MAIL ORDER OLIVIA by Kathleen Lawless

Author:Kathleen Lawless [Lawless, Kathleen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Telegraph Bay Publishing
Published: 2020-06-25T05:00:00+00:00

How life had changed in a few short weeks. Where before, Robert frequently worked late at the clinic, these days he was eager to shut the door on his last patient so he could hurry home to Olivia and Chloe. He had just packed his bag and was prepared to leave when the sheriff arrived. Robert bit back his impatience as he greeted the man.

“Evening, doc. Got a minute?”

“Certainly.” Robert indicated two chairs in his waiting room. “Any update on those ruffians who showed up here the other day?”

“Nothing from Philly, yet.” Sheriff took out a well-work notebook. “This here is something of a more delicate nature.”

“Go on.”

“Concerns that Weiss woman. The one living at your old family home.”

“What about her?”

“Had some complaints lately. A few of the townsfolk worried that she’s an unfit mother. Claims her young ’uns are neglected. Last week they got caught stealing food from the General Store. Claimed they were hungry. Turns out they’re skipping school, as well. Could be the other kids are picking on them and their ma lets them stay away, but we can’t have ’em running around town getting into trouble. That kind of behavior bodes ill for the entire town.”

“What would you like me to do about it?”

“Maybe you could have a word with her? Convince her that perhaps she’d be better off in a different town. Some place where no one knows her past.”

“What of the youngsters?”

Sheriff shrugged. “You don’t know for sure they’re kin of yours.”

“I have no evidence of it, other than what their mother says. All I know is, Marianne did spend time with my father some years back.”

“When your ma was still alive?”

Robert stiffened. “I don’t condone my father’s actions.”

“And he’s not here to deal with the consequences,” sheriff said, as he stood. “I know Hicks advised you against transferring the deed for the house to that woman.”

“Hicks is behind the times. A woman has as much right to own property as a man does.”

Sheriff snorted. “Next thing you know, some big shot in Tucson will give ladies the vote, same as happened in Wyoming.”

“That’s true. And I don’t think it will be a bad thing all around.”

The sheriff pulled a face. “Nothing much will change. Most wives will vote for whoever their husbands tell them to. So you’ll talk to Mrs. Weiss? Or whatever name she’s going by these days?”

“I don’t expect it will do any good, but I’ll try.”

Sheriff clapped him on the shoulder. “You might be those youngsters’ only chance.”

Robert locked the clinic door behind himself and the sheriff before he headed home. How typical for his father to continue to cause difficulties, years after he was dead.

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