Charlene Sands (20 page)

Kate let the subject drop. Nora would be loyal to the end, but Kate wouldn’t let anyone convince her otherwise. She’d caused Cole’s injury almost as if she’d raised that gun and pulled the trigger herself.

“Nora, you’re a good friend,” was Kate’s only reply.

Nora frowned. “Kate, I don’t like that look in your eye.”

“I’m worried, is all,” Kate said, then changed the subject. “I do need a favor. Do you think you might watch Meggie for Mrs. Gregory? Big Josh said she wants to come see Cole this morning. It wouldn’t be for very long.”

“Of course, Kate. Anything I can do to help out.”

“I don’t think Meggie knows yet. It’s best not to tell her until Cole comes to.”

“That’s probably a good idea. I won’t let on. It’ll be hard, but I’ll think of something.”

“She’d like to talk about the baby. She wants a real family just as much as Cole does.” Kate bit her lip and blinked back yet another round of tears. “She’s, uh, she’s hoping to have a brother or sister one day. I know she’ll have lots of questions for you.”

Nora chuckled softly. “And just how will I answer
those
kinds of questions?”

Kate patted her hand. “Like you said, you’ll think of something.”

It was three o’clock in the afternoon when Cole finally stirred. Big Josh and Dr. Royer had moved him earlier in the day from the narrow table to a bed in another room in the doctor’s office. Kate had dozed a bit but always with an ear close to listen for Cole’s breathing.

She witnessed him shift a bit and his eyes fluttered, as though he was trying to open them. Then he spoke. It was a low, nearly inaudible sound, more like a mumble. “Kate.”

Kate rushed to his side, kneeling by his bedside. “I’m here, Cole.” She took hold of his hand and squeezed gently. “I’m here,” she said again, this time elated that he was coming out of his unconscious state. “I’ll go get Doc Royer.”

“No,” he said, and she thought she felt the slightest pressure on her hand. “Don’t go,” he said on a breath.

Tears flowed freely now, but they were tears of joy and relief. Kate held his hand and wiped down his brow. He still felt cool to the touch, with no sign of high fever, which according to Dr. Royer was a good thing. He’d hoped that Cole’s young body would fight for survival and it had.

“Thank the Lord, Cole. Thank the Lord you’re coming to,” Kate whispered. She sat with him the rest of the day. He spoke only once more, but color had come back to his face. He’d moved around a bit,
searching for comfort, and dozed on and off during the evening hours.

Nora had stopped by as the sun had begun to set, thoughtfully bringing Kate food, a platter of bread and cheese along with beef stew from dinner. Kate had little appetite, but Nora had stood by and made sure Kate put something substantial in her stomach.

Dr. Royer admonished her for not going home to get some sleep, claiming he didn’t want another patient to tend to, but Kate couldn’t leave Cole, not until she was sure he would make a full recovery. She stayed the night again, much to the doctor’s dismay, and in the morning Kate received the news she’d been hoping for. After a long examination, the doctor told Kate that Cole was out of immediate danger. With proper rest and care, he’d be up and around in a week’s time.

Kate sat by his bedside, watching him sleep for a long time, willing herself to rise from the bed and do what she knew in her heart she had to do. Guilt ate at her unbearably. Kate was out of options. She couldn’t live here, knowing she’d placed Cole in such danger. She couldn’t forgive herself. With a gentle brush of her lips, she kissed him tenderly and heard him mumble something sweet. The sound tore at her heart. “Goodbye, Cole,” she whispered, almost silently.

She knew this would be the last time she’d see the man she loved.

K
ate sat in Cole’s parlor and spoke quietly with Mrs. Gregory. “I need to know that Meggie will be taken care of while Cole’s recuperating.”

Mrs. Gregory served her a cup of tea and didn’t flinch at the bold question. Kate had no time to be subtle, she had to know about Meggie’s well-being first. “She will. I’ve had many offers of help, but between Caroline and myself, the child will be well taken care of.”

Kate blew out a breath in relief. “I understand this is a hardship for you, Mrs. Gregory. You had plans of moving into your daughter’s home soon. I want to thank you for your loyalty to Cole.”

