Fern Read online

  “Angela, can you hear me?”

  Her eyelids fluttered at the same time her lips moved, but nothing came out.

  “Mr. Davenport, when did she start to complain of chest pain?”

  “She said she didn’t feel vell ant vent to lie down, but fell to zee floor.”

  “When did all of this happen?”

  “Hour go.”

  “Has she ingested anything unusual?”

  He raised a grey eyebrow.

  “Has she eaten anything different today?”

  He shook his head.

  She sighed.

  “Well, why don’t you tell me what she has eaten today?”

  “Eggs zis mornink ant tea vit Mrs. Miller.”

  “When did Lucy Miller stop by?”

  “A few hours go.”

  Fern’s head shot up.

  “Angela was fine before the visit?”

  “Yes.”

  “How long after Mrs. Miller left did she complain of not feeling well?”

  “A quarter pazt zee hour. Vat iz it?”

  Fern didn’t reply. Angela’s symptoms could be from poisoning.

  “You said they drank tea while they visited?”

  “She offers it to all her friends ven dey come for visit.”

  “Do you mind if I have a look?”

  “I vant you to fix mine girl!”

  “I plan to, but I need to know what she drank in order to do so.”

  “Vat in hell does dat have to do vit anythink? She drinkz tea all of zee time.” His voice vibrated off of the walls and ceiling.

  “I’m sure she does.”

  She grabbed the two cups from the counter, both still half full with tea. She dumped them out carefully. One of the cups had something inside. Fern placed her finger into the cup to scoop it out. She gasped when she unraveled a small leaf from the doll’s eye plant.

  She ran over to Angela, pulled her up, and stuck her finger down the girl’s throat until she vomited all over herself and the bed. Angela’s breath had a sweet scent to it, a sure sign of poison.

  Mr. Davenport screamed and fussed behind her, but she hadn’t the time to explain. She placed her finger into Angela’s mouth again, repeating the process until the girl’s stomach was emptied. She gently laid Angela back down and made quick work of cleaning the mess, tossing the blankets into a heap on the floor.

  Fern took a wet cloth and bathed the girl’s skin, cleansing her of any more bile.

  “Chest,” Angela whispered.

  “Does it hurt?” Fern asked.

  The girl nodded.

  She needed to give the girl something. She wasn’t sure if Lucy had placed more than one leaf in Angela’s tea causing a more severe reaction to the plant and possibly her heart to stop.

  “I’ll be right back,” she said to Mr. Davenport before heading outside.

  The afternoon sun was warm, but it didn’t stop her from shivering. Her heart hammered inside her chest, and she was sure she could sprint across the field without getting tired.

  She spotted the dandelions growing by the fence and ran toward them. She needed the root and was careful to dig up the soil around the yellow flowers before plucking them from the ground. Satisfied with the five she’d picked, she headed for the house.

  A rider rode into the yard, and she recognized Gabe atop of his horse.

  “How’s Miss Davenport?”

  How had he known she was here?

  As if he’d read her mind, he answered, “Poppy told me where you were.”

  She nodded and kept walking. She hadn’t the time to explain things to him. Angela was deathly ill. She prayed the dandelions would help with the chest pains and flush the rest of the poison from her insides.

  She swung open the door.

  “I need a small bowl and a pot of boiling water,” she said to Mr. Davenport who was hunched over his daughter.

  “I’ll see to it,” Gabe said to the old man and went to work looking through cupboards. He slapped a bowl on the counter beside her and lit the burner on the stove to boil the water. “What is the plan?”

  “I’m gong to cut the root of these dandelions as thin as I possibly can. We will add a bit of hot water to make a paste, and I’ll put it on her chest to help with the pains.”

  He nodded.

  “Do not empty out the water after I’ve made the paste. I’ll need it to steep the rest of the dandelion for her to drink.”

  “What will that do?”

  “It will force her body to flush out any more impurities.” She hesitated. “From the poison.”

