growth, but that policy resulted in a town that was dying off. My wife and others are trying to reverse that.”
“A new mission for you?” Jubal heard the longing in his own voice.
“Something like that. I didn’t know how much I needed one until I came here. But that’s not why you wanted to see me. I gathered from Clint that you have something on your mind.”
In the short time they’d been together, Jubal sensed he could trust Josh’s discretion. He told him about the kid.
Josh listened without commenting until Jubal finished. “He’s probably the brother of Lisa Redding, the new doctor in town,” Josh said. “I understand he got into some trouble back in Chicago.”
“It’s your property,” Jubal said. “I thought you should know.”
“And you want my input?”
“It’s your town. Your cabin. Your dock. I don’t want to do anything that would put you in a bad spot.”
“Can’t see how unless you intend bodily harm.”
“Other than throwing him into the lake?”
Josh chuckled. “Haven’t heard anything about it this morning so I think your kid is keeping silent.”
“He’s not ‘my’ kid.”
Josh met his gaze. “I would have done the same thing—except maybe throwing him in the lake. I don’t like cold water.”
“Yeah, but he’s the brother of your new doctor, who, I’d imagine, is important to the town.”
“She is. We’ve been looking for a doctor for months and Dr. Redding is said to be a very good one.”
“And,” Jubal continued, “according to the kid, she considers the military ‘fascists.’” He paused. “I wouldn’t want to be responsible for her leaving because of this.”
“Well, I get the impression she’s made of stronger stuff than to turn and run. She also has a contract. As for the ‘fascist’ comment, I met her several weeks ago and she seemed perfectly fine with me, and I’m pretty sure she knows I’m ex-military. Eve did say Lisa was concerned about Gordon and it was the main reason she moved here.
“As for the kid himself,” Josh said, “he may not show up. If he doesn’t, I would forget about it. You probably scared the hell out of him. And if you didn’t, the lake probably did.”
“And if he does?”
“It would be a step in the right direction.”
“What could he do around the cabin?”
“Maybe build a bench on the deck?” Josh suggested. “I’ve always kinda wanted one.”
“And say nothing to the sister?”
“We probably should,” Josh said with a wry smile. “But then he might get defensive and act out more.”
“I know,” Jubal said. “Been there. Done that.”
Josh chuckled. “Me, too.”
“What will your wife think about this? I hear she’s the mayor.”
“Truth be told, I’m not sure. She keeps surprising me. She has a devious soul underneath an innocent facade. She can be more concerned about the end rather than the means. I think she would approve, unless we lose the doctor. Then there will be hell to pay.”
Jubal didn’t answer. He felt trapped in a spiderweb but then he was the one who decided to reform the kid on his own. He just damn well couldn’t figure out why he cared as much as he did.
Josh looked at him sympathetically. “Just don’t become a cause with my wife. You’ll never know what hit you. When I came here, I was a confirmed loner, mad at the world. Now I have a ranch, a wife, a son, five dogs, two horses and a crazy cat. And, God help me, I’m a businessman with a huge bank loan.”
Jubal had no idea what Josh had been like before, but now his eyes were alive with humor and, obviously, love. For the slightest sliver of time, he felt envy.
Josh interrupted the thought. “Now it’s time to introduce you to Maude’s steaks.”
* * *
LISA KNOCKED ON Dr. Bradley’s door. A kind-looking woman who appeared to be in her seventies opened the door.
“You must be Dr. Redding,” the woman said. “I’m Gloria Bradley and I’m so pleased you’re here. A physician who has been filling in for him had to leave three weeks ago. Janie can handle a lot of the problems, but my husband took several calls. It worried me to death.”
She led the way into a comfortable-looking living room. Dr. Bradley sat in a wheelchair next to a table piled high with folders.
“’Bout time,” Dr. Bradley groused as she was shown a chair next to him. “Thought you were going to be here three days ago.”
She would have been had there not been complications in Gordon’s court case. There was no qualified probation officer in Covenant Falls. An arrangement was worked out with the office in Pueblo whereby the local police in Covenant Falls would keep in contact with Gordon and report any probation violations. But she didn’t want to go into all that with Dr. Bradley. “I’m sorry,” she said. “We had last-minute complications.”
He turned then to the stack of folders on the table. “These are the records of our chronically ill patients. Heart disease, diabetes, cancer.” He discussed each case, often adding a wry comment about personal quirks of the patient.
She took notes on everything and silently vowed to do more research on ailments specific to the community. “I was thinking about holding an open house,” she ventured.
He raised a bushy white eyebrow. “Don’t know if that would be a good idea,” he warned. “The entire town would come to meet the new doctor. And if you had a series of them, you would have to figure out a way to string out the invitations as to not offend anyone. And they would expect to be fed.”
“Maybe not such a good idea?” Lisa winced.
“Don’t think so. If you want to get to know people, go to the churches. You’ll meet a lot of our patients there. You’ll be invited to a lot of homes, but again, people will be unhappy if you go to Mrs. Smith’s house and not theirs.”
She was getting a headache. This country doctor thing was more complicated than she’d thought.
“One more thing,” he said. “A lot of people here don’t have much money, but they have a lot of pride, so my billing system might seem a bit peculiar to someone who hasn’t been in private practice. Janie can fill you in on that.”
She nodded. They had already worked out the terms. She was to receive a salary, not rely on income. The salary wasn’t high but it was better than a resident’s salary and even the fellowship’s. And she had free rent and what looked like a very low cost of living compared to Chicago.
Dr.
