Chapter Twenty
Stacy didn't sleep well again, and she dragged herself out of bed at first light. Tired as she was, she found that keeping busy was far better for her peace of mind than sitting around the house by herself, mulling over what had happened.
Ever since Jim's revealing visit, Stacy had found herself lost in a haze of anger and confusion. She'd believed Chet was a gentle, loving man when she'd accepted his proposal all those months ago, but she had found out now that the real Chet was a far cry from the man she'd thought him to be. What he had done to the saloon girl was bad enough, but she was also troubled to learn from Jim that he had tried to borrow money to buy the Thompson ranch and couldn't do it without her signature. She'd seen a side of Chet-lately that she hadn't known existed. He had seemed so greedy—almost power hungry in his quest to make the Dollar even bigger. She knew she couldn't spend the rest of her life with him.
As she washed up and got dressed, ready to face the new day, Stacy knew she was going to have to tell him soon.
Walker awoke to find Roni asleep nestled close beside him, her head on his shoulder. He didn't move. He wanted to savor the intimacy of the moment and imagine waking up this way every morning with her for the rest of his life. The thought made him even more determined to find Ben Thompson's killer. He could have no life of his own until the murderer was behind bars.
Walker frowned as he went over everything he'd learned last night. The news about Chet troubled him. He had thought Chet was a trusted friend, especially after he had come to his rescue the night of the fight in the alley, but now he was beginning to have his doubts.
Could Chet be the one?
Ultimately, Walker knew Chet would profit by his conviction and sentencing, for once Chet married Stacy, the Dollar would be his. The possibility haunted him, and Walker knew he needed to talk to Jim today.
Roni stirred and sighed in her sleep, distracting Walker from his more serious thoughts. He looked out the window as the eastern sky brightened, and wondered what this new day would hold. He wanted to stay there alone with Roni and pretend the real world didn't exist. Just considering the idea eased his dark mood.
"You're smiling," Roni said in a sleepy voice as she opened her eyes to look up at him.
"You're right. I am. I was just thinking about staying right here with you all day."
"I like the way you think," she told him with a seductive grin.
It was some time later, when they were finally getting up to dress, that Roni saw the evidence of the injuries he'd suffered while on the chain gang—the sores on his ankles where the iron cuffs had cut at him and the marks on his back that gave testimony to the beating he'd been given. Her heart ached for him as she finished dressing and went downstairs to get the salve and bandages she needed to tend to the wounds. Walker didn't protest. He sat down on the side of the bed to let her work her magic. She cleansed the injuries from the irons and applied the salve and bandages to help them heal.
"You're lucky there's no sign of any infection," she said as she finished up. "It must have been horrible for you to be chained up."
Walker only nodded, trying not to dwell on the days of endless toil and torture he had suffered.
"I'm ready for some breakfast. What about you?" She deliberately changed the topic after she saw the dark look that had haunted his eyes for a moment.
"I haven't had a decent hot meal since I left town."
Roni set about fixing that. It wasn't long before she was setting a plate of eggs, bacon and biscuits before him on the table. She joined him there to eat her own breakfast, and she watched as he wasted no time cleaning his plate.
"I need to talk to Jim today," he told her. "The news you gave me about Chet has been bothering me, and I'm just wondering—"
"Could he be the one?" she filled in.
"I'm not sure. The way he's been acting is strange."
"I'll get word to Jim that I need to see him as soon as he can get away," Roni said.
"Good. And in the meantime—"
Roni's heartbeat quickened as her gaze met his. The thought of spending the morning alone with him thrilled her. She was about to get up and go to him when suddenly she heard loud banging and some shouts at the office door downstairs. She was so caught up in the sensual promise of the moment that she actually jumped, startled by the interruption.
Walker, too, was caught off guard by the interruption. He tensed, ready to make a run for it. "That might be the law—"
"No, you're safe," she quickly reassured him. "It's probably a patient, and, from the sound of things, it must be an emergency. Stay up here out of sight and don't move around a lot. Someone might hear your footsteps."
"Do you keep a gun anywhere?" he asked, still uneasy.
"My father's gun is in the bottom drawer of the dresser," she said as she left him to answer the door.
Walker moved quickly back into the bedroom. He closed the door partially, leaving it open just enough so he could hear what was going on downstairs. Though he was relieved to know that everyone believed he was dead, he realized he couldn't let down his guard, not even for a moment. Tense and ready for trouble, he got the gun out of the dresser and checked to make sure it was loaded.
Gun in hand, Walker went back to stand by the door. He could hear a man talking to Roni and recognized that it was Ken Miller, one of the neighboring ranchers. Miller was telling Roni how one of his ranch hands had been injured in an accident out at the ranch and that he'd brought him into town in the back of his buckboard. Satisfied that he was safe for now, Walker moved silently farther back into the bedroom to bide his time.
