“Now that’s a good question, and I’ll answer it. She’s the one I would shoot first,” Fancy replied honestly. “Of course, it would be an accident. I wouldn’t be blamed for it as I am simply defending myself and my family. You do understand how this is going to work, don’t you?”
“Fancy,” Lilly pleaded while struggling to breathe. “Surely you don’t think I had anything to do with this.”
“Shut the fuck up, Lilly,” she snapped. “Lord, I’ve been waiting months to say that to you,” she admitted with a laugh. “Yes, shut the fuck up before I shoot you on principle!”
CHAPTER14
Jane staggered as quickly as she was able to the doctor’s office and beat on the door. It seemed forever before he answered, and she tried to hang on to what she needed to say to him. When he finally opened the door, stuffing his nightshirt into his trousers she managed to garble out words that didn’t seem quite right.
“Jane, what in heaven’s name are you doing here?” he demanded. “Why you’re barely dressed,” he snapped, grasping her arm and pulling her inside.
Tongue-tied she said the first thing that came to her mind.
“Fancy says you might be in love with me,” she shouted.
“Have you lost your mind?”
“So, you are not in love with me?” she asked sadly.
“Whether I am or not, it does not explain why you are running the streets in the piece of pink fluff,” he growled out.
“We need you,” she insisted. “You have to come quick.”
“Come where and why?”
“I don’t really remember it all,” Jane admitted, holding a hand to her forehead. “I just know you have to come now.”
Dr. Brubaker tightened his grip on her arm and pulled her further into his office.
“I’m afraid I’m going to need more information than that, and a better explanation of your behavior, young lady,” he stated firmly, releasing her arm and crossing his over his chest at he stared down at her. “Have you been drinking?”
“Only the tea Lilly Piersal made us, and to tell you the truth it wasn’t very good, but I was quite polite about it,” she stated proudly. “Even though I don’t like Lilly, not one bit.”
“Miss Piersal made you tea?”
“Yes, she came to The Duchess quite late and brought a cake, which was very good, but it was made my Laurie Dixon, so I knew it would be. In fact, I would like some more of that right now. Do you have any cake, Horace?” she asked hopefully.
“No, I do not have any cake,” he ground out while running a hand through his hair.
“Then may I lie down? I’m quite tired?” she asked closing her eyes for a moment.
“Jane,” he nearly shouted, grasping her shoulders and giving her a sharp shake. “You came here for a reason, and I want to know what it was. Now get your thoughts together and tell me before I bare your pretty bottom and give you what for!”
“See, I told Fancy this was what would happen and she wouldn’t believe me,” Jane huffed angrily. “And how do you know if I have a pretty bottom or not,” she sassed. “I do, of course, as bottoms go that is, but it’s no concern of yours, Horace Brubaker. I should never have come, even though Fancy begged me to come and get you and to tell you to bring your gun,” she concluded with an insulted sniff.
“What!”
Jane could not believe how quickly Horace scooped her up and strode up the stairs to his bedroom. There he dropped her on the bed, letting her bounce several times.
“This is highly improper,” she insisted with a yawn.
“Too bad.”
She watched him get his gun belt and strap it on, taking out each revolver and checking to see if it was loaded. When he rushed to the door, she called out to stop him.
“Wait, I have to go with you.”
“You leave that bed and you’ll be the sorriest little girl in all of Kansas,” he warned. Then he was gone.
