12-02-2013, 11:40 PM
Silas cast an appraising eye over the newcomer, noting the fineness of the clothes under the signs of hard wear and the youth of the face beneath the layer of trail dust. The face said 'too young', but the black bag and the buttons on his coat sleeves were the hallmark of a doctor. And certainly the man looked too frail to be good for anything else. Possibly he was one of those few who had come out West for their health, although he lacked the usual spots of hectic color in his cheeks.
Truly, the young man was a puzzle, but Silas was willing to take him at face value, at least for now. Anything to ease the awkwardness of caring for an attractive young lady. He stood taller and unconsciously dropped into the accent of his Eastern education. It sat strangely with his rough clothing and callused hands. "The lady claims heat exhaustion, Doctor. She's probably correct, but I'm sure she'd appreciate a professional opinion."
|