Love Finds You in Last Chance, California (30 page)

“No, you’re not. You may have let the thought slip through your mind, but you didn’t let it take root—that’s the difference. You were quick to see the error of your thinking and repent. Now if I can just do the same thing with the issues I’m struggling with. I’m having a hard time forgiving Papa for keeping so many secrets and understanding why God allowed all this.”

Elizabeth nodded. “None of us is perfect. We often have to choose to trust God. When hard things come, it’s our nature to want to fight or flee—or blame someone—but in the end I think you’ll see God’s hand in it all.”

“I hope so. I’m heading to the doctor’s office to see what he has to say.” She held up her hand when Elizabeth opened her mouth. “Don’t say another word. I’m going to see how Christy’s doing, nothing more. At least not yet.” She smiled and winked then headed to the door. “I’ll stop by before I leave town.” She turned the knob and then swung back around. “Thank you, Elizabeth.”

“For what?” A quizzical smile lit the attractive brunette’s face.

“For being my friend.”

Alex hurried across the street, lifting her skirt a few inches. She didn’t care if anyone saw her ankles or not. The need to discover if Christy Grey would live accelerated her pace.

What drew her? Why did she care, after all Christy had done, whether someone tended the woman or not? She’d like to believe that Christ’s love shone through her, but she knew that wasn’t the entire reason for her concern. Alex had felt an affinity with the woman the first time she’d met her. The longing for acceptance had burned in Christy’s eyes, but she’d quickly cloaked it behind a shell of indifference.

How many times had Alex felt the same desire—been driven by the same need? Did she care what mean-spirited people thought about her? No, she did not. But being misunderstood by a handful of women who’d never taken the time to know her still stung.

Christy’s lot in life must’ve been so much worse, considering her occupation. Had she ever longed for a different life or tried to break free and change? What drew her to live a way that brought such shame?

Alex could well imagine the life she might have had if Papa had died without providing for her future. So few options existed for women left alone and penniless. Some could fall back on sewing, teaching, or taking in laundry, but what if their skills were lacking or there was no work to be had? Alex knew that dance hall girls and other women of ill repute didn’t always choose their line of work. Only by God’s grace and care had she been spared such a life.

Alex shook her head. It wasn’t her place to seek out the answers, but she couldn’t abandon someone with a wounded spirit and broken body. She stepped up on the porch of the wood-slatted building and glanced at the sign. Doctor Is In hung by the doorpost. She rapped and nudged open the door then slipped inside. “Doc? You here?”

A muffled voice answered from behind the curtain that hung over the doorway to the back room. “Just a moment.”

A few minutes later Doc Stevens pulled open the dark green curtain and stepped through then yanked it closed again. “Miss Travers, what brings you in today? Not feeling well?”

“No, sir, I’m fine.” Alex wondered if the poor man had slept lately. His broadcloth trousers and white shirt were rumpled and covered with dust. Fine lines branched out from the corner of his blue-gray eyes, and his mouth had a tired, pinched look.

The wiry man pushed his eyeglasses up the bridge of his nose and peered over them. “Martha doing all right, and your uncle Joe?”

Alex nodded and glanced toward the closed curtain. “Yes, sir. But I’m here because Elizabeth told me that Ralph brought Christy Grey in early this morning, hurt pretty bad.”

“So he did.” Doc nodded and a lock of light brown hair fell onto his forehead. He lifted his hand and pushed it back with a grunt. “Tarnation. Haven’t so much as had time for a haircut in weeks.”

“Is she hurt bad?”

“Huh?” He peered at her and then followed her gaze. “Oh, you mean Miss Grey? Yes, afraid so.”

Alex kept a rein on her impatience. Why couldn’t the man offer some details with his answers? She looked past the thick lenses in his eyeglasses and noted the red-rimmed eyes. “You been up all night, Doc?”

He ran his fingers through his already-mussed hair and sank into the chair behind his battered table. “That I have.” He drew a deep breath and sighed. “Just a mite tired, I’m afraid. Now, what can I do for you?”

“I’m concerned about Miss Grey. Can you tell me what’s wrong with her?”

Doc Stevens drummed his fingers against the table and frowned. “You a friend of the woman?”

Alex sat up straight and nodded. “Yes, sir. She came out to the ranch to visit a few days ago.” She hoped the good Lord would excuse the slight shading of the truth. She had invited Christy to the ranch and she
had
come, hadn’t she?

He nodded, his eyes not quite focusing on her face. “I see, I see. Well, now.” He paused and stared out the window and his head began to droop.

“Doc?”

His head snapped up and his mouth parted. “Yes? What’s that?” He blinked his eyes at Alex and frowned. “Oh, Alexia…I apologize. Miss Grey.” A nervous twitch started in the corner of his left eye and he rubbed at it with the palm of his hand. “She’s been badly beaten. Possible damage to her organs. No idea about internal bleeding yet. Fever. Broken ribs. Lots of bruising. Stitched a deep cut on her shoulder. I think she escaped without serious injury to her head, but I won’t know till she wakes up. I think that about covers it.”

Alex raised her hand and stifled a gasp with her fingertips. “Oh my. I had no idea. Do you think she’ll make it?”

