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maintain a pleasant countenance. “Get
enough rest and eat meat.”
       The woman brightened. “John won’t
let me work past supper.”
       “I can see he’s a good man.”
       “That he is.” Nelda made the sign
of the cross, bringing her hand from forehead to heart and sweeping across her
shoulders. Her jade eyes glistened.
       Hannah didn’t put much stock in
religious faith, but she knew the proper response. “I’ll pray for your baby.”
       “You’re kind. I knew I’d like you
when I heard all the talk about a lady doctor.”
       “Thank you.”
        Nelda Rose pursed her lips. “You know, folks
wonder why Doctor Rutherford never married. He’d make a good catch.”
       Hannah shook her head and laughed. If only Nelda Rose knew. To Hannah the
reason for Jed’s bachelor status was as plain as the growing bump on Nelda’s
belly. She smiled and turned back to the circle of women.

 
 
 
 
    Chapter 5

       J ed soon tired of the
attention showered on Hannah in the churchyard, and the crowd chatter was
bringing on a headache. He angled to push her home, but now Roy Easton was a
bull standing in his path.
       The sheriff sported a smug grin,
and that meant only one thing: He was wearing his meddling badge.
       “Make her your calico partner.
You’ll find none better.”
       “What?” Jed reeled as if hit by a
lightning bolt, yet somewhere inside he knew the man was right. She’d be
perfect if he wasn’t flawed. Hell,
the nightmares alone prevented him from taking a mate.
       “Marry up with the woman. You
could sleep in your own bed again. The whole town’s talking about it.” He swept
a hand toward the crowd. “You’re nearly her equal, even with your bad temper.” Easton’s smile was bright enough to blind a
man.
       Jed looked over Roy’s shoulder. Easton
had seen him lose his temper on two occasions, and he wasn’t about to give him
a show now. “I don’t believe the damn town is flapping about my business,” he
bit off, “and I don’t see you rushing
to tie the knot, Easton.”
       The sheriff laughed. “My
prospective brides backed down when they saw the living quarters I offered in
cell number one.” He nodded in the direction of his jailhouse home down the
street.
       “I suppose it could be a fly in
the ointment,” muttered Jed, “but a real man doesn’t let present circumstance get
in the way of family duty.”
       The lawnman’s blue eyes pierced
his straight on. “Why is it you docs don’t take your own good advice?”
       Jed touched the brim of his
Stetson. “Too busy handing it out, I reckon.”
       “Hmmm.” The lawman frowned.
       Jed fished for a new topic. “So,
Easton, I hear you’re busy as a bee in clover these days.”
       “You hear right. I’m running the
jailhouse AND the newspaper, at least until Elijah heals from the beating. And,
starting tomorrow, I’m trading in my gun belt for a switch while Geneva goes on
her honeymoon.”
       “Doesn’t that beat all! You’ll cut
a figure as schoolmarm.”
       Roy grunted. “My title is headmaster,
but yes, I’m teaching for the week.”
       “Who’s the sheriff while you’re
spitting ink at the young ‘uns?”
       “Doc, I give you the lookout. Let
Miss Hannah do the doctoring. If outlaws show up, haul ‘em over, and I’ll take
care of ‘em. Heck, I’ll lock them in the cloak room.” He grinned.
       Jed chuckled and wagged his head.
“You earn your pay, Easton. As for Elijah, he was much improved when I checked
on him yesterday, but the man needs to exercise discretion in his business.”
       “Elijah says discretion doesn’t
sell papers.”
       “Hawking gossip will get him
killed.”
       “Likely.” Easton hitched a thumb
on his gun belt. “He’s all up about freedom of speech.”
       “ Free speech allows Elijah to
make a fool of himself.”
       “Likely,” the sheriff nodded.
       Out of the corner of his