"Owen—"
He held up his hands at Doc's skeptical tone. "Now, just hear me out, Marcus. It would save you from having to ride out and see about Brandon, here, and I could learn what I need to know about living on a ranch. I'll stay a few days, earn my keep, and then I'll come on into town and you can introduce me as some fancy specialist from back east, come to learn from you!" Clearly excited, he laughed and rubbed his hands together at the thought.
Brandon grinned.
"What do you say, Brandon?"
He shook his head. "Don't put me in the middle, Owen. I – we could use the help, but I can see Doc is a tough opponent. I'm not sure I want to take him on—"
"Bah!" Doc flapped his hands in mock disgust. "It's a good idea, and you know it." He stroked his chin thoughtfully. "You are going to need help." He raised a brow. "I know you say you won't use that hand, but I know your kind. You'll be wanting to twist a piece of wire around a fencepost, or open a jar lid – things you wouldn't think twice about normally. But Owen, here, will be sure you don't forget." They were silent a moment. Doc snapped his bag shut, and looked around the room slowly. "It'll give me a chance to talk some sense into the rest of Spring Branch too – Arnie Smith, in particular."
"No." Brandon stood up. "Leave it alone, Doc. I don't want you gettin' hurt."
"That ain't gonna happen, son."
"It could." Doc felt his age and station would protect him, but Brandon knew otherwise. Where a man like Arnie Smith was concerned, those things wouldn't matter at all. "I'll settle this my own way," he said quietly. "You're a doctor – and a good one. I'll be damned if I let Smith and his men harm you because of me. Just let it alone for now."
Allie looked from Brandon to Doc. "He's right, Doc." She looped an arm through Brandon's, and a protective surge shot through him. "There'll be patients to see and tend to, as usual. And Owen will be welcome here for as long as he wants to stay with us."
"Just a few days," Owen put in quickly.
Doc was watching Brandon, but Brandon couldn't keep the smile from his lips. The doctor was a tough old cuss, but he was no match for Arnie Smith and Tom Carver. Thinking of it, Brandon couldn't wait for his hand to heal. He had business to attend to. He looked down, knowing the vivid blue eyes, though aged, were capable of seeing right through a man. Doc didn't move for a moment. Then, reluctantly, he nodded.
"All right," he said slowly. "We'll try it this way for a while – give you time to heal. But I don't believe Smith and his men are going to wait for that. I'm surprised Tom Carver hasn't already made a play for you, personally. He's not one to lay low when it comes to getting what he wants."
"You and I have different views of laying low. That fire—"
Doc gave a dismissive wave. "Scare tactics, Brandon. Meant to make you mad enough to spit, so you'll make a mistake."
"I know. But that was more serious than a 'scare tactic,' Doc. The boys could've been killed."
Doc's eyes narrowed. "That matters to you, son, but not to Tom. He can't pay up. It's common knowledge that his business is in trouble. He wouldn't be able to part with much cash – the cash they used to pay you. This is his part of the deal, I imagine – services instead of the cash. You can rest assured, he was as much behind that plan of theirs as Arnie Smith was."
That would figure. It explained the triumphant light in Carver's eyes and his zeal with the whip. He was after his own payoff – probably a bigger stake of the money than he'd put down originally.
"I'll be on my way then," Doc said matter-of-factly. "Oh, Owen, I'll leave this small medical bag with you. You might not have brought everything you need with you from Boston." He slanted a look at Brandon. "Seems we're going to be kept busier than usual, from here on out."
Brandon gave him a quick grin. "Things'll settle down soon. I'll have Allie to keep me out of trouble."
Doc snorted. "With all these youngsters you've taken on, Owen and I will have our hands full, I think. We haven't had this many young boys in Spring Branch as long as I can remember."
Allie's fingers tightened around Brandon's arm. He didn't look at her. He knew her doubts would remain hidden from Doc and Owen Morris – but never from him. He'd talk to her later, when they were alone. It was a terrible thing to feel so solitary in a dream. This was something Allie had planned and saved for, dreamed and schemed. She wanted it so badly – how could he not catch her enthusiasm for the plan she'd held so dear to her heart for so long? Now that it was happening, he wanted to share it with her. But he couldn't do much to participate – not until he healed.