The Coming Storm (14 page)

Dianne noted the grim expression on Gus’s face and knew the news wasn’t good. Bram’s leg showed signs of infection with streaks of red now creeping up his thigh. The smell was awful.

“He needs a doctor, doesn’t he?” she asked.

“That’d be best,” Gus answered. “What do you want me to do? Should I send one of the boys to Ennis or Virginia City?”

“Levi says there’s a doctor—well, at least it’s rumored the man is a doctor—who lives somewhere down on the Madison. I thought I might ride south along the river and see if I can find his place. If I can’t find the man or he’s not a doctor, I’ll ride on.”

“You can’t be going off by yourself,” Gus said, his tone quite serious. “And most of the boys are bringin’ in the herd for the drive. Have you figured a way to get ahold of your brothers?”

“No. Zane’s off with the army in the northeastern part of the territory, and Morgan is somewhere south. I have no way of reaching either one of them. I can always send a message to Zane at the fort, but who knows when they’ll return and he’d actually have a chance to read it.”

“Winter’s coming on fast. I figured to move the herd out by the end of the week.”

Dianne nodded. “Yes, and that must continue—you’ve already delayed too long. Uncle Bram wouldn’t be pleased with either of us if you didn’t stay with the cattle. I’ll ask Malachi to go with me. No one is going to bother me with him by my side.”

Gus nodded. “I suppose not. Look, if you ain’t back when we’re ready to leave, do you want me to wait?”

“No,” Dianne replied, gazing to where her uncle lay. “If I’m not back soon, I doubt he’ll still be alive.”

Dianne went quickly to her room and gathered a few things; there was no need to take a lot of supplies. She’d take an extra blanket because she knew the dangers of getting caught in a mountain storm. She’d also wear her heavy coat and pray for clear skies.

Faith came in about the time Dianne was packing some food into a saddlebag. “Where are you heading out to?”

“I was actually just coming to see you about that. Uncle Bram needs a doctor, and we really can’t spare any of the ranch hands. I’m going to ride south along the Madison. There’s supposed to be a man living down there who’s a doctor. I wondered if Malachi could ride with me.”

“Of course he can. I’ll get him packed. How long will you be gone?”

“I hope no more than a few hours. But if we can’t find him, we’ll have to try Ennis or Virginia City.”

Faith nodded and her brows came together as her expression grew worried. “I don’t want to worry you because I’ve seen the good Lord perform many a miracle, but honestly . . .” Her words trailed off.

Resignation filled Dianne. She’d already come to terms with thoughts of the worst. “I know. He’s probably not got much of a chance to make it, but I want to do whatever I can. I owe that much to him.”

“I’ll get Malachi,” Faith whispered. “Then I’ll go see how I can best help Koko.”

Dianne went to the barn and saddled Dolly, as well as a gentle gray named Toby. Malachi was no horseman, and the gray was as sweet-tempered an animal as lived on the ranch.

She was just leading the two animals from the barn when Faith and Malachi came hurrying toward her.

Malachi eyed the horse with a look of concern. “I ain’t much for ridin’ a horse, Miz Dianne.”

“Toby won’t give you a bit of trouble,” Dianne encouraged “Jamie rides him all the time when Uncle Bram . . . well . . . you know. When they went riding.” She handed Malachi the reins quickly and turned away so they wouldn’t see her tears.

“Faith, I’ve already talked to Koko,” Dianne said as she regained her composure. “I’ll do my best to hurry, but there’s no telling how long this will take. If the man living on the Madison is a doctor and if he’ll come with us, then we might well be back in a few hours.”

“If he’s any man at all, he’ll come with you,” Faith replied “God go with you.” She held the reins while Malachi mounted, then handed them over to him.

Dianne took pity on the man. “You’ll do just fine, Malachi Hang on and let Toby do the work.”

“Probably be better if ’n I ran ’longside,” he said with a hint of nervous laughter in his voice.

They moved out and rode to the top of the hill. The day seemed mild, but there was a bite in the air. Dianne didn’t like to admit it, but she was certain she smelled snow. She could only pray any storms might hold off until they could get help back to Bram.

Malachi sat rigid in the seat. There was no hope of urging the horses into a gallop given his inability to sit on a saddle with confidence. Dianne sighed.
I should have gone on my own. Malachi is only slowing me down
. But in her heart she knew Gus would never have allowed her to go off exploring without protection. They knew nothing of the man they were in search of. So many people came to the territory to lose themselves in the vast open country and avoid the law.