With a wave of her arm, she offered, “No thanks necessary. I’m fond of them both and prayed for the sheriff’s recovery. Moving in with my daughter can wait for a time. I wouldn’t leave Meggie now. She needs me and so will the sheriff once he comes home.”

“Nora said she’d be happy to spell you from time to time. She’s good with children and she truly cares for Meggie.”

Mrs. Gregory sipped her tea. “And what of you, my dear? I get the feeling the sheriff would like having your company. I know Meggie would enjoy having you here. Will you be stopping by from time to time?”

An ache developed in her stomach. She managed to keep tears from filling her eyes, but she knew Mrs. Gregory noticed her distress. She shook her head. “No. I won’t be coming by, I’m afraid.”

“Oh, I’m sure the sheriff will be disappointed,” Mrs. Gregory said, clearly perplexed. Kate knew she’d confused the woman. But Kate couldn’t divulge her plan to anyone yet. Soon everyone would understand.

“I’d like to see Meggie now, if you don’t mind. Is she awake yet?”

“Well, she should be by now. The little one likes to sleep late. Let me check on her.”

After several minutes, Meggie came out of her room, rubbing her eyes. “Here she is. Say hello to Miss Kate.” Mrs. Gregory exited the room then, giving them a bit of privacy.

Little Megpie, dressed in a wrinkled nightgown with her blond hair sticking up in several places had the sweetest expression on her face. Kate had never seen a more adorable picture. As soon as Meggie noticed
her, she came over and crawled right onto her lap.

Kate stroked her hair. “Good morning, Meggie.”

“Morning.” She snuggled closer in and Kate wrapped her arms around her.

“I came to see how our little girl is today.”

“Fine. Daddy’s at the doctor’s.”

“I know. He was hurt, but he’ll be home soon. And I bet you’re going to take really good care of him, too.”

Meggie nodded. “I want to make Daddy a cake.”

“Oh,” Kate said, recalling the last time they had baked together, “he’d like that.”

“Will you help?”

Kate hesitated. She knew this would be hard. “Mrs. Gregory can help you. I’m sure she’d love to. She’s a wonderful cook.”

Meggie whined, a rise of her small, soft voice that indicated her displeasure. “I want you to help me.”

Kate’s heart ached. She knew she couldn’t bear to leave the child disappointed. “Meggie, listen, just in case you don’t see me doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about you. I’ll be thinking about you all the time. But to remind you, I brought you a little present.” Kate dug into her reticule and brought out a gold locket and chain. “This was my mother’s, Meggie. I want you to have it now. It’s very special to me. And so are you.”

Meggie’s face beamed with joy when Kate handed
her the locket. The child held it carefully, inspecting it from all angles. “It’s pretty.”

“It’s yours now. Would you like me to put it on you?”

Meggie nodded eagerly.

“Okay, there,” Kate said, once she fastened the locket around Meggie’s neck. “I hope you’ll always think of me when you wear it.” She hugged Meggie tightly and stood abruptly. She didn’t want the child to see her dismay. “I love you, Megpie.”

“Love you, too,” she said, too interested in fingering the locket to notice Kate’s sad smile.

“Well, I’d better get going. Remember, you take care of your daddy and love him up real good. He’s the best daddy in the world.”

“’Kay. Thank you for the present, Miss Kate.”

Kate left Cole’s house quickly after kissing Meggie goodbye and headed straight for Nora’s. It would be her last stop before leaving Crystal Creek.

Cole pressed his eyes open, fighting off the haze of cloudiness that had engulfed him. His chest burned, the ache bringing back recollections, fuzzy as they were, of trouble at the saloon. He pushed himself up on the bed, ignoring the knifing pain to his upper body, and noted that he wasn’t home. He’d been in and out of consciousness for days, but today he recognized Doc Royer’s office. How long had he been here?

A vague and fleeting memory of Kate—her scent,
her touch, her soft voice soothing him—floated into his mind like an enchanting dream. She’d been with him throughout most of the time, he was certain. But as he glanced around the room, moving his head only slightly to ward off any dizziness, he found that he was alone.

He closed his eyes and vivid recollections of the shooting surged forth. A man with a scarred face held Kate, hurting her, and Cole had shot him. Cole’s eyes opened wide then, remembering. He knew that man.

