Page 39 of A Bride for Brodie

“Me, too. I love you, Brodie, with all my heart.”

“I love you, too. Let’s go see the doctor. I have a feeling that Flannery will be behind bars for a long time.”

She took his arm, and they walked toward the doctor’s office again.

He covered her hand at the crook of his right elbow with his left hand. “I’m so sorry for all you’ve been through. Your life hasn’t been an easy one until now, but I intend to make it easier when we move into our own home. I’ll get you a cook and a housekeeper. You won’t have to lift a finger.”

She stopped walking and stared up at him. “I thought you wanted me to enjoy my life.”

He shrugged. “I do.”

“Then why are you taking everything away? I want to take care of my home. I want to cook meals for my family. I’m an excellent cook because I learned from the best.”

“But—”

“No buts. I will be the only one to take care of my home and family.”

Brodie grinned and shook his head. “Whatever you want, darlin’. Whatever you want.”

They walked the five blocks up the street toward The Prescott Hotel and Doc Chandler’s office. It was very early yet. The sun had just risen and bathed the town in a bright yellow glow.

Brodie knocked and then waited for Doc to answer.

Irene Chandler opened the door and ushered them inside with a wave of her arm.

He greeted the woman. “Hi, Irene. Is the doctor up yet?”

She ushered them inside. “He is. What brings you two in so early? Goodness, the sun’s barely up.”

“It’s a long story, and it’s been a long night,” said Lottie. “Suffice it to say, I’ve injured my wrists and Jake Flannery is going to jail.”

Irene stood and came around the desk. “About time. I’m not even going to ask what for. We get his girls in here with all kinds of things and then there’s the occasional person who has some uncommon injuries. I could go on and on, but let’s go see Doc.”

She led the way down the hallway to Lottie’s left and to the last door on the right, which stood open. “Doc, you have a patient.” She patted Lottie’s shoulder. “He’ll take good care of you.” Then Irene left the room and headed back to the front of the building.

A table covered with a sheet dominated the room. Doc Chandler looked up from his doctor’s bag which sat on the counter along one wall. The cupboards above the counter were wide open and full of bottles of various sizes and colors. A couple of the drawers on the right side below the counter were open as well. “Well, it’s some of the Campbells. What do you need today? Expecting already?”

Brodie stopped and looked down at Lottie.

She lifted one shoulder and both eyebrows.

“Well, it’s probably too soon for you to know if you’re expecting, so I doubt that’s what brought you in. What do we have here?” He looked down at Lottie’s hands. Then he walked over and lifted her right arm enough to inspect her wrist. “Lottie, my poor girl, what in the world happened to you?”

She lifted her left arm. “For reasons I won’t go into right now, Jake Flannery kidnapped me and tied me up in a shed. I escaped, but tore up my wrists to do it.”

“Come on over here, you poor thing, and we’ll get you taken care of. I’m going to have to clean the wounds first, and I’ll tell you now, it will hurt. I’ll give you a dose of laudanum and hope that will help with the pain.”

“They are kind of numb right now, Doc, and after being given something that knocked me out completely, I’m a little nervous now of taking anything.”

“What did they give you?” Doc stopped his preparations and gazed at her directly.

“I don’t know. All I remember is Joey putting a cloth over my face and a sweet smell.”

Doc nodded. “Ether. That’s what they gave you and it shouldn’t have any interaction with the laudanum. When I clean them, I’ll be as gentle as I can, but it will hurt. Trust me on this.” He walked to the cabinets and took a dark brown bottle out of the upper cupboards and poured some into a teaspoon, then walked back to Lottie. “Here you go.” He gave her the medicine. “It doesn’t taste good, but it works.”

Lottie sputtered at the bitter flavor and then coughed. “That is nasty stuff. I hate it, but I’ve had laudanum before and you’re right, it does work.”

“Let’s get your sleeves rolled up while we give that some time to work.” He carefully folded back both of her sleeves, tsking the entire time. “I hate to see these injuries. Yours are not the first I’ve seen, but are definitely the worst. Usually there’s some bruising and maybe a little abrasion, but nothing like this. I’m glad you escaped your bonds, but wish you hadn’t had to.”