Free Quicksilver Passion by Georgina Gentry - Colorado 01 - Quicksilver Passion Page A

was he thinking of? She was a whore; she belonged to any man who paid for her time.
    They needed a doctor. Cherokee stood up, went to the window, and looked out.It’s getting worse.”
    As if to taunt him, a blast of cold air rattled the windows. At least there was plenty of food here inside, and they could melt snow for water. Firewood lay stacked in the corner near the fireplace. Even the burro was cozy in its shed on the backside of the cabin. Yes, the three men and the burro could manage to ride out the storm, but the girl needed help now.
    Cherokee made his decision as he turned away from the window.I have to make it into town and bring the doctor.”
    Willie and Bill both made sounds of dismay.You mean, leave us to try to look after Miss Silver?”
    Cherokee shrugged.Someone’s got to.”
    Willie wrung his hands.But we don’t know nothin’ about no doctorin’!”
    Phash! He’s right!” Bill protested,That’s something we don’t know nothin’ about. Why don’t you take care of her and Willie and me’ll go for help?”
    You’d never make it,” Cherokee sighed, leaning over to check the girl’s color with a critical eye. Her fair skin looked starkly white against the scarlet blood that smeared her shoulder. It was bleeding again and she began to shiver.
    Cherokee felt her clothing. It was not only dirty, but damp in spots because of the small trickle of water in the gully and the snow that had melted beneath her body before Cherokee picked her up.
    Both old-timers stood staring down at the unconscious girl. Bill wiped his eyes again.I swear I never meant to hurt Miss Silver! Every man in the territory worships her.”
    Including me , Cherokee thought with sudden realization, but he didn’t say that.I know, Bill,” he said, and patted his partner’s shoulder.Everyone’ll know you didn’t go to do it; you didn’t do it apurpose.”
    That don’t make me feel any better,” Bill said. He went over to the window and looked out.It’s gettin’ dark out there and the storm’s not letting up. It’s my fault she’s hurt; I’ll go for the doctor.”
    No,” Willie protested,I’m younger than you, you old coot, and in better shape, too! I’ll be the one to go.”
    Neither of you have as good a chance as I do of making it,” Cherokee argued.
    But she needs someone who knows what he’s doing,” they said almost in unison.
    Cherokee,” Willie said, scratching his straggly beard with his misshapen hand,why don’t you doctor the girl and we’ll both go for help.”
    No, I can’t let you do that. You might not even make it to town. I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to you two!”
    And can you live with yourself if we stay here where it’s warm and safe, and Miss Silver dies?” Bill asked.
    What a decision to make. Cherokee looked at him helplessly, unable to deny the logic of his partner’s words. What good would it do if Cherokee left her in their clumsy, inept care, and she died while he was bringing back Doc? In that case, Cherokee didn’t even think he’d care if that short-tempered watchdog of hers came looking for him with a shotgun.
     
     
    Al went to the window at the Nugget, stared out a long moment, then checked his watch. The streets of Buckskin Joe were deserted in the bluster of a cold late afternoon. He shouldn’t worry so much. Any moment now, Silver would come riding up, and he would scold her for her wild, reckless impulse. He never should have let her go in the first place.
    As if he could stop her. No one stopped Silver from doing what she wanted to do. His belly began to hurt again and he took a big swallow of the tonic. The laudanum and the alcohol helped dull the pain that was almost constant now. Two years at the outside, the sawbones in Chicago had said. How old was he? Forty-one. He wouldn’t live to reach the half-century mark.
    It was the day the doctor told him the news that Al made the decision to betray his boss and help Silver. A man ought to do at