Blackwell Bounty

Chapter Twenty-Two

"Doc Thompson says you ought'a be well 'nough to start stirring! Don't look at me like that, Skinny! I've had 'bout all I'm gonna take o' slavin' for you! I sure ain't your Mama. Now , get your sorry—"

"Cal," Edith interjected, barely stifling her laughter. "He's still healing."

"He ain't so bad off that he can't feed hisself, Edith!"

Cal shoved the cup into Skinny's hand, sloshing water onto the clinic bed's sheets while Skinny made a pitiful expression and slumped further against his requested three pillows.

Almost two weeks had passed since Skinny had been injured. Every day his disposition improved, Cal's temperament became worse. Watching the two of them, Edith couldn't help but smile and laugh in amusement, though she did so discreetly, hoping Cal wouldn't notice. He tended to assume she was taking Skinny's side in matters when she laughed at his anger, but it was difficult not to be amused.

However, no matter how demanding or whiny Skinny could be, it was obvious Cal would rather have his nephew alive and annoying instead of dying or dead.

"Miss Edith, make 'im stop yellin'. He's givin' me a headache again," Skinny complained.

Curling his hands into fists, Cal snapped, "If you don't stop whining I'm gonna put you outta yer misery like a lame horse."

This time Edith couldn't hold back her mirthfulness. Her head fell back as laughter spilled from her lips. Cal whirled to glare at her, but she had long since lost any fear of his ire.

From down the hall, Edith heard Doctor Thompson yell, "If you boys don't stop your gripin' I'm gonna make ya stay o'er at the hotel for good. That's the last time I'm tellin' ya!"

"I s'ppose it falls to me to make you two mind what the Doc says," said Edith after she had recovered from her laughing fit. She went to Cal's side and reached for his hand. Instantly, he relaxed, allowing her to uncurl his fist so she could twine her fingers through his. "We'll leave you be so you can get a bit more rest before the trip back to Blackwell, Skinny."

Skinny nodded at her gratefully before shooting his uncle a smug look. Before Cal could retaliate, Edith quickly urged him to follow her, tugging at his hand as she said, "Come along, Cal. We told Papa we'd meet him for supper this evenin'."

While Edith and Calvin had spent the last several days in Milford with Skinny, Sheriff Wyatt had seen to the transport of the captured crooks and the returned stolen money. He'd trusted Cal with Edith's care, and Cal hadn't wavered for a moment in his duties. Seeing that this was a serious opportunity to gain the sheriff's trust, Cal had watched over Edith like a hawk the past few days, even more vigilantly than before. Every morning he arrived outside her hotel room at the same time and waited out in the hall for her to ready herself for the day—he was unfailingly chaste, especially when it came to her privacy—and walked her back to her room every evening. Throughout the day they visited with Skinny, and Edith helped Edna around the hotel. The woman would accept no payment for their upkeep, saying that they'd done the town a service by ridding them of Amos' evils, so Edith repaid her through extra chores. Other than that, Cal scarcely allowed Edith out of his sight.