A Heart Renewed (26 page)

The young woman’s jet black hair was pulled back in a braid.  Her simple cotton clothing was different from what Betty and Hannah wore.  When Betty introduced her as Peng Yu, she smiled then bowed.  Not sure what was the appropriate response, he nodded.  The young woman returned to kitchen.

“Peng Yu and her husband, Peng Liang, arrived last week from California.  They were looking to open a laundry, but Paul convinced them to work for us.  I’m glad they agreed.  I’ve been in desperate need of help since you went and took Hannah away,” Betty teased.

“You introduced her as Yu.”  Will was confused by the couple having the same first name.

“Oh, their custom is that their first names are like our last names.  She would be Mrs. Peng and Yu is like our first name.  It took me by surprise too.”

“Glad to see you have help.  Where are they staying?”

“Paul finished a small shack for them.  It is simple, really, just a room about the size of our private living quarters.  I am so happy with the couple.  They are such hard workers and always have a pleasant disposition.”

“No trouble from any of the boarders?” Will asked, knowing there were some who hated the Chinese.

“You know me, Will, I don’t tolerate bigotry.  If any of them so much as hints at having a problem, they can go down to Cal’s boardinghouse and suffer through that goo he tries to pass off as food.”  Her momentary frown turned back to a smile as she started towards the kitchen.  “Well, let me stop talking your ear off and get you two some food.”

When Betty returned with two plates of food, Will remembered Hannah’s request.  “Betty, would you and Paul be able to join us for Thanksgiving dinner?”

“Oh, I think that would be wonderful!  We never really get to take a break, but with the Peng’s here, I think we should be able to get away for the afternoon.”

“Hannah will be glad to hear it.”

Will and Adam finished their meal in silence before saying their farewells to Betty.  Adam had a few purchases to make at Gray & Company, so Will decided this would be the perfect opportunity to go meet the doctor.

Stepping up on the boardwalk lining the front of the building, Will hardly believed that in a few short weeks, the doctor already had a building up.  The saw mill must be churning out boards quicker than he thought.  He reminded himself to talk to George Lount, one of the mill owners, the next time he was in town about placing an order for the new ranch house he hoped to start on in March if the weather held.  With the baby on the way and with Julia living with them now, he wanted to at least get started on the house so it might be ready by summer.

As he opened the door, he looked around the clinic.  There were some finishing touches needed.  The walls were still bare wood, although the smell of paint wafted to the parlor.  There were two rooms and a hallway off of the parlor.  Peeking in, one room looked like an exam room, complete with a cabinet full of small viles.  The other was unfurnished.  Seeing a man bent over a bucket of paint, Will approached the unfurnished room.

Clearing his throat, Will said, “Are you the new doctor?”

The young man rose and turned.  “Yes, Dr. Hank Armstrong.”  Leaning around Will to look towards the lobby, he asked, “Is there an emergency?”

Will shook his head as the man wiped his paint stained hands on a cloth. “No.  I was in town and saw the sign.  Thought I would introduce myself.  I’m Will Colter, a rancher from nearby.”

“Pleased to meet you Mr. Colter.”

“Please call me Will.  Guessing by the state of your clinic you just recently arrived?”

“Yes, from California.  I’ve been here just under two weeks.  The town council was kind enough to get a jump start on the building though.”

“California, huh?”  Seemed like they got as many folks coming from California as they did anywhere else.  “What brings you east?”

Dr. Armstrong laughed.  “I know, it sounds unusual with all the folks moving to California that someone would leave there.  I saw the advertisement in the San Francisco newspaper that the new territorial capital was looking for a doctor.  It sounded like a grand adventure.  San Francisco has numerous doctors, some which try their hand at gold mining and go back to the trade when their dreams of getting rich fail.  The place was starting to get a little too crowded for me.”

“Well, we’re glad to have you here.  And your timing is perfect.”  Will hesitated, not exactly sure if it was appropriate to mention Hannah’s condition.  The man was a doctor, so it shouldn’t matter.  “My wife, Hannah, is expecting our first child.”  Will beamed.  He couldn’t help himself.  Anytime he thought of their child he got this silly, bubbly feeling.

“Congratulations, Mr. Colter.  Do you know how far along she is?”

