Free Healing Hearts (Easton Series #2) by Anna Murray

could help him by being his
friend.
       Before Hannah could form a reply a
sharp knock sounded at the door.
       “I’ll go.” Leaping from her chair,
she was relieved to end the odd chat.
       Hannah swung open the door to find
sunlight streaming around Roy Easton’s large dark frame.  
       “Mr. Easton!”
       Although he was carrying a large
package, he managed to doff his hat in a lumbering motion. “Howdy Miss, er, Doc
Sutton.”
       “Come in, come in,” Hannah rushed
out.
       “Only for a short spell . . . do I
smell coffee?”   The sheriff grinned.
        “You do. Please, sit with
us.”
       He hesitated for appearances sake
as he entered the room.   “Hello, Doc.
I’m just here to make this delivery before I get back to work at the newspaper,”
he said as he leaned the large package against the wall. “It came in on the
wagon yesterday.”
      “Ah, that has to be the medicine I
ordered. Thanks, Easton.” The doctor rose and pumped the sheriff’s hand.
       Hannah quickly pulled a chair down
from the wall pegs and set it at right angles to her and Jed at the table.
“Sit,” she commanded.
       Easton slid into the offering. “Not
yours, Doc. It’s for Doc Hannah.”
       “Oh! It must be from my father. He
said he’d send my supplies.” Hannah was as giddy as a schoolgirl on the first
day. She rushed to the counter to find a knife to cut the package strings, but
then she caught herself and poured a cup of coffee for Mr. Easton. She laughed.
“I forget my manners.” After she carried the java to the sheriff she sat beside
him. “I can open it later.”
       “Don’t delay on my account,
Doctor,” advised the lawman.
       “Oh, I know what’s inside. I can
wait.” She sat back down. “How are Cal and the men holding up?”
       The sheriff looked at his hands wrapped
around the tin cup. “We hadn’t lost a hand since the range war with
Dullen.”   He shook his head slowly.
       The room was quiet for a few
moments while Hannah rubbed her forehead. “Do tell us,” she finally broke the
heavy silence, “how is your work at the schoolhouse?”
       Easton took a sip of brown liquid.
“I’m keeping my head above water. You know Latin?”
       Hannah and Jed laughed. “All
doctors speak Latin. That’s why our patients don’t understand us,” Jed
explained as he wiped his eyes.
       Easton took another shot of the
coffee. “Hmmm. That’s good. A man could get used to your ministrations, Doctor
Hannah.” He looked pointedly at Jed. “Truth be told, school lets out early
these days, leastwise until Geneva and Ned come back from their honeymoon.”
       Rutherford’s grin edged up. “Easton,
you’re too soft. You’ll make Geneva’s job difficult when she returns.”
       “Could be,” Easton replied with a
twinkle in his eye, “but, speaking of soft and couples on honeymoon, you both
should know folks are set atwitter since I ran the column on our new lady
doctor.”
       “Oh?” Red crept up Hannah’s cheeks.
       Jed let out a chuckle. “I’m almost
afraid to ask. What’s on the grapevine?”
       The sheriff drained his cup.   “The single menfolk agree you should get
the first shot at marrying up with Hannah.” He winked at her. “After all, she’s
your mail-order. And, at least one old biddy is whispering about you two living
in sin out here on the edge of town.”
       Jed slapped a hand to his thigh
and let out a hearty guffaw. “That’s a good one.”
       Hannah’s cheeks went from pink to
flaming. “I’m here to work! Doc expected a man. He didn’t send for a woman!”
       Easton looked amused at her
discomfort. “Yes, ma’am. We all know Doc’s a saint.” He winked. “Look, I’m just
telling you what’s going around town. Don’t shoot the town crier.”
       Jed’s broad smile was teasing. “Easton,
you better hope you stay healthy.”
       The lawman-schoolmaster-newspaper
publisher rose from