Emerita Boxing Day, page 28
“Who’s going to handle all your businesses here?”
“Peabody; I didn’t replace the bank manager. Peabody will do far more for me as overseer of my holdings.”
“I’m glad Heather agreed to stay in Furden.”
“Not as much as I am. I’ve already told them the manor will be theirs to use while I’m away. When I do make it back here, they’ll have the option of going back to Deep Gulch, or I’ll buy them a home in the city.”
“Either way, they win,” Doc smiled. “Where’s Rema?”
“At the manor. You only need to keep your dryad beside you in public. It’s perfectly legal to let them stay home. I didn’t need to bring her with me to see you.”
“That’s true.”
“How has she been?” Rosa asked.
“Good, very good. Maybe a little insatiable, but good,” David chuckled.
“That’s just their nature,” Doc snickered. “I wasn’t sure you had gifts that would make use of her abilities.”
“Her ability to read minds feels like cheating,” David said seriously. “It took some getting used to, but now… I accept her for who she is.” He paused, glancing at Rosa, then looked back at Doc. “Does Rosa watch you sleep?”
“Oh gods, does she ever,” Doc laughed. “Every morning, I wake up and there she is— a bright smile and just staring at me. It’s so creepy.”
“Very disconcerting,” David agreed.
“But he loves it, as do you,” Rosa said.
Doc shrugged. “Guilty. Knowing that she’s watching over me actually makes me feel safer.”
“The first few days were… strained, but yes. That’s how I feel now, too.”
“If you don’t mind, I would like to visit with her,” Rosa asked. “We can walk between the trees in our garden and yours so we don’t need to travel.”
“You can?” David asked in surprise. “How does anyone ever catch a dryad in the wilds, then?”
“Trickery, or using our nature against us. Once we’re focused on a person to make sure we can get what we want, we’re not as aware of our surroundings as we should be. Most of my sisters were caught ‘in the act,’ as Doc has called it.”
“At least their clothing goes with them,” Doc said. “It would cause a major stir, otherwise.”
“I’m sure it would,” David coughed. “I don’t mind if you two visit. None of my staff will comment on your arriving or going.”
“Nor will mine,” Doc chuckled, “at least once I tell them. They were shocked when the other dryads showed up.”
“Yes, Mother has been very helpful to our cause.”
“Of course,” Rosa murmured. “Your cause is her life. My sisters were all very happy to assist. It was more a matter of limiting how many were coming to help.”
“You never told me that,” Doc said.
“I was handling it, like Ayla does the finances.”
“Fair,” Doc said, rubbing her head. “Thank you.”
“One dryad is almost too much,” David said. “Two or more…? I’m not sure I would survive.”
“Even with healing, I’m not sure I would, either,” Doc agreed. “You should ask yours for an energy token. It’ll be a small item that can store energy for you to draw from if she isn’t by your side. You need to push energy into it to replenish it. I mentioned it to the others, and I have one of my own.”
“That is… very useful. I’ll do so.” David paused, then pushed on with another topic, “I did make an arrangement for you. It was forward of me, but I think you’ll approve.”
“What is it?”
“Hank Hammerson, one of the best fighters in the States. He just got done with a fight in Aire. I offered him enough to get him on a train, and he should be here by Soul Day. He’ll help refine your fighting, then work your corner during the fight. His friend will be coming in to be the official during the bout. Strongarm already agreed with Tarbo.”
“Won’t turn down professional help,” Doc said.
“Excellent. I was concerned, as it was me making moves on your behalf.”
“David,” Doc paused, making sure he had David’s attention, “we’re in this together. If you think something is for the best, I’m not going to be angry. The worst I’d do is ask questions to clarify. Just like you trust what I’ve told you.”
“Thank you. It’s odd to do; my family taught me to always question. But even before Trade came to me, I was trusting you far more than anyone in my family would find advisable. When Trade came to me, she congratulated me on following my instinct. Doing that rewarded me more than I’d dared hope.”
“We might have more gods come back and appoint Voices in the future,” Doc said, “but for now, everything rests on us.”
“Which is why we’ll stop Strongarm here, then pull the rest of his perceived strength away from him.”
One of the guards from the Silver Lily burst in, flinching back when they saw Harrid’s gun trained on them. “Sorry! Sir, they need you at the community! There’s been an attack!”
Doc’s blood ran cold, as Posy was there with Onyx. He was on his feet and running for the door in an instant. “Harrid, get Clyde moving!”
“Yes, sir,” Harrid said, beating Doc out of the room.
A dwarf was leaning against the wall, breathing heavily when Doc came out of the office. “Sir… help… please…”
Doc paused to heal him— he had a collection of splinters lodged in his arm. “What happened?”
