Texas Twilight (8 page)

Y Knot, Montana

C
harity
McCutcheon bounded down the massive staircase of the ranch house
when she heard the door downstairs open and close. Her waist length
hair flowed around her arms and shoulders freely as she’d been
brushing it out after a washing. Dressed in a serge blouse, tucked
neatly into her riding pants, she looked much younger than her
eighteen years. She’d been waiting impatiently for her brothers to
return from Y Knot all morning and was anxiously anticipating a
letter from John. It had been a long time since his last post and
she was more than worried, a sentiment no one else in the family
seemed to share with her.

She hurried over to her brother Luke.
“Anything for me from the post office?”

Luke placed his hat on a peg and shrugged out
of his jacket. Even in spring the elevation of the ranch made the
Montana air quite chilly this time of the day. “Hold on, Charity. I
haven’t even looked through it yet. Can’t a man get a cup of coffee
first?” She ignored his knowing smile. He softened his tone, “I’m
sure there’s something for you today.”

She reached for the saddlebag he held in his
hands but he hoisted it over his head out of her reach. “Ah-ah-ah,”
he said, with a no-you-don’t tone in his voice. “Where’s Faith? I
thought she was here with you today?”

Charity fought to be patient, crossing her
arms over her chest and tapping her toe. The virtue was something
she was supposed to be working on. “She was until Rachel and Amy
decided to make cookies. They’re over at Amy’s with all the little
ones.”

Esperanza, the cook and housekeeper, came
into the room carrying a tray filled with cups. There was also a
dark brown confection and a stack of folded napkins. The heavy
front door opened again and Mark, Matt and Roady entered the
room.

“Hey, Char, how’re you?”

“Fine, Roady,” she answered. Roady was more
than a hired hand. He’d been with the McCutcheon ranch for years
and was Luke’s best friend. He smiled at Esperanza and tipped his
hat, making her smooth, dark complexion take on a rosy hue. The
newcomers discarded their outer coats and hats and took a seat by
the fire.

Luke settled into the sofa and slurped his
coffee with gusto. “Nice and hot. Thank you, Esperanza. Charity,
how was Holly today?”

“Crying all morning. Faith has to carry her
all the time. The second she sets her down Holly starts in. God
forbid I ever have a colicky baby. I don’t know how she does
it.”

“Holly?” Matt asked.

“No, Faith,” Charity corrected. She settled
next to Luke with a wistful glance at the tan leather saddlebag at
his feet. Absentmindedly, she gathered her hair and pulled the mass
of locks over one shoulder.

Luke reached for the saddlebag. He unbuckled
the clasp and withdrew a handful of letters and papers and started
shuffling through them. He handed the first post to Mark, who
reached for it with the hand that wasn’t stuffing a big chunk of
chocolate cake into his mouth.

The posts to his ma and pa he set on the
table and several he slipped into his shirt pocket. Charity felt
her heart dropping as he came to the last white envelope. He looked
up at her, his forehead crinkled and brows arched over his dark
eyes as he handed the last one to Matt.

She struggled, trying not to let her
disappointment show too much. “I’m really worried about John. He
used to write so often. It’s been months since his last post and
I’m afraid he might be in some sort of trouble.”

Roady sat forward. “Probably just forgot,
Charity. With graduation, and moving to Rio Wells and all. He’s
trying to set up a practice, too. That must take some doing.”

Charity shrugged. “What if he’s hurt or
something? We wouldn’t even know it. I just have this feeling
inside that he needs me.”

Matt took a refill when Esperanza came back
with the coffee pot then turned his attention on his little sister.
“You need to face the fact that he’s not returning home to Y Knot.
He’s a grown man. And he’s chosen something other than ranching. No
crime in that.” He took a sip and set the cup back on the table. “I
know ma and pa were relieved that he got the position in Rio Wells
close to Uncle Winston and the family. Aren’t you going for a visit
soon?”

Charity glanced away, hurt. That’s what the
plan had been, but he’d not gotten back to her with the dates. It
just wasn’t like him to do that to her. Something inside told her
that he needed her, but her other brothers would never understand
that. “Yes. We just haven’t firmed up the dates yet.”

