Dinah pushed her gelding into a trot down the slope but didn't dare canter until the ground leveled off some. As soon as it felt safe, she pushed him faster, leaning lower as she scanned the road ahead. Maybe around that curve she'd see the wagon. Somewhere ahead, the road crossed a creek, then traveled along a valley before climbing up another rocky, tree-covered slope.
Her pulse quickened as she caught sight of the wagon ahead. The vehicle crawled slower than before, as if the mules were tired or the weight of the cargo was too much. But the back had only been half-full, the cargo covered by oilskins.
She urged her mount faster to catch up.
As she approached, the driver glanced back at her, and his eyes widened in surprise. He drew up the reins and called to the team, “Ho, there.”
She reined in her gelding beside them.
His long white beard fluttered in the wind as he turned to her. "Ma'am. Something wrong?"
She nodded as she worked to catch her breath from the hurried ride. "My sister. She needs help. She's with child and having trouble. I need a wagon to get her back to the Coulter ranch."
The man frowned. "I'm late delivering these supplies."
Dinah's chest tightened. "Please. It's a matter of life and death. I'll pay whatever you ask." Though she didn't have much left. Jericho would help, though, if it came to that. "Or…I'm a doctor, if there's anything you need help with?"
The man's gaze scanned the length of her, his brows rising. "A doctor, you say?"
Something in his tone pricked unease in her chest. Maybe he disliked the idea of a female doctor.
"Yes, sir. But my sister needs help right now. After we get her to safety, I'll be happy to assist in any way I can." Jericho wouldn't like her bringing a stranger to his property, but surely he would allow it for this reason.
He eyed her another moment, his gaze narrowing as if trying to decide something. Then he nodded. "All right then. You can sit up front with me." He gestured toward the seat next to him.
She turned her gelding. "I can ride."
"You might need to do some doctorin' on your horse if you do."
She frowned. "What do you mean?" Surely he didn't intend to hurt her gelding if she didn't sit with him.
The driver motioned toward her mount’s back legs, and she leaned over to look down at them. A deep gash marred the long cannon bone, the skin peeled away and blood running down to cover the hoof.
"Oh, boy." She swung to the ground and bent to examine the wound. The gelding must have cut himself on a rock as she’d made him hurry down the mountain. It's a wonder she hadn't felt him limping. The gash needed to be cleaned and bandaged to keep out dirt, but that would have to wait until she had Naomi settled. Until then, it wouldn't be fair to the horse to add her extra weight when she had another seat available.
She stood and turned to the driver. He seemed kind enough, and her concern from a moment ago had clearly been her nerves overreacting.
He motioned toward the rear. "Just tie him to the ring at the back."
She strode to where a piece of round metal had been fastened to the wood, and tied the gelding quickly. They had to get back to Naomi.
Once she climbed onto the seat, he signaled the mules forward. The grass on the left side of the road allowed him to turn the wagon in an arc, as the wagon creaked and groaned back onto the road, her mind raced with worry. What if Naomi's contractions were getting worse? What if the baby was coming too soon? Why couldn't these mules walk any faster?
The driver shook the reins, but it didn't hurry the animals. "So what brings a pretty gal like you this far west?"
Her middle tightened. He was just a lonely old man making small talk. "My sister and I came so I could start a clinic here." That wasn't the full answer, but it was all she was willing to tell at this point.
The driver nodded. "Reckon back east they weren't wild about a woman doctorin' on men. Round here, we don't get to be picky."
She gripped the wagon bench. Would it be too rude to ask him to keep his comments on her profession to himself?
If Naomi didn't need his wagon so desperately, she would say something. But maybe if she held her tongue, he would stop talking.
As they started up the rocky slope, the driver suddenly jerked the left rein, turning the mules off the road.
Dinah's heart leapt to her throat. "What're you doing?" Why hadn't she thought to bring her rifle with her when she dismounted her horse?
The team entered a narrow opening in the brush—a gap she'd not even seen. Panic surged through her. "Stop!" She reached for the reins to halt the mules.
