Chapter 10

“And here we have the town of Plateau,” Colt pulled the wagon to a halt on top of a rise and Jessie leaned over the edge of the wagon to get a look at the two below.

It was a beautiful western town, just like she had always imagined one being. The town had grown around the scenery, rather than through it. Tall Saguaro cacti lived happily between buildings and stores. A tumbleweed or two blew lazily across the main street while a few people walked on the boardwalk. Three tall buttes stood tall and proud against a bright blue sky that served as the perfect backdrop for the town in view.

“It’s absolutely darling!” she squealed.

Colt smiled and smacked the reins against the horses’ haunches, getting them to moving again.

Soon, they entered the town and a grin broke out across Jessie’s face. She couldn’t believe that she was actually in a town out west!

“If you’ll drop me off at the lumber mill I’ll order the wood we need and you can go ahead and take Miss Jessie to the doctor,” Doc said.

Colt nodded.

They pulled up in front of a thriving lumber mill with a waterwheel out in front of it. Jessie admired the contraption wondering how they got water way out here in the dry Arizona climate. She had heard of these new fangled windmills that had come out, but she hadn’t actually seen one up close. Maybe that was how the mill ran.

Doc hopped off the wagon and waved Colt on as he walked toward the office of the mill. Colt put the horses in motion again, pulling the wagon on down the street. Jessie was so caught up in admiring the beautiful town that she hardly noticed when they stopped in front of another building. Her eyes snapped to a wooden shingle that read, “Silas Goodwin, M.D.”. They had arrived at the doctor’s office.

“You ready, ma’am?” Colt asked her.

She nodded. Colt maneuvered to where he could pick her up without causing her much pain, but she was ever conscious about how heavy she was. She watched his every move as he carried her onto to boardwalk and to the front door of the doctor’s office. He showed no sign that she was too heavy, but maybe he was just good at hiding it. They stood in front of the door for a few moments, and Colt’s lips twisted into a thoughtful position.

“What’s wrong?” she asked shakily.

Maybe she was getting too heavy for him.

“Well, I can’t figure out to open the door,” he explained.

She let out a breath and smiled, reaching her hand to twist the knob in front of them.

“That works,” Colt smiled.

Jessie grinned as they entered the doctor’s office.

“Silas? You in here?” Colt called.

“Be there in a minute,” a voice called from behind a curtain to the left.

“I’ve got a patient for ya,” Colt told him.

“Colt Kidd? Is that you?” The curtain opened, revealing a tall, broad man, who looked to be in his mid-forties, with salt and pepper colored hair and a kind smile.

“The one and only,” Colt answered him.

Doctor Goodwin looked at Jessie. “What have we here?”

“Eh, just something I found out in the desert. Figured you might want to take a look at it,” Colt winked at her.

Jessie grinned to herself and the doctor laughed.

“The things you come upon out there on the Cooper Ranch. Bandits, retired gunfighters, gunmen, women… where does it end?” Doctor Goodwin teased. “Set her on the table here.”

Colt carried her to the examining table and set her on it.

“What do we have?” Doctor Goodwin asked.

“She’s gotta concussion and a broken leg. At least that’s what Casey Dawson says,” Colt explained.

“Eh, I never trusted a cowboy doctor. Let’s have a look.” The doctor began to unwrap the bandages on her head. “Looks like a pretty nasty bump you go there.”

Jessie smiled a little bit. Doctor Goodwin examined her head, asked her a few questions, and confirmed that she had a concussion. “I can give you something for the pain, but that’s about as much as I can do. Just make sure that you get plenty of rest. That means taking a few more days to get back home, Colt. Take the roads slower for her.”

“I don’t wanna be a bother,” Jessie protested.

“Hush now. We’ll go slower,” Colt told her.

Jessie huffed.

“Now we’ll have a look at that leg,” Doctor Goodwin said.

Jessie watched as the man looked at the splint on her leg and when she looked up, Colt was gone. She hadn’t even thought to shoo him out of the room, but he had done so on his own, pulling the curtain to the examining room closed behind him. She heard the sound of his footfalls as he paced the front room, and she rested easier knowing that he was still in the building.

Doctor Goodwin conducted another long, question filled examination. He then replaced the splint on her leg with a better one. Though that was slightly painful, she managed to bear it until he was finished. He then called Colt back into the room after covering her leg back up.

“I knew that Casey was a quack. This here isn’t a break, it’s a fracture. It outta heal in about four to six weeks,” the doctor said.

Colt nodded. “Well, he did the best with what knowledge he had.”

Doctor Goodwin huffed and ran a hand through his hair. “Where is that scoundrel anyway?”

“He’s down the road ordering lumber. Bliss came back and Sherman wants us to build a house for her,” Colt explained.

Jessie smiled. It was nice of her father to build a house for her and her new husband. It was also nice of Colt to help build it. Such true gentlemen.

“That’s good. How’s she getting along? Saw her a few days back with that new husband of hers,” Doctor Goodwin mentioned.

“I reckon she’s okay. Haven’t talked to her much,” Colt answered, his eyes dimming as his voice took on a vague and distant tone.

