Redemption's Edge (14 page)

He blushed and backed out of the room as Rachel pulled a chair next to the bed.

“When is the baby due, Tilly?” Rachel asked in a soft, kind voice.

Tilly’s eyes were red and swollen, her voice scratchy. “Less than four months.” She choked once more and curled into a tighter ball. That’s about what Rachel would’ve guessed by the look of her.

“How long have you been coughing and running a fever?”

“Just since yesterday. I thought it would pass, but it got worse.”

“Does Mr. Henderson know about the baby?”

“He’s known for a while now. I had to tell him when I couldn’t, uh…do my work.” Tilly turned her head into the pillow, away from Rachel.

“All right. Let’s get you over this fever, then we’ll talk about the baby.”

Rachel sent word to her uncle, who joined her in Tilly’s room, working alongside her to help bring down the fever.

“There isn’t much else we can do, except wait. The fever isn’t getting worse and she’s resting. I’m going to head back over to the clinic. Why don’t you stay here until she wakes up?”

Charles stepped toward the door when it slammed open, a cowboy standing in the entrance, a look of rage mixed with fear on his face. He didn’t say a word before walking past the doctor and straight to the bed, staring down at the sleeping woman. “Is she all right, Doc?”

The doctor joined him by the bed. “Why don’t we go out in the hall to talk?”

“No. I’m staying right here.”

Charles glanced at Rachel, who gave a slight shrug. “This is my nurse, Rachel Davenport. Rachel, this is Ty Murton.” He looked back to the young man. “You must know Tilly.”

The cowboy’s eyes never wavered from Tilly’s sleeping form. “It’s my baby.” His emphatic words permitted no argument.

Charles set down his bag, abandoning his plan to leave for the clinic. “All right. If she wakes up and wants you to stay, that’s fine. If she doesn’t, you’ll have to leave.” He pulled another chair over for Ty. The cowboy nodded, ignoring the offered chair.

Ty watched her, overcome with concern for the woman he’d come to love.

He’d met Tilly the first day she’d accepted a job at the Rose. She’d never worked in a saloon before, but lack of money, hunger, and desperation had left her no choice. He’d been her first, had tried to talk her out of it, not understanding why someone as pretty and sweet as her would choose such a path. They’d talked for a long time before he accepted her decision and made up his own mind to do whatever he could to get her out of this life.

She woke coughing, but not the spasms of earlier, which had racked her body. Rachel applied another damp cloth as Tilly opened her eyes.

“There’s a young man here to see you.” She indicated across the bed.

Tilly’s head swiveled, then her eyes grew wide. She offered a weak smile.

“Hello, Tilly.”

“Tyson. What are you doing here?”

He grabbed her hand in his and squeezed. “Where else would I be?” He stared at her, challenging her to argue. “I’m here to bring you home. Our home. That’s where you’ll have our baby.”

“Tyson, I…” Her voice trailed off, eyes filling with tears as she absorbed his words.

“I know you’re not sure, but I am. I’ll send for the preacher. I’m thinking the doc and Miss Davenport here will stand as witness.” He squeezed her hand again, then stood and looked at Charles. “I’m getting Reverend Paige. You’ll stay with her?”

“Of course.” He watched Ty disappear into the hall.

“Is that what you want, Tilly? To marry Tyson?” Rachel asked, believing it to be a possible answer to the girl’s situation.

“I love him, but I’m not certain he’s the father. Someone like me, well…I can’t be sure.” She wiped the dampness from her cheeks and rested a hand on her stomach. She looked up as Amos Henderson walked back into the room.

“Ty Murton says he’s the father. He’s off to get Reverend Paige. You willing to marry the boy, Tilly?”

“Yes, Mr. Henderson. I am.”

“And you know he’s the father?”

She looked at the others. “No.”

Amos shook his head. “Well, I guess it doesn’t matter. Don’t know what we’d do with a baby around here anyway.”

Tyson came through the door minutes later with Reverend Paige and glared at Henderson. “You here to cause trouble, Amos?”

“No. Making certain Tilly’s doing what she wants.” He stepped back, allowing Tyson to take his place.

An hour later, Tilly lie in the back of Tyson’s wagon, wrapped in blankets, her fever gone, and wearing a plain gold band. Ty shook everyone’s hand, including Rachel’s, climbed onto the seat, and slapped the reins.

“Will they be okay, Mr. Henderson?” Rachel asked as the wagon pulled away.

“They just might be. He, his mother, and two brothers own a small ranch south of town. Good people, hard workers. I don’t believe they’ll have a problem accepting Tilly. She didn’t have much experience before coming here.” He scratched his head. “Fact is, I don’t think she had any. I saw the way Tyson looked at Tilly her first night at the Rose. He came back darn near every night and paid for her time. Don’t know where he got the money or how he made it in so often as their ranch is quite a distance away, but he did. I doubt that girl was with more than one or two others the entire time she was here, and those were early on.” Amos walked up the steps and through the saloon doors, letting them swing behind him.

“You all right, Rachel?” Charles asked.

She looked up as a tired smile broke across her face and nodded toward the wagon as it pulled out of sight. “It’s the people, Uncle Charles. That’s why I want to stay in Splendor.”

“Where are you headed?” Luke sat in one of the big leather chairs in the study, feet propped on a table, sipping whiskey and eyeing Dax.

“Into town. Thought I’d see how the doc is doing.”

“The doc, huh?”

“That’s what I said.” Dax ignored the skeptical look on his brother’s face as he buckled his gun belt in place.

