truly about. Hazel was a privileged woman of her race and class. Spring saw no reason for her to be interested in a Colored woman’s life story. “I doubt your father would approve of you associating with me.”
“Agreed. He doesn’t care for you at all. Calls you unnatural and that you need to be shown your place.”
Spring wasn’t surprised.
“But I find you fascinating. And—”
“Hazel!” Her father’s angry voice cut her off. He glared her way from across the dining room and the now tight-lipped Hazel scurried to his side. As he quietly berated her, her face was mutinous and remained so as they took seats at one of the tables.
Dovie brought out Garrett’s eggs. The warm plate was wrapped in a towel to keep in the heat. “Thanks, Dovie.”
“What does Mr. McCray plan to do about his room here?”
“Not sure, but I’ll ask him and let you know what he says.” Ignoring Hazel and her father, Spring went on her way.
Back at Colt’s office, Garrett and Whit were talking when she entered.
“So what’s the last thing you remember?” Whit asked.
Spring untied the towel around the plate and found scrambled eggs and two biscuits.
“The ducks.”
Spring paused.
Whit chuckled, “Ducks?”
Garrett explained. “Just before I fell off the horse, I’d stopped to let a family of ducks cross the road.”
Spring thought his gentleman’s ways had almost cost him his life. Then again, she stopped for duck families many times, too.
With Garrett being unable to sit upright for any length of time and lacking the strength to feed himself, she and Whit ended up helping him into one of the office’s chairs. It pained Spring to hear his labored breathing and to see the sheen of perspiration on his face brought on by such a simple maneuver.
“Did Matt Ketchum shoot me?” he asked them once he settled into the chair.
“More than likely,” Whit replied. “But I need evidence to prove it.”
Spring forked up some of the eggs and fed him a bit of it. “Regan has put up a reward for information but so far no one has come forward.”
“Did you send word to my folks?”
“Yes. Odell said they sent back a number of questions, which he answered as best he could.”
“I hope they’re not too worried.”
“We’ll let them know that you’re now awake and eating,” she said reassuringly. “That might help ease their concerns.”
By the time he finished the small helping of eggs and half a biscuit, he was exhausted and had to be helped back to the cot. Spring thought how much easier taking care of him might bewere he at her place and able to rest in a real bed. Colt’s back room wasn’t equipped to house patients for lengthy stays, thus the reason he was having the hospital built, but she wasn’t sure if Garrett had healed enough to make it to her place in the back of a wagon rolling on a rut-filled road. He must have read her mind because once he was supine again, he asked, “How much longer do I have to stay here? Sleeping on this cot is about as comfortable as a length of pine.”
“I could move you to my place, but I’m worried about you being tossed around in the wagon bed. Colt will have my hide if the ride undoes your healing.”
“I’m willing to chance it.”
“All right. Let’s talk more tomorrow.”
“I’d rather we do it today, Spring. Preferably now.” There was a firmness in the eyes trained on her.
