Chapter Fifteen

The streets of Caudilltown were slick with snow, ice and mud as Turner made his way down them on Bernice’s back. The sun was beginning its downward descent in the sky and Will knew it had be going on two in the afternoon. If he got the medicine quickly and he and Bernice made good time on the return trip, they might just beat hard dark.

Turner pulled up on the reigns as when they approached the doc’s fancy medicine shop that boasted of having all the best elixirs and cures this side of the Mississippi river.

He didn’t worry about hitching Bernice up to the post. That horse had been by his side for sixteen years and he knew she wasn’t about to run away from him now.

Turner stepped into the warm shop and pulled off his hat and gloves as he approached the counter. Ringing the brass bell that sat there, he waited on someone to come out and assist him. Doctor Rawling’s son, Timothy, came in from the back and he smiled broadly at the sight of Turner, “Well look what the cat drug in!” he drawled slowly. “It seems even a blizzard can’t keep the riffraff out of town.”

Turner didn’t respond to the man’s goading. He had always had a hatred for Timothy Rawling. The man was his age, or a few years younger, and had been a pain in Turner’s ass since he’d moved up on that mountain. Turner usually only came to town every couple of months but Timothy made sure to get in his smart remarks in every single time.

“I need to purchase some things,” Turner replied. “Where is your pa?”

“Busy,” Timothy bent down and rested his elbows on the heavy oak counter, “What’s the matter, Turner? Is your mare sick? How will your lonely heart survive without that flea bitten old hag? You’ll have to find some other farm critter to keep your bed warm.”

“Your hot air knows no limits, does it, Timothy?” Turner questioned dryly.

Timothy’s beady little blue eyes narrowed, “Don’t be getting smart, mountain man.” Timothy’s gaze went behind Turner, “Hey where’s that hound of yours? Did it finally meet its fate under the hooves of a horse on the road?”

Turner shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest, “No, and if you ever try to kill my dog again, Timothy, I’ll put a bullet in your head myself. I’ve killed men for much less.”

Timothy just laughed softly, “So what is you’re needing, Turner?”

“I need something for cough and something for fever.”

“You don’t look sick, who’s this for?” Timothy asked, not raising up from his lounged position.

Turner felt eyes on the back of his head and moved to the side as he turned. His fist clenched when he saw Thompson Caudill flanked by two of his lap dogs, Jasper and Creedence. Jasper was tall and lanky and lacked a brain between his ears while Creedence was short, stocky and never said much of anything but always seemed to be thinking.

“I thought that was your horse outside, Turner. What brings you off the mountain today?”

Before Turner could respond, Timothy spoke, “He’s getting some medicine, Thompson. Apparently he needs something for cough and fever.”

Thompson frowned and stroked his mustache, “You don’t seem sick, Turner. I thought you lived alone.”

Turner didn’t respond for a moment. He simply stood there and stared Thompson down. He’d never much cared for Thompson but he hadn’t felt any real dislike or hate for the man either. Thompson was a man who had done anything and everything to gain the power he had and continued to do anything and everything to keep it.

He considered himself Mayor, King, judge and jury of Caudilltown and had even had it named after himself. No one went against him and most folks strived to stay on his good side. If you were on Thompson’s good side he was the best man around, offering money, protection and just about anything a person could want but get on his bad side…. Leave it to say that folks on his bad side didn’t seem to last long.

Now Turner found that his indifference for Thompson had quickly become hatred. Knowing that this man had somehow forced Will to work in that brothel and allowed men to rape him made Turner itch to put a bullet in the man’s face himself.

“I do live alone, Thompson,” Turner finally replied, his voice cold and smooth, “I just can’t bring myself to be among people.”

Thompson grinned, “That’s what I like about you, Turner!” he boasted as he reached out and patted him on the back. Turner suddenly regretted leaving his rifle on the saddle. He’d like to have it and shove it down Thompson’s throat before pulling the trigger. “You’re a man of few words and you’ve never caused this town a bit of trouble--or me for that matter.”

“Glad to help,” Turner mumbled. He turned back to Timothy, “Can you get what I need?”

Timothy glanced at Thompson as if seeking permission. Turner rolled his eyes. He didn’t understand why anyone would bow down to one person quite so much as this entire down did Thompson Caudill.

Thompson nodded at Timothy and the man grabbed a sack and began looking over the shelves behind him. Thompson turned his attention back to Turner, “What are you here buying medicine for if you aren’t ill?” he questioned.

Turner met his gaze, “I can’t see how that’s any of your business.”

Both Jasper and Creedence moved forward but Thompson shook his head, stopping them both in their tracks, “You shouldn’t be rude to me, Turner. It’s not a wise choice in my town.”

Turner moved his hand away from the handle of his knife and shrugged, “I wasn’t trying to be rude, Thomspon. I was just speaking the truth as I saw it.”

Thompson offered a cold smile, “Answer my question, Turner.”

