DOC MOO RETURNED FROM his evening rounds to find Buddeea standing on the porch, waiting for him.
“Father Rossi called,” she said. “Several miners were killed north of Blair Mountain. Word is, they were unarmed, used as human shields by the police.”
“La sama Allah.” God forbid.
Buddeea came down off the porch and hugged him close, talking into his collar. “There’s no stopping it now.”
Moo nodded. War.
Buddeea looked up at him. “What are you going to do?”
No question now. “I’m sworn to treat the sick and wounded. I have to go where they’re sure to be.”
Buddeea nodded. “Battle lines are being drawn, Moo. You know you can’t be on both sides of this one.”
“I know which side I’m on.”
“Good.” Buddeea took the back of his neck and set her forehead against his. “I packed your bag already. Clothes, sandwiches, coffee, dopp kit.”
“Thank you, Booty.” He paused. “You know this could make things tough for us in the future. The family. These hills have long memories. Some folks won’t forget which side we helped.”
Buddeea’s dark eyes flashed up at his. “Let them remember. We are rock, Moo, till the stars fall and the seas dry up. They will break against us.” She’d gripped his coat lapels in her fists and now she let them go, smoothing them. “Besides, I’ll have my matches ready.”
Moo smiled. “My sun.” He held her forehead against his a long moment. “I better start tonight.”
She raised up on her tiptoes and kissed his forehead. “I know.”
Moo went inside to his home office and put together a trauma kit, taking all of the morphine ampoules, gauze, surgical dressings, alcohol, and catgut sutures he had on hand. He’d have to stop in town to raid his office cabinet. Medical supplies would be scarce in the field.
When he was ready, he backed the car out of the barn, set his kit in the back seat alongside the bag Buddeea had packed for him, and said his goodbyes to the girls, bending down to hug each of them in turn. Adele, Corine, Amelia. He looked around for Musa.
“Took to the woods after supper,” said Buddeea. “Soon as the call came from Father Rossi. Said he had a trotline to check on.”
“More like a sweetheart,” said Adele.
“Gross,” said Corine.
Buddeea frowned. “I told him to be back in an hour. It’s been two. He’ll be getting the switch when he gets back.”
“Poor thing,” said Amelia.
Buddeea hugged him again at the car. “God protect you, Moo. I love you.”
“I love you, Booty. Give Musa my love when he returns, along with his whipping.”
“I will.”
“Ya ’amar,” he said. My moon.
“Ya rouhi,” she said. My soul.