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“You’re welcome. What are your plans?”
“Maybe return to Green River. Maybe go home to China. The American government is talking of limiting how many of our people can enter in the future, so I’m not sure.”
Colt understood his uncertainty. “May I ask you a question?”
He nodded.
“Is Crane your real name?”
For the first time since they’d met ten days ago, the doctor smiled. “No. I refuse to allow my true name to be in the mouths of these savages so it could be mocked and denigrated. I chose Crane because the birds are revered and the ignorant here could pronounce it.”
Colt chuckled.
“I was born...” And he offered his name.
Humbled by the honor, Colt said, “Thank you. I’ve enjoyed our partnership. If there’s ever anything I can do, let me know.”
Crane nodded and walked back into the tent to continue his service to the few remaining patients.
At the train station, Colt joined Whit and the others and led his horses into the boxcar.
“Glad to be heading home,” Whit said, sounding as tired as Colt felt. He’d been with the soldiers during the stay.
“Me too. Miss my daughter and Regan.”
“Dr. Lee. May I speak with you for a moment?”
Colt turned and looked up into the somber face of the mounted Lieutenant Levi Spalding.
Whit went on ahead and Colt waited to see what the man had to say.
“I just want to thank you for helping out.”
Colt nodded and waited.
Spalding appeared uncomfortable. “Look. Just tell Regan, I’m sorry I lied to her.”
Colt held his look for a moment, offered no response, and walked away.
Chapter Eighteen
“When is Papa coming home?” Anna asked petulantly during breakfast. “I miss him.”
Regan was seated with her at the table. “Hopefully soon, sweetie. I do miss him, too.”
“He never goes away this long.”
He’d left for Rock Springs ten days ago. Regan had been keeping up with the volatile situation there as best she could via the Laramie and Cheyenne newspapers, and tried not to worry about his safety in the midst of all the violence. “How about we ride into town and see if the supplies for the school have arrived?”
She twirled her spoon in her oatmeal. “Okay,” she said gloomily.
Regan smiled inwardly at the little brown face. She missed her papa a lot and Regan knew exactly how she felt. Colt being away was like missing a part of herself.
In the meeting with the ladies group, the day after his leaving, they took a vote and decided to focus on raising money to better outfit the school rather than fund a lending library. A trip to the building the next day revealed that Mr. Adams had stripped the school of everything from readers to pencils. He’d even taken the paper from the outhouse. If they were to open again with Regan as the teacher they’d have to start from scratch. And they did. For the past eight days, with the help of Mr. Nelson, the men of the Ranchers Association, and other members of the community, the interior of the schoolhouse was cleaned, the warped and aging floorboards replaced, and the walls painted. Ed Prescott donated a new stove to keep the students warm once winter settled in. Regan and Glenda paid for new books and all the rest of the supplies. Odell and his checkers buddies donated wood for the stove. Spring sent away for a new handle for the pump, and undertaker Lyman Beck had his carpenter install new benches with trestle tabletops so the children could sit and do their work. Although there were fewer than ten students on the rolls, the people of Paradise began embracing the school as their own and the names on the petition the council had requested began to add up.
Regan thought about all this as she and Anna drove to town. She felt good about playing a role in the effort. After helping to paint and sand and dig a new walkway to the school’s newly painted front door, she was no longer looked upon as an outsider. Her attire of denims and men’s shirts no longer drew stares and she was no longer introduced as Doc’s new wife, but by her name or as Mrs. Doc, which she enjoyed.
Rolling into town, the sight of her husband’s shuttered office dampened her mood a bit, but she knew he’d be home as soon as he was able and that his presence in Rock Springs was a help to the people there. She parked the wagon in front of the telegraph office and she and Anna went inside.
