The ride back to Everafter was punctuated by long periods of silence. Johnny told Scott about his meeting with Harper, but after that, they said very little.
The full moon lit the road ahead, but they rode slowly, each keeping company with his own thoughts.
Scott glanced over at Johnny, not five feet away. His hat was low over his eyes, a sure sign he was either thinkin’, or sleepin’.
“You trust him?”
Johnny’s head jerked up and he snorted, involuntarily Scott surmised. Just as he thought; sleepin’.
“Huh?”
“I said do you trust him?”
“Do I trust who, Scott?” Johnny retorted irritably.
“Harper,” Scott replied as if Johnny should have known what he was thinking.
“Y’know what, Scott? I do. I really do.”
“A man you just met? That’s not like you, Johnny,” Scott teased.
“I didn’t just meet him, Scott. I met him years ago in Sedona.”
“Yeah, but you were both in a different line of work then. One which you have told me before, little brother, the brethren are not of a trusting nature.”
“True, true.” Johnny’s head bobbed up and down. He reached up and pushed his hat back on his head. “But Jess was different. I dunno, Scott, I remember him as one that if I’d a been lookin’ for a friend at the time, I woulda picked him. Aw, he was a bit hotheaded. Why, I remember once…”
Scott snorted, pulled up his horse, removed his hat and wiped the inside band with his gloved hand and mumbled “pot callin’ the kettle…”
“What?”
“Nothin’. Just color me surprised, Brother John. I thought Johnny Madrid never trusted and never liked no one, no how.”
Johnny whooped with laughter. “One of these days, big brother, I’m gonna show you just exactly what Johnny Madrid really liked.” He whooped once more and slapped the horse on the fanny with his hat. The horse took off like a shot
Scott replaced his hat on his head and took off after his brother.
As they neared the outskirts of Everafter, they decided to leave the main road and circle to the south. They’d enter the town down by the rail yards and make their way to the hotel through the back alleys. If someone spotted them, it’d be hard to tell where they’d come from.
The moon may have been full, but its light didn’t penetrate between the big, non-descript buildings that cast dark, forbidding shadows. Scott thought more than once he was glad Johnny was just an arm’s length away. At least he thought he was. He could barely see his hand in front of his face at times.
Finally they emerged into the populated part of town. The saloons and dance halls stayed open most of the night spilling their light and music out into the street. Scott glanced over at Johnny and heaved a sigh of relief.
They dismounted at the front hitching post of the hotel. Johnny reached out his hand. “Gimme. I’ll take the horses down to the livery.”
Scott slapped the reins into Johnny’s hand. “I thought we’d just have the porter do it.
“Nyah, I need the walk. You go on, I’ll be back before ya know it.” He turned and led both of the borrowed horses down the short block to the livery stable.
Johnny took the horses to their stalls himself, eschewing the livery owner’s offer. After seeing them settled, he sought out Barranca who had been left behind this trip.
He took pleasure in bedding down Barranca, brushing him out and seeing him settled for the night. It was a ritual they had and Johnny tried to keep to it as much as he could for Barranca’s sake.
Barranca was one of the few things that was his and his alone. He was wealthy in a lot of ways that he had never expected in his life to be, but being blessed with a fine horse was a pleasure he never took for granted.
When he’d finished, he tipped the livery owner an extra four bits to keep a special eye on their horses’ needs, and headed back toward the bright lights of the hotel.
His instincts were in full bloom. He felt, rather than heard or saw the two men who approached him from behind. He kept his hands clear of his gunbelt and swung lightly around to face them. “Howdy fellas! Nice night, ain’t it?”
“Yeah, real nice, Madrid.” The taller one was Virgil. The other, he didn’t know, but could guess his job, if not his name.
“You fellas come to see me to my room?”
“Where ya been, Madrid?”
“Been? Why, I’m not sure why that’s any business…”
McCoy closed the distance between them fast and tightly clutched at Johnny’s collar. Johnny could smell the liquor on his breath. Virgil was meaner than usual when he was drunk.
“I’m makin’ it my business, Madrid. If I gotta maybe trust my life to the men around me, I wanna know all about ‘em. Now where you been?”
“Now, Virgil…,” Johnny stepped back and grinned.
