Summers' Horses by Ralph Cotton

Author:Ralph Cotton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2011-05-24T04:00:00+00:00

Inside the doctor’s house, Summers found Vera Dalton rummaging through the drawers of the doctor’s oak rolltop desk. When she heard a creak on the wooden floor, she turned, startled, and saw Summers watching her.

“Oh, Will,” she said, “I was just looking for something of mine . . . I thought the doctor might have placed it somewhere in his desk.”

“I understand, ma’am,” Summers said, with little interest in what she might have been looking for. He went straight to the point. “Who was the man with his scalp torn off?”

“I don’t know,” Vera said.

“Tell me the truth,” Summers insisted without getting too demanding.

“I am, Will,” she said. “The sheriff came and got me to attend to a wolf attack. But when I got here, the man was gone. I stayed to clean up the room and the surgical instruments . . . because, well, I’d rather be here than at the saloon.”

He studied her eyes for any sign of deception, but he saw none.

“Do you know Warton Bendigo, or any of his men?” he asked.

“Warton Bendigo, no,” she said. “I understand there’s only one dove in the territory he has anything to do with. She worked down in McCabe until she quit and left town.”

So far, so good, Summers decided.

She shrugged. “But sure, I know most or all of his men. His crazy sons too. I wouldn’t be much of a dove if I didn’t know that whole bunch.”

Summers looked at her and let out a breath. She wasn’t afraid of the Bendigos, and she wasn’t lying, he was certain of it. He offered a slight smile, hoping he hadn’t been too strong with his words or manner.

“I don’t think you’re much of a dove anyway, Vera,” he said. “I think you’re one hell of a fine doctor.”

She stared down at the floor for a moment, gathering her emotions; then she raised her face and said, “Why, thank you, Will Summers. It is most kind of you to say so.”

“Is Layla sleeping?” he asked.

“Resting,” said Vera, “but I’m sure she’s not asleep yet. Keeping her eyes closed is best for now. They’re healing remarkably well. But you can talk to her if you need to.”

“No,” Summers said, “let her rest.” After a moment’s pause, he asked Vera in a lowered tone of voice, “Do you believe she doesn’t remember anything about what happened?”

“She’s very convincing,” Vera said. “I can understand a woman not remembering such a thing—”

“That’s not an answer,” Summers said quietly, cutting her off.

Vera stared into his eyes for a moment, wanting to know why he was asking, not about to give anything up on her sister of circumstance.

Summers saw the look and said, “Is she going to change her story, if she’s pressed very hard to do so?”

“You mean is she going to start remembering things if somebody tries to force her to?” she asked. She shook her head. “No, I don’t think so, Will. We come from the same place in life, she and I. Doves give themselves up in the flesh.

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