  “Poison?” His dark eyes went wide.

  “I’ll explain later. Right now we need to save Angela’s life.”

  They worked side by side for hours, feeding the girl the liquid, rubbing her chest with the salve and watching for any signs of distress. Fern was exhausted and laid her head in her hands. She sat on a chair, Gabe beside her. Mr. Davenport rested beside the bed where his daughter lay.

  “When will we know if she’s in the clear?” Gabe asked.

  “From my father’s research, if she hasn’t succumbed to the poison by now, she is on the mend.”

  He nodded.

  “How did you come to know she was poisoned?”

  “The cups of tea.” She pointed. To lift her arm sent a wave of pain up and down the limb. She’d overworked the muscle. “There was a doll’s eye leaf in one of them.”

  “Who poisoned her?”

  Fern turned toward him and met his eyes. “Lucy Miller.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Angela, I need to ask you a few questions,” Gabe said, pulling a chair close to the girl’s bed.

  She’d awakened two hours before, tired, groggy and unable to focus on anything for more than a few seconds. It wasn’t until ten minutes ago that her sentences began to make sense, and Gabe felt he could talk with her to get some answers. Mr. Davenport had gone to check on his bees, and he wanted to utilize the time without the old man there.

  Angela sat up slowly, and Fern positioned the pillow behind her back.

  “Take your time,” Fern said.

  “Why was Lucy Miller here this morning?” Gabe asked.

  “She came by to confront me about Doctor Miller,” Angela said, her voice weak.

  “Confront you about what?” Fern asked.

  The girl sighed.

  “He’s been making passes at me for some time.”

  Gabe remembered seeing the girl at Pete’s office earlier in the week.

  “Were you two?”

  “No, no we weren’t. He is married, and I am not that type of woman,” Angela insisted.

  “But you liked the attention?” Gabe said.

  She nodded and a tear danced down her cheek.

  Fern handed her a handkerchief.

  “I was flattered that was all, but Lucy didn’t think it was right. She was tired of his wandering eye.”

  Gabe glanced at Fern.

  “Do you know if Pete Miller and Sarah Fuller were together?”

  She shook her head.

  “Thank you for answering my questions.” Gabe stood.

  He made his way to the door, trying to piece all he’d heard together.

  “Sheriff?” Angela called.

  He turned to face her.

  “Lucy mentioned there was another woman.”

  “Did she say who?”

  “I’m sorry, she didn’t.”

  He tipped his hat and exited the house. Fern’s footsteps followed him outside. Darkness covered the land, and all he could see was her silhouette against the light from the cabin. He resisted the urge to reach out and caress her cheek.

  “What are you going to do?” she asked.

  “Head into to town and talk to Lucy Miller.”

  She placed her hand on his arm.

  “Be careful,” she whispered.

  He couldn’t see her face, but knew she stood directly in front of him. Things seemed to fit together when he was with her
. He couldn’t explain it. Fact was he didn’t know if he cared to even try. All he was sure of was how he felt when he was with her. He stepped toward her, wrapped his arm around her waist, pulled her into his chest and planted his lips on hers.

  The moment their mouths touched and Fern’s lips moved with his, he knew there was no going back. Kissing her ignited a fire within him. Hot, feral need built in his chest, clawing its way to his arms, and he held her tighter to him. He wanted her and damn it he couldn’t resist her any longer. He ran his tongue along her bottom lip before pulling away. He could hear her quick breaths as he set her away from him.

  “I won’t be apologizing, so don’t ask,” he said and left her standing in the dark.

  Fern let the evening air cool her heated cheeks before going inside to check on Angela. Her fingertips brushed her lips. Gabe had kissed her. She hadn’t stopped him either. She swept the wisps of hair from her forehead, unable to concentrate on anything but his arms around her. The chignon she’d wrapped her long dark hair in was loose and falling from the pins she’d used to fasten it.