“I done told you not to call me that.” McCoy pushed Johnny back to arm’s length and swung a meaty fist at his jaw. Johnny ducked and wrenched free of McCoy’s grip and rolled away. The other one jumped in and pulled Johnny to his feet.
“You fellas think Mister Elizondo’s gonna ‘preciate you beatin’ up on one of his expensive hired guns?”
“We ain’t…” McCoy swung again. This time the second man held Johnny still and the blow connected solidly with his left cheek. “…beatin’ you up, Madrid. We’re just…” The second blow connected with Johnny’s right ear and knocked him out of the other man’s grasp. “…askin a few questions.”
Johnny sagged to the ground, his right hand covering his bleeding ear. “Oh, good cuz I was afraid you were gonna beat me up.” The effort to say those few words was all he could manage. He couldn’t even hear his own words for the roaring in his ear.
“We’re gonna be watchin’ you Madrid. I don’t like people who work with me disappearin’ for half a day, ‘specially when it was me got him the job.” From his vantage point on the ground, Johnny could see McCoy’s legs start to walk away. The other fella was behind him and got a last lick in by way of a swift kick to the ribs.
Johnny toppled over and lay curled in a ball for a few minutes while the fireworks were going off in his head. When the lights behind his eyes settle down a bit and the roaring in his ear dimmed to just earthquake level, he put both hands in the dirt and pushed himself up.
Standing as straight as his ribs would allow, he turned to get a bead on the hotel and then lurched off towards the lights. The nausea hit like a blow to the gut. He stopped and bent over, hands on knees and willed it to pass. He was determined that if he was gonna toss his dinner, it would be here in the street and not in the hotel. He fleetingly thought of the delicious after dinner brandy; terrible shame to waste it. Probably wouldn’t taste as good comin’ up as it did goin’down.
When nothing presented itself after a minute, he rose and started off again toward the hotel.
He reached the porch and pulled himself up the porch using both hands on the polished wooden railing. A few people passed him, giving him a once-over, but no one stopped. Inside he glanced around the crowded lobby. He prayed fervently that he could make it to the stairs and up to his room without running into…
“Handsome! Why there you are, I was…” Pearl’s voice preceded her visage into Johnny’s line of sight. “My dear! What on earth?”
Pearl took hold of Johnny’s arm and wrapped another large arm around his back. “Why you poor thing. You come right with me.” She began leading him toward the stairs. “Percy! Percy, come here!” Her bellow carried above the din of the customers and the clanking of dishes and silver in the dining room. Surprisingly, not many turned to stare, accustomed as they must be to Pearl summoning her staff in such a way.
The ever-available Percy appeared as if by magic. “Percy, please go to the bar and fetch Mister Madrid’s brother and bring him here quickly.”
Percy nodded wordlessly and disappeared as quickly as he had appeared. Pearl continued to lead Johnny gently to the stairs and then stood by as he began climbing them painfully, one by one.
Bent at the waist, his main view was of his feet and the lush, textured carpet in front of him, but at the moment, he was grateful to have something to concentrate on. He knew that if he looked up, he’d get dizzy and nauseated again.
After five painfully gained stairs, he felt another arm slip around his waist. “Johnny, what happened?” Scott’s voice was strained and quiet.
“Not now,” was all Johnny managed, concentrating as he was on moving forward.
Johnny thought much later that the period between the fifth step and the bed in his room was a blank. He must have walked the distance, perhaps even made it under his own power, but he could remember none of it.
The next thing he remembered was lying on the bed and gripping the edges hoping to stop it from spinning. Someone, either Scott or Pearl was wiping blood from his ear and neck with a damp cloth. He dared not open his eyes to see who.
The answer came a moment later when a voice penetrated the roar inside his head. “Pearl, would you mind sending for a doctor?”
Johnny’s hand shot out and grasped Scott’s arm. “No, Scott. No doctor.”
Scott stopped wiping the blood and bent low over his brother. “Why not, Johnny? I think you might have some broken ribs.”
“No…” Johnny took a deep breath. “Not broken, just bruised.” He swallowed and opened his eyes, searching for Scott’s face. “Trust, remember Scott? We can’t trust…”
“But, Johnny!”