“Two months, she thinks.”  He hesitated again.  He wanted to mention his concerns.

His face must have given him away, because Dr. Armstrong asked, “Do you or your wife have some concerns?”

“Yes, I mean… Hannah lost her first child from her first marriage.  She was around four months then.”

“You’re concerned she might have difficulties this time?”  At Will’s nod, Dr. Armstrong continued, “Well, each pregnancy for each woman is different.  If she hasn’t had any symptoms, then there is no need for alarm.  Perhaps you could bring her to the clinic for an examination soon?  Set any fears aside.”

“Thank you, Doctor.  I’ll do that.”

Will turned to leave, but stopped at the doorway.  “Do you have plans for Thanksgiving, Dr. Armstrong?”

“No, not yet.”

“Please, join us at the ranch.  We would love to have you.”

“I would be delighted.  How do I get there?”

Will smiled.  “Just see Paul Lancaster.  He and his mother will be there as well.  Perhaps the three of you can ride out together?”

“That would be wonderful.  I look forward to meeting Mrs. Colter in a few days then.”

The two men shook hands before Will stepped out on the boardwalk and headed directly for his stallion.  Hopefully Hannah would not mind him inviting the new doctor.

Chapter 19

Taking Annabel from the stall, Adam placed the bridle over the palomino’s head.  The five year old mare was one of the finer animals Will purchased.  With his guidance, she was learning quickly.  Though the man Will bought her from said she was saddle trained, Adam had his doubts.

Once in the corral, he walked backwards as he led her around so he could observe her movements.  She seemed comfortable around him—at ease—willing to take his lead.

A throat clearing behind him brought him up short.  Turning, he stopped just before walking into Julia.  She was dressed in her tan split skirt with a white shirt.  Her dark cowboy hat hid the mass of curly hair, except for what was held together with a ribbon at the back of her head.  Blue eyes flashed with mischief.

That was the Julia he remembered.  That look—the same look she gave him in school whenever she played a prank on him—made him wonder now just what trouble she was scheming in her head.

Slowly, a playful smile stretched across his face.  “Morning, Julia.”

“What’s that look for?”

A chuckle escaped his lips.  “Just remembering how much trouble you caused me in school.”

“I never caused you trouble, Adam Larson,” she shot back, placing her hands on her hips.  Tilting her chin up in defiance she added, “I just executed your sister’s ideas to perfection.”

His chuckle turned to a deep bellied laugh, as he relished the hint of a smile on her face—perhaps the first since they left Texas.  “I suppose it was Caroline’s idea to put that frog in my lunch pail?”

A giggle—light and free, like Julia used to be—floated across the air.  “Yes, it was your sister’s idea.”  The light in her eyes brightened.  “As was the snake, the rotten apple, the bees—”

“That was not funny.  I got stung.  Three times.  And my hand hurt for days afterward.”  Adam sighed.  “I was mad at you for a while after that stunt.  I couldn’t work with the horses.”

“You recovered just fine,” Julia replied, crossing her arms in mock defense.

“Yes, yes, I did.”

Both stood there for several more seconds, leaving Adam to wonder just what prompted her initial look of mischief.  He didn’t have to wait too long to find out.

“So, shall we saddle up Annabel?” she asked.

The smile faded from his lips.  “I was planning to do just that in a few minutes.  I was going to take her out, though not anywhere near the herd just yet.”

“Good, I’ll get my things.”

As she turned back towards the stable, Adam grabbed her arm.  “Wait a minute.  You are not taking her. 
I
am.”

Fiery blue eyes flashed on him.  “Why not?  You know I’m capable of handling her.  I’ve ridden much greener horses before.”

A frown crammed his eyebrows together.  “It’s not a question of your capabilities.  I have no idea how Annabel is going to react.”

“So, let me take her.”

“No.”

Julia walked along Annabel’s side, placing her hand along the mare’s back.  Making a full circle, she came up behind Adam.  “Please, Adam,” she pleaded.  “I need to do something useful.  I know the risks if she’s not ready.  I can handle it.  If she throws me—”

“If she throws you, Will is going to have my hide.” 
And if you get seriously hurt, I wouldn’t forgive myself.

Voice soft, she tilted her head down, and looked up only with her eyes.  “Please.”