Dwight Sloan.

Cole had known who he was when he saw him at the saloon, straight away. Seeing him put his hands on Kate, knowing what he was capable of, how he’d been party to Jeb and Lydia’s murders had Cole itching to pull the trigger. First and foremost, he’d made sure that Kate was safely out of the way before taking the shot.

He recalled downing the man. Cole hadn’t missed, his bullet had entered right in the chest, into his heart. Cole felt no remorse, only relief that Kate was safe now and that finally he’d avenged Jeb’s death.

Had the man come back out of revenge? That had to be the reason. Cole had been key in catching and jailing Sloan’s brother, who’d been found guilty and hanged. But Cole felt he’d been manipulated from the start. The calculating man knew who Cole was. He’d probably waited for the exact right moment when Cole showed up at the saloon. He must have known about Kate, too.

Either way, the man would have found a way to draw Cole out, sometime, somewhere.

Cole closed his eyes and wondered where Kate was, and he thought of Meggie. He prayed his young daughter wouldn’t take his injuries to heart. Meggie, sweet Meggie, wouldn’t like seeing him all bandaged up. He hadn’t recalled her coming here, although his memory of this time was vague. But one thing he was sure about was that once he got out of this bed, he’d be heading straight home, to Meggie and to Kate.

Cole dozed off then, waiting and wanting Kate by his side.

Not more than an hour later, Cole got his wish. He heard the door opening and the swish of skirts. His heart rate escalated. He needed to see her in a bad way. “Kate?”

He sat up in the bed, but it was Nora Cable by his side and she had tears in her eyes.

“Nora? What’s wrong? Is it Meggie, Kate?” Desperation settled in his gut, seeing Nora so distraught. Something had happened to someone he loved.

“No, it’s not Meggie. She’s just fine, Cole. Mrs. Gregory is taking good care of her, as usual.”

“That’s good.” Cole relaxed a little. “Where’s Kate?”

Nora swallowed hard. She shook her head. “I tried to stop her, Cole. Honest. But she’s gone.” Nora shed big tears now. They ran down her face in streams.

Overwhelming dread seized him. “Where’d she go?”

“She left on the train not ten minutes ago. She closed up the saloon…and left town.”

Cole didn’t excuse his foul language. He cursed up a storm. “Why the hell did she go, Nora?”

“Oh, Cole, she blames herself for you getting shot. I couldn’t convince her otherwise. She left you a note.” Nora reached into her pocket and took out a piece of parchment.

Cole scanned the note quickly then balled it up in his fist. He’d gotten the gist of what was in her fool head. “Where? Tell me where she went.”

Cole sat up, swinging his legs off the bed and onto the floor. He winced in pain but kept moving. He hoisted himself up and, although his legs felt wiry, he stood tall.

Nora let out a loud gasp. “Cole, what are you doing?”

“Get me a shirt, Nora. I’m going after her, soon as you tell me where. Did she go back to Los Angeles?”

“No, I don’t think so.” Nora stopped talking to shake her head at him. “You can’t ride in your condition, Cole.”

“What I can’t do is let Kate get away. Now, are you gonna help? I need a shirt.”

Nora opened up drawers and finally found a man’s shirt. She handed it to him and helped him on with it. With nimble fingers, she buttoned it up carefully over his bandages. “I think the train was headed north a ways. It was the first one out this afternoon.”

“Aw, hell. Nora, do me a favor. Have Jethro saddle up my horse for me and bring it here.”

Nora stared at him a moment. “I want her back, too, Cole, but you’re in bad shape.”

“I’ll be in worse shape if I don’t find her, Nora.”

Thankfully Nora seemed to understand his desperation. He read it in her eyes, in her worried expression. Cole knew he’d be no good for anything without Kate by his side.

“I’ll hurry,” Nora said, and left the room quickly.

Kate had boarded the train that departed Crystal Creek half an hour ago and hadn’t looked back. She couldn’t bear to, for if she had, she would have been tempted to return to everyone she cared about. She’d found love in Crystal Creek with Cole and Meggie. She’d also made the most wonderful friends in the Cables. Leaving Nora and knowing she’d not ever see her new little babe hadn’t been easy. Nora had pleaded, but Kate knew what was best. She couldn’t have Cole, and she couldn’t very well stand by and watch the man she loved marry another. Eventually, Cole would, for Meggie’s sake if not his own.