Johnny squeezed Scott’s arm tighter. “I can’t have Elizondo thinkin’ I’m really hurt. I’ve got to be able to…”
“Okay, okay, I see your point.” Scott glanced behind him at Pearl. He was sure she had heard at least some of it.
“Um, Pearl.”
“Yes, honey?”
Scott stood and beckoned her to sit in the chair he had just vacated. She settled her bulk into the pitifully inadequate chair, her stricken face searching Scott’s for answers. She reached over and took Johnny’s hand in hers and squeezed.
“Pearl, I need to explain something to you and I need your trust and your help.”
Pearl glanced over at Johnny, noting his pale face and closed eyes. Her heart melted and she turned to Scott, her face set in stony resolution. “Anything, Scott.”
Scott pulled a second chair over and faced her, absently placing a hand on Johnny’s leg. “Pearl, Johnny and I are the sons of Murdoch Lancer. Have you heard of him?”
“Why sure, everyone’s heard of Murdoch Lancer. Why my third husband…”
“Nevermind that now, Pearl, I just wanted you to know that we are Lancers, not Madrids.” He glanced over at Johnny, not sure if he was listening or unconscious.
“I believe you.”
“Thank you. We signed the hotel register as Madrid because Johnny overheard some men in town talking about a plan involving a man named Elizondo and Lancer. He thought that if he used his former name, it might prove to be useful.”
“His former name?” she whispered.
“Yes. You’ve heard of Johnny Madrid?”
“I know who Johnny Madrid is and I knew the minute I saw your brother and put him together with the name who he was.”
“And you weren’t worried?”
“Why should I be? Johnny Madrid never caused me no trouble.”
Scott grinned. “Very sensible of you. Anyway, Johnny wanted to get hired on as a hired gun for Elizondo to see if he could find out what was going on.”
Pearl nodded her head continuously, soaking in every detail with relish.
Scott continued, “So, we found out that Elizondo is after the orphanage outside of town which belongs to our father. He wants it lock stock and land. After that, we think he’s going to make a try for the ranch itself. Johnny thinks his ambitions may be even bigger than that.”
“Scott, I may be able to help you in ways you don’t even know,” she said conspiratorially. “But before we do anything, we need to get your little brother here seen to, and I know just the woman we need.”
Scott’s eyebrows shot up. “Woman?”
“Yup, you were right about not trustin’ no one. The only doctor in this town is a closet drunk who I happen to know is in the hip pocket of Raoul Jorge. You may not know who he is, but you can bet that if there’s some dirty dealin’ goin’ on anywhere within’ spittin’ distance of Everafter, he’s involved in it.”
“Never heard of him.”
“He’s the damn mayor, Scott.”
“Oh.”
“So, we need someone we can trust and who can take care of Johnny.”
“Kate,” they said in unison.
“She an’ I go way back, Scott. We can trust her.”
Scott looked over at Johnny. He was still as death. “You still with us, Johnny?”
Johnny didn’t nod but answered, “Yeah, just hurts to move my head. Everything’s spinnin’.”
“I’m worried about your ear.”
“I can’t hear nothin’ out of it, Scott.”
Scott reached over and put the towel he held back to Johnny’s right ear. Blood was still seeping out of it. “We’re gonna get Kate to come over and look at you.”
Johnny appeared to think this over for a minute and then said, “’kay.”
Scott nodded to Pearl who wordlessly stood up and turned to the door. “Don’t you worry about a thing, handsome. Ol’ Pearl is gonna take care of things.”
After she left, Scott sat on the edge of Johnny’s bed. “Who did this, Johnny?”
“Virgil.”
“Virgil? What for? I thought you two worked for the same guy!”
“Yeah, well he’s havin’ second thoughts.”
“Johnny, don’t you try an’ tell me you couldn’t handle Virgil. I know you better than that.”
Johnny chuckled and then winced at the movement it caused. “Damn, Scott, I gotta start practicin’ up on my technique.”
“Why, Johnny? What are you doing?”
Johnny opened his eyes briefly and found Scott’s blue eyes staring at him intently. “It’s no great plan, Scott. I just want Virgil to get cocky and over-confident. I want him to think he’s got me under his thumb. “
“So you let him beat the crap out of you? He may have ruptured your eardrum, Johnny!”