“Well, stop. Your letter will come any day
now when he finds a free moment to write,” Matt responded. “By the
way, we saw Brandon today. He asked when you’re planning to come to
town.”

She
stood. Everyone had been throwing her and Brandon together for
years, ever since she was a girl and they realized she was sweet on
him. To be truthful, she
was
partial to Brandon and every single thing about him, but
sometimes she worried it was her brothers and the whole idea of
being part of the family and ranch that attracted him to her.
Marrying up would be an easy way to be part of the McCutcheon clan.
How could she know if he really loved
her
? Being an orphan without much knowledge of his past must
make a man yearn for roots. It was understandable. Ever since he’d
ridden into Y Knot, and taken up residence, he’d been all but
adopted by all of them it seemed, and she was glad for it. She
hated to think it, but maybe he just wanted to make sure his spot
was permanent. “How is he?” she asked.

“Fine. Been working hard. Just hired two new
deputies,” Mark added.

“Two? Why?”

Luke reached over and sliced himself a piece
of cake. “That’s what I wondered. But, he says the place is growing
and he needs ‘em.”

Charity stood, just looking at the men. She
couldn’t calm the feeling growing inside her chest. John was in
some sort of trouble. She needed to find out what it was. “Oh, by
the way, I’ve finally decided to go to the finishing school in
Denver Ma and Pa have been after me to attend. Lacey’s School of
Proper Lady’s Etiquette. You remember?”

They all looked up at her in surprise.
“What?”

“Are you serious? I was led to believe you’d
die a despicable death before going there,” Luke said, seemingly
over the initial shock of her statement and wiping the crumbs from
his hands onto the napkin. “I can’t believe it.”

“Well, it’s true. Mother and I talked it over
and she left the final decision up to me.”

Luke glanced around at Matt and Mark. Both
men shrugged their large shoulders. Luke continued, “Aren’t you too
old?”

“That’s exactly why I’ve decided to go.
Mother has had her heart set on it forever and since this is my
last chance, I wanted to do it for her, to make her happy. The
three months will fly by. Right? Just so you know I’m leaving day
after tomorrow.”

Luke stared at her for a few long moments.
“You’re sure Ma knows about this?”

“That’s what I just said, isn’t it?”

“I think you should wait until they get back
from their trip to Cheyenne,” Matt suggested.

“Can’t.” Charity started up the stairs. “The
semester starts in a week. If I leave day after tomorrow I’ll have
a few days to get there and a couple more to get settled in. The
next time you see me, gentlemen, I’ll be a changed woman.”

***

Dr. Bixby picked up the scalpel and studied
the little girl’s exposed abdomen where he’d scissored her
undershirt down the middle and laid it open. As a result of the
ether, she was in a deep sleep and her mother paced in the other
room, her footsteps making the old floorboards creak softly.

“Guess we’re ready,” Bixby said, looking up
at John.

Disappointment gripped him. Of course Dr.
Bixby would do the surgery. He was still the doctor here. Had been
for many years. But the tremor John had seen earlier in the old
doctors hands had John more than worried. Before he could voice his
concern, Dr. Bixby held the tool out to him. Surprised and humbled
to his core, John held the old man’s gaze for a moment before Bixby
nodded his approval.

The sharp metal instrument felt good in his
hand as he took a moment to gauge its weight. He’d done this exact
operation thrice before. He shouldn’t be nervous. However, the
other patients had all been adult males, and glancing now at
Candy’s peaceful face and miniature sized abdomen made John’s
stomach tighten up. There was no going back.

Placing the tip of the scalpel on her soft
skin directly above her appendix, he made a straight incision with
little effort. Dr. Bixby reached forward with a wad of cotton and
dabbed away the blood that sprang instantly to the surface. Several
kerosene lamps hug from the ceiling, giving John plenty of light,
but after ten minutes their warmth made perspiration break out on
his forehead.

“Good,” Bixby said quietly, their heads
almost touching as they leaned forward over the incision. “Go
slowly, boy. You don’t want to puncture the infected organ.”

