Faithful Heart Read Online Free PDF

enough.” She paused, then asked, “Did you learn anything about Colonel Wade Moore?”
    “Yes, ma’am. He’s still having those chest pains. I know it’ll help him to see his wife.”
    “I’m sure it will,” Breanna said.
    John tugged on the reins and slowed Ebony enough to let the lead wagon catch up to him. “There’s no letup in your line of work, is there?” he said.
    “No,” Breanna smiled. “It’s sort of like
your
work. Always someone needing help.”
    “I’ve had quite a bit of experience patching up wounded men. I’ll be glad to do anything I can, sweetheart.”
    “I’ll sure tell Dr. Laird, honey.”
    Curly grinned. “You two are somethin’ else, you are. Real lovebirds. Just like me an’ my wife used to be … from the day we met till the day she died. When you two gonna tie the knot?”
    John and Breanna exchanged glances.
    “When the Lord gives us the sign that it’s His time for it,” John said.
    “Well, guess I cain’t argue with that. Miss Breanna’s been teachin’ me ’bout how the Lord has a plan fer His children’s lives, and how we hafta do a lotta prayin’ and Bible readin’ to be sure we don’t get in His way an’ mess things up.”
    “Well, she’s been teaching you right,” Stranger said. “And nobody ever had a prettier teacher than you’ve got.”
    “Hey, don’t I know that! An’ I’ll tell you somethin’, sonny. If’n ol’ Curly here was a few years younger, I’d be a-givin’ you a run fer yer money!”
    John laughed and wiped a hand across his brow. “Whew! I’m sure glad you were born a hundred years ago!”
    The three of them had a good laugh together, then John trotted Ebony forward to join Rip Clayson and the two officers.
    The gates of Fort Bridger swung wide, allowing the wagons to roll inside. A young trooper directed Curly to the spot where he was to park his wagon. When it rolled to a halt, Breanna reached behind her and picked up her medical bag. John Stranger was off his horse quickly and beside the wagon to help Breanna down.
    “I see they have a telegraph here,” he said. “I really should let Marshal Duvall know where I am, and that I’m going to stickwith the wagon train until it’s safe in California. I’ll find you as soon as I get a wire sent to him.”
    Breanna knew that John kept Chief U.S. Marshal Solomon Duvall in Denver informed of his whereabouts in case he was needed. Duvall’s office had become a main contact point for lawmen and fort commanders all over the West who needed to locate him.
    “All right,” Breanna said. “I’ll tell Dr. Laird you’ve offered to help.”
    Captain Meyer appeared with the fort commandant at his side. John and Breanna were introduced to Colonel Derek Lynch, who was in his late fifties. Just then Marian Moore rushed up and spoke breathlessly to Captain Meyer, asking where she could find her husband. Meyer told her he was being kept in a spare room in the officers’ quarters. He would take her there right away. Breanna told Marian she would look in on her and the colonel later.
    Lynch pointed Stranger to the telegraph room and led Breanna toward the infirmary, a small log building in the very center of the fort. Next to it stood the guardhouse, and beyond that the mess hall.
    Blue-uniformed men milled about the fort, which covered about three acres inside the stockade fence. Off to one side were the stables and the corral. On the opposite side were long rows of log barracks, and at a right angle to them were the officers’ quarters, the commandant’s office, a large meeting room, and the telegraph room.
    Though the afternoon was cool with a touch of fall in the air, the infirmary door was propped open. Colonel Lynch led Breanna to the door, then stepped in front of her, stuck his head in, and said, “Doc, I have the nurse from the wagon train here.”
    “Oh, great!” came a voice familiar to Breanna. “Please bring her in.”

3

    C OLONEL D EREK L YNCH stepped back from the