Ana Leigh (26 page)

“Would you like something to drink?” Cynthia asked.

“Thank you. Water would be fine.”

Cynthia poured her a glass from the ewer on the dresser. “Easy, dear,” she cautioned when Rose began to gulp it down.

“Are you ready to tell us what happened, Rose?” Beth asked gently when Rose finished.

Rose nodded. “We were—”

Her explanation was cut short by the return of the men.

Rose bolted to her feet, then grabbed the bedpost, overcome by dizziness.

Cynthia and Beth each took an arm to keep Rose from keeling over, and sat her down on the edge of the bed.

“Is he still alive?” Beth asked.

“Barely,” Tim said, grim-faced.

Beth motioned to the bed. “Lay him down there.”

“He’s bleeding from a leg wound,” Tim said. “But from what I can tell, he ain’t got any slugs in him.”

“That’s about the only thing that’s
not
wrong with him,” Dick mumbled irascibly. “He’s burning up with fever. Only thing I can figure is that he’s too stubborn to die.”

“There’s a doctor in Comanche Wells,” Beth said. “Let’s get moving. Full steam, Tim. The sooner we get there, the better.”

“Okay, Miz Carrington. We’re on our way.”

“You need any more help with him?” Dick asked.

“Not right now. We’ll do what we can for him. Thanks, boys,” Beth said as they headed for the door.

Rose had already shifted over to him. “Zach, can you hear me?” She looked up at them, tears glittering in her eyes. “He’s so pale.”

“Honey, let us see what we can do for him,” Cynthia said, gently nudging her away.

Beth and Cynthia leaned over the wounded man. “My God!” Cynthia exclaimed. She glanced at Beth, who was staring, just as startled, at the man on the bed. “It’s Zach MacKenzie!”

“You know him?” Rose asked.

“Know him?” Beth said. “He’s our cousin’s son.”

Chapter 26

R
ose was too stunned to say anything. She gaped in shock and watched as Beth and Cynthia worked over Zach. Was this all some bizarre nightmare she’d mercifully wake from in her bed in Brimstone?

Finally, she swallowed hard and said, “You’re related.”

“Yes,” Beth replied. “Flint MacKenzie, who is Zach’s father, is our cousin.”

“Is Josh MacKenzie Zach’s brother?”

“No, Zach and Josh are cousins,” Beth said. “Josh is Luke’s son. Luke and Flint are brothers, and cousins to me and my sisters.”

“Beth,” Cynthia interrupted, “if you don’t mind, will you finish the family tree later? I need some help here.”

“I’m sorry,” Rose said. “I’ll help you.”

“That’s all right, honey. You sit quietly right where you are and let us take care of this.” Cynthia reached for Zach’s belt buckle. “We’ve got to get these bloody jeans off him.”

“Maybe you should let me do that?” Rose said.

“I don’t think so,” Cynthia replied. “We just got your hands bandaged. Let’s not get them bleeding again.”

“Zach’s naked under those pants, Cynthia. His underwear was too bloody to put back on him.”

Both women stared at Rose for an instant, then Cynthia finally said, “I see. Well, this will be our secret, ladies.”

“Why don’t you just cut off the trouser leg?” Beth suggested. “I don’t think it’s necessary to remove his pants.”

“You girls are no fun,” Cynthia declared.

“You’ll have to excuse my sister, Rose,” Beth said. “She likes to shock people with outrageous statements like that.”

Despite the repartee between the two women, it was easy to see the deep affection between them. Rose also suspected that they were trying to take her mind off Zach’s condition.

However, Cynthia paled when she removed the bandage from Zach’s thigh. “Oh, my God.” She glanced grimly at her sister. “The wound’s infected pretty badly, Beth.”

“Last night I tried to draw out the infection with hot compresses,” Rose said. “But it was very limited. I only had a cup in which to boil the water.”

After examining the wound, Beth’s pallor equaled her sister’s. “I don’t think hot compresses will even help anymore. They might do more harm than good at this point. All we can do is clean it up until we get to a doctor.”

Rose had struggled too hard to get him this far; she wasn’t about to give up now. “At least we can do something to lower his fever.”

“I think we have some antipyretic.” Beth hurried to the bathroom. Within seconds she was back carrying a medicine bottle and a basin of cold water. “There’s only a couple of doses here—but it’s enough for now.”

“Let’s get some cool compresses on him,” Cynthia suggested. “That will also help to keep the fever from getting any worse.”

Suddenly the car lurched as the train ground to a stop. “What now?” Cynthia groaned.

Rose knew it was trouble. Instinctively she reached for Zach’s hand.