“Are you going to talk to the doc any more about the need for a sheriff?”

“I hadn’t thought about it. Are you still thinking you may want the job?”

“Not unless you have an interest to splitting it between us. Neither of us has time to handle it alone.”

“Like you, I have no interest. They’ll need to find someone else.”

Luke knew when Dax made a final decision, it stayed that way—final. He watched Dax head for the front door.

“Say hello to the, uh…doctor for me,” Luke called after him, chuckling at the thought Dax had been hooked by a nurse in the frontiers of Montana. A nurse from the North, no less.

Dax rode at a brisk pace, wanting to reach Splendor before Rachel had time to eat. He hoped she’d accept his apology and agree to spend some time with him, perhaps even let him take her to supper. He’d thought over and over about what he’d said and her reaction. He’d never have done the same to a lady in Savannah. Even if she no longer held any attraction, he would’ve honored his request and taken her to tea, or supper, or some activity to fulfill his obligation. Doing otherwise would’ve been humiliating for the woman and cast him as a cad. Why did he think he could skirt convention because they lived in the wilderness? He shook his head at the sheer stupidity of his actions.

Even though he still felt a strong pull back to Texas, and building a relationship with Rachel would be a huge mistake, Dax felt drawn to her and wanted to learn more about her. He knew his actions were selfish. Perhaps the more he learned, the less appealing she’d become and he could leave without a backward glance. He almost laughed at the thought.

“I’ll get it.” Rachel pulled the door open to stare at the man who’d embarrassed her and haunted her dreams. As had become her habit when facing Dax, she straightened her spine as if doing so would fortify her against the way her body responded to the man.

“General Pelletier. To what do we owe the honor of your company?” As much as Rachel told herself she never wanted to see him again, a part of her hoped he’d reconsidered his previous comments. She wanted to be the focus of his visit. And wanted to decline any offer he made to make amends.

The sarcastic sweetness in her voice had Dax on alert. He fingered the brim of his hat, never taking his eyes from hers. “Miss Davenport.” He made a slight bow. “Business brought me into town and I thought I’d pay my respects.” It surprised him how the lie fell from his lips with little effort. “Is the doctor available?”

Disappointment washed over her at the realization he hadn’t come to see her. She dropped her gaze. “Why, yes. I’ll get him for you.”

Rachel left Dax standing outside and knocked on her uncle’s bedroom door.

“What is it?”

She inhaled a deep breath and did her best to calm her features. “Dax Pelletier is here. He’d like to see you.”

“I see.” At least he thought he understood the source of his niece’s agitation.

She hadn’t quite been herself since the night Pelletier brought her home from tending to Hank Wilson. And, after his refusal to help the town, she’d been downright disdainful any time his name came up.

“Well, I guess I should see what he wants.” He started for the door, then turned back. “Would you care to join us?”

“No.” She barked out, feeling instant regret at her caustic tone. “I have supper to prepare. Please, go on ahead.”

Dax stood ramrod straight, chastising himself for what he’d said to Rachel. He should’ve come right out and apologized for his callous behavior. He seemed destined to be the worst kind of fool where she was concerned.

“Good evening, Mr. Pelletier.”

“Doctor. I hope I’m not interrupting.” He looked behind the doctor, disappointed he didn’t see Rachel.

“Not at all. Rachel just started supper. You wished to see me?”

Dax looked down at his boots, then back up at the doctor before clearing his throat. “The truth is, I came to see Rachel, hoping she’d allow me to escort her to supper.”

Charles nodded, understanding the dilemma. Rachel had always been stubborn. He knew something had changed between her and Pelletier after the night she’d ridden out to request their help. She’d told him they’d refused, but nothing more.

“You know, Rachel is an excellent cook. I don’t know what she’s preparing tonight, but I do know there will be plenty. She makes enough for an army.” He chuckled, visualizing the portions of food she always served. “I believe the girl is trying to fatten me up. Anyway, why don’t you join us? It would be nice to share a meal with another man.” He gave Dax a conspiratorial wink.

Dax hesitated a brief moment. “If you’re sure I wouldn’t be intruding.”

“Not at all. Follow me.”

Rachel heard voices before she saw anyone come through the door. She turned her back to the entry and, standing straight, focused on the pot of stew she’d prepared the night before.

“Just put your hat on one of the hooks and I’ll let Rachel know you’re joining us for supper.”

Rachel heard her uncle’s words and fumed. She would
not
share a table with Dax Pelletier.

“Rachel—”

“I heard.” She turned on her uncle. “How could you invite him here without asking me? I may not have enough food,” she hissed. “In fact, I’m sure I don’t. He’ll have to come another time.” She glared at him, trying to swipe errant strands of hair out of her face with one hand, while gripping a large wooden spoon in the other. As if she couldn’t feel worse, Dax Pelletier appeared behind her uncle.

“It certainly smells wonderful in here. I hope the invitation from the doctor still stands.” He grinned at her, fueling her irritation.

She plastered on her most ingratiating smile. “Of course it stands. Why wouldn’t it?”

Her voice wreaked of insincerity, something her uncle had never witnessed.

“Rachel, if—”

“Uncle, why don’t you offer the general a drink while I finish supper?” She grabbed another plate from the cupboard, along with utensils, and marched past the men and into the dining room.

“What may I get you to drink?” Charles asked as they walked away from the kitchen.

“Whiskey would be perfect, if you have it.”

“Well, I guess you’re safe,” the doctor whispered to Dax as he handed him his glass.