Zooey Pinkerton- a Daughter's Right Read Online Free PDF Page A

with soft wrinkles around his eyes and mouth. His white
doctor's coat was threadbare at the sleeves and elbows, having been
mended once too often.
    “Doc? Can we see Marta? Is she
awake?” Joshua asked.
    “Yes,” agreed Zooey. “I'd like
to see her.”
    “I know you would, Zooey and I'm
certain you have some questions for her, Sheriff, but I'd like you
both to come into my office for a moment. There are few things we
need to discuss. Marta is resting right now, anyway. I gave her a
sleeping drought not long ago.”
    Zooey stood up and ran a shaky
hand through her red curls. “I don't like the sounds of this, Doc.”
Doctor Martin led her to his office down the hall. A chair was
pulled out from his antique writing desk and two others were set
off side. A stethoscope lay cold and shiny atop a freestanding
table, with various tools on a tray set up for minor stitching and
surgeries.
    “Please sit down Zooey. Ah,
here's May now.”
    Albert stood aside and watched
as his wife set up a tray of tea and cups. On a normal day she
would have brought in cookies or cake, but no one felt the need for
sweets today. “Thank you, my dear. I am sure a cup of tea will help
set us all up right.”
    May nodded and patted Zooey's
shoulder before she walked out of the room. Zooey eyed the doctor
impatiently and tapped her toe on the floor. She accepted the
steaming cup of tea, took a polite sip, and then placed the cup
down hard on the doctor’s writing desk. Its contents sloshed on one
side and then the other.
    “What is it you have to say, Dr.
Martin? I don't mean to sound rude, but by sitting here we are
wasting precious time that could be spent catching Tom Brennan. I
just want to see Marta and know she’s going to be alright!”
    “Zooey! Calm yourself.” Joshua's
voice was like cold water on Zooey's fiery frustration. She shrank
into her seat and mumbled,” sorry”.
    Doctor Martin forced a small
smile and waved a hand in the air. “It's alright,” he said gently.
“Zooey, I know the last couple of days have been a lot to handle. I
know Marta is like a mother to you. Before you go see her, I just
wanted you to know that she may never be “right” after this. The
physical trauma was bad enough, but none of us can begin to know
how the emotional trauma will be for Marta. She was there when they
shot your father and.. . well for her to be abused in this
manner is horrifying to me both as a doctor and a man.”
    Zooey hung her head and cried
softly. “I hate this...I hate him. Pops should have known what he
was getting involved in.”
    “We all make mistakes, Zooey.
Your father was human.” Joshua broke in.
    “Yes,” Zooey agreed. “But Tom
Brennan is not! I want him to pay.”
    “Zooey, come now. I'll have May
bring you in to see Marta. She should be waking up soon.”
    Zooey drained her teacup in
silence. When she looked up she could see the two men exchanging
pitiful glances. She knew their sympathy was directed at her, but
it wasn’t what she wanted.
    “Are you ready, Zooey?”
    May held her hand out to the
young woman.
    “Okay, May. I'm ready.”
    Joshua stood aside and nodded
politely as they passed. “I'll meet you outside when you’re ready
to leave. My questions for Marta can wait.”
    “Thanks, Josh. I appreciate
that.”

    “How's Zooey doing?” Doctor
Martin asked Joshua once Zooey was out of earshot.
    “She's tougher than most. I
think the hardest part is losing that ranch.” Joshua smiled
sadly.
    “Can you get Brennan?”
    “That's my plan Doc… that's my
plan.”

Seven
     
     
    Sarah applied a heavy layer of
powder to her neck and collarbone. She stood back and surveyed
herself in the mirror. Her long, honey coloured hair was done up in
ringlets that hung seductively around her neck and shoulders. She
wore a tight red dress that showed as much as a saloon girl dared
show without causing a riot. Sarah had taken great care to cover up
any damage Tom may have done the night before. “I'll