“Well, I didn’t know he was gonna have help with him,” Johnny grinned. The grin faded as he saw that Scott wasn’t sharing the humor. “Lighten up, Scott. I’ve had worse.” He closed his eyes again and reached up to hold the towel to his ear.
Scott swallowed hard and his chest tightened. He’d had worse. Knowin’ it and saying it out loud were two different things. He’d only known his brother for a couple of years. He knew his life before Lancer was impossibly harsh, dangerous and painful in more than physical ways. He’d survived and had emerged a more than decent man. The anger welled up and he stood, feeling the need to pace.
“Well I’m sorry if I fail to see the advantage in getting yourself pummeled by some…”
“Sit down, Scott. Your yellin’ hurts.”
Scott stopped pacing immediately and sat quickly at the side of the bed. “Sorry.”
“S’okay.”
Chapter 29
Slim excused himself as soon as Johnny and Scott said their goodbyes and went in search of Jess. Jess was waiting up for him, even though it was apparent that he was exhausted.
“You still up?”
“Just waitin’ for you, Pard. Johnny came in to see me.”
“Yeah, I figured. I saw somethin’ goin’ on at dinner, figured you’d tell me when you took a notion.”
Jess grinned and pointed to the rickety wooden chair beside the bed. “It’s a long story. Take a load off.”
Slim dragged the chair around and sat backwards on it with his arms resting on the top rung of the back. “You ran into him before didn’tcha?”
“Yup. Few years back. Only he wasn’t Johnny Lancer then. His name was Johnny Madrid and he was the best I’ve ever seen, Slim.”
“Better’n you?”
“Well, let’s just say I never hope to find out.”
“We worked for the same guy down in Sedona for a short spell. Johnny moved on pretty quick and I stayed on, so I didn’t see him after that. We talked some, though.” Jess turned on his side and propped himself on an elbow. “Funny thing about him, Slim, he never seemed to like what he did for a livin’.”
“Did you?”
“Not really. I did it ‘cuz I was good at it and I made some money. Didn’t know much of anything else, but I never killed in cold blood and I never pushed for a fight. I just kinda took care of business when it came up. Johnny was the same way, but I could tell, it took somethin’ out of him. He was lookin’ for somethin’ else.”
“Well, seems like he found it. Got him a good brother, a rich family. Seems like a pretty good life lookin’ from the outside in.”
“Yeah, guess you could say the same for me,” Jess grinned. “All exceptin’ that rich family part.”
A moment later they both turned as something bumped against the door and then the door swung open. “Pardon us Mister Harper, Mister Sherman. The Reverend Mother asked us to bring this…” Sister Michael grunted as she dragged a narrow cot into the room, aided by an unidentified person on the other end. “…bed in here for you. She says we don’t have anymore spare rooms so you’ll have to sleep in here Mister Sherman.”
Slim jumped up and took the end of the bed out of her hands. The other end came through the door with a bent old gentleman attached to it.
“This is Mister Atticus Boles. Atticus this is Mister Harper and Mister Sherman.”
Slim reached a hand out to shake the old man’s hand, but Atticus just dipped his head and touched the brim of his hat as he backed his way out of the room.
Non-plussed, Slim took the bed by himself and moved it to the corner behind the door. “Well, this’ll do me just fine, Sister. I didn’t expect nothin’ but a bedroll on the floor.”
“Well, I certainly hope you rest well,” Sister Michael said, and then turned to Jess. “And you, young man. I want you to be sure and take a spoonful of that elixer before you go to sleep tonight.”
“Yes, ma’am, I’ll do that,” Jess said shyly.
Sister Michael shoved both her hands under the front of her robes and adopted a stern attitude. “Well, see that you do.” She winked and smiled. She then turned on her heel and left the room. As she closed the door, she whispered, “Goodnight, gentlemen.”
Both men smiled after her, keeping whatever comments they may have to themselves. Slim had stretched out on his newly acquired bed. “So, you were tellin’ me about when you met Johnny Madrid.”