“Thirty men came riding in,” the dwarf grunted in relief as the pain fled. “They started firing the moment they were seen. The last few had flaming bottles in hand. With how big the community is getting, we’re more spread out. It took a while for us to get enough people to stop them all. They’re all dead, but one of the houses burned, and we have dead and wounded: a couple of guards and some innocents.”
Doc figured the guard had been just missed by a bullet and took some wood from a building. Done healing the dwarf, Doc sprinted for the back door with Rosa on his heels.
~*~*~
Clyde didn’t spare the whip on the carriage team as they left the city. The four horses were pounding down the street the moment it was clear enough to ensure no one would get hurt. Even in the city, he’d gone faster than he normally would have.
When they got there, Clyde had the team no longer running so he could stop when needed. The moment the carriage stopped, Doc was out the door. His heart stopped racing in the next moment when he saw Onyx and Posy both helping some wounded.
“What can I do?” Doc asked as he came striding up to them.
“We got the worst of it, but you can see the next person,” Onyx said. She was healing a young man with a blood-stained bandage tied around his calf.
With the three of them there, the wounded were soon all taken care of. Doc was able to hear the story from another couple of dwarven guards. Things had been taken care of as best as possible with the bold attack. Doc had them gather anything that could be sold, wanting to help pay for the funeral costs of the two bestials who’d died in the gunfight.
When they were all done, Posy hugged Doc tightly. “The bad men won’t stop, will they?”
Doc held her back, his face grim. “They will, eventually, but maybe not soon. I was worried for you.” His gaze darted to Onyx standing a few feet away, letting her know she was included in that sentiment.
Onyx blushed, lowering her gaze. “We were in my home, safe from this. When the shooting started, I knew we’d be needed, but we waited until it went silent.”
A young male dwarf nearby watched the exchange with a stoic expression before he trudged away. Onyx’s dryad, Wita, watched the dwarf go, a smile growing on her lips.
“Thank you. Looks like Strongarm isn’t done. I’ll be going back into town to let Digger know we have more dead to collect. Might need to stop and see Donadin, too. This is getting too big to let go. Thirty men isn’t a minor action.”
“Can I come with you?” Posy asked.
“Of course.”
Onyx gave Posy a hug. “Thank you for your help, Posy. Tomorrow?”
“I’ll come back,” Posy agreed.
As they turned to go, Wita whispered to Onyx, “Coalton wants to speak with you. He left when he saw Doc’s concern.”
“Hmm? Is he okay with you?” Onyx whispered back as the pair started walking away.
“Yes, he…”
Doc heard the first few parts of their conversation before he got too far away. He smiled, happy that Wita might have someone to help her. Maybe Onyx will give him a chance, too, Doc thought. He saw the pile of dead bodies as he walked, so his mind turned back to what he’d be dealing with soon.
Chapter Thirty-nine
Doc chatted with Posy about things she’d learned helping heal the injured. Part of him hated that a young girl had seen some of the wounds she had. Posy, though, was excited to explain everything to Doc, thrilled that she could do so much.
Reaching their first stop, Doc helped Posy out after him, then both the dryads. The building was larger than the undertaker’s in Deep Gulch, but that wasn’t surprising, considering the difference in population.
Stepping into the building, the homely woman behind the counter gave them a smile. “Welcome. How can we help you today?”
“I need to speak with Grant Digger, please.”
The woman’s expression became guarded. “Whom may I say would like to speak with him?”
“Sorry. My name is Doc Holyday.”
“Holyday? From Deep Gulch?” Eyes wide, she jerked to her feet, exposing a very rounded belly.
“Yes, that’s me,” Doc said, surprised at her reaction.
“I’m Emily Digger, sir. He’s told me all about you.” She waddled out around her desk. “Thank you so much, sir,” she sniffled. “Come with me.”
Doc followed the quietly crying woman. Having seen her belly and knowing about the Digger family curse, he wished he’d known— he’d have to help their child when they were born.
“Doc, how did you help them?” Posy whispered.
“Another one of my gifts,” Doc explained, “remove curse. You don’t have access to it yet. It only lets me remove a single condition, though, not the entire curse.”
Posy chewed her lip as she thought about what he was saying. “I can’t do it yet?”
“No, but in the future, probably,” Doc replied.
They passed into an empty office, then into the workspace. Grant and two others were working on three different bodies, and Posy shuddered when she saw the tubing and buckets.
Doc squeezed her hand. “You can wait in the office with Ambrose if you want?”
“No. I’ll be okay,” Posy said firmly.
Doc was sure most of that firmness was to instill the courage in herself. “Okay.”
“Husband, there’s a man here to see you,” Emily said as she crossed the room toward him.