Kate hugged her valise to her chest and stared out the window wondering what San Francisco would be like. She supposed she could always get a job of some sort in a hotel. She’d had many years of experience while working with her mama in Los Angeles.

Kate would have to make a new start and try to find a shred of peace in a place where she knew absolutely
no one. She was alone now, completely. Mama had always said, “Don’t dwell.” But Kate knew she’d not see a truly joyous day again without the ones she loved by her side.

The Southern Pacific pulled up to its next stop, Grass Valley. Kate stared out the window, viewing the town, and noted several travelers making their way from the depot. There she spotted a man on horseback nearly slumped over. Initially she believed she was seeing things, her mind dulled from sadness and heartache. It couldn’t possibly be. But once she recognized the man, who seemed to be searching the windows of the train with dogged persistence, her breath caught. “Cole.”

He nearly fell from his horse then, his face pale, his body weakened. Kate picked up her valise and dashed outside. She reached him just before he plunged off his horse. She took the brunt of his weight and helped him down. Without a word, with fear in her heart that he’d done himself even more injury, she guided him along then propped him up against the wall of the depot, where he let his weakened legs buckle as he sank down onto the dirt.

Kate blinked her astonishment back and bent to him. “Cole,” she breathed out, wiping away sweat from his brow. “Why did you come after me? I’ve been nothing but trouble for you.”

“Hell,” he said softly, after taking a deep steadying breath, “I ought to arrest you again. Must be a law about leaving a man twice in his lifetime.”

“I almost got you killed,” she admitted regretfully.

“No.” The slow shake of his head took great effort. “It wasn’t your doing. That man wanted me dead. Didn’t matter where or when.”

“I don’t understand.”

“That was Dwight Sloan. I jailed his brother, who had been tried, convicted and sentenced to death. Sloan wanted me dead, to avenge his brother’s death, just as I wanted him dead to avenge mine. I recognized him the moment I saw him with you. I knew I’d finally have my revenge, but what I hadn’t planned on was having you in danger.”

“You didn’t shoot him right away. You hesitated.”

“I couldn’t chance it. I had to make sure you were clear of him,” he said earnestly.

“But don’t you see, you put your life in danger for me.”

“I’d do it again, Kate. You have to know that. And Sloan would have found me, sooner or later. I’m sure of it. None of this was your doing.”

Kate shook her head fiercely. “I didn’t listen to your warnings. If I hadn’t been so stubborn I would have seen the dangers. Nobody wanted the saloon to reopen.”

“Kate, you’ve done more good with that saloon than anybody in the entire town. You’ve taught them all a lesson in compassion…a lesson long overdue. You have such a giving heart. I love you for it. Hell, I just plain love you.” He reached up with a hand to graze her cheek.

Kate gasped when she saw blood soaking his shirt. “Cole, you’re bleeding again,” she cried.

“Reach into my pocket, honey.”

With a questioning look, Kate felt inside his pocket. Tears stung her eyes when she lifted out the thin strip of once-white petticoat, stained with his blood. It was the cloth she’d used to wrap his hand after he’d deliberately slashed it that day by the creek, the day they’d claimed friendship forever, the day she’d fallen in love with him. “You kept it all this time,” she said, taken aback. Tears streamed down her cheeks now.

“It’s always with me,” he muttered, taking her hand and bringing it to his mouth. He pressed a kiss on her palm then wiped away her tears with the pad of his thumb.

“I love you, Cole.” She stared deeply into his eyes.

“Glad to hear it, sweetheart.”

Kate took the piece of material and anchored it to his wound, wrapping it tightly. Then she reached into her bag and produced the other half of the bandage she would use on him, the plaid piece of material he’d used to wrap up her hand, that same day, years ago. She lifted it to his wound to help stop the bleeding. “It’s always with me,” she said softly, repeating his words.

His smile melted her heart. And when he kissed her soundly on the lips, she couldn’t control her giddy trembling.