Jess dropped back to the bed on his back and rested his head on his hands. “Well, I done told you about all there was to it. I remember him as bein’ a decent sort. I was kinda wonderin’ what he might be doin’ here, but I knew better than to start somethin’ at the table in front of the Reverend Mother.”
“Well, you didn’t have to. He brought it up as soon as you left. Said he wasn’t sure about you either until he saw how much the Reverend Mother liked you, and obviously trusted you.” Slim rolled his head to look over at Jess. “You know his father owns this land.”
“Yeah, he told me all about that.”
“You believe him?”
“Yeah, I do.”
Slim turned back and put his hands behind his head in an imitation of Jess. “Well, that’s good enough for me, pard.”
They both lay quiet for a few minutes, each alone with his own thoughts. Finally Slim rose up on one elbow and looked over at Jess.
“Jess, I was wonderin’”
“What.”
“Well, if there’s trouble…I mean if Elizondo rides against this place and there’s shootin’…”
“Yeah, we gotta have a plan. There’s women and children here. He’s gotta know that, he’d have to be crazy…”
“I think we’ve already established that he is just that.” Slim settled back again. “Tomorrow, we need to look over this place, find a place for the children to go, a cellar or something. We’ve got to start preparin’.”
“Yeah, but I don’t wanna scare ‘em, Slim.”
Another knock at the door interrupted. “Come in,” Jess called.
Isabelle slipped quietly in and closed the door quickly behind her. “Jess, I…” She stopped short when she saw Slim. He rose from the bed and stood, towering over her. “I-I’m sorry, I didn’t know….”
“Isabelle, this here’s Slim. Remember I told you about him?”
Slim stepped forward and held a hand out to her. She timidly shook his hand, her tiny one becoming lost in his huge one.
“Nice to meet you, Isabelle. Do I have you to thank for finding Jess here?” he said, smiling.
Isabelle swallowed hard. ‘A body could get lost in those dimples,’ she thought. She knew her Jess could never be beat for good looks, but this one was mighty close. “Uh, yes sir.” After the initial shock, she remembered herself. How would Penelope Poindexter handle this? “I found him alright. He was a might poorly, but he’s getting’ better, aren’t ya Jess?”
He nodded silently, smiling too much to say anything. Isabelle sidled over to Jess’ bed and sat on the edge possessively. “You come to take him home?” she tried to keep the fear out of her voice. She felt Jess’ hand hold her braid. He’d made a habit of it whenever she was sitting close enough.
Slim smiled and sat back down on the edge of his cot. “Well Isabelle, I don’t think you have to worry about that just yet. It’ll be awhile before Jess is ready to leave here.” His smile was meant to be reassuring, but he was afraid she would hate him no matter what he said.
Isabelle pulled her eyes away from Slim to glance back at Jess. “Jess, I came to see if you wanted to finish Oliver Twist tonight.”
“Well, I appreciate it, Isabelle, but since Slim’s here, we got some catchin’ up to do. “ He pushed her braid around in front of her shoulder and let go.
Her eyes fell. She felt the tightness grip her chest and she struggled mightily to not cry. “Okay, I understand, Jess. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She stood up and headed slowly to the door. “Well, nice to meet you…Slim.”
Slim stood quickly. “Real nice to meet you too, Isabelle. I’m sure I’ll see you tomorrow, too.”
She reached for the door and Slim held it for her. “Say, Isabelle.”
She turned back and looked up at him, willing the tears to hold off for just another minute. “Yes, sir?”
“Uh, I just wanted to say thank you for, you know, for finding Jess. “
Her smile was genuine as she craned her neck up to see the startling blue eyes gazing down at her.
“And, well…uh…I don’t reckon I ever saw anyone with prettier hair than you.”
That did it. She should hate him, but instead, she was in love all over again. No one could replace Jess, but she could make room in her heart for two she was quite certain.
Her momentary lapse passed quickly when she remembered why Slim was there. The shadow crossed over her face again. “Well, um…thank you. Goodnight,” she said as she turned and headed off down the hallway.
Slim closed the door and turned back inside. “That went well,” he said, shaking his head as he went back to his cot.
“I think I said exactly the wrong thing,” Jess added.
“Naw, there was nothin’ else to say. She’ll be okay.” Slim lay back down on the cot and tucked his hands in his belt. “Boy, she sure has got it bad for you.”