Turner sighed. He had no choice really. He was good at killing people but not four well armed men inside a tiny building. Even he wasn’t that good, “I like to be prepared, Thompson. You never know when you might take ill.”

Timothy sat the sack on the counter, “I got you some willow bark tea, laudanum and cough syrup.”

Turner nodded his thanks, laid money on the counter and turned to walk out only to find his path blocked by Thompson and the dim-witted duo.

“So, you mean to tell me that you came down that treacherous mountain path covered in several feet of snow and ice on a mare that is ready to be put out to pasture permanently to buy medicine just in case you happen to take ill sometime soon?” Thompson questioned skeptically.

Turner nodded and then shouldered his way through the trio, knocking them out of his way, “Yep.”

“Well I’ll tell you what, Turner, you are the most clairvoyant son of a bitch I’ve ever seen to know you might just need that medicine soon. There’s not many other men I know that can sense a thing like that.”

Turner growled and rolled his shoulders when he realized the bastard had followed him outside. He was growing very tired of this back and forth between them. He put Will’s medicine in a saddlebag before hopping up on Bernice.

He turned her to head home but a hand reached out and grabbed her bridle, stopping her in her tracks while she snorted irritably. Turner kept his face a mask of indifference as he looked down at Thompson.

“I’m looking for someone, Turner.”

Turner raised a brow, “Who?”

“A man who was working for me. He took off the night the blizzard moved in and headed up the mountain.”

Turner clicked his tongue, “I’d say he’s still on that mountain. Frozen solid and buried under a few feet of snow.”

Thompson’s blue eyes studied him sharply, “You’re sure you haven’t seen him? Blond, green eyes, good-looking kid I suppose. He stole quite a bit of money from me, Turner, and I’d like to see him back here to pay for what he did.”

Turner shook his head and squinted into the sun before looking directly into Thompson’s eyes, “I haven’t seen a soul, Thompson, but I’ll keep my eye out for him.”

Thompson took a step back and nodded, “You do that, Turner.” He patted Bernice on the hindquarters and started the mare into jerking forward several steps.

Turner fought for control of her a moment and heard the men laughing behind him. He chose to let that go and simply rode on out of town without another word.

Thompson Caudill was looking for Will. Turner didn’t believe the story about stolen money for a single moment. Trouble might just be coming his and Will’s way and Turner knew that as soon as Will was well again the man was going to have to tell him everything about Thompson Caudill and why exactly the man wanted him so badly.

***

It took Turner nearly twice as long to return to the cabin as it had to get to town. He took his time for a while to ensure he wasn’t being followed and then he had taken the time to cause several rock falls and down a few trees across the only trail up the mountain to his cabin.

If someone wanted to get to his cabin they wouldn’t be able to do so until the snow and ice melted… of course that meant he wouldn’t be getting back to town until the snow melted either. Turner could only hope that this medicine would do the trick for Will and the man wouldn’t need to get to the doctor.

Hard dark was heavy around them as he and Bernice approached the cabin. Turner quickly bedded Bernice down for the night, took the medicine from the saddlebags and jogged to the cabin.

Will was still lying in the bed right where Turner had left him. Turner pulled off his hat and gloves and strode across the room to the bed. Beaux whimpered and raised his head from Will’s stomach.

“Will?” Turner whispered as he crouched down beside the bed. “Will, I have medicine.”

Will’s eyes opened and he smiled sleepily, “I missed you,” he gasped before letting out a lung wracking cough that caused him to wince with pain.

Turner slid damp hair from Will’s sweaty brow and kissed the heated skin, “I missed you too.” Turner stood and went to the kitchen. He grabbed a spoon from the cupboard and stepped back to the bed.

“You’ll have to sit up a bit, Will,” Turner urged.

Will nodded and Turner helped him to sit up against the wall. Turner poured a bit of the cough medicine into the spoon and pressed to Will’s mouth. He swallowed it down and nearly gagged, “That’s horrible!”

“I know,” Turner fought back a laugh. “But it will help you.” He grabbed the bottle of laudanum and was going to pour it into the spoon but Will shook his head, “I won’t….take that,” he argued. He coughed and laid his hand over his chest.

“You need it for the fever, Will….” Turner urged.

Will shook his head, “I won’t take laudanum, Turner. I…can’t.”

Turner sighed and sat it on the table, “Stubbornness isn’t your most attractive feature,” he mumbled. “Rest now and I’ll brew you some willow bard tea. That’ll help your fever.”

Will’s eyes slipped closed before Turner even had time to stand straight. He grabbed up a pan and scooped some fresh water from the bucket in the kitchen.

All he could do was hope that Will would recover quickly…. He refused to allow himself to believe that any other outcome was possible.

A/N: Hope y'all liked it! Seems like trouble might be coming Turner and Will's way!! dun dun dun :) I also want to let you picture this... I have a new puppy. Her name is Frankie and while her mother is a Chihuahua and her father a miniature daschound, i'm convinced that she must also be part parrot because she is currently curled up on my shoulder asleep......