  Her restless behavior was to blame for the disheveled look. She tried to tell herself kissing Gabe was wrong, but every part of her denied it. She was a single woman, with wants and needs of her own, and being in his arms had felt so right.

  She stared at Angela asleep in her bed, thankful the girl had pulled through and hadn’t succumbed to the poisonous plant. The innocence she saw on the girl’s face reminded her of Poppy. Anger pulsed through her veins for the broken heart Ryan Young had given her sister. He was a rascal with little regard for a woman’s feelings, and she’d let him have it next time she saw him.

  Fern picked up the cup with the doll’s eye leaf in it. How had Lucy known of the poisonous plant? What puzzled her even more was how she’d gotten it from Fern’s home. She searched her mind for a time when the doctor’s wife had come to call and couldn’t think of a single one. Someone must’ve given it to her, but who and more importantly why?

  Chest heavy, and stomach unsettled, Fern took her leave when Mr. Davenport arrived. She hadn’t thought to saddle Nelly when the old man had come by earlier and wasn’t looking forward to the uncomfortable ride home. She flexed her thighs; the muscles were sore and her rump ached something awful. Reluctant to climb back up, her body felt like it’d been run over by a herd of stampeding cattle.

  She blew out a long breath, hiked up her skirt and climbed on top of the horse. With a click of her tongue Nelly started off. She was grateful the bright moon lit the trail in front of her. Not one for traveling after dark, she squeezed her legs around Nelly’s sides and gripped the lead.

  Fern thought of the events that had led up to today. Sarah’s passing and Angela Davenport’s sickness, both poisoned by Lucy Miller. The mention of another woman, who Lucy had yet to poison, sent chills down Fern’s back. She racked her brain for who it could be. Women were her only customers, and she thought of the ones who had come to see her recently.

  She gasped.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Fern raced Nelly along the trail to town. The wind whipped at her hair, pulling it loose from the pins. The wild mane flew behind her. There was no time to stop and fix it, so she kept on riding.

  She needed to tell Gabe about her conversation with May a few days before. She was sure the baby May carried was Pete Miller’s. If what Angela said was true, she wasn’t the only one who knew that.

  She passed the church on the outskirts of town and galloped toward the sheriff’s office. Skidding to a halt, she jumped from the horse and pushed on the door at the same time someone opened it. Fern flew inside, slamming into a hard chest.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Gabe asked irritated.

  She straightened, fixed her skirt, raised her hands to smooth her hair, but decided against it. There was no hope for her wild tresses so she didn’t even try to fix them.

  “I was looking for you,” she panted.

  “Well, here I am.” He smirked, and her stomach fluttered.

  “I know who the other woman is.”

  He waited.

  “May Hansen. She came to see me the other day about getting rid of an unwanted pregnancy.”

  “Stay here.” He left her to walk across the street.

  She followed.

  “You don’t listen very well,” he said without looking at her.

  “I am not your wife. Therefore you cannot order me about.”

  “I am the sheriff and the law, therefore, I can.”

  “I highly doubt me following you is grounds for an arrest.”

  They came to Pete Miller’s place, and he stopped before knocking on the door.

  “Leave this to me.”

  She opened her mouth to argue, but he held up his hand to quiet her.

  “Not one word, or I’ll throw you in a cell with the other outlaws.”

  “You cannot—”

  “Try me.” He turned his back to her and knocked on the wooden door that was the Miller’s home.

  Lucy opened the door dressed in a soft orange colored chiffon dress, her blonde hair pinned back to hold the dozens of ringlets that hung down her back.

  “Evening, Sheriff,” she peered behind him at Fern, “Miss Montgomery. What can I help you with?”

  “Is Pete home?” Gabe asked.

  “He’s in his office with a patient.”

  Gabe walked a few feet to the door adjacent to the one he was just standing at.

  “We are not to bother him.” Lucy hurried after him.

  He ignored her.