Cynthia handed the bottle to Beth. “Here, give him a dose while I see what’s going on outside.” She went out on the observation deck and returned immediately. “This doesn’t look good. Four men on horseback have stopped the train.”

Rose was gripped by fright. “It must be the gang that’s chasing us. They’re the ones who shot Zach.”

“Why didn’t you tell us you were being pursued?” Beth asked.

“I wasn’t thinking about anything but Zach’s condition.” Rose looked around desperately. “My skirt? Where’s my skirt? Zach’s Colt is in the pocket.”

“Rose, there are four of them. You can’t outshoot them,” Cynthia said. “We’ve got to think of something else.”

“The first thing we have to do is hide Zach and Rose,” Beth said. “They’re sure to come in here and search for you, or they wouldn’t have stopped the train. Quick, let’s get Zach under the bed. Rose, you get under there with him. Don’t let him make a sound.”

As fast and carefully as they could, the three of them picked up Zach, and by tugging and shoving succeeded in getting him under the bed. Rose crawled under after him.

“Beth, get rid of all these soiled clothes and bandages.”

“What have you got in mind, Thia?” Beth asked as she gathered up everything and tossed it all under the bed.

Rose found her skirt and dug the Colt out of the pocket. No matter what Cynthia said, she’d shoot anyone who tried to harm Zach. He began to toss in delirium. “S-h-h-h, my darling,” she whispered, and put her hand over his mouth.

“Beth, stuff a pillow under your gown and get into that bed. You’re having a baby. And make it good and loud.”

“That I can do. Remember, I delivered twins.”

“Rose, are you okay under there?” Cynthia asked.

“Yes. Just be careful. These men are evil.”

“Don’t worry, honey,” Cynthia said. “I’ve faced more than my share of bad men when we were building this railroad.”

Cynthia had just dumped out the basin of water when the door was flung open. A snarling menace with pistol in hand filled the doorway.

“Oh, thank goodness!” Cynthia exclaimed. “Are you the doctor?”

“What the hell are ya talkin’ about, lady?”

Rose recognized Bull’s voice and her grip tightened on the Colt.

Beth began to moan loudly. “Help me, Thia! Please, help me. I can’t stand it any longer!” She ended with an anguished scream.

“What in hell’s going on in there?” Bull demanded.

“My sister’s having a baby.”

“Cynthia, I can’t stand it. Help me! Help me,” Beth cried pitifully.

“Tell that bitch to shut up,” Bull snarled, “or I’ll put her out of her misery.”

Arms akimbo, Cynthia stomped her foot. “Of all the nerve! You, sir, are no gentleman.”

“Shut your mouth, lady. Your sister’s makin’ enough noise for the two of you.” Bull went into the bedroom, and Beth moaned at the top of her voice.

Cynthia, who was of the school that a good offense was better than a bad defense, sallied forth with verve and courage as her weapons. “Just who are you?” she demanded. “I do not appreciate your barging in here when my poor sister is in agony; and to add insult to injury you have the audacity to call her disparaging names. Have you no compassion in your heart, sir?”

“Lady, if you don’t shut up, I’m knocking your teeth out.” He stomped out of the room. Cynthia turned to Beth and gave her an okay sign with thumb and forefinger, then followed after him.

“What are you looking for, Mr . . .”

“Name’s Bull.” He opened the bathroom door and peered in. “You gals got pretty fancy diggin’s here, ain’t ya? How come yer the only passengers?”

Cynthia dug into her pocket for a handkerchief and began twisting it nervously. “Because we had to get my poor sister to a doctor, so the railroad attached this car to the freight train.” As she spoke, she managed to slip off her wedding ring and bury it in the folds of the hankie. If he was a thief, this brute was not going to steal that. “This was the only train heading this way.” Another pathetic scream from Beth rent the air. “Please, we must get going. I don’t know how to deliver a baby. Do you?” she asked hopefully.

“You kiddin’, lady? I wouldn’t go near that screechin’ banshee even if I did know how.” He headed for the kitchen.

“Just what are you looking for, Mr. Bull?” Cynthia repeated, trying to be heard over another loud scream from Beth.

“For a couple of murderin’ desperados. We figure they might’ve hopped a ride.”

Cynthia drew back in alarm. “Murderers! On this train!”

“Yep. Gal killed a rancher, and the guy killed one of the posse.”

“Oh, my poor sister. What are we going to do?” She started to cry hysterically.

“Will you stop that wailin’, lady? Between you and yer sister, a man can’t think!” He headed for the door.

“Are you just going to leave us here, helpless?” Cynthia cried. “You must stay and protect us, Mr. Bull, in case they attack the train.”