Jessie wondered at the pain that he hid behind that smile that never reached his eyes, yet took pity on him at the same time.

“We ought to get back to Doc. He’s probably through with ordering the lumber by now,” she spoke up.

Both men looked at her, one with more appreciation than the other. Colt’s lips tipped up at the corners and his eyes softened. She smiled faintly as the doctor’s back was turned in getting her medicine.

Doctor Goodwin gave her the medicine she needed with instructions on how to take it and the care of her head and leg.

“You havin’ to carry her everywhere?” The doctor eyed her as he asked the question to Colt.

Jessie moved a hand over her stomach in a self-conscious effort to take the attention away from her weight. Colt grinned widely at her, and suddenly she wasn’t so worried.

“Yep,” he answered.

“Well here,” Doctor Goodwin walked to a closet on the other side of the room and reached inside “They’re kind of old, but they’re sturdy. You’ll be able to get around on your own, Miss Steele.”

He withdrew a pair of crutches and handed them to Jessie.

“Really? How much are they?” Jessie asked with a smile.

“Oh, they’re free. I need to get rid of them anyway,” Doctor Goodwin said.

“But they must be worth something…”

“They’re free. Please, you’ll be doing me a favor.” Doctor Goodwin closed her hand around the crutches.

Jessie smiled. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

She put the wooden sticks on the floor and positioned them under her arms, testing her weight. They seemed sturdy enough.

With all that out of the way, the doctor turned to Colt and told him the cost of the visit. Colt shoved his hand into his pocket and withdrew some money.

“You are not about to pay for this, mister!” Jessie exclaimed.

Colt looked up at her. “Why not?”

“Because I… I…” Jessie came to the startling realization. “I don’t have any money, do I?”

“Nope,” Colt handed the money over to the doctor.
“I’ll pay you back, Colt. I promise,” Jessie said.

Colt shook his head. “I don’t wanna hear it.”

Jessie huffed. “Of fiddle-dee, you will hear it! I am a Steele, and we don’t accept charity.”

“Says the woman with the broken leg that has to be carried everywhere,” Colt teased.

“Fractured leg,” Doctor Goodwin corrected.

Jessie crossed her arms to prevent her pride from being hurt further. This was an outrage!

Nonetheless, she smiled up at Colt and forced her Southern charm back into her voice. “Thank you.”

*****

“Tomorrow evening?” Colt groaned.

“They said that was as soon as they could get the order filled,” Doc explained.

Colt rubbed his forehead. “This is ridiculous. Sherman’s gonna kill me. He’s gonna kill you, too, and then we’re all gonna be in a mess.”

“Well, there’s nothing we can do about it. I guess we’ll just have to wait it out,” Doc said, taking off his hat and running it through his hair as they stood in front of the lumber mill. “What did Silas say?”

Colt glanced back at the wagon where Jessie was sitting patiently in he back, dangling her good leg off the back. “He said that she had a fracture, not a break. She ought to be good to go in four to six weeks.”

“Hmm,” was all that Doc said as he walked back to the wagon. “Well, we’ve got a lot to do, we might as well get going.”

Colt nodded. “You go take care of the horses and I’ll take Jessie over to the general store and she can help pick out stuff for Bliss and Clint.”

Doc stopped and turned around, narrowing his eyes. “How come you get to spend all the time with the girl?” he teased.

Colt rolled his eyes. “You wanna shop for frills while I take care of the horses?”

Doc shook his head. “No. Just wondering.”

“Mmm Hmm,” Colt shook his head.

“How many windows is this house going to have?” Jessie asked him possibly the fifteenth question about the Cooper’s house.

Colt rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know. What does it matter?”

“Because we have to know how much material to get. Which direction is the house going to face?” Jessie asked.

“Um… West, I think.”

“Oh, that’s lovely. They can sit on the front porch and watch the sun set together,” Jessie smiled.

Colt turned his head and snarled. He didn’t want that thought lingering much longer.

“Since you can’t tell me the number of windows, can you at least tell me the number of rooms?” Jessie asked.

Colt glanced up at the ceiling of the general store in thought. “Two bedrooms, a parlor, a kitchen, and a washroom.”

“That ought to be at least six windows. There should be two windows in the kitchen,” Jessie nodded as she spoke.

“There’s a bay window in the parlor,” Colt told her.
“Do you know the measurements?” Jessie asked.

“Nope.”

She groaned. “Land sakes, Colt. Do you know anything?”

“I know I’m supposed to get the frills for Bliss’ house. That’s about it.” Colt answered.

Jessie giggled lightly “No one will ever question your manliness, Colt. Never fear that.”

She did some figuring and counting on her fingers for a few minutes, then nodded once. “I think you should get enough material to allow for more windows that we might have. Since you’ve come unprepared, you might end up with extra fabric.”

“Me? I ain’t doing any of this,” Colt shook his head. “Granny’ll be making the blame things.”

Jessie sighed and maneuvered herself on her crutches to the counter to examine the fabrics. “What’s Bliss Cooper’s favorite color?”

“Um… red, I think.”

