Death Devil (9781101559666) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Harold said.
    The door opened and out came Belinda, appearing downcast. Behind her was Edna.
    â€œHow did it go?” Fargo asked.
    â€œAbigail has a fever of a hundred and one,” Belinda informed him. “I can’t account for it just yet, but she shows some symptoms that worry me. I haven’t ever seen them before. I need to consult my medical books.”
    â€œYou see?” Dogood said to the men. “Incompetence is the natural result of allowing a woman to do a man’s work.”
    â€œFor two bits I would shoot you,” Belinda told him.
    â€œHell,” Fargo said. “For two bits I’ll shoot all four of them.”
    No one was amused.

5
    They were almost to the end of the lane when Belinda mentioned, “You said you would take me to visit Old Man Sawyer, remember?”
    Fargo mentally vowed to never again chase a runaway buggy. He didn’t care how good-looking the driver was. “How far is it?”
    â€œOnly a couple of miles farther,” she answered. “He lives at the end of the road.”
    â€œIt figures.”
    â€œI’m sorry to impose.”
    â€œYou almost sound like you mean it,” Fargo said as he reined to the right.
    â€œI do.”
    She had softened some toward him, and Fargo liked that. He found himself dwelling on her physical charms and daydreaming about how nice it would be to see her without clothes on.
    Around them the countryside teemed with life. In the apple trees sparrows flitted. A robin was having a tug of war with a worm. Several deer were grazing. A monarch butterfly flew past, its wings fluttering.
    Fargo breathed deep of the many scents, and winced.
    Belinda was craning her head past his shoulder and noticed. “Are you all right? When I came out I saw that you appear to have been in a scuffle.”
    â€œYou could call it that.”
    â€œWhere does it hurt?”
    Fargo told her about his left side.
    â€œI’d best have a look at you,” Belinda said, and pointed at a shaded nook under several maples. “Pull up there and I’ll examine you.”
    About to say she didn’t need to bother, Fargo imagined her fingers on his body, and grinned. “Whatever you say, Doc.”
    â€œI wish all men had your attitude.”
    Fargo drew rein, gave her a hand down, and dismounted. He pried at his buckskin shirt and got it high on his chest. “Will this do?”
    She set her black bag down. “That will do fine.” With experienced care she ran her hands over his ribs, pressing here and there and asking, “Does this hurt?” or “Does that hurt?”
    One bruise, in particular, caused Fargo to grit his teeth and hiss like a kicked snake.
    â€œI suspect your rib is fractured,” Belinda said. “I can wrap you when we get to my office although it will heal on its own provided you don’t get into any more scuffles.”
    â€œAround here there’s no telling,” Fargo said.
    Belinda did more poking. She didn’t find anywhere that hurt as much but she pointed out a few bruises. “You took quite a beating, didn’t you? What caused it, anyhow?”
    Fargo told her.
    â€œAh. Then it’s my fault. I know how they feel about women doctors.”
    â€œOr females in any line of work.”
    â€œYes,” Belinda said. She grinned. “I sometimes marvel that they stoop to having sex.”
    Fargo chuckled and paid for it with more pain. Grimacing, he said, “I wouldn’t mind stooping with you.”
    â€œNeed I remind you I’m a doctor?”
    â€œLast I heard, only nuns take vows of chastity.” Fargo had met one not long ago so he should know.
    Belinda laughed but caught herself. “That’s not the point. I must be professional. I can’t let my personal feelings influence me.”
    â€œYou’re saying you have feelings for me?”
    â€œI most certainly do not.” Belinda picked up her bag.