Roni hurried out with the rancher, and a few moments later, Miller and the other man who'd come into town with him were carrying the injured man inside. He was conscious and obviously in pain.
"Get him up on the table so I can examine him," she directed.
They did as they were told and then Roni ushered them out of the room.
"What's your name?" Roni asked the injured man, wanting to distract him as much as she could.
"Cal," he answered tersely, his jaw locked against the pain he was enduring.
"Well, Cal, what were you doing to end up like this?"
"I had a run-in with this stubborn bronc."
She nodded. "And you hit the fence rail when he threw you."
"Yep."
"It looks like your leg's broken, and a few of your ribs, too."
"So I'm going to get the Lady Doc to patch me up." He groaned as he looked up at her a little questioningly.
"That's right. Let's see if we can't get you back in good shape," she told him as she went to work.
From upstairs, Walker could hear Miller and the other man talking as they paced about the outer room, anxiously waiting for news of their friend's condition. A few times Walker heard the injured man shout out in pain, and he hoped Roni was able to help him.
It was some time later when Roni finished setting and binding her patient's broken ribs, and putting the splint on his broken leg. "That should do you. You need to stay off this leg as much as you can."
"Thanks, Doc," he said, sounding as if any doubts he'd had about her ability were gone.
She went out to tell his boss that he was ready to go.
After they'd helped Cal back into the bed of the buckboard, Miller went to speak with Roni.
"I can't thank you enough for what you've done today," the rancher said as he paid her.
"I'm just glad his injuries weren't more serious. He should be up and moving in a few weeks."
"Your father would be proud of you."
That was the best compliment he could have given her. "Thank you," she said, touched.
Roni stood there and watched them drive off before going back inside. She didn't normally keep the door locked, but with Walker there, she didn't want to take any chances. After locking the door, she hurried up the steps to find him coming out of the bedroom. Roni didn't say a word. She just smiled and went straight into his arms to kiss him.
"How's Miller's ranch hand?" he asked when they finally broke apart.
"He got thrown and broke his leg and a few ribs, but he should be all right."
"Good." Walker kissed her again and then lifted her up in his arms to carry her into the bedroom.
"I missed you, woman," he said as he laid her gently on the bed.
"Not as much as I missed you," Roni returned, linking her arms around his neck and pulling him down to her. She was still finding it hard to believe that he was actually there, and she wanted to treasure every minute. She never wanted to be separated from him again.
Even though it was broad daylight and she knew someone might come knocking on her door again, she didn't even think about stopping. They came together eagerly and were thrilled when they weren't interrupted.
"I'm glad the people in Two Guns are staying healthy today," Walker told her, giving her a kiss as they finally moved apart.
"So am I," she agreed as she got dressed. "I'd better get over to the bank and let Jim know I need to talk to him tonight."
"Hurry back."
Roni had hoped to speak to Jim personally, but he was meeting with someone in his office, so she had to leave a message for him with Harvey, the clerk out front.
"Please make sure he gets the message," Roni insisted.
"I will, Dr. Reynolds."
Jim couldn't believe what a busy day he'd had, and he was looking forward to closing time. He was just locking the doors when Harvey sought him out to speak with him.
"I should have told you sooner, but we were so busy today I didn't get the chance," Harvey began.
"What is it?" Jim asked.
"Dr. Reynolds came by earlier this afternoon and asked me to let you know she needed to see you. She asked that you stop by her office when you get time."
"Thanks, Harvey. I'll take care of it."
The clerk left and Jim finished closing the bank down. Afterward, he headed straight over to see Roni, wondering what she wanted. He knew it had to be important or she wouldn't have sent for him. Jim hoped that she might have learned something about Thompson's murder from one of her patients, but he knew better than to let himself get too optimistic. Stacy slipped into his thoughts then, and he wondered if Roni had heard from her. The prospect quickened his pace and he reached her office in short order.
Jim knocked on the locked door and waited for her to answer. There was light coming from upstairs in her living quarters, so he knew she was there.
Roni heard the knock and hurried down to see who it was. She caught sight of Jim standing outside and quickly let him in.
"I see you got my message." She welcomed him with a smile.
Her happy mood surprised him. Lately, they'd been hearing nothing but bad news; it seemed whatever she had to tell him was good.
"Finally," he answered. "We had a busy day today."
"Well, I'm glad you're here. Come upstairs. There's something I need to show you."
"All right." He followed her up the steps and into her sitting room.
Roni stayed by the door and called out, "It's safe now."
"What are you doing?" Jim asked, wondering to whom she was talking.
And then Walker appeared in the doorway.
"What the—" Jim was utterly shocked by Walker's appearance, and then joy shot through his soul at the sight of his best friend, alive and well, standing there before him. "Oh, my God!"
He hesitated no longer, but went straight to Walker and threw his arms around him. When he stepped back, he could only stare at Walker in disbelief. "But how—?"
"It's a long story," Walker began.
"I've got the time," Jim assured him.