“Red gingham curtains for the kitchen, then. We should have light colored curtains since it is so hot out there. What do you think of a light blue?” Jessie asked him.

“She likes blue… I’m pretty sure,” Colt told her.

“Good. Light blue it is,” Jessie smiled.

She went on about ordering the fabric she felt they would need, and Clint grew proud that he had brought her along. He would have been lost buying fabrics and knowing the windows and everything that went along with that. Sometimes God’s little blessings amazed him.

His gaze landed on a book display next to the counter and he smiled.

“When did ya’ll get this in?” he asked the man behind the counter.

“Last week. They’ve been selling pretty quick, believe it or not,” the man said.

Colt picked up a paperback copy of the dime novel.

“You read those?” Jessie asked, her eyes reflecting an emotion akin to horror.

Colt shook his head, turning to cover to her. “This here’s Bliss’ husband.”

Jessie gulped. “Really?”

“Oh, he doesn’t let them write stories about him anymore, but he can’t stop the old ones from floating around,” Colt looked back down at the book.

“B-Bliss’ husband is Clint Slade?” Jessie asked, a smile slowly beginning to break out.

Colt nodded.

Jessie squealed. “I’ve heard so much about him! He’s one of the roughest gunfighters I’ve ever heard of! Is it true that he turned in his own brothers?”

Colt nodded. “He brought them to Sherman, who turned them in.”

“To think I’ve been staying around a mile from where Clint Slade lives… I just can’t believe it!” Jessie accepted her fabric from the man behind the counter and turned to Colt.

“Maybe you’ll get to meet him without Sherman knowing it sometime,” Colt smiled.

Jessie grinned. “Jake would be so jealous. Momma would be horrified, but it would be worth it.”

“He’s reformed now, so he’s no danger to anyone,” Colt told her.

“I never heard that back home.”

Colt sighed and put the book back on the display. “Sadly, you never hear about the bad guy going straight anymore. It’s all about the good guy turning bad.”

Jessie sighed. “Let’s get on with our shopping, shall we?”
*****

Jessie smiled in pride as she and Colt exited the general store. She had successfully picked out everything that a new home could possibly need and had matched it as well. She hoped that Bliss Cooper liked it. Colt had assured her that she wasn’t hard to please, yet she still worried that she wouldn’t like it.

Nonetheless, it was all paid for now, so there was no turning back.

She found that she got along well on her crutches, though she was slow, it was better than being carried everywhere.

“Well, I suppose we should go fin Doc and figure out something for supper, huh?” Colt said, walking slowly to match her step.

She nodded as they moved down the boardwalk.

“Well, look who it is, Clark!” a voice yelled out.

Jessie’s gaze fell on two older men just ahead of them sitting out in front of the town barber shop, a checker board between them.

“Yeah, that’s ole’ what’s his face!”

Colt smiled at them. “This could take a while,” he mumbled to her.

“How’re ya’ll doing?” Colt reached out and shook each of their hands.

“We’re getting along. I reckon I ain’t dead,” one of the men smiled.

“Who’s this?” the other asked, his voice barely less than a yell as he pointed at Jessie.

“This is Jessie Steele,” Colt introduced. “Jessie, this is Sam and Clark.”

Jessie nodded and smiled, unable to dip in a curtsey because of her leg. She hoped the men didn’t mind.

“She’s an eastern woman alright. Kinda tubby, though,” the one that Colt had introduced as Clark said.

Jessie gaped as hurt filled her. What right did the man have to say such things to her? She opened her mouth to reply to his insult, but Colt put a hand on the small of her back.

“She’s a pretty one, ain’t she?” he smiled.

Jessie looked at him, her hurt turned into shock. Had he really just said that? She smiled as she realized that the words she’d just heard outshone any chivalry that any beau had ever shown her.

“What’d he say?” Clark asked.

“He said she was perty!” Sam yelled.

Clark nodded. “She is at that.”

Jessie began to grow self-conscious and Colt changed the subject.

“How’s the game going?” He motioned to the checker board between them.

“Eh, he’s winnin’, as usual,” Sam said.

“Wha-a-t?” Clark asked.

“I told him you was winnin’!” Sam yelled.

“Oh-h.”
Colt moved to walk away. “We’d best be going. Gotta lot to do. We’ll see you fellas later.”

“Wha-a-t?” Clark asked.

“He’s leavin’!” Sam replied.

“Oh-h. You two take care o’ yourselves,” Clark said.

Jessie nodded and followed Colt as they walked away from the men. Colt slowed down to fall into step beside her.
“I’m so sorry, Jessie. They’re old and just tell it as they think it is. They… meaning that they think it… not meaning me, that is,” he said.

Jessie smiled at his awkward words. “I’m gonna get used to it one of these days.”

“Don’t settle for that,” Colt told her.

She glanced sideways at him. “You really think I’m pretty?”

Colt’s face turned blood red and he shrugged. “I thought that was kinda common knowledge.”

Jessie’s smile broadened.

At that moment, for once in her life, she actually felt pretty… beautiful.

Desirable.

Thank you guys for reading! Comment and let me know what you think of this chapter? I can always use the inspiration! :D