  She tugged on his arm.

  “Pete said no one is to disturb him.”

  “I don’t give a damn what Pete said.” He opened the door without knocking.

  Fern heard voices arguing in the other room, and she rushed to open the door.

  May stood in the corner, her eyes big with unshed tears. Pete was a foot from her, a cloth in his hand, and Fern immediately smelled chloroform.

  “I need to talk to you, Doc,” Gabe said.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Pete swung around, a shocked look on his handsome face.

  Fern glanced at May, trembling against the wall. She went to the other woman and placed an arm around her.

  “Are you all right?”

  The woman nodded.

  She sent Gabe a concerned look.

  “Care to explain what is going on here?” Gabe asked.

  “None of your damn business, Sheriff.” Pete pointed to Fern. “Why isn’t she in jail?”

  “Miss Montgomery is not responsible for Sarah’s murder.”

  “Of course she is. She grows that blasted plant in her house, and might I remind you, she almost killed her own sister.”

  “Poppy is on the mend with no thanks to you, and Robby Fuller is sitting in one of my cells for shooting her.”

  “I couldn’t do it, Fern. I tried. I couldn’t,” May said as she wept.

  “I told you I’d take care of it.” Pete left the conversation with Gabe to walk toward them.

  “Stay right there, Doc,” Gabe warned.

  “I’ll not be told what to do in my own place of business. Now get out!”

  “PETE!” Lucy screamed. “Why do you keep doing this?” Her eyes lost all color, and her face turned a bright shade of red. “You’ve made me a fool.”

  Pete didn’t know what to do. He swiveled toward Lucy then to May, his dark brows wrinkled. If it wasn’t for his arrogant attitude and the way he’d treated Fern she might’ve felt sorry for him, but she couldn’t dredge up one ounce of pity for the doctor.

  “Why can’t you just stop?” Tears soaked Lucy’s face.

  Pete went to his wife, and she shoved him away.

  “Do not come near me!”

  “Sweetheart, let’s talk about this.”

  “She’s one of them.” Lucy pointed to May. “She’s one of your whores.”

  “What are you talking about?” Pete asked.

  “I came ho
me during lunch one day. I heard you and Sarah Fuller in your office.”

  Pete hung his head.

  “She was nothing—”

  “You betrayed me over and over again. How many were there?”

  Pete didn’t answer.

  “Did you ever love me?”

  “I love you still,” Pete said.

  “I tried. I really tried to make you happy.” She glanced at Fern. “You were so consumed with getting rid of her…” She shook her head. “Everything should’ve worked out…they’d all be gone and I’d have you back.”

  “Lucy, dear, what are you talking about?”

  She stared blankly at him, before she pulled a gun from her skirt and aimed it at May. “You’re just like the whores from the saloon. You seduced my Pete. He no longer touches me, or kisses me. He doesn’t even look at me the way he used to. All because of Sarah, and Angela and you!”

  “Mrs. Miller,” Gabe warned.

  “You took him from me,” she shrieked.

  Lucy needed to be distracted. Fern could think of no other way than to draw the woman’s attention to her. “How did you get my doll’s eye?” she asked.

  “Doll’s eye?” Pete’s eyes filled with sadness when he realized Lucy had been the one who killed Sarah.

  With the gun still aimed at May, Lucy smiled. “Your sister, Ivy, brought it into class for show and share day.”

  Ivy had known the plant was poisonous and must’ve thought it’d make a great discussion piece with her classmates. Fern couldn’t be angry with her sister for not knowing her teacher would take the plant and use it to harm others.

  “You must’ve known about this, Doc,” Gabe interjected.

  “Don’t be absurd. I had nothing to do with Sarah’s murder,” Pete said.

  “How’d you know about Doctor Montgomery?”

  “I don’t have to answer that. I sit on the council.”

  Gabe stepped toward him. His dark eyes bore into Pete. “Answer it.”