A Woman Doctor in the Wild West (Laramie fanfic)

March 6, 1870

Now I’m halfway to Laramie, Wyoming. Where I am going to stand in for the doctor while he visits a hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.

I find it rather bumpy on this stagecoach, but that’s expected. There’s been nothing but grassy plains and hills. Mountains and animals. There is one other passenger on this stage and it is a man. Not from the city, I could see that. He was in dark clothes and a start of a beard. He was a sight that’s for sure! Now let’s see. I’ve tried to talk to him but no progress in a conversation so I quit trying halfway through the trip.

Well, we’ve arrived at a relay station. I’ve already lost track of how many stations we stopped at. I’ am glad to get off this stagecoach.

The driver opened the door and told us to stretch our legs. He helped me out and then went inside the station. A dark haired boy came running out and he greeted me, then tended to the horses. I walked over.

“Hello, what’s your name?”

The boy gave me a nervous sideways glance but replied politely, “Andy, Ma’am.”

“Andy.” I thought before speaking. “That’s a nice name. Mine’s Stella McKinzey. How old are you, Andy?”

“Thirteen. Would you like to go inside and rest a bit? The horses will need rest, because last night the horses were stolen. That’s where my brother and our friend is, rounding up the horses.”

“Oh, okay. Thank you, Andy.” I smiled and he smiled back.

The house was small and consisted of three other rooms. A kitchen and two bedrooms. I was offered a seat at the table by a man who called himself ‘Jonesy’. Minutes later, Andy came running in and gasped for breath as he clung to Jonesy’s sleeve.

“Breathe, easy boy. What is it?”

“It’s Jess and Slim, Jonesy…” He trailed off and closed his eyes.

“What about them?” Jonesy looked out the window and hurried to the door.

All three of us travelers stood up and joined Jonesy at the door. Two men were out there, one dark haired one was being supported by the other, who also looked in a bad way as well. My instincts kicked in and I immediately rushed out and helped. We laid him on the couch under the window and I checked his pulse, then saw the bullet wound. It appeared to have entered and exited on his left side. Near his heart. Maybe one more inch and it would have killed him. I frowned and tore his shirt open then fingered his rib cage.

“What are you doing?” The blond one breathed out when I ripped his shirt open.

“He has a few broken ribs and a bullet wound that is well cared for.” I turned my gaze on him and smiled.

“I cleaned it and we lost the bandage when he slipped from the horse.”

“He slipped from the horse?”

“Yeah. He hit his head.”

“What happened anyways?” Jonesy queried and he brought in some bandages.

“First them horse thieves ambushed us, Jess caught a bullet, I got into a fight with the guy who shot him an’ then we were coming home when Jess slipped from the horse and so then I had to ride double.”

“You sound like you’ve had your fair share of troubles.” I stated and held my hand out. “I’m Stella McKinzey, the substitute doctor for Laramie.”

“A what?” Slim gasped as he shook my hand.

“You heard me. A doctor.”

“But you’re…”