Free The Marshal Meets His Match by Clari Dees Page A

you available to run an errand for me?”
    “Yup, I was keepin’ a lookout for ya. I’m to let Mrs. Van Deusen know when you get back here ‘cause she’s gonna bring you a plate of supper, and she’ll give me my choice of candy next time I’m in the store.” Billy nodded, grinning. “I reckon I kin do that when I run your errand.”
    Meri grinned in response to Billy’s freckled, friendly one. “Yes, I reckon you can. I’ll give you a nickel if you’ll walk Sandy and Abe over to Franks’s, and tell him I’ll come see him as soon as I can.”
    “Yes, ma’am! I’ll take real good care of ‘em! And Mrs. Van Deusen’ll bring you a real nice supper when I tell ‘er you’re back.” Billy’s grin stretched even wider as Meri placed the promised nickel in the grimy outstretched hand.
    “By the way, why is Mrs. Van Deusen bringing me supper?” Meri asked.
    “On account a Mrs. Kilburn havin’ to sit with somebody who’s sick, I guess. Mrs. Van Deusen said she’d take care of you and Doc this evenin’.” Billy carefully untied Abe and Sandy.
    Meri took her bag and slid her carbine out of the saddle scabbard, stepped back and watched as the lanky adolescent proudly led the two steeds down the middle of the road, whistling and calculating whether to spend or save the precious nickel.
    “I’m glad you’re back so soon, Meri,” Dr. Kilburn said gravely as he opened the front door and waved Meri inside.
    Meri’s heart lurched in fear. “Faither?”
    “He’s taken a turn for the worse.” His tone was sober and regretful.
    If Dr. Kilburn was worried, it must be bad. Fear swallowed Meri. This couldn’t be happening. Not again!
    She ran for the room where her father lay. Reaching for the door handle, she stared at her full hands. She’d forgotten she was still carrying her bag and carbine. Her frantic brain wasn’t able to coordinate the task of setting down the items to turn the knob.
    Doc reached around her and opened the door before gently relieving her of the items. Meri hastened over and collapsed to her knees at the edge of the bed. Her father looked so much worse since just this morning. His breathing was labored, his skin flushed and damp with perspiration and creases slashed across his drawn face in cruel lines.
    It was only a bump on the head and a slight wound! People recovered from worse. Why wasn’t her father recovering? Looking up at Doc, she croaked, “Why…?”
    Doc seemed to understand what she couldn’t voice. “He’s fighting infection in that bullet wound, and his fever is rising. He’s not responding to anything I’ve given him.”
    A soft tap sounded on the door frame, and Pastor Willis stepped into the room. “I stopped to check on Ian.”
    Doc repeated what he’d told Meri. As he finished speaking, Pastor Willis dropped to his knees alongside Meri and placed his hand on McIsaac’s shoulder. Speaking quietly, he prayed aloud for healing and restoration, wisdom for Doc and peace for Meri. When he finished, he turned to her. “Is there anything I or the church members can do for you besides keeping people informed and praying?”
    Meri shook her head then stopped as an idea pierced through the fog in her brain. “Uh, maybe. Do you remember the sermon you preached once about calling for the elders of the church?”
    “Yes, I do—James 5:14 and 15. ‘Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up…’”
    “That’s the one. Would you do that for Faither?”
    “Of course, dear. All you had to do was ask. I’ll go notify the men of the church and bring them back here as quickly as possible.” Pastor Willis patted Meri on the hand, pushed himself to his feet and left the room.
    “Is there anything I can do to help Faither while we wait?”
    “I’ll get some fresh water, and you can sponge his