When John cut through the muscle and then the
sac-like covering of the abdominal cavity, the purplish-black
appendix, no bigger than his little finger, popped up like a little
marching soldier, making it easy for him to remove. He made the cut
and removed it with tweezers, placing it in the pan Dr. Bixby held
out to him. Carefully probing the area, John looked for signs of
infection. The boy reached up and wiped a drop of sweat that was
getting ready to fall.

“Almost done.” John laid the scalpel and
tweezers down and picked up a pre-threaded needle. Slowly he closed
the clean incision, taking time with each little knot. Finally
finished, he straightened and stretched, relieving the muscles in
his back.

“You did fine,” Bixby said as he went about
cleaning up the blood. “You have a good, steady hand...”

“You’re hands were steady too,” John replied
in contemplation. “At breakfast I noticed they were quite the
opposite. No offense intended,” he added quickly.

“None taken.”

Bixby finished cleaning up and covered the
child with a white cotton sheet from the closet. He tucked it
lightly under the child’s chin and brushed back her hair from her
forehead, never taking his eyes from her face. Turning, he came out
of his thoughts to address what John had said.

“I don’t know why that is. About my hands I
mean. I’ve been shaking for about ten years now, but never when I’m
in surgery. Just something the Good Lord understands.”

“Then why did you decide to retire if you’re
as steady as you’ve ever been when it counts. A lot of doctors
practice till their dying day.”

Dr. Bixby removed his apron and threw it in a
pile of bloody rags on the floor that would be sent out to laundry.
“Makes some people nervous. I guess I understand that. I’m getting
up there in age. Can’t deny it.”

John shrugged.

“My maker could call me home any day or
night. Before I go, I wanted to test out the man that replaces me.
Make sure he’s up to the job. This here ain’t an easy place, boy.
People have to scratch out a living from the dirt and rocks. They
have to live past the outlaws and desperados. Rio Wells is hell on
earth. You may as well know it from the get go.”

There was a tapping on the door. “Doctor
Bixby. Can I come in now? Tucker said you were all through.”

He went over and opened it, motioning for
Candy’s mother to enter. “Of course, Martha.” He pulled up a chair
so she could sit by her daughter’s side. “It went well. There were
no complications.”

The woman visibly relaxed, releasing a long
wobbling sigh. “Will she be out for long?” The words were unstable
as Martha picked up Candy’s hand and held it between her own.

“That’s hard to tell, exactly. Maybe an hour
or two.”

Martha stood back up and hugged the old
doctor. “Thank you for saving her life. I was so frightened. Now
that Daniel is gone…”

“Shhhh. It wasn’t me that saved her. It was
Rio Wells’ new doctor. Here, meet Dr. McCutcheon.”

It was as if the young widow was now just
seeing John for the first time. She came over to where he was
leaning against the counter, still wearing his bloody apron. “Dr.
McCutcheon? Are you relations to the Rim Rock McCutcheons?”

“Yes, ma’am, I am. Winston and Winnie are my
uncle and aunt.”

“Well.” She looked pleased. “That’s wonderful
news.” Her face brightened, making her look years younger. She was
trim and pretty and her head about reached the bottom of his chin.
“Thank you, Dr. McCutcheon. My daughter means the world to me.”

“That’s okay, Martha, that’s what us doctors
do,” Bixby said, ushering her back to her chair and sitting her
down. “I’m sure Dr. McCutcheon was happy to oblige.”

At that moment the clock on the wall chimed
and John glanced up remembering Lily’s appointment at the bank. He
was an hour and a half late. He’d forgotten all about it, not that
he’d have been able to go even if he had remembered. He hoped she’d
rescheduled when she couldn’t find his whereabouts.

“Come on, Dr. McCutcheon,” Bixby said,
opening the door again and going into the kitchen where the boy was
straightening up. With a clatter, the lad dumped the morning dishes
into a pan of soapy water. “We’ll be right out here, Martha. Just
give a call if you need anything.”

“Have you two met?” Jas asked, gesturing to
the boy. “Formally, that is?”

John went over and stuck out his hand to the
youth that had been so helpful during the operation. “No. But I’d
like to. He really knows his way around with medical things and
what to do. John McCutcheon.”

The boy smiled and grasped John’s hand with a
firm grip. “I’m Tucker Noble. And I appreciate your kind words.
I’ve been working for doc for a while now.”