Jess picked up his pillow and threw it at Slim, aiming for his head, but hitting his chest. “Aw shut up. Whatta you know?”
Slim picked up the pillow and tossed it back. “I know a case of puppy love when I see it. I’ve got a brother that was that age not too long ago, remember?”
Jess grinned and said nothing.
“Speaking of which, I think I’d better ride into town tomorrow and send a telegram to Jonesy and Andy. They’ll be worried.”
“I’ll write ‘em a letter too,” Jess added.
“That’ll be fine.” Slim settled back down.
Chapter 30
Kate was whisked into the hotel room in the most circumspect way that Pearl could manage. She explained how she’d sent for Kate on the pretext of her having a horrible toothache. When Kate had arrived with her bag at Pearl’s room, Pearl grabbed her arm, pulled her in and told her of all the intrigue afoot. She made Kate don a hooded cloak before taking her the back way to Johnny and Scott’s room.
Kate was puzzled, but had become accustomed to Pearl’s dramatic ways. They’d been fast friends since Kate had come to town three years ago.
She’d been taken aback at Scott’s expression when she entered the room. He was clearly upset and nervous.
She glanced at the bed to her right and saw Scott’s brother lying with a bloody towel pressed against the side of his head. She quickly moved to the bed and sat beside Johnny. “Johhny, what happened?”
“Hi, Kate,” Johnny whispered. He was going on the theory that the less sound, the less vibration in his head.
Scott moved up behind her. “A coupla guys took a few swings and one got in a good kick in the ribs.”
“Lemme see, Johnny,” Kate said as she lifted his shirt. He rolled a little to his right so she could see his back. She pressed in a few places on the black, angry looking, boot-shaped bruise, but felt no broken ribs. “I don’t think they’re broken.”
Johnny winced with each touch. “No, just bent a little,” he coughed and rolled to his back.
“Looks like you got a nice shiner here too,” she said as she lightly touched his cheek.
“It’s his ear I’m worried about. He says he can’t hear out of it,” Scott said, bending over Kate’s shoulder.
“Johnny, can you turn your head this way?”
Johnny gritted his teeth and rolled his head to face her still clutching the bloody towel. She gently removed the towel and placed Johnny’s hand on his chest.
The ear was red with blood and the surrounding area was blue and black. There was dried blood down below his collar and in his hair.
“How bad does it hurt, Johnny?”
“Only when I move, or breathe…or swallow.”
“Bad, huh?”
“Yeah,” he said in barely a whisper.
Her concern was written all over her face. She was no doctor and she knew her limits. Ears were not her area, but then she doubted any typical country doctor could do much for them either except drops for an infection or to clean out wax.
“I need to clean this up to get a look at it, Johnny. First I want you to take something for pain.” She turned to Scott. “Scott, do you still have those drops I gave you yesterday?”
“Yeah,” he said as he darted over to the table beside his bed.
“Put five drops in a little water and bring it here, please.”
Johnny raised his hand, “No, please. I don’t want it. That stuff knocks me out.”
“I want it to knock you out, Johnny. I can’t see your ear until I clean it up, and I can’t even touch it like it is now.”
“Please Johnny, it’s not very much, it’ll help,” Scott pleaded.
Johnny ventured to open his eyes and looked from Kate, to Scott, to Pearl and back to Scott. The room spun still, and with it, the nausea reasserted itself. He closed is eyes and swallowed, wincing at the movement. “Okay, but Scott, I’ve got to see Blumburger at eleven o’clock tomorrow morning. I’m holding you responsible to see that I get there.”
Scott threw a worried glance at Kate and then nodded. “Brubaker,” he said lightly, “and don’t worry, brother, I’ll get you there.” He slid in beside his brother and gently lifted his head so he could drink.
Twenty minutes later Johnny was bleary-eyed, but still awake. Kate had turned him on his left side and she worked carefully to clean the encrusted blood from around the outside of his ear. She didn’t have the right equipment to see inside, but maybe her reflector would help. She used it to look into mouths when the light was poor. It reflected and magnified the available light.
