Hoss’s senses were alerted by the sharp crack of a snapping a twig. Someone was approaching through the bushes alongside the river bed. Hoss thought whom ever it or they were, for he was certain he heard more than one set of foot treads, they were taking no great care. He hoped very much that it was his brother returning but he was taking no chances. He stood and picked up the rifle that was laying by his side. Both Chubb and Cochise raised their noses from the ground but showed no signs of alarm.

Whatever was making it’s way through the mass of undergrowth was making more noise than a herd of buffalo. Hoss was not surprised when Adam appeared in front of him. The sight of the woman at his brothers side rendered the big man breathless. It was as if time had stood still. He stood with his mouth hanging open. The strength faded from his arm, it hung helpless at his side, how he managed to keep a grip on the rifle he couldn’t hardly tell.

He remembered back sometime ago when Adam and even Joe, heck even Pa had met with a look-a-alike. Adam had called them dapplegongers or some such thing. His elder brother had told him that it is supposed that everyone in the whole world had one. Although he could hardly figure that there would be, roaming this earth a big galoot that resembled himself. The lady though was a pure sight for sore eyes. He could see by Adam’s reaction to his own reaction that he had been taken in the same manner. But there was more to hand here than a look-a-alike.

The woman, Hoss was thankful to see carried a doctors bag. He’d never seen a lady doctor, never even thought that any gal would want to be taking up with such stuff. But to him that mattered not one single grasshoppers spit. If the lady, regardless of who she looked like could help his brother then he was more than pleased. Though he reckoned if shortshanks took this moment to open his eyes he would be once more struck senseless.

Without any hesitation she walked over to the prone figure and dropped to her knees. Checking on Joe’s vital signs she nodded her satisfaction. Any blood loss had been stemmed, and thankfully, she thought, an effort had been made to clean any open wounds. Apart from the fact that he was deeply unconscious, had scrapes, lacerations and a couple of broken bones, and of course the head injury. In all that, he was breathing steady, the pulse although a little rapid was strong and he was not bleeding to death…according to her brief examination he had indeed a lot going for him.

The two Cartwright’s stood towering over the woman their eyes transfixed to her every movement. As her fingers probed and searched, they flinched and gasped as if it were their own bodies that she was examining and investigating.

“Aint yer got a wagon?” as Hoss spoke his eye’s flicked between his young brother and the woman.

“Sure we have, couldn’t get it all the way down here. We are going to have to carry him back a fair way,” Adam too kept his eyes fixed to the woman’s clinical inspection.

Hoss thought that if he had to carry shortshanks all that way back to the Ponderosa he would be more than happy to do so if it meant Little Joe would be OK. Sitting back on her calf’s the oman looked up at the two anxious faces.

“I can do more for him back at the house You can see yourselves your brother has a serious head injury. His head must be moved as little as possible and with great caution.” She was no more forth coming than that. She spurned the offer of an arm and snapping closed the black bag stood to her feet.

She supervised the making of a rudimentary stretcher. Adam and Hoss between them carried their brother over the rough river bed to the waiting wagon as if he were a box of gelignite. The woman was already seated on the mattress atop the bed of straw. Her back was supported against the rough hewn wood of the wagon . She sat with a pillow placed between her spread legs. Again she took control and supervised.

“Gently now, lay his head here,” with a certain amount of trepidation the brother’s did as she requested. Drawing up her knees she tightened her legs around the pillow thereby keeping Little Joe’s head securely held between her cushioned thighs. Hoss, giving Adam a sidelong glance of embarrassment looked decidedly uncomfortable. Seeing the man’s embarrassment the woman glared at his lowered head and rolled her eyes. Taken a folded blanket she shook it out and covered Joe’s still form.

“Which ever of you is taking the wagon. Speed is not of the essence. Drive with great caution one sudden jolt could finish off what the shoe of that horse failed to do and crack your brothers skull in two.”

Her words snapped both men into action. Returning with the horses and Joe’s saddle. The woman directed that the saddle be placed under Joe’s injured leg, with great care Hoss obliged.

“Push it further in so that the knee is resting in the middle, yes…yes that’s it.”

Once Chubb and Cochise were tied to the rear of the wagon the small procession moved slowly forward. Adam took the lead. Apart from the woman’s words of instruction and later Adam’s prompts to Hoss to move this way or that, hence avoiding any deep ruts or bumps, there was no other conversation. In that fashion they made their way back to the woman’s house.

Once more the blanketed body was moved slowly and reverently. This time into the wooden, sturdily built dwelling. The woman had everything prepared. She ushered them into a bedroom where they place the mattress onto a large bed. The woman with the help of Adam rolled Joe onto his side whilst Hoss removed the mattress. Joe was then just as gently rolled back, to lay finally in the centre of the double bed. Without being asked Adam returned the mattress to the only other bedroom and placed it on the bedstead.

