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When she finished, both women appeared shocked and Vera asked, “He set you down in the middle of the desert?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“What a complete cad. Sylvie, we need to make sure the sheriff hears about this. We don’t want this varmint preying on anyone else.”
“Mr.Fontaine said the same thing,” Eddy pointed out. She wondered if he’d already caught the train to San Francisco.
Mrs.Stewart’s voice brought her back. “How awful that must have been for you, Eddy.”
“It was.” The only saving grace was that Nash hadn’t forced himself on her, or killed her outright.
“Thank the Lord for Rhine and Jim,” Mrs. Steward stated.
Vera agreed. “I wouldn’t mind being lost in the desert if I knew the best looking man in the territory would find me. You couldn’t have been rescued by a better man, Eddy.”
Eddy agreed. Having no idea if Vera knew she’d been staying at the saloon, she didn’t offer anything more.
Sylvia told her friend, “The handsome Rhine aside, Eddy’s a cook, Vera. She’s going to help me out here once she gets on her feet.”
Vera nodded approvingly. “Good. Otherwise, your dining room will be closed inside of a week if the place has to rely on your cooking.”
Sylvia tossed out, “And she calls herself a friend.”
“Good morning, ladies,” a cheery male voiced called out.
Eddy looked up to see yet another visitor. The brown-skinned man in the doorway was older, mustached, and carrying what appeared to be a black doctor’s bag.
Sylvia’s entire demeanor changed. “Good morning, Oliver.”
Eddy noted the frost in the greeting.
Sylvia did the introductions. “Eddy Carmichael. Doc Randolph.”
Eddy wondered what the story was between the two. She glanced at Vera and received a shake of her head loaded with exasperation.
“Nice to meet you, MissCarmichael. Rhine Fontaine told me about you. Thought I’d come by to see how you’re faring.”
“Nice to meet you, too, Dr.Randolph. Other than feeling weak, I’m mending.”
“Good to hear. Mind if I make sure?”
“No, sir. I don’t have money to pay you though.”
“That’s quite all right. Think of it as a welcome gift from the community.”
He walked to the bed and removed his stethoscope from his bag. He listened to her breathing then looked into her eyes and checked the blistered skin on her hands. He turned them over to view her palms. “You’re putting aloe on her, Sylvie?”
“No, Oliver, I’m using lard,” she replied sarcastically. “Of course I’m using aloe.”
Eddy said, “And it seems to be working well.”
“Good. Keep applying it.” He placed his instruments back in his bag. “I want you to stay in bed another day or so.”
“I don’t like lying around.”
“Young lady, from what Rhine told me, you’re lucky you’re not lying in a grave. Take my advice, okay? The more you rest, the faster you’ll be back on your feet.”
“Yes, sir.”
