I worked waiting tables for three days, until Edith thought safe to return to work and leave Marta alone. I won’t say that the baby, Charles Lorenzo Gold, was the spitting image of his father, but he was a cute little rascal. I was sitting at the table, sipping coffee when Doc ambled in. He had been rather busy the past week or so, and plopped himself down in the chair.
“Don’t bother to get up, Doc. I’ll get you a cup of coffee,” I said sarcastically for which I received a scowl.
He continued to glare at me until I set the cup down and he reached to pick it up and take a sip. Then the scowl diminished with a slight moan escaping him. “You didn’t make this!” he stated.
I wanted to lie and tell him I did, but decided to tell the truth. “No, Emelda did.”
“Thought so,” he mumbled, then added, “I thought Molly was going to hire some additional staff.”
“Doc, you need to take a day off. Go fishin’ or somethin’; you’re as grouchy as an ol’ bear.”
“I wouldn’t be if you wouldn’t be shootin’ up everyone you meet,” he barked, then saw the pain that momentarily came across my face. “I’m sorry, Miles, you’re right, why with the emergencies and my regular duties I’m just tuckered out.”
“Lucas is back working at the jail, and I don’t think Dover or Doner will give us any trouble. They may have chosen the outlaw trail, but I think they’re sorry for their choice. I think they could be useful citizens if given the chance.”
For that I received a grunt then he sat his cup down. “I went up to see Wilson Foster yesterday. Pitiful, just plain pitiful.”
I threw my hand up against my head. “Dummy!” I said out loud. “Darnelle asked me to go see him, and with working for Molly I plum forgot.”
He picked up his cup and took the last swallow. “You better hurry up, he won’t last much longer. Could go anytime,” he paused, holding out his cup. I got up to grab the coffeepot to refill both our cups. When I sat back down, Doc continued with his thought. “Miles, the good Lord has only allotted us so many days in this life. Some more, some fewer. Most of the time, we don’t know when our last day will come, or how, but it’s one appointment for which we’ll not be late,” he paused again to take a sip of the hot coffee. “The Lord knows our coming and going.”
Molly had finished with her tables, and came over to where we were sitting. “Sit down, young lady,” ordered Doc. “When are you going to hire additional help? I don’t like to see Miles out there with an apron on; it’s not good for the image of a peace officer.”
“With Marta at home, Emelda is helping me interview a person tomorrow,” Molly informed us.
“Molly, why don’t you go to the school and see if any of those young girls would like a job?” questioned Doc.
He had just finished his remark and before Molly could answer Charlie walked into the diner. “What are you doing here Charlie Gold? You need to be back with your wife and child,” snapped Doc. He seemed to be in a delicate mood this morning.
“Time to head up to Silverton, check things out,” he replied, motioning for a cup.
“You’ll do no such a thing!” declared Doc. “Marta had a rough time, and she’ll need you around for a spell.”
I wasn’t about to say anything, but Molly looked over at me. “Why, Charlie, let Miles go on up to Silverton,” she suggested. “He needs to get out of town for a while anyway.”
It didn’t take me long to respond. “Is it urgent? And if not I’ll ride Hawk up. I haven’t been over the mountains in quite some time.”
He told me what I needed to know, but then there are always surprises…