Whirlwind Groom (8 page)

It was another three days before Josie could get out of bed, and she was more than ready. Her backside would probably be permanently numb from being pressed into that mattress for so long. On Friday afternoon, she was planted in a chair looking out the window and was working on the same tablecloth hem she'd been working on since after lunch.

The fever and sweats had finally passed and her vision was no longer blurry. But her left calf was still somewhat swollen and she was weak. Catherine said she would be for a while and that she had to rest often.

Even if Josie hadn't given the nurse her word, she would've gone easy. Just having a bath and washing her hair this morning had left her feeling wobbly. It didn't help the boneless feeling in her legs when she put on a clean
undergarment and realized her corset was missing. No, not missing. Davis Lee had it. And her scalpel, too.

She wrinkled her nose, watching people move across the street below, go in and out of Haskell's, the Pearl Restaurant. Asking for her weapon would pose no problem, but Josie did not fancy asking for her corset at all. Why couldn't he just discreetly give it to her? She would have to talk to him alone, and considering that Davis Lee had taken pains to
not
be alone with her since that morning he'd seen her nearly naked, it would only make asking for her underwear more awkward.

All morning, she had chewed on that delicate problem as much as she had fretted about Ian McDougal. Had there been any change with him while she was indisposed? Was he still in jail? She wanted to believe he was, but she couldn't assume, not after he'd managed to elude a cell altogether after murdering her parents and William. Not after he'd managed to escape several months ago from Davis Lee and his cousin, the Texas Ranger.

If McDougal were still in jail, she could keep an eye on him from here as she had intended, but if plans had been made for his trial or to move him, Josie would have to do something, and right now she didn't have the strength to do more than lift her hairbrush. Josie could've asked Catherine when the nurse had stopped by this morning, but she didn't want it getting back to Davis Lee. He was already suspicious of her.

When Esther had brought her lunch, Josie tiptoed around the subject by asking the woman if anything exciting had happened in town while she'd been ill. Esther told her about the baby Catherine had delivered the first night of Josie's illness, that Charlie Haskell and his nephew had been over twice to ask about her and that Catherine's little brother, Andrew, had won the county spelling bee.

All things that made Josie feel more a part of Whirlwind,
but didn't do her one whit of good as far as Ian McDougal was concerned. When Josie asked her straight out about the prisoner, the other woman had pursed her lips then said she had no idea if he was here, there or yon.

Frustration swirled inside her. She would be able to find out for herself if she could take a walk in town or sit in the hotel's lobby, but she didn't think her weak-as-powder legs could even manage the stairs.

A dark-haired man coming out of the telegraph office drew her eye. The trim haircut, the wide shoulders molded by a white shirt were familiar and Josie felt a little tug of feminine appreciation in her belly. Davis Lee stepped down into the street, settling his hat on his head as he talked to two of the biggest men she had ever seen.

One had black hair and one had hair just shy of black. They were at least two inches taller than Davis Lee's six-foot-two, with arms so massive they could probably hoist a cow. Her attention stayed on the lanky sheriff. He might not be as big, but he was surely every bit as strong. Josie had felt that for herself.

Davis Lee had been by to check on her every day but he hadn't set foot in her room again. He always came when Catherine was here and he didn't venture inside. Josie dismissed the little pinch of hurt she felt over that. Just because he had saved her life didn't mean she was going soft in the head over him.

She should be glad he was keeping his distance. She
was
glad. If for no other reason than the man had seen far more of her body than he ought and she couldn't look him in the eye.

Davis Lee finished his conversation with the two men and started back toward the jail.

A knock sounded on the door. “Josie?”

She recognized Esther's voice. “Come in.”

The door opened a crack and the woman stuck her head
in the room. “You've got a couple of visitors if you're up for it. Cora Wilkes and her brother.”

Josie remembered meeting the pair at church. Had that been only five days ago? She felt she had been indisposed for weeks. Loren Barnes had told her he was new to Whirlwind, too. She smiled. “How nice. Tell them to come in.”