“You think I’d put up with that any longer than I have to?” Bull grimaced at the sound of another groaning scream from Beth. “What in hell is she havin’ in there? An elephant?”

He stalked out, slamming the door behind him.

Cynthia went out on the observation deck. The other three men rode up to him, and one of them said, “There ain’t no sign of them, Bull.”

A painful wail from the bedroom carried to the outside. “What in hell is that?” the man asked.

“A bitch from hell. Let’s get out of here,” Bull said. Cynthia waited until they rode away, then went inside and locked the door. She returned to the bedroom, grinning. “Coast is clear.”

“Whew!” Beth said, climbing out of the bed. “Not a minute too soon. I was turning hoarse from all that screaming.”

“You came through loud and clear, honey,” Cynthia said, giving Beth a hug.

“I know.” Beth pulled the pillow out from under her skirt. Cradling it in her arms, she began to rock it. She sighed deeply. “But this was a very painful birth, Thia.”

Cynthia giggled. “Mr. P. T. Barnum certainly knew what he was talking about. There
is
‘a sucker born every minute.’ ”

Beth reached down to lend a helping hand to Rose, who was crawling out from under the bed.

“You girls were wonderful. I don’t know how I can ever thank you enough.”

“Well, the fun’s over.” Beth got down on her knees. “Let’s get Zach back in bed.”

“He’s become very restless,” Rose said. “He’s tossing in delirium again.”

They soon found out it was easier getting him under the bed than getting him out from under it. Zach was a big man, and he battled their efforts as though they were the demons he wrestled with in his delirium. But his energy was soon depleted, and they finally succeeded in hoisting him onto the bed.

Exhausted, Cynthia sat down on the edge. “I’ve never had this much trouble getting a man into bed.” She puffed at a stray lock that had fallen across her eyes.

Beth and Rose had slumped down on the opposite side to catch their breath. “Don’t feel bad, Thia,” Beth said, grinning despite her exhaustion. “Jake always warned me that records are made to be broken.”

Ignoring her sister’s teasing, Cynthia said, “Rose, I don’t see how you ever managed to haul Zach down that slope.”

Rose felt near to collapsing. This last effort had drained the little bit of strength she’d had. Now that the threat of danger had passed, she’d lost the surge of energy that had kept her going. Nothing remained now except the fear that Zach would not survive. She pressed her hands over her eyes, which burned with weariness and unshed tears.

Beth slipped an arm around her shoulders. “Rose, when was the last time you slept or had something to eat?” she asked gently.

Dazed, Rose looked at her. “Ah . . . I’m not sure. I had some nuts. I think it was yesterday.”

“Thia, will you put a cool cloth on Zach’s forehead, then I’m sure you can find some clean clothes for Rose to wear among our things. I’m going to fix her something to eat, and when she’s through, I think a hot bath will do her aches and pains some good.”

Beth took Rose by the hand and led her to the kitchen. “Sit down here.” She pulled out a chair at the table. “Tea or coffee?”

“A cup of tea would be fine.”

“Hope you like eggs; that’s about all we have.”

“Whatever’s the easiest,” Rose said. “The two of you have done so much already, I don’t know where to begin to thank you.”

“Rose, honey, Zach is family,” Cynthia said.

“Family or not, I think the two of you would help anyone in need. I just wish Zach could eat something.”

“He’d probably choke on it, Rose. We’ve got all we can do to get water down him.”

“I know.” Rose sighed deeply. “But I feel guilty knowing he’s—”

“Eat, Rose,” Beth said cutting off her worried thought. She put a plate down in front of her. Rose stared blankly at the scrambled eggs and piece of toast. “Before it gets cold, Rose.”

She began to pick at tiny bites of the eggs and before she realized it, she’d consumed them along with the toast. Smiling sheepishly, she said, “That was delicious. I didn’t realize how hungry I was.”

Beth sat down and poured them each a cup of tea, then leaned over and looked her in the eye. “Now, don’t you think it’s about time you tell us just what in hell this is all about?”

“And don’t leave out a single detail,” Cynthia added.

Rose took a long look at them. The two women were exquisitely beautiful. There was both delicacy and strength reflected in each face: straight nose, full lips, and the high Celtic cheekbones indicative of their Scottish ancestry. Beth’s hair was a deeper auburn than her own, and Cynthia’s was dark brown. But the most astounding thing was that both had the same incredible, darkly lashed, sapphire-colored eyes as Zach.

As they listened intently while she related the story to them, she saw the same probing intelligence in their eyes that she’d seen so often in Zach’s. It made her as curious about their lives as they were about hers.

There was a long silence when she finished, then Beth smiled and squeezed her hand. “I can tell you love Zach very much.”