One More Sunrise Read Online Free PDF Page B

don’t like to see someone bullied. And you were bullying Ernie.”
    The sheriff said, “Why don’t you go with Dr. Logan to his office, T. J., and let him stitch up those lips.”
    Finnegan’s eyes flashed with anger. “I ain’t lettin’ him touch me!” With that, he wheeled and staggered toward his horse, which was tied to the hitch rail close by.
    Ernie thanked the young physician for coming to his rescue, then walked away, his hand pressed to his midsection.
    The sheriff chuckled. “You sure you don’t want to wear a badge and help me keep this town safe, Doc?”
    Dane gave him a lopsided grin. “No, thanks.”
    T.J. Finnegan put his horse to a trot and headed out of town, holding a hand to his bleeding mouth. As Dr. Dane climbed back in his buggy, people in the crowd called to him, thanking him for what he had done to help Ernie. The lowering sun was casting long shadows across the wide street.
    Moments later, Dane pulled up in front of the doctor’s office, noticing that his father’s horse and buggy were there. Grabbing his suit coat and the medical bag, he hopped out, tied the reins to the hitch rail, and entered the office. He knew that by now, Nurse Ella Dover and his mother had already gone home.
    Dr. Jacob Logan was just escorting a middle-aged woman from the waiting area toward the door of the examining room. He looked over his shoulder and stopped at the door. “Mrs. Williams, you go on into the examining room and sit down. I’ll be with you shortly. I need to talk to my son for a moment.”
    The woman gave Dr. Dane a petulant glance, nodded, and moved on through the door.
    Dr. Jacob closed the door behind her, then moved toward his son. “Your mother told me you had gone to the Donaldson ranch. Is Joshua—” His eyes were suddenly fastened on Dane’s blood-speckled shirt. “How’d you get that blood on you? Certainly not from Joshua.”
    Dane’s features tinted. “Of course not. I had to stop a bully from beating up on Ernie Piper. I guess you know the guy. Name’s T. J. Finnegan.”
    “Oh, sure. T. J. gets his belly full of whiskey, then becomes Mr. Troublemaker. So today, it was pound on poor little Ernie, eh?”
    “Uh-huh. Trouble started right in front of the Lone Pine. I had to knock him out. Took several punches, so I split his lips. Got some of his blood on me.”
    “Sheriff and deputies weren’t in on it?”
    “No. They were out of town. Came back just after T. J. went down for the count.”
    “Ernie okay?”
    “Mm-hmm. Just some sore ribs.”
    Jacob nodded. “I started to ask you if Joshua is all right.”
    “He’s fine, Dad. It was a fairly simple dislocation of the shoulder. I guess Mom told you he got bucked off a horse.”
    “Yes. I’m glad he’ll be all right.”
    “Oh yeah. He was a brave boy. He’ll be back to normal in a few weeks. With that houseful of females to tend to his every need, he’ll enjoy his recuperation time.”
    Jacob smiled. “I’m sure you’re right about that.”
    “The Donaldsons were surprised to learn that you had an adopted son. They had never heard about me.”
    “Well, now they know.”
    “Yeah. So how did the delivery go? Everyone okay?”
    “Mm-hmm. Mother and husky son are both doing great. The father … well, you know how fathers are. He sure was frantic when he banged on our door early this morning. The sun wasn’t even up yet.” He yawned. “So I’m sort of tuckered out.”
    “Tell you what, Dad …”
    “Yes?”
    “Mrs. Williams has to be our last patient for the day. Let me tend to her and you go on home. I’ll be there shortly. I’m sure Mom has supper on the stove.”
    “Okay, son. But … ah … Mrs. Williams can be pretty cantankerous. And since you’re new to her, just be prepared for lots of questions and some argument.”
    Dane grinned. “Don’t worry, Dad. Believe me, I’ve had my share of cantankerous people. I’ll just turn on my irresistible charm, and Mrs. Williams and I will get