Page 4 of The Rancher's Bride
“Yeah. I’m coming, Pet” Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Bethany dismounted gracefully and tied her own horse to the hitching post. “I’ll talk to you soon, Marmee. Have a good day” she said to the older woman, before following Pet into the store.
Bethany had a feeling Marmee wasn’t done with her yet.
Chapter Two
Benjamin Kendrick waited patiently for his turn to talk to Doc Mueller. He hated coming into town, and if it weren’t for picking up his sister’s medicine, he wouldn’t come in at all. He sat on the bench in the waiting room, his foot bouncing nervously as he twirled his hat in his hand.
There were three other people in Doc Mueller’s office when he stopped to pick up Tessa’s medicine. The mercury poisoning had left his sister with a childlike wonder and very little impulse control. Ben had promised their mother he would take care of Tessa, and he meant to keep his promise.
The waiting area was cramped, and the musty smell of old paper mixed with the cloying scent of pine filled his nostrils, making him want to retch. Or it could have been the scent ofstale perfume and sweat coming from the woman sitting across from him.
Ben’s eyes darted around the waiting room, landing on a woman with faded red hair that had been wrapped around a hot iron. Makeup caked on her skin and cracked around her eyes and lips. She wore a tight-fitting dress to accentuate her curves, and a long skirt with a slit up the side. There was no doubt about where she worked or what she did for a living.
He cleared his throat and looked away, feeling his face flush. He remembered someone else who dressed like that. Pushing unpleasant thoughts from his mind, he gave her another glance. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and he could see the faint outline of bruises along one arm. The woman seemed agitated. Her eyes darted around the room, and she kept biting her bottom lip, drawing blood. Most people would wonder what could make a woman like her so undone.
But he knew.
He had seen the same bruises on the arms of someone he loved. Ma added layer upon layer of pancaked makeup to hide the black eyes, so he recognized the technique. He’d been there when men used their fists before taking what they wanted.
It wasn’t easy growing up the way they did. Ma used what little money she made to keep a roof over their heads and food in their bellies, but it was never enough. They rented a small room in the stable, and it didn’t take long for Ben to figure out how Ma was paying rent.
When Tessa got sick, they lost their home, and Ma couldn’t work and take care of a child whose only prospects were to turn to the same profession as Ma once she came of age. Tessa had just turned twelve and the men in town were starting to notice.
As soon as he could, Ben left with his sister. He didn’t want tosubject Tessa to a life of being passed from man to man. Taking odd jobs so he could support her, they eventually met a preacher who was traveling to Nebraska. It took little convincing for Ben and Tessa to join his wagon train. Ben earned their keep taking care of the livestock on the journey and at last he had someone to help with Tessa.
When the small party arrived in Flat River for supplies, he learned about a twenty-acre plot of land no one wanted. The land was unusable for anything but hunting. Tessa was tired of traveling and needed to be seen by a doctor. Ben purchased the land for twenty-five cents an acre and made his claim. The preacher left Ben with a dozen goats and a few chickens before continuing towards Omaha.
They stayed in a line shack while Tessa watched the goats during the day. Ben worked to clear the land and build a proper house. He wrote letters to his ma, hoping to bring her once the new house was complete. It took nearly two months to get a letter back, but it wasn’t from Ma. Instead, it was from the livery manager where Ma had been staying, letting Ben know she had passed.
Crushing his hat beneath his fingers, he pressed the ugly memories down and turned his attention back to the woman in the waiting room. He wondered if she was one of Doc Mueller’s patients or just waiting for someone. He doubted she was a patient, as he didn’t think Doc would treat one of Miss Marcy’s girls at his office.
Just then, the door to Doc’s office creaked open and an older woman with a cane shuffled out, followed by a cowboy, only about sixteen years old. Doc stood in the doorway, rubbing his glasses with a handkerchief as he watched them leave.
“Cleo, if that cough doesn’t get any better, you send Nate to fetch me. I don’t want you to come to town. I’ll ride out to seeyou.”
“Sure thing, Doc. Come on, Aunt Cleo.” The cowboy called Nate led his aunt towards the door as the doc disappeared back into his office.
“Next.” Doc’s voice boomed in the small room.
Ben stood up and walked towards the door, but the redhead beat him to it. She sauntered in, not even looking at him. Ben followed her, feeling like a fool. When he entered the office, he saw her talking to Doc Mueller in a flirtatious tone. He couldn’t help but listen in.
“... and I need something to help me sleep,” the redhead said, twirling a strand of hair around her finger.
Doc Mueller’s brow furrowed as he looked at her. “What have I told you about coming here? You can go to the store and get something. There are patients here.”
“I don’t want to go to the store, Doc,” she pleaded. “I don’t want to deal with the people at the store. You know what they are like.”
“Maybe you should have chosen a different profession then.”
Ben was about to say something. Looking at the woman once more, Doc sighed. Doc moved to the back of his office and opened a cabinet. Taking a dark bottle, he poured some liquid into a smaller bottle and corked it before turning back to the woman. “I’ll give you something. But only this once. Don’t let Miss Marcy find out.” The doctor handed her the bottle. “Only a small sip at bedtime.”
“Thanks, Doc,” the woman said, kissing his cheek as she slipped the bottle into her reticule. “What do I owe you?”
“Ten cents, then get out of here.”
Ben swore he saw a blush race across the older man’s cheeks. The woman gave him a slight smile as she brushed past andflounced out the door.
“What can I do for you today, Mr. Kendrick?” Doc asked, pocketing the coin.