Drawing the covers up over Joe’s body the woman left the room. Puzzled Adam and Hoss meekly followed and stood waiting whilst at the sink she scrubbed her hands and then donned a clean apron. With the palms of her hands she brushed smooth the crisp, clean white cloth. Her arms folded across her chest she stood in front of the two men giving them both a withering look.

“Before l do anything more for your brother, l think we need to talk, don’t you?”

“Yes’um,” Hoss agreed not really sure as to why or what he was agreeing to. Adam too was slightly mystified.

“Are you not a doctor?” Adam was well aware that lady doctors were few and far between. But there were some, and the woman did appear to be very capable.

“No, l am not a qualified doctor. That is not the problem is it?”

Both the men’s faces showed their bewilderment, it was Hoss that put it into words,

“Apart from little brother laying in there with a split head and lord knows what else l aint hardly sure what problem yer talking ’bout ma’am.”

“I am talking about the problem you have with me. l could see immediately first from you,” she nodded to Adam “ and then the very same look repeated in your eyes,” she nodded to Hoss, “l have seen it before many times. It bothers me not. If you prefer to ride to Turner’s Cross where Dr Thomas Simms has a surgery l will not be offended. It will though take the best part of a day to get there and back.”

“Are you saying that there is nothing more you can do for my brother?” Adams voice wavered, his brow furrowed with concern. The look was taken up by Hoss.

“No that is not what l am saying. l am perfectly able and capable of treating all your brothers injuries. The head wound gives me cause for concern. l haven’t been able to fully inspect the wound. If there is a depressed fracture surgery will be required, an operation at which l have assisted. l am perfectly willing to do whatever I can for your brother. No, what l am saying is, you may prefer your brother to be treated by one of your own kind. Dr Simms is one of your kind, a white man. It is clearly obvious that my appearance troubles the both of you.”

Realising he hadn’t yet removed his hat Hoss snatched it from his head and held it between his sausage like fingers.

“Landsakes ma’am aint no matter whether which who or what yer are iffun yer can help Little Joe, me an Adam…”

“Don’t lie to me big man. You can barely look me in the eye, and when you do. Do you think l have not seen that look before?”

If Hoss had been branded with a hot iron he would have felt no less pain. Before he could make any reply, Adam had reached out and gently laid a hand on the woman’s arm. The slight touch on her arm startled the woman into taking a small step backward.

“l mean no harm ma’am. l apologise for my being so forward. I fear ma’am you are doing my brother and myself an injustice. You see what you have read for prejudice, is in fact disbelief, bewilderment…ma’am you see…” Adam was hesitant, somewhat unsure how to proceed, “It’s your likeness ma’am, not the colour of your skin or the nature of your birth. You are so alike someone that we both knew and whom was very dear to us. You are as alike as to be her sister. Even your voice has a soft Southern accent. I am sorry if our…well… amazement caused you any distress, it was not our intent.”

She continued to glare at them, as if she couldn’t understand what had been said or if they were lying to try and get her to help. The latter she discounted as she had already told them she would do what she could for their injured brother. She saw no guile in or deceit in their faces but she knew of old that white men were not always what they seemed. As she was about to speak the dark haired man interceded.

“It is true that your skin is a shade darker, but your face, hair and eyes are hers,” on cue Hoss added to his brothers words.

“It’s true ma’am, when l first saw yer coming outa them bushes l thought yer were a ghost, it sure took my breath,”

Taking a deep inhalation, the woman composed herself. Giving them a small, tight smile, once again she brushed at her spotless apron. Without any apology for her own behaviour or her misunderstanding she set about issuing instructions. She needed a hot water. She the needed box that resembled a luggage trunk brought from the corner of the room and placed beside the bed. Once inside the bedroom she took complete control.

“You may remain if you wish but you may not like what you see. If you feel faint or sick get out…the outhouse is at the back of the house.” she warned as she slid the pillow from under Little Joe’s head, then started to remove the makeshift bandage.

“Big man, what are you called?” Hoss stood to attention

“Hoss ma’am…Adam’s my brother,”

“Hoss, fetch me the scissors you will find them in the kitchen drawer near the sink,” Hoss sped to do her bidding. “you…Adam…open up that box?” Adam clicked the brass latches and flipped the lid to reveal a trunk full of various bandages, swabs and medical equipment.

“And you are not a doctor?”

Ignoring the remark the woman took the scissors from Hoss’s hand and started cutting out chunks of Joe’s hair. Exposing the white of the boy’s scalp against the ugly purple, hoof shaped, bloodied gaping wound. She turned her head at the gasp that escaped from Hoss.