“If there’s no internal bleeding and her organs aren’t bad. Have to wait and see. I’ll know more tomorrow.” He pushed to his feet. “Come back then if you’d like.”

Alex rose. “Thank you, I’ll do that. It looks like you’d best get some sleep.”

“Right. Ralph’s coming in to watch Miss Grey while I rest. He’ll call me if she wakens, but it’s doubtful.” He glanced back at the curtain.

Heavy footfalls on the steps outside sounded just before a tap on the door. Ralph shoved it open and poked his head inside. “You ready for me, Doc?”

“Quite. Come in.” Doc Stevens motioned to the big man.

Alex smiled at Ralph and nodded at the doctor. “I’ll be going. I’ll see you tomorrow. I’d like to talk to you about Miss Grey’s care.”

“Quite so, good plan.” He tipped his head.

“Good night, Doc, and thanks.” She gazed after the man as he almost stumbled down the steps. She turned to Ralph. “Hope he makes it home before he falls asleep.”

Ralph’s deep-chested laugh rumbled from his throat. “Me, too. Looks about done in, if you ask me. I brought Miss Christy in around five this mornin’, and the doc was just returnin’ from tending a man who’d been hurt out at the Home Ticket mine. Must’a been up most of the night and goin’ ever since.”

“Well, I’m glad you found Miss Grey. She’d probably have died if you hadn’t brought her in.”

He ran his hand down his muscular arm. “Yeah. I’d like to break the head of whoever hurt her. She don’t deserve that.”

“I agree. It’s just too bad more people aren’t like you.” She stepped outside and smiled back at the big man. “Take good care of her, will you?”

“You bet, Miss Alex. You can count on it.”

Alex exited the barn after unsaddling Banner and turning him out to graze. A streak of color racing across the lawn caught her attention as she stepped into the bright afternoon sun.

“Lexie!” Toby’s shrill voice broke the stillness of the early August morning. “You comed home!” His little arms pumped and his short legs carried him across the space between the porch and the barn.

A chuckle broke from Alex’s lips and she bent over with outstretched arms. “Of course I came home, silly goose.”

Toby threw himself into her arms and chortled with glee as she swung him around in a circle. She deposited the boy on her hip and gave him a hug. He grinned into her face and patted her cheek. “I not a goose, I a boy.”

She laughed outright and kissed him. “Yes, you’re a boy, and a sweet boy at that. Have you been good for Martha today?”

He nodded and his dark curls bounced in the light breeze. “Uh-huh. Uncle Joe gave me a ride on my pony.”

Alex bit the inside of her lip.
His
pony. Well, she certainly couldn’t ride it anymore. She tickled his ribs and he ducked his head against her neck and giggled.

“Let’s go find Martha.”

Toby wriggled in her arms and slid down to the ground. “Miz Marfa bakin’ pies for Toby.” He grinned and dashed toward the house then stopped and spun around. “Come on, Lexie, hurry. I give you some pie, too.”

“Thank you, Toby.” She tried to keep a serious face and almost succeeded.

The front door swung open at the same time her foot hit the bottom step on the porch. Uncle Joe stuck his head outside. “Toby…” His eyes met Alex’s and he halted. “Ah—it’s you. Thought I’d have to go pull that boy outta the barn again. He’s been runnin’ off to see the horses.”

Alex took two long strides. She knelt down beside Toby and turned him to face her. “Toby?”

The little boy directed sparkling blue eyes up to hers. “Hmm?”

She gripped his shoulders. “You must never, ever go to the barn or the corrals by yourself. If you do, a big horse could step on you or hurt you, and your papa would be very sad.” She smoothed his rumpled curls and tucked the tail of his shirt into his trousers.

He threw his arms around her neck and buried his face in her hair. “I be good, Alex. I not go to the barn no more.”

Alex carried the boy into the house and set him on his feet. “Go tell Martha I’m home.”

He nodded, grinned, and raced toward the kitchen, his high-pitched voice trailing behind him. “Miz Marfa…Lexie home.”

Uncle Joe chuckled and tapped his cane against the floor. “You’re good with him, Alex. You’ve got more energy than I do.”

“He’s such a sweet boy.” She patted his arm and headed toward the office then paused. “When do you expect the men back from Foresthill?”

“Justin told me he planned on pushing and getting back tonight. Said he hated bein’ gone overnight on account of Toby.”

“Hmm. If he makes it before dinner, could you let me know? Or better yet, ask him to stop by my office?”

“Sure enough. I imagine they won’t hit any snags with the sale. Justin seems like a capable man.”

“I’m sure he is.”

Joe peered at her from under bushy brows. “Somethin’ on your mind, darlin’?” He gripped the head of his cane with both sun-bronzed hands and leaned against it.

She shrugged and turned her head away from his penetrating gaze. “Nothing I want to talk about right now.”

“Uh-huh. Still sore at me and Martha for not tellin’ you about the mortgage?”

“Not at all.” She hesitated then rushed on. “I’m trying to sort some things out. I promise I’ll talk to you soon.”

He nodded and hobbled across the foyer toward the sitting room.

Three hours later Alex roused from her reverie at the sound of a man’s voice. She’d spent the first two hours working on balancing the ranch ledgers and the last hour staring at the wall. So much had happened over the past few weeks that her head still felt muddled with the details.