Senor Marshal, Lucas, he is asking for you,” came the anxious voice of Alejo. “I’ll stay in the office until I hear from my father, or you come back.”
I nodded then headed for the door. I was a mite concerned over Lucas’ condition as he was carried out bloody and unconscious. When I stepped on the boardwalk I looked both directions and to my left I saw Darnelle hurrying toward me. “Miles, Miles, wait,” she hollered.
A few more minutes wouldn’t make the difference, I hoped, so I stopped until Darnelle came up to me. “I heard the shooting, is there anything I can do?”
Sighing, I told her briefly what had happened. “There was an attempted jail break, and durin’ it Lucas was shot.”
Her right hand flew up to her mouth and she gasped, “Oh no! I’ll be praying for him. I know you’re in a rush, but when you get the time stop by, I must talk with you.” I nodded, then stepped out into the street heading for Doc Jones’ office.
I strode hurriedly down the street, thinking that we had sure kept him busy lately. When I entered the outer office, Lucas was lying on the table that Doc uses to examine patients. Mateo, Charlie, Parson Chapman were there along with Doc who was wrapping the head of Lucas. I had just stepped up to the table when Marta burst through the door, crying and uttering fitful words of Spanish that I didn’t understand. She pushed me out of the way and tried to get to Lucas.
“Someone grab her!” yelled Doc. “I need to finish up with Lucas and he doesn’t need to be manhandled right now.”
Charlie stepped to grasp her, and she beat on his chest. He then held her tight, speaking in her ear that Lucas was going to be alright, that Doc needed to finish his ministrations on him. She settled down in his arms, watching Doc wrap a bandage around the head of Lucas which was already showing signs of blood seeping through.
When he finished, he looked at Marta. “Go ahead and talk with him, but don’t be grabbing and jerking him around. His head is already pounding like a hammer had smashed it.”
Marta pulled away from Charlie and stepped to the examining table. Lucas was conscious though he kept his eyes squinted; he said the light bothered him. Marta took his hand and began to weep. “Hermana renuncio,” he barked. “Escapar!”
His eyes opened wider and he looked around. “I want to see Senor Miles,” he informed all of us.
Marta sort of glared at me when I approached, but she backed off to the head of the table. “I’m here, Lucas.”
“I’m sorry I failed, Senor. I tried.”
“Failed! Lucas, you did your job!”
His eyes widened in surprise, then quickly shut tightly. “I don’t understand…the prisoner…”
“Easy, just take it easy. The prisoner is in his cell. You did good,” I told him. “Now, rest, you’ve got a graze along the side of your head.”
He gave a slight smile, then closed his eyes. Marta pushed me away. “Lucas! Lucas! Don’t die!”
“Marta, he’s not going to die. He’s sleeping, and that’s what he needs–rest! Now all of you get! I’ll watch over him. He’s got a major headache with that concussion.”
“Concussion?” questioned Marta giving Doc an angry look.
“A hit on the head can cause what is called a concussion. He’ll be alright,” replied Doc now with a calm voice. “Now if you would all leave, I would appreciate it, and so would my patients.”
I saw the Parson point toward the other room where Fred Dover was still lying unconscious and Doc nodded at him. While the rest of us were leaving he went to see and pray for the other patient.
“Tell Molly, if Marta is not capable of working, Edith can come over and help,” said Doc to which I gave a nod.
I started to go see Molly, then stopped in the middle of the street to talk to Mateo telling him that Alejo was waiting for him. He started up toward the jail. I took a step that direction, but thought I should go see Molly before finding out what Darnelle needed.
There were several customers at that time, and Molly was busy. Marta, instead of going home, came in and started to work. She only worked the noon and evening rush as she was ready to deliver. I was sitting at the table, drinking a cup of coffee, when Molly was able to get a break and sit with me.
“Since you only own twenty percent of the diner you should be finding someone to work tables,” I said sort of kidding, but at the same time serious.
“Right after Marta’s baby is born,” she replied. “Now tell me about Lucas.”
I told what had happened, from beginning to end. Then said that Darnelle said she must talk to me…