“Bit busy. Ask him to come back,” Grant said, his voice devoid of emotion.
“It’s Mr. Holyday, Grant.”
Grant almost dropped what he was working on. “Tell him I’ll be right out.”
Emily hurried back to Doc. “Let’s step back into the office. I didn’t mean for your daughter to see this.”
Posy giggled at being called Doc’s daughter, and her hand squeezed his.
“It’s alright, ma’am,” Doc said, leading Posy and the dryads back into the office.
“Can I get you some tea?” Emily asked, wringing her hands.
Doc was going to decline, but he could see she wanted to do something. “Please? Anything soothing would be good.”
“I’ll be right back,” Emily said before rushing off.
Grant came striding out of the back a minute later, wiping his hands on a clean cloth. “Holyday, I’m glad you’re still alive.”
“So am I,” Doc chuckled lightly. “Your wife went to make tea. Can we sit for a bit?”
“Of course.” Grant ushered them to the chairs across his desk.
“Out of curiosity, how often do you wash your hands?” Doc asked when they sat.
“Three times a day,” Grant replied. “In the morning before work, before lunch, then when I stop for the day. Clay told me that you used his alcohol to do so.”
“High enough content and it’ll kill germs,” Doc said. “Otherwise, hot water and soap.”
“I’ll see about using more water and soap. That would be cheaper over the long run.”
“Thirty seconds of scrubbing when you do,” Doc said. “Make sure to get your entire hand, too.” Holding his hands up, he mimed washing them. “Get every spot evenly, especially your nails if you’ve dug at anything.”
“You’ve not led anyone in my family wrong. I’ll institute it as a policy. I doubt you came here to talk about washing hands, though.”
“I have thirty-four dead out at the new community. Two of them will be claimed by the clan, but two of them are innocents who got caught in the crossfire. Those two bestials, I want you to do your best for. I’ll pay for their costs. The other thirty are the men who committed the murders when they attacked the community.”
Grant nodded slowly. “I dislike it when business booms.”
“So do I,” Doc said. “I’ll be going to see Donadin after this. I’m sure he’ll try to weasel out of doing his damned job again, but I’m not going to let him this time.”
“I’ll send the boys out to collect, and I’ll wish you well on your talk with the sheriff.”
Emily came bustling back into the room with a tray. Setting it on the desk, she poured four cups, asked about their preferences, then served them. She stood to Grant’s left, her cup in her hand.
“Thank you, ma’am,” Doc said after he sipped his mint tea.
“I hate to ask, but since you are here,” Grant said after a few quiet seconds. “When my child is born, will you help him as you did me?”
“I will,” Doc said. “When’s the expected due date?”
“We think it’ll be near the solstice,” Emily said. “That’s the best we can do for timing. You know how it is.”
“Nine months, give or take a few days, normally. If you’d like, I can check on you and the child.”
Emily glanced at Grant, who nodded. “Very well.” Shuffling around to him, she looked nervous. “What do I have to do?”
“Take my hand; that’s all,” Doc said. He lifted his right hand to her, his left stroking Rosa’s hair. “Lady Luck, Emily is pregnant. I want to check her health and the health of her unborn child, please.”
Emily’s breath caught when his hand, holding hers, suddenly had green energy surrounding them. Then, warmth sunk into her, and she remembered her husband coming back from Deep Gulch. He rarely ever showed emotion, but when he told her about Holyday, she could recall his lips turning into a rarely seen smile. If Holyday could help her child and free him of even part of the curse, she would praise his goddess for the rest of her life.
Doc sat back, his energy fading a minute later. “You and the child are fine. I think you’re right— about two months from now for the birth. I wish I could’ve helped Grant before the conception, but when your son is born, I’ll help remove that part of the curse so his children are no longer affected by it.”
“Thank you…” Emily sniffled, retreating back to stand beside her husband again.
Grant shifted in his seat. “Thank you, Doc. I sent word to my family who could reach the city in a couple of months. More of the Digger family will be here in a few days to weeks.”
Doc chuckled as he sipped at his tea. “I’ll be here until the solstice, at least.”
“When I heard of the duel, I knew I could safely do so,” Grant said. “I apologize if I overstepped.”
Doc reflected that Grant’s monotone voice made it hard to tell when he was being serious or sarcastic. “It’s fine. I should’ve done the same for any of the Hutmacher family. I have no idea where they are, though.”
“The hatter who went to Deep Gulch?”
“Yes.”
“I can send word to his brother in Deadshaft. I used to talk with him before he served his sentence for assault and left the city.”
“Please do,” Doc said. Taking one last sip, he set his cup down. “I should get on to the sheriff before it gets too late. Thank you for the tea, and just let me know when your family shows up.”
