Leaning back in his chair, Gabriel studied his visitor. It was a careful, speculative survey that took in all that Letitia had already noticed—and more. “What kinda work do you do?”
“Nothin’ in particular,” replied Reese, gaze straight and steady. “And everything in general.”
“Huh. That covers a wide range, now, don’t it? Whatdya think of our little community?”
“Looks to be a prosperous place.”
“Maybe so. We got our share of deadbeats and miscreants, Lord knows, but most things go along pretty smooth.”
“And well-run.”
Gabe brightened. “Well, now, there I have to give a lotta credit to our mayor, Ben Forrester. Actually this young lady’s brother by marriage. Ben is a far-seein’ fellah, looks into the future and oftentimes anticipates problems b’fore they happen. Got a bit of a temper, blows up once in a while when the situation don’t warrant, but for the most part he’s steady and good-natured. Proud to call him my friend.”
“From the way you’re defendin’ him,” offered Reese thoughtfully, “I’d say he might feel the same way about you.”
“Don’t reckon ole Ben needs much in the way of defendin’, but I thank you for that anyways. So.” Distrcted, Gabriel toyed with a spoon left in the sugar bowl. “You two spent enough time on your own, gettin’ acquainted?”
Again the exchange of glances between long-lashed eyes of sea glass green and long-lashed eyes of moonstone blue. “For now,” Letty, prying her gaze away, finally assented.
“All right, then. C’mon, let’s all head on over to the Sarsaparilla for an early supper, my treat. You can make your first public appearance as a couple, and get them ole town gossips trippin’ over their own tongues.”
Letty’s full breast lifted and fell in a soft sigh. “I’m not sure I’m ready for this yet, Gabe.”
“Shoot, honey, no time like the present. You gotta face it some time. Or else move outa town.” Cackling, he pushed back from the table, pulled himself erect, and stretched until joints popped alarmingly and muscles seemed ready to creak. “B’sides, how often do I offer to buy anyone a meal?”
“Not often,” she admitted. “Gabe likes to save his money to spend on things he can’t get for free,” she explained with a disarming smile for the man who was simply sitting quietly, absorbing and digesting.
Who replied with a shrug and a temperate, “Makes sense to me.”
“So,” said Gabriel, as he opened the front door wide so his guests could exit first, “where’dja get that scar, Reese?”
Letty, still pinning her broad-brimmed hat into place as she stepped over the threshold, let out an exasperated groan. She should have remembered the doctor’s insatiable curiosity about every matter, large or small; she should have warned Reese what he might expect from someone so interested in life, especially when it came to any detail involving his protégé.
Not to worry. The man seemed to be taking no offense at Gabe’s untoward intrusiveness; seemed, in fact, to be taking such an attitude in his stride. Probably because he had gotten a lot of sidelong looks and questions about his appearance over the years. Briefly he described, as they walked along, the battle which has nearly cost him his sight, and how the smoke and thunder and chaos had roared on in bloody confusion until at last it was no more and that particular skirmish was done.
“And this happened where?”
“The Wilderness. Virginia.”
No more. Mouth tightened and set, jaw muscles clenched, gaze lifted to seek the horizon, whole demeanor suddenly pulled in on itself: distant, reserved.
Set between Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Gen. Robert E. Lee, lasting nearly three horrendous days in May, 1864, the conflict had inflicted heavy casualties on both sides. Neither the Union nor the Confederate Army had eventually been declared a clear winner. With some 4000 men killed, and nearly 20,000 wounded, the place would be remembered more for its carnage than for any decisive victory.
“Ahuh.” Gabe’s usual bluster was surprisingly subdued. He, too, had seen combat. He had
given years of medical service in that hellish confrontation between North and South; he, better than most, understood the horror of gory wounds and utter, boundless bedlam. “You have to deal with any pain from it?”
Reese shrugged. ”Now and then, if the weather turns damp. And sometimes cold.”
r />
“Well, one thing, you won’t find much cold round these parts. I got me an herbal remedy that might help, if the scar gets to achin’ too much. Mostly wintergreen, in a liquid you can apply—my own recipe—but it helps. Any other wound leftovers you got tucked away?”
Pausing, Reese allowed a small smile to lighten his rather somber countenance. “You tryin’ to drum up business, Doc?”
“Dang it all, son, I’m always tryin’ to drum up business. But, in your case, I’m just makin’ the offer, that’s all.”
“Much obliged. I’ll keep it in mind. But not somethin’ fittin’ to discuss in a lady’s presence, d’ you think?”