Page 9 of A Redemption Mountain Christmas (Redemption Mountain #27)
Eliza awoke a few hours later, feeling refreshed and eager to return to the clinic. After dressing, she headed downstairs to the hotel restaurant for a quick breakfast. She arranged for a ride to the clinic, donning the heaviest coat she brought and boots she’d purchased when arriving in Splendor.
She stepped through the clinic doors after stomping her boots on the outside stoop. Surveying the room with a critical eye, she cataloged the patients sleeping on cots. Several cots were empty, blankets neatly folded and placed at one end.
Clay McCord walked down the stairs, looking tired and ready for rest. “Morning, Eliza. I hope you slept well.”
“I did, thank you.” Eliza gestured at the vacant cots. “It seems you’ve discharged some of our patients already.”
“Just the most stable ones. Noah Brandt came by with his wagon first thing and took them back to the wagon train.”
Eliza nodded, appeased by the explanation. “How many were left here?”
“Eight. Of those, I’d estimate at least four will be able to return to their families within the next day or two. The rest will take longer to heal before they should leave.”
“Why don’t you come upstairs for some coffee while the rest of them sleep,” Clay suggested, his gaze scanning the waiting area, which had become their hospital ward. “Carrie MacKenzie, one of our nurses, has been helping me watch over them.”
Eliza agreed and followed him up the narrow staircase to the second floor consisting of three more examination rooms, a tiny kitchen, and a large office.
As Clay busied himself making coffee, Eliza’s thoughts turned to Spencer Haglund. Something about the stubborn, prideful man intrigued her, though she couldn’t pinpoint why. He seemed to disapprove of her. Or he simply disliked her. She sensed a deeper complexity beneath his gruff exterior.
Eliza sighed, shaking away the distracting thoughts. She had patients to focus on now. The coffee Clay handed her was hot and bracing. She took several sips, steeling herself for the day ahead.
Taking the stairs back down to the first floor, Eliza followed Clay to check on the sleeping patients. As she and Clay walked quietly among the cots, Eliza glanced into the examination room where a man had been treated.
“Where’s the older gentleman with the leg injury?” she asked.
“He was the wagon master. And he isn’t old, though I agree he looks it. His name is Carter McCallister, and he’s thirty. He was able to provide some information to the sheriff before he discharged himself.”
“Excuse me. Did you say he left without your approval?”
“I did. He told Gabe more about the attack and identified the raiders as Crow Indians. They were on a hill overlooking the trail between Big Pine and Splendor. McCallister watched them for at least an hour before they attacked. He’s decided the wagon train will stay camped right outside of town for the winter.
I believe he said there were twelve wagons left out of twenty that left Kansas City. ”
Eliza’s brow furrowed. She reasoned if the Crow raiders attacked settlers, they might try to raid Splendor.
“After McCallister spoke to Gabe, he got up and walked out.”
They looked up as footsteps sounded on the stairs. Drake Ralston emerged, looking bleary-eyed.
“You’re up,” Clay said. “I was just about to head home for a few hours of sleep. Eliza will stay as long as we need her.”
Drake nodded, looking at her. “We aren’t going to turn away your help.”
After Clay left, she and Carrie ensured each patient had water and was as comfortable as possible. Eliza was impressed with the nurse’s knowledge and ability to make each person feel secure and safe.
Gabe Evans greeted each man as they filtered into the jail. They were town leaders, including Stan Petermann, Horace Clausen, the bank president, Nick Barnett, Noah Brandt, and Silas Jenks, the owner of the lumberyard. He got right to the reason for the meeting.
“Gentlemen, we need to discuss protection for Splendor. I’m sure you’ve all heard about the Crow raiding party attacking the wagon train.” They all nodded. “It’s likely they’ll target more settlements in the area. Possibly make a raid on the town.”
Horace cleared his throat. “What’s our next move then, Gabe? We can’t allow them to ransack our town.”
“We need to increase security around Splendor. I’ll speak with my deputies about adding to the number of men on night patrols. Nick, Noah. What do you think about setting up a town militia?”
“We’ve done it before,” Noah said. “Most of those men are still around.”
“Nick?”
“Noah’s right, Gabe. There are still a lot of men who fought in the war around here. Maybe a little older, but I wouldn’t bet against them when it comes to fighting for their town.”
The group turned when the door opened, Spencer Haglund rushed in, breathing hard.
“Spencer, what’s wrong?” Gabe asked.
“Crow war party hit the ranch at first light. Broke into the root cellar, stole some supplies. Bull tried to stop them and got winged by a bullet. Rachel patched him up.”
Horace and Stan erupted into concerned murmurs. Gabe held up a hand for quiet. “Is everyone else safe? Are the Crow still there?”
“No, they rode off when the men opened fire. Dax sent me to warn the town. We’re all right for now.”
