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Logan raised an eyebrow. “Some might argue that. But the doctor I’m looking at is definitely not a man.”
“As a doctor in combat, I’ve done everything a man would do. And no wounded soldier ever refused treatment because I was a woman. As for you, Major—”
She broke off, her argument forgotten as the sound of men’s voices, loud and getting louder, rumbled through the closed door.
The door burst open as if it had been kicked. Webb Calder strode across the threshold, his face a mask of fury. His glare swept the room.
“What in hell’s name is going on here?” he growled.
“As you can see, Webb, I’ve been shot.” Logan spoke calmly. “The doctor found me and stopped the bleeding. I owe her my life, so have a care how you speak to her.”
Webb turned to Kristin. “So you’re the woman doctor I’ve been hearing about.DoctorDollarhide.” His tone was mocking. “I remember you from years ago. Figured you’d have a husband and a passel of kids by now.”
“I remember you, too, Mr. Calder,” Kristin said. “It’s been a long time.”
Webb nodded, his frown deepening. “Well, you can pack up and go with your brother, lady. The major here will be riding home with me. He’ll have a day to rest up before we go into Miles City to buy this ranch.”
Kristin drew herself up to face him. She was tall for a woman, but he loomed over her. “Major Hunter is my patient,” she said. “Riding a horse could start him bleeding again. It could even kill him. And he won’t be fit to go anywhere on Monday. He’s lost too much blood. He needs to rest, and he needs to be where a doctor can check on him.”
Webb muttered a string of curses that ended abruptly as Blake walked in carrying a woolen blanket and the familiar black leather satchel. As Blake tossed Logan the blanket and handed the satchel to Kristin, Webb turned on him.
“This mess stinks,” he said. “And it’s got your hands all over it, Dollarhide. I’m not a fool. I know you tried to buy this place—and that the bank told you it was reserved for the major, here. So let me tell you what you did. You knew he’d likely be out here, looking the place over. So you followed him and shot him.”
“Now just a minute, Webb!” Blake had gone white around the mouth, a sign that he was struggling to control his rage. “First of all, that’s a goddamned lie. Second, I was on the range all day. My men can vouch for that. So can my son.”
“That’s your story,” Webb said. “Mine is that after you shot him, and he didn’t die, you got your sister to see that he didn’t make it to the bank, so you could sneak in and buy the place for yourself. For all I know, she was in on this with you all along. Prove I’m wrong.”
“That’s the biggest pile of bullshit I’ve ever heard!” Blake said.
“Is it? Unless you can prove you didn’t shoot this man, I’m taking my story to the sheriff.”
“You lying sonofabitch!” Blake lunged at him. Webb sidestepped and raised his fists.
“Stop it!” Kristin sprang between them, her hands on her brother’s chest. “Stop it right now!”
Blake pushed her out of the way. “You’ve had this coming for years, Webb! Now you’ve crossed the line! I’m going to teach you a lesson you’ll never—”
“Gentlemen!” Logan’s commanding voice cut through the tension. “Stop acting like schoolboys! Put your hands down.”
As if stunned by his forceful manner, the two backed off and stood glaring at each other. Even Kristin was startled, but she shouldn’t have been, she reminded herself. As an army officer, Logan had years of experience handling men in emotional situations.
“That’s better,” Logan said. “Now we can talk. I don’t know who shot me. I’d dismounted to look at something on the ground, and the bullet came out of nowhere. When I couldn’t get back on the horse, I walked until I passed out. After the doctor found me, she could’ve left me for dead. I’m alive because she didn’t.”
“Maybeshewas the one who shot you. Did you ever think of that? Why else would the ladydoctor—” Webb’s voice oozed sarcasm. “Why else would she be wandering around out here alone?”
“I was taking a shortcut home,” Kristin said. “My mare shied at some birds and threw me. The rifle I had was slung on the saddle. I couldn’t have shot the major.”
Webb snorted. “Unless you already had.”
“The mare came home with the rifle in the scabbard,” Webb said. “I checked the gun before I moved it into the buggy to come back here. I’ll swear an oath that there were no missing bullets. Anyway, why would my sister save the life of a man she’d shot? Your story’s full of holes, Webb. I don’t know who shot the major, but it had nothing to do with us.”
“We’re wasting time,” Kristin said. “We need to get this man into the buggy and get him home where he can rest and I can treat the wound properly.”
“Not so fast.” Webb had moved to block the door. He hadn’t drawn the pistol he was wearing, but its presence was a threat. “Nobody’s going anywhere until I get some satisfaction. Blake, I still doubt your story. But I’ll be willing to forget the matter on one condition.”
Blake didn’t respond. A muscle twitched in his cheek. It was all he could do to keep his temper in check.
“Go on.” Pain creased Logan’s features. Kristin saw it and heard it in his voice. While the two men argued, she opened Sarah’s bag. Among other useful items, she found a bundle of clean wrapping strips and a vial of laudanum. Taking the spoon she found, she gave him enough to ease his pain and make him drowsy.