I’ll just have to trust that God already knows our needs,
Dianne reasoned, pushing back the urgency that threatened to overwhelm her.

They worked their way down the path and then angled off toward the river. Dianne wondered why a man with the skills of a doctor would sequester himself in the middle of nowhere, but at this point she honestly didn’t concern herself with it. If he would come and give her help, he could live in the valley for the rest of his days and Dianne wouldn’t care.

The smell of woodsmoke first alerted them to the presence of another human being. Dianne perked up and checked for the wind’s direction. Malachi did likewise and pointed.

“Looks to be a-comin’ from down there.”

Dianne concurred. “Maybe we’ve found him.” She urged her horse forward and picked up the pace. She knew Malachi would have difficulty keeping up, but time was critical and Uncle Bram needed help.

They found a small, crude cabin not thirty yards from the river, sitting on a slight incline. “Hello!” Dianne called out. “Is anyone home?”

“Ya want I should go knock?”

Dianne shook her head and dismounted. “No, you wait here with the horses, if you don’t mind.” She handed Malachi her reins.

The man seemed almost relieved not to have to dismount. “I’ll be watchin’.”

Dianne appreciated his protective nature. She knew that no one would cause her harm so long as Malachi had breath in his body. He protected her just like one of her brothers.

“Hello!” she called again, this time making her way to the house.

“What do you want?” a voice called from inside the house. The voice had a decidedly southern drawl.

“I’m looking for a doctor. My uncle’s been wounded—badly wounded. He was attacked by a bear and I’m afraid he’ll die if I can’t get help.”

The door opened, and a man looking to be about forty-five, maybe fifty, appeared. He pulled on a coat even as he met Dianne’s gaze.

“Ma’am.” His eyes were a piercing icy blue and seemed to take in everything around him.

“My name is Dianne Chadwick. I live at the Diamond V ranch upriver from here.” He said nothing and his expression remained stoic. “I need a doctor. One of our ranch hands said a doctor had taken up residence along the Madison, in this direction.”

The man looked beyond Dianne to where Malachi sat with the horses. “Is that your Negro?”

Dianne looked back to Malachi and shook her head. “Malachi is a free man. He works for my uncle at the Diamond V. My uncle is the one who needs a doctor. He was attacked by a grizzly, and I’m afraid he’s going to die if we don’t get him some proper attention.”

The man’s jaw tightened as he continued to stare at Malachi Dianne felt desperate and put her hand on the man’s arm “Please, if you’re a doctor would you come with us? I can pay you.”

The man drew a deep breath. “The name is Hezekiah Bufford. I hail from Atlanta, Georgia. I was a doctor, but I do not look to practice any longer.”

“But why? I’ll have to ride twice the distance to find anyone else. Please, my uncle is very ill, and I fear we’ll lose him Please come and at least see if there is anything you can do. I’m afraid at best he’ll lose his leg. That’s going to require a surgeon.”

“I removed many a limb in the war,” the man said, his eyes clouding over, his expression growing distant. “Was your family in the War Between the States?”

Dianne knew her answer would probably validate the man’s decision to either stay or come to help. “My father was killed by Union soldiers.”

Bufford met her eyes. He had a way of searching her face that made Dianne feel as if he could ascertain the truth merely by study. He nodded. “I’m sorry to hear that, ma’am. Many a good Southern man was lost to those Northern defilers.”

“Yes, sir. Please, can you come?”

Bufford squared his shoulders. “I’ll get my bag.”

CHAPTER 11

H
EZEKIAH
B
UFFORD LOOKED AT
B
RAM’S INFECTED LEG AND
shook his head. “No, ma’am, this is certainly not good. The leg will have to be amputated to even give him a chance of living. I can’t give you much hope, however, on that part. He’s very ill and the shock of the surgery will likely kill him. I wouldn’t expect him to live.”

Koko stood on the opposite side of the bed. “He has to live. He has children who need a father and a ranch to work. He loves his life here. He must live.”

Bufford eyed her with contempt. “You are of the heathen blood, are you not?”

Koko narrowed her dark eyes. “I am of a Blackfoot mother and white father. So for as much heathen blood as I have, I have equal amounts of white blood.”