She braced one hand on the windowsill for balance and as she got to her feet, Esther pushed the door wide. Cora and her brother walked in, smiles wreathing their faces. The older woman was probably six inches taller than Josie, with a slender, straight-spined build. Her warm smile didn't erase the shadow of sadness in her hazel eyes, but her brother's blue eyes twinkled.

Cora adjusted the basket that hung over her arm. “You feel free to tell us if you're too spent for company.”

“I'm getting tired of my own.” Josie smiled. “I'm sorry I don't have more chairs.”

“We won't stay long. Just wanted to come by and see how you were doing.” Loren topped his sister by about three inches. His hair was completely white whereas Cora's was a deep brown with a few silver threads.

“It can be hard when you're new somewhere and run into trouble,” Cora said. “You go ahead and sit down. Catherine said you'd be weak.”

Josie, her knees already wobbling, sank gratefully back into the chair. She stuck her needle into the tablecloth and laid it in her lap.

Loren indicated the window with the tilt of his head. “Got yourself a nice view.”

“Yes. I was getting tired of staring at the walls.” She bet these two would know if there was any news about McDougal.

“I brought you some marble cake.” The other woman took a cloth-covered tin plate from her basket and walked
over to the dresser. “I'll just leave it here and you can have it when you want.”

“Thank you. It sounds delicious.”

Cora moved to stand in front of Josie. “We wanted to come sooner, but Catherine thought we should wait.”

“I wouldn't have been good company,” she admitted.

“Your color's good.” Cora eyed her kindly. “Catherine seems to think you'll recover just fine.”

“I think so.”

“You're probably getting antsy in here,” Loren said. “It's been three or four days, hasn't it?”

“Four.” She gave a weak smile. “I think.”

“I've never known anybody with a snakebite. I hear it's painful.”

Josie nodded. “I certainly don't want to go through it again.”

“Where were you when it happened?” Cora asked.

“About ten minutes west of town.”

Pain flared in the woman's hazel eyes. “I put a stone for Ollie out that way. A little marker.”

Josie hadn't meant to open a wound and saw no reason to reveal that Davis Lee had taken her to that exact spot.

Cora's forehead puckered. “I've seen snakes there before but they've never bothered anyone. I'm glad Davis Lee shot it.”

“Too bad he can't shoot the snake in his jail,” Loren muttered.

Cora gave him a fond look. “Preachers aren't supposed to say such things.”

“Well, somebody should kill that outlaw.” He jammed his hands in the pockets of his gray trousers and gave his sister a devilish grin. “Besides, I'm not a preacher anymore.”

“I guess that means the prisoner is still in jail?” Josie asked.

“Yes, still waiting on the circuit judge,” Cora answered quietly. “I'll be glad to see justice done.”

“Let's hope it is.” Frustration flashed across her brother's leathery features. “I heard he's escaped trial before, somewhere down by the Gulf.”

“That marshal who caught him will be here for the trial.” Cora stared past Josie, a distant look in her eyes. “His testimony should be enough to see that McDougal pays for what he's done. And there's Andrew.”

“Catherine's brother?” Josie sat forward. “What would he know?”

Cora stared out the window, a distant look in her eyes.

Loren answered. “The kid got tangled up with the gang somehow.”

“How old is he?” she asked in surprise.

“Twelve or thereabouts. I don't know the whole story, just that the gang found out Catherine was a nurse and snatched her so she could doctor Ian's tuberculosis. Andrew fetched the Ranger who'd been on their trail—”

“Jericho Blue, Catherine's intended,” Cora interjected quietly.

“Yes,” he continued. “Andrew fetched Lieutenant Blue. The pair of them took off with Davis Lee and Riley. They managed to get Catherine back safely and dispatch three of the worthless curs. Ian was the only one who escaped, but word is that he had taken Andrew into his confidence about a couple of things. Their shooting Ollie is one of them. The boy can testify to that.”

“Oh, my.” Davis Lee had told her how he and the Ranger had killed the other McDougals.

