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the room. Her patient was standing behind it, using it for a walker. Only sheer determination kept him upright.
    “What on earth do you think you’re doing?”
    “I’m getting out of here,” he said in a threatening voice. “Don’t get in my way.”
    “And where are you going?”
    “To find myself a horse.”
    She swallowed the obvious retort, saying instead, “But you don’t have any clothes.”
    He looked at her smile and cursed. “You’re right. And you know what? I don’t need any.”
    He let go of the sheet and stumbled around the head of the bed toward her, as naked as the day he was born, except for his bandages. He made it about three steps before he exhausted his strength and fell back across the cot. His collapse occurred at about the same time the sound of hoofbeats in the courtyard announced the arrival of someone in a hurry.
    “Josie?” Will Spencer’s urgent voice came from the courtyard.
    “Keep your mouth shut,” Josie said, then moved to open the door and called out, “Sheriff. I’m glad you—and your men—are here. I need you to help me get my patient back into bed.”
    “I’ll get back by myself,” Callahan said, breathing hard.
    Will burst into the room, gun drawn. He was accompanied by a posse of unidentified men. “Is it him?” Will asked.
    One of the men nodded. “It’s Callahan, all right. He’s the thief who stole all our money.”
    “Keller,” Callahan gasped. “You gone loco? Ben and I made an investment in those cattle, too. This was our last chance to make it as ranchers. Why would we steal our own money?”
    “Because it was the only way you could get enough to pay for the cattle and the mortgage on your ranch.”
    “Don’t move, Callahan. I’m putting you under arrest,” Will said.
    Josie felt her face go white. “Under arrest? You can’t do that, Will. You have no witnesses and no proof.”
    Will ignored her protest, gave the rancher a nod, and they both moved forward, clasping Callahan by the arms. “We have a suspect, and that’s enough for now. Turn your head, Josie.”
    “Why?”
    “Because, in case you haven’t noticed, he isn’t wearing any clothes.” Will picked up the sheet and flung it over Callahan, who could have spit gunpowder and fired away. “Give us a hand here, boys.”
    “What kind of sheriff are you? I’m not a thief,” Callahan protested.
    Josie moved in front of Callahan and faced the ranchers. “He’s innocent until proven guilty.”
    Two of Will’s men moved around Josie, lifted Callahan, sat him on the bed, and held him there. “Suppose you tell us where your brother is, Sims.”
    Josie took one look at the fury on Callahan’s face and weighed her options. A legal argument wasn’t going to defuse the situation. She reached inside her pocket and pulled out the derringer Ellie had given to her. “Stand back, Will. He may be a thief, but he’s injured. You’re not taking him anywhere.”
    With a shake of his head, Will signaled his men to draw back. “Put the gun away, Josie. I know you’re trying to do what your mama would do, but this man is a suspected criminal. I have to take him to jail.”
    “
Suspected
criminal,” she insisted. “Innocent until proven guilty. As his doctor, I say he can’t be moved. You’ll kill him.”
    Will looked at Josie’s patient and frowned. “Kill him? I don’t think so, Josie. He survived the trip here, slung over the neck of a horse. And he survived your treatment.”
    “As his attorney, I must warn you that if you remove him from the premises you’re responsible for his life.”
    “His attorney?” Will’s tone grew sharp.
    “My attorney?” Callahan repeated.
    “Your attorney,” Josie insisted, hoping he’d shut up before he made things worse. “You see, Callahan, a woman can be a healer
and
a lawyer, too.
Fiat justitia
—let justice be done—
when
he’s well enough to be moved. Now, get him back in bed, Will Spencer, and I’ll put my gun away.”
    “You