Bufford shook his head and scratched his stubbly chin. “It doesn’t work that way, and the sooner you colored folks learn that, the better.”

Though she despised the man’s attitude, Dianne quickly moved to intervene. “Please put aside such concerns and do what you must to save his life. If surgery is required, we can set up the dining room. Just tell us what you need.”

Faith and Malachi entered the room at that moment. “Can we help?” Faith asked, not realizing what had just transpired.

“I don’t work with heathens or darkies,” the man replied, looking to Dianne. “If you want my help, you’ll get me decent white men. Otherwise, I’m leaving.” His icy stare made it clear that he’d not be persuaded to do otherwise.

Koko looked as if she might say something, but Dianne shook her head and took charge. Noting that Jamie was playing in the hallway just outside the parlor, she motioned. “Faith, why don’t you and Malachi take the children to your cabin. That way they won’t have to be around while the surgery is performed Koko, we’ll need hot water and bandages. We’ll need to tear up some flour sacks.”

Everyone seemed frozen in place. Dianne looked to each with a silent warning in her expression. Bram needed Bufford, and Bufford would not work without having things his way Finally Faith nodded, and she and Malachi backed out of the room.

“Come on, Jamie. We’re going on an adventure,” Faith said as she picked the boy up.

“Going hunting?” Jamie asked.

“Maybe we can hunt around the cabin,” Faith said, trying to keep the boy interested. Since his father had been brought in, Jamie had remained close at hand. Taking him now wouldn’t be easy, but Dianne knew that Faith understood the importance.

“Maybe you could bring your bow and arrows. The ones your uncle gave you.”

Jamie clapped his hands. “I kill Papa’s bear.”

Dianne watched as Faith handed the boy over to Malachi “Yes. You can go hunting for bear,” she whispered.

Baby Susannah slept in a small cradle across the room. Faith crossed to retrieve the sleeping child. “Koko, you just come on down if you need to nurse her; otherwise I’ll give her some sugar water.”

Koko nodded, but it was clear her mind was far from the child. Dianne gently touched her aunt. “We’ll need lots of bandages. We have to keep the wound clean. Maybe you could fix up some willow tea too. That’s done a good job of fighting the fever.”

Koko finally nodded, although her stern gaze was fixed on Bufford’s unapologetic expression.

“You’ll need a hot fire too,” the doctor added in a gravelly voice. “And heat a poker. I’ll need to cauterize the wound.”

Koko finally walked around the bed and stopped momentarily beside Dianne. “I do this only to save his life. His life is more precious than my pride.”

Dianne nodded and patted her aunt on the back as she exited the room. Finally Dianne eyed the doctor again. “There aren’t many men available to help. The cattle are being rounded up for the move to winter pasture. I’ll see who I can find, but you may have to swallow your pride and take help where it can be had. I pray that if you’re any kind of a doctor at all, you’ll put aside your prejudices in order to save lives.”

With that she stalked from the room, trying to contain her anger. She had dealt with her mother’s prejudice, but only in part. Dr. Bufford’s attitude was clearly the same as her mother’s had been. Dianne struggled to understand how people could be so hateful, especially in a time of need.

She rounded up a couple of ranch hands, who were happy to help, eager to see their boss return to work. Everyone loved Bram, and this knowledge only furthered Dianne’s willingness to do whatever she could to see him restored to health. They were living a part of her uncle’s dream—his desire to see the land tamed and civilized. Had he not been there, none of the rest of them would have been there either.

When she entered the house, she found Koko had already transformed the dining room into an operating theater. The table had been stripped of its lovely cloth once again and in its place an oiled cloth had been spread. The cowboys soon brought Bram’s unconscious form to rest upon the fine oak wood. They grimaced at the stench as the doctor uncovered the leg wound once again.

He glanced up to meet Dianne’s gaze. “I have no bone saw with me.”

“There’s a saw in the barn,” she replied, forcing the contents of her stomach to remain where they belonged. “It’s brandnew— just bought a couple weeks ago.”

“Get it.”

The time passed quickly after that. Dianne couldn’t even remember what happened after one of the cowboys returned with the saw. She stood ready to offer help, but the surgery happened more quickly and with less ceremony than she had anticipated. The doctor cut through the swollen red flesh, using the poker to close any new sources of blood. Next he sawed through the bone and instructed the cowboys to dispose of the leg in a deep grave lest it attract animals.