She was glad to know there was more than one person who had knowledge of the outlaws' misdeeds and was willing to step forward, but she hated to think about the pain it would rake up. If Ian was indeed tried this time, Josie knew it would be painful for her. Surely for Cora, too. Maybe also
Andrew and Catherine. How many people had the McDougals hurt?

“Well, listen to us. It's too nice a day to be so gloomy.” Cora shook her head. “We didn't come here to talk about that no-good varmint. We came to invite you to dinner.”

Cora's brother shot her a look of mild surprise.

“You did?” Josie was warmed by their friendliness but wondering why Loren looked as if he hadn't known.

“On Tuesday night.”

“But Tuesday is—” the man began.

“Do you think you can come?” Cora cut him off, smiling at Josie.

Her gaze shifted uncertainly between brother and sister. “Are you sure Tuesday's all right?”

“It's perfect.”

“I'd like to, but I'm not sure.”

“Why not, hon?” Cora sounded disappointed.

Josie gave a self-conscious laugh. “I don't have the strength to manage the stairs yet.”

“Oh. Well, let's say you're coming, then if you're unable, you just send word and we'll plan for another time. All right?”

“All right. I'll look forward to it.”

“So will we.” Cora patted her hand.

A soft rap sounded on the door frame at the same time a deep, now-familiar voice said, “Good afternoon.”

“Davis Lee.” Despite the sadness that lurked in Cora's eyes, she turned with a fond smile.

The sheriff moved inside, his large body making the room seem crowded. He hugged the older woman before extending a hand to her brother. “Loren.”

“Hello, Davis Lee.”

His shrewd blue gaze met Josie's and she inwardly squirmed. She thought he had returned to the jail. She wanted to see him but she didn't. Every time she did, she
was hit with the memory of his hands on her. His gaze. And it sparked an unfamiliar and startling flare of desire. It didn't matter that she had been asleep for most of the time he'd cooled her down with that wet rag. Her body
knew
he had touched her, traitorously going soft whenever she saw him.

She realized that Cora had said something and she forced her attention to the woman.

“Do you need any help with your sewing? I know that snakebite had to slow you down and I'd be happy to help if you're in a pinch.”

“It's kind of you to offer, but so far I'm able to manage. I'm working slower but it does give me something to do. I hope to get a little stronger every day.”

“If you change your mind, let me know.” The other woman patted her hand. “We'll go on now so you can get a little rest.”

“Thank you for coming.”

Brother and sister said their goodbyes to Davis Lee and walked out. The sheriff followed them to the door. From the hall, she heard Loren's voice, low and urgent, but couldn't understand his words.

Now that she was alone with Davis Lee, she fully expected him to leave, too. Instead he turned, his gaze flicking over her.

He braced both hands on the door frame and leaned in. “Looks like you're coming around, Josie. I see you made it over to your spot by the window today.”

“It feels wonderful to get up,” she said carefully. She caught the warning tone in his voice. Yes, he definitely knew what she was about.

That shirt fit his broad chest entirely too well. The white fabric shifted with the play of muscle, brought out the deep bronze of his skin and the piercing blue of his eyes. “It's been a long four days.”

His intense study had her skin warming. “Catherine's been here?”

“This morning.” The top two buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing the strong column of his throat and a hint of dark chest hair.

“Well, I'm glad to see you're up. Just stopped by to check on you.”

“Thank you,” she murmured. Most likely he had come to see if she was spying on his jail.

He tipped his hat and levered himself away from the door.

“Um, Sheriff?”

“Davis Lee,” he reminded in a gravelly voice.

“Davis Lee.” She swallowed, fixing her gaze on a spot in the center of his chest. “I wondered if I might get my scalpel.”

“Sure. It's still in my saddlebag.”

“And my…” She cleared her throat, assailed by the memory of him jerking off her undergarment. “My corset. You have that, too. Don't you?”

“Do I?” His lips quirked. “You saying you lost yours, Miz Webster?”

“No.” The banked heat in his eyes flustered her. “Yes.”