Page 40 of A Soft Kiss in Summer
Doc Tibbens inspected her work and nodded in approval.“That looks good, Violet.You’d make a good doctor.”
She laughed and shook her head.“Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I don’t think sticking my fingers inside another man’s body is the job for me.”
“That’s too bad,” Doc Tibbens said.He pulled a sheet up over Archie before crossing to his chair along the wall and sitting down.“Because I’m getting too old for this.”
Doc Tibbens had been the doctor in town since the town grew in population enough to need one.Josiah wasn’t sure what his age was, but he walked hunched over and if the look on his face was any indication, every step he took was painful.
The old man settled in his chair and blew out a breath, staring at Archie.“I don’t think I have it in me to tend to him.”He nodded in Archie’s direction.“He’ll need constant care and I do good to walk around the house.”
“I can tend to him.”Bonnie moved away from the wall where she’d been standing and approached the table Archie was lying on.“I’ll stay and tend to him.Just tell me what I need to do.”
Doc Tibbens nodded.“I can do that.If he catches an infection, though, you’ll have to take him in to Elkin.”
After blowing out a tired breath, Doc Tibbens glanced at him and Violet in turn.“I think it’s time the town started looking for a new doctor.I’m not sure who takes care of these things, but everyone needs to come together and make it happen.I’m not going to live forever.Got one foot in the grave now and this gout keeps me down most days.”
The sympathy in Violet’s eyes was almost too painful to see.“I’ll put up a notice over at the mercantile about it and try to gather the townsfolk up and see about finding a replacement for you, Doc.”
The old man nodded before trying to stand.Violet grabbed his arm and helped him up.He looked over at the door.The sidewalk outside was still filled with people.“He’s going to be fine,” he told those gathering.“Now stop hovering around my door and get on home.”He turned to Bonnie.“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Josiah started for the door, then paused to let Violet walk out before him.He told those who didn’t hear what Doc Tibbens said what was going on and encouraged them to go back home.When they slowly walked away, he looked over at Violet.
She was covered in blood.She’d washed most of it off her hands and arms, but her dress was ruined.She must have felt him watching her and looked up and said, “What?”
His gaze roamed her face before landing on her plump lips.The desire to kiss her was so strong, he had to look away.Ever since seeing her run into that saloon, he’d been preoccupied with her and the danger she’d put herself in.
He cleared his throat and glanced down the road.“You shouldn’t have run into the saloon like that.”
“Why not?”
“Maybe because someone was shooting the place up.”
“I saw them run out.”She brushed the same loose curl he’d tucked behind her ear away from her face with the back of her wrist.The desire to repeat his actions from inside the doctor’s office had him clenching his fist, so he didn’t do just that.
She shrugged her shoulders.“I didn’t see a gun in their hands, so I wasn’t in any danger.Did you not see them?”
“No.I wasn’t even here when it started.I was headed to Elkin, but something told me to come back.I heard the gunshots when I got close to town, but that’s beside the point.You didn’t know those men wouldn’t turn and start shooting again.Hell, there could have been someone else inside.”
She stared at him for a long moment, something in her eyes looking wounded a moment before she stilled and suddenly grinned.“Josiah Lincoln, if I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were worried about me.”
That smile she was giving him drew his attention back to her berry-red lips.“Why wouldn’t I be?You’re my wife.”
The moment the word was out of his mouth, something in her eyes made him think she liked hearing him say it and maybe she did.How many times had he suspected her of being interested in him?Maybe she still was.
They stared at one another until the silence became uncomfortable.He exhaled and put his hands on his hips and looked toward the saloon.He should probably go run anyone in there out before they drank Archie out of his stock of whiskey and lock the place up.
He looked down at himself and noticed he had nearly as much blood on him as Violet had on her.They both needed a bath.“Head on home,” he said.“Get yourself cleaned up.I’m going to go lock the saloon up and make sure no one is in there drinking themselves stupid free of charge.”
She glanced at his chest.“You could use a bath yourself.”
He glanced down at himself.He didn’t have as much blood on him as Violet did, but almost.It must have been from carrying Archie across town.“I’ll grab a change of clothes and head to Mabel’s to clean up.”
“You can bathe at the house.”
“And who will be spending the next hour heating enough water for two baths?”He nodded his head down the street.“I’ll be fine at Mabel’s.It's where I usually go to have a good soak.”
“Okay.”She headed toward her house without another word.He watched her go, the swing of her hips drawing his attention.His body tightened.She had hips perfect for grabbing onto and as it had the past several days, his thoughts went to places they had no business going, so he looked longer than he should have before finally turning away and heading to the saloon.
Once he got the place closed, he’d go grab his own bath.In cold water.And try to put Violet with her bee-stung lips and perfect hips out of his mind.