Kate had Pearl fashioning swabs out of matchsticks by wrapping small strips of cotton tightly around the tips. She’d need them to clean the ear canal. Scott was holding the lantern above his brother’s head and trying his best to keep his shadow out of Kate’s light.
“How’s it look, Kate?”
“It’s too soon to tell, Scott.” She glanced down at Johnny. “How you holding up, Johnny?”
He didn’t answer. She didn’t know if he was asleep, or if he just couldn’t hear her.
“Pearl, I’m almost ready for those swabs.”
“And they’re all ready for you, sweetie.”
Kate smiled and continued. Scott watched intently, more grateful every minute for Kate and for her help. She had a light and gentle touch.
“So, Scott,” Kate said conversationally. “Pearl tells me there’s some trouble with Elizondo.”
“You know about Elizondo?”
“He used to do business with my father. In fact, I think that’s why he came here to begin with. My father was an amateur historian. He loved old California, visited all the missions. When he discovered Our Lady, he had a fit. He saw the value in it, even offered to buy it at one time. Of course Murdoch Lancer refused. Father left it at that as far as I know, but perhaps his friend Clay Elizondo didn’t.”
“I’d say he didn’t. He’s been trying very hard to obtain it both legally and illegally.”
“I know,” she said, reaching over to Pearl for the swabs. “I didn’t know you were Murdoch Lancer’s sons, but I guess I should have put two and two together. Actually, last time I met Murdoch, he didn’t even have sons as far as I knew,” she looked pointedly up at Scott.
“Now that is a long story. I’ll have to tell you sometime.”
“Anyway, until yesterday, I hadn’t heard that name in years.” She paused, her hand suspended above Johnny’s head, “Johnny, try to hold still.” She took a deep breath and started, “I don’t even know if he can hear me.”
As soon as she used the first swab in Johnny’s ear, he groaned and tried to turn his head away. “I’m sorry, Johnny, I know it hurts,” she said, firmly gripping his jaw.
She managed to clear away some of the blood and then reached in her bag for her reflector and placed it on her head. Scott brought the lamp lower over Johnny. “I can’t really see anything. It looks very swollen though.” She snapped the reflector off her head and shoved it back in her bag. “Hopefully, the deafness is being caused by the swelling and it’ll just go down by itself.”
“You think he’ll be okay?” Scott asked, trying to mask the anxiety in his voice.
Kate turned to him. “I don’t know, Scott,” she said regretfully. “I just don’t know.” She stood and wiped her hands on her apron. “Come on and help me roll him over. That ear needs to drain. Hopefully, he’ll just sleep all night.”
They gently rolled Johnny to his back and he turned his head to the right on his own as if to shut out the others. Kate put a clean towel under Johnny’s ear as Scott pulled the quilt over him and stepped back.
“Poor boy. Sure would like to get my hands on the scum…” Pearl’s face was red, tears spilling down both cheeks, her anger shown as plainly as her joviality did in happier times.
Scott took hold of her elbow and steered her to the other side of the room. “It’s okay, Pearl. He’ll be okay.”
He seated her on the edge of his bed and then pulled the chair up in front of her. Kate sat beside Pearl and put an arm around her shoulder as Pearl magically produced a handkerchief from one billowing sleeve and dabbed her eyes.
Scott glanced over at Johnny and lowered his voice, “Kate, you’ve already done so much, I hate to ask another favor…”
“Please ask, Scott,” Kate said, smiling.
“Well, we’ve got to get word to my father and I don’t want to send a telegram. Do you think…”
“Otis can go,” Kate said matter-of-factly.
“That’s a wonderful idea, sweetie. He would be the perfect choice,” Pearl contributed.
Scott thought for a minute, wondering about asking so much of the old gentleman.
“Scott,” Kate placed a reassuring hand on his arm. “Otis travels to Crooked Creek for me once a month to pick up dental supplies. There’s a specialty supply house there. No one would think twice about seeing him leave town alone. How long would it take him to make it to Lancer?”
“In a wagon? Probably about six or seven hours.”
Kate nodded. “I’ll ask him tonight and if he agrees, he’ll leave before daybreak. He likes to travel in the early morning.”
“I’ll write him a letter to carry to my father.” Scott went to the small desk in the room and pulled out some hotel stationery.