“If you cannot stomach this you’d be best to sit in the kitchen, there’s a pot of coffee on the stove.”

“I’m fine ma’am, but Joe there’d have a fit iffun he knew what yer were doing, it almost takes a tribe of injuns on the warpath to get him to the barber’s…no offence meant.”

Continuing her task the woman gave a soft laugh, “None taken, it’s a blessing then that he isn’t paying attention. You both help yourselves to coffee… there’s a pot of stew on the stove it only needs warming. l’ll call if l need any help,”

“Yes’um,”

Neither men moved from the bedside. Hesitantly and barely audibly Hoss suggested that he and Adam could strip off Little Joe’s clothes.

As the woman made no reply Hoss thought she had not heard him, so intent as she was inspecting Joe’s head. Using a large magnifying glass she gently but firmly lifted the torn skin and looked beneath.

Hoss looked toward Adam for guidance. Adam as usual wore a mask of calm, almost a look of unconcern. Hoss knew that behind that visage of control Adam was just as afeared as he was. The woman herself Hoss thought could play a fine hand of poker. Her face revealed nothing. She placed the glass back onto the small table beside the bed and turned to face him.

“l am perfectly aware that the male form differs somewhat from the female,”

Adam found the words directed toward his brother uncalled for and more than cutting. Hoss his cheeks pinking lowered his head and stared at his boots.

“My brother ma’am, has no doubt you are well acquainted with all parts of the male anatomy, he’s concern is for his brothers feelings.”

Startled the woman took a closer look at these two Cartwright men. Both more than well aware that their sibling, laying partially clothed on the bed, had not moved or made a sound since he had been struck several hours previous and yet they still felt it necessary to protect his modesty.

The smaller darker of the two stared unflinchingly back at her, where as the large man found the floor more to his liking. Such caring men as these, she thought, in any race or creed are few and far between.

“That would be more than helpful Hoss,” at these words Hoss lifted his head and the woman’s greenish hazel eyes met with two of the bluest eyes she had ever seen.

“Yes’um ma’am,”

Hoss took back the scissors. Taking great care he cut through the torn remnants of his brothers pant leg. With Adam’s help it took little effort to remove the rest of Joe’s clothing.

“Aint it about time he learned to dress hisself proper,” Hoss remarked in a stage whisper to his elder brother who was at the time removing one of Joe’s boots. Hoss’s remark brought an unseen smile to the woman’s face. Hoss continued his chattering using it as a buffer for his own embarrassment.

“I know it seems a mite foolish ma’am. Joe sure reckons hisself a ladies man an all, but l knows he’d be downright mad iffun a lady such as yerself he weren’t first introduced to before he…” fortunately Hoss ran out of words at the same time as the task was completed

“Thank you, at this moment l can’t shake your hand Mr Cartwright…Hoss, l Etta Tone am pleased to make your acquaintance. Likewise your brother’s Adam and Little Joe.”

Smiling broadly Hoss tipped his forehead in salute “Likewise ma’am, Miss Tone.” Adam standing away from the bed clasped his hands behind his back gave a small nod. Miss, or Mrs Etta Tone was beginning to intrigue him.

“Gentlemen, l do have a lot of work to do here and l do function better without an audience. l will have no hesitation in calling on you if l need to. Still failing to read anything from the woman’s face, Adam questioned.

“That head wound ma’am, how serious is it?”

“Any blow to the head which leaves a body unconscious for any length of time is serious. on the good side l am certain there is no depressed fracture but a hairline fracture is not to be discounted, the wound is cleaned and dressed. I will continue to apply a cold compress to reduce the swelling before l make any effort to stitch the wound. I am hoping that Dr Simms will call tomorrow.” Hoss and Adam shared blank looks, “the town doctor,” she explained, “it has become a habit of his to visit every month. He has become my delivery man. In the way of groceries and provisions my needs are small and repetitive. Dr Simms keeps me supplied which dispenses me of the chore of travelling to Turner’s Cross,” anticipating Adam’s question “l am more than confidant with my findings, but it does no harm to have a second opinion, after all, as l have told you l am not a doctor.”

“Miss Tone ma’am, yer mayn’t call yerself a doctor but l reckon aint no one could be better tending to Little Joe,”

“I thank you Hoss, now it is my opinion, doctor or no that your stomach needs some tending,”

“It does at that ma’am,”

Adam hesitated at the door and turned, the woman had already returned to her ministrations.

“Ma’am can l get you a coffee?”

“Adam l am happy to call you by your given name, l would be even happier if you would do the same for me, and yes l would appreciate a coffee…black no sugar.”

Adam returned with a mug of the steaming, hot brew. She nodded for him to leave it on the table and returned to her doctoring.