Adam’s heart stopped for a beat or two.  She could not have any idea how that look affected him.  He’d seen Caroline use the same look on her beaus and, until now, he never understood why they foolishly did whatever she asked.

“Fine.”  He capitulated against his better judgment.

Her face lit with a big smile.  “Thanks, Adam.”

She ran into the stable and returned with a blanket and her saddle.  Laying the saddle on the ground, she strode to Annabel with the blanket.

“Go slow,” he cautioned.  “Let her get used to the feel of the blanket.”

She shot him an “I know” look over her shoulder.  His stomach tightened.  Maybe he should change his mind.

As she gently laid the blanket over Annabel’s back, she spoke in soft encouraging tones, just like he would have done.  Smoothing the blanket out with her hands, she continued to speak quietly.  Taking the reins from Adam’s hand, she walked Annabel around the corral for several minutes, with only the blanket on.

“Think she’s ready for the saddle?”

Adam nodded, before grabbing her saddle.  Realizing how much lighter it was than his own, he thought having her ride Annabel first might not be such a bad idea.

Gently he set the saddle on the horse’s back, talking to her softly as he cinched the straps.  Once the saddle was in place, he gently stroked her mane.  Then taking the reins back from Julia, he walked Annabel around the corral for nearly an hour before he was willing to let Julia mount the horse.

“Ready?” he asked.

“Yup.”  Before he could offer to assist her up, she already mounted the horse.

Annabel pranced at first, nickering.  She was most definitely not saddle trained.  Adam’s jaw clenched as he considered whether he should have Julia dismount.  Just when he was about to ask, Annabel settled.

“I’m going to walk her around for a few minutes before I give you the reins.”

At Julia’s nod, he started.

Annabel grew more comfortable with the situation, adjusting to Julia’s weight on her back.  Finally, he handed over the reins, moving outside of the corral to minimize the number of distractions.

As Julia led the mare in a slow walk around the corral, he remained tense, stiffening at the slightest abnormal movement from Annabel.  He was never this tense around horses.  Certainly wouldn’t be if he had been riding.  He kept reminding himself that Julia is a good horsewoman—as good as they come.  She was doing fine.  He had nothing to worry about.

Another half hour passed before Julia kicked Annabel into a trot, still inside the corral.  The two seemed to be doing well, both enjoying the anticipated freedom of a long ride.  Adam relaxed some.

“Do you want me to take her out in the field?” Julia asked as she passed his stationary post outside the corral.

“No.  I think you are the first rider she’s ever had.  Don’t want to push her too far the first time.”

“Okay,” she replied, slowing her to walk again.  “She’s doing good, but you’re right.  Probably not quite ready for the—”

The dinner bell rang, cutting off Julia’s statement.  Annabel lifted her hooves high in the air in an agitated manner as the sound of the bell echoed across the valley.

Adam jumped up on the side of the corral post, ready to climb over.  “Hold her tight!”

Then he watched helplessly as Annabel reared up.  The air
wooshed
from his lungs as Julia fought to stay on the horse’s back.  The second time Annabel reared she caught Julia off balance.  Without a sound, she tumbled over Annabel’s hind quarters to the ground, narrowly missing the corral post with her head.  With a loud groan, she landed hard on her backside.

Annabel stopped, thankfully, near the entrance far from Julia’s still form.  Adam leaped over the corral post to her side.

Just as he made it to her, she started to sit up with a deep moan, followed by a huge gulp of air.

“Are you alright?” he asked, running his fingers along her arms and legs to check for broken bones.  She swatted at his hands.

“I’m fine,” she snapped.  As she stood, slowly, she added, “Nothing more than a bruised ego.”  Brushing the dirt from her skirt, she let out a tiny whimper as she tried to stand fully straight, resting her hand on her back side.

“You don’t look fine,” he argued.

With a twisted frown, she replied, “I’m fine.  Just a little bruised.  Wasn’t the first time I’ve fallen off a horse, you know.”

Adam considered his options as she took a few tentative steps favoring her right leg.  He could carry her inside.  Tell Hannah and Will what happened before fetching the doctor.

As he came close to do just that, she scowled.  “What do you think you’re doing?”

“I was going to help you inside.”