Page 18 of Married By Midnight
Mourning.Well that explained the ugly dress.
He wondered if she lost her husband.
So, he stayed in the room, resting his head and listening to Dell telling stories about Creede. He enjoyed the old man’s company, but Ian was ready to get up and be doing something. He was getting restless.
“Doc should be by to see you this afternoon.”
“I’ve been in this bed for a week. I want to get outside.”
“You plan on going somewhere, son?” The man’s eyes were kind, but Ian knew that he was there just for Sarah’s protection. Dell wouldn’t hesitate to hurt him if he thought Ian was here to harm Sarah.
Ian paused. He hadn’t thought about it. He just knew he wanted to get out of bed, but he didn’t know where he was going after that. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know a lot.”
“I still can’t remember anything. Just bits and pieces.”
“Well that is a start.”
They were interrupted by a knock on the door. Sarah popped her head in. Ian’s breath left him as he looked at her.
“Doc is here. Okay to have him come in?”
“Yes, yes,” Dell said, rising from the chair. “We were just talking about Ian getting outside.”
Sarah had a puzzled look on her face but didn’t say anything. She quickly disappeared and soon the Doc came in to examine Ian.
“You can leave us,” the doctor directed to Dell and Sarah. When they had left, he looked at Ian. “Are you feeling better?”
“I am. I’m ready to get going.”
“Well let’s see how your head is healing.” The doctor removed the bandage and pressed around the wound. Ian winced.
“It appears to be healing, but you are still sensitive to the touch. That might take a few more weeks. I’m surprised the fall didn’t kill you instantly.” The doctor lit the lamp next to the bed and closed the curtains, casting the room into darkness. The doctor lifted Ian’s eyelids and waved the lamp in front of them. “You are definitely much better.”
“I recommend that you don’t do anything sudden.”
“Like what?”
“Sarah told me you are a train jumper.”
“That was the last thing I remember.”
“Don’t jump onto or from any boxcars right now. Understood?”
Ian nodded. “Doc?”
The doctor turned and looked at him. “What’s on your mind?”
“When will my memories return?”
The doctor folded up his stethoscope and shoved it in his bag. “I don’t know. The mind is a funny thing. One day your memories may just be restored. Or they may come back a bit at a time.” He looked at Ian with concern. “Or you may not get them back.” He picked up his bag and opened the door to leave.
Dell and Sarah walked in. “Is Mr. Poole alright?” Sarah asked.
“He’s not fully recovered, but enough where he can get out of the bed and walk around. He just needs to take it easy. I’d say a few more days in bed with short breaks to get up and then he should be right as rain by Tuesday.”
“He can stay as long as he needs to. Once he is recovered, there is plenty of room in the barn.”