Gabe let out a relieved sigh. “A wagon train was attacked east of town late yesterday. Quite a few casualties. We took several to the clinic. Clay and Drake got to work on them. The female doc, Eliza Gladstone, is helping them out. It was a good thing she was in town. We’re talking about ways to fortify the town.
You’re welcome to join us. I’d like Dax and Luke to know what is going on here. ”
Spencer hesitated, thinking of the woman he’d treated so poorly yet couldn’t stop thinking about. “I’ve got a quick stop to make first. It won’t take long.”
He hurried back outside before Gabe could object.
He leaped onto his horse and made for the clinic, his heart pounding.
What would he even say to Eliza? Shaking his head, he decided the words would come when he saw her.
Stopping in front of the clinic, he didn’t attempt to dismount as he rethought the reason for wanting to see her.
After a few more moments of anxious hesitation outside the clinic, Spencer reined his horse around and headed back to the sheriff’s office, leaving his business with Eliza unfinished for now.
Entering the jail, he saw Gabe and the others studying a map spread out on the desk. Gabe glanced up.
“We’re organizing patrols and planning for our best shooters to watch from various locations in town. The Crow raiding party attacked the wagon train last night, then the Pelletier ranch this morning. They’re roving, looking for opportunities.”
“They seem to be targeting places where they can steal food,” Nick said.
“Dax believes lack of food is why they tried to raid the ranch,” Spencer said, rubbing the back of his neck. “What doesn’t make sense is there’s still plenty of game, and only the shallowest streams and rivers are frozen. They shouldn’t be starving this early in the winter.”
“I’ve got to agree with you,” Noah said.
“It doesn’t figure, yet that’s what they’re doing.
The Crow don’t seem to be attacking to kill off people and take hostages.
There were no deaths at the ranch or from the raid on the wagon train.
The only death was an elderly man who died when his heart gave out. ”
Gabe nodded. “Whatever the reason, we need to be prepared.”
When they were finished, Spencer mounted his horse, Cicero, and reined around toward Redemption’s Edge. Reconsidering, he turned back, deciding once more to speak with Eliza.
As he approached the clinic, his stomach twisted in knots. Knowing about her selfless actions with the injured travelers stirred something in him—respect, admiration, and something more he dared not name.
He reined to a stop outside the clinic. Through the window, he caught a glimpse of Eliza tending to a patient. Her dark hair was pinned up, with a few loose strands framing her face. The sight made Spencer’s heart constrict.
What was he doing here? Eliza likely wanted nothing to do with him. He was a simple cowboy, while she was a highly educated, independent woman. Still, he didn’t want the hostility between them to continue.
Taking a deep breath, he dismounted and looped Cicero’s reins over the hitching post. His boots sounded on the wooden steps as he approached the clinic door.
As his hand reached for the handle, the door swung open. He found himself face to face with Eliza, whose eyes widened in surprise. For a long moment, they simply stared at each other.
“Doctor Gladstone,” he said, his voice rough. “I wanted to talk to you, if you’ve got a minute.”
She gazed at him steadily, one hand on the doorframe. Spencer shifted under her scrutiny, wondering if she would turn him away.
“I suppose I can spare a few minutes.” She stepped aside in silent invitation.
He ducked his head and walked past her into the clinic. When he met Eliza’s gaze again, her expression was guarded but patient.
“I had no right to question your orders concerning Travis. I had no call to be judgmental, especially considering what you did for Tom and Travis. It’s just, I know what the men are like, and they don’t take to bed rest well.
No matter what you said, they were going to get back to work on their own schedule, not yours. ”
Eliza studied him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Spencer resisted the urge to fidget.
Sobering, he met her gaze earnestly. “I truly am sorry, ma’am.”
She gave a small nod. “Apology accepted, Mr. Haglund. And I am coming to understand how much there is to learn about the people living out here. They possess a different temperament from what I’m used to back home. The fact is, they’re nothing like what I expected.”
“No, ma’am. I expect they aren’t.” He fingered the brim of his hat, glancing behind her when a patient called for her. “I’ll let you get back to work. Thank you for hearing me out.”
While tending to her patient, Eliza watched Spencer mount and ride away through the front window, a mix of emotions swirling within her. His apology had been unexpected. He’d seemed truly remorseful, his tawny eyes earnest as he met her gaze.
Still, she couldn’t help but feel guarded. Spencer Haglund was an enigma to her in many ways. One moment, he was brash and irritating. The next, he was almost charming.
Beneath the rugged exterior, she sensed a complex man, one who’d seen his share of hardship. In unguarded moments, she caught glimpses of a deep well of emotion in his eyes.
What surprised her most was how strongly she was drawn to him, despite their clashes. Or perhaps because of them. He was a challenge, a force to be reckoned with.
Never had she met a man so maddening and yet so intriguing. With a sigh, Eliza pushed such thoughts aside. Now was not the time for idle fancies, not with lives depending on her. She had work to do and decisions to make.