The Marshal Meets His Match (25 page)

“What is that stuff?” she gasped.

“Laudanum. I’ll need to change those bandages soon, and this will take the edge off the worst of the pain.”

“They caught him, in case ye were wonderin’,” McIsaac announced, grimly pleased. He seated himself by the bed.

“Who was it?”

“The same eejit who shot me.” The burr in McIsaac’s voice intensified.

“The bank robber?”

“Aye, and he better be thankful he’s surrounded by iron bars, or…” McIsaac’s jaw clenched; his hands knotted into fists.

“Why would he shoot at us? I thought he was long gone.” Meri blinked slowly, heavy drowsiness creeping in.

“It’s a long story. I’ll let Marshal Cameron tell it. He’s the one who figured it out.”

Her father’s voice faded as she struggled to stay awake, but her eyelids had grown too heavy.

A piercing cry filled her ears when someone rolled her over, and the burn ravaging her shoulder blazed into an inferno. Hands were a million teeth gnawing her flesh, and another cry stabbed her ears. She dimly recognized her own voice before gratefully surrendering to unconsciousness.

Time ceased to exist. Meri was vaguely aware of a damp cloth on her face or a cool trickle of water down her throat, but these blurred and floated together in a crazy pain-racked dream.

It was dark when her eyes opened, and the memory of intense pain kept her motionless. The burning ache in her shoulder was still very much present, but Meri marveled at the restored peace warming her soul. She thanked the Lord for his gracious love, and asked forgiveness as she recalled again the events at the graveyard.
Lord, why do I lose my cool around Marshal Cameron? I really have been quite unpleasant, and I’m sorry. Why can’t I just ignore him and go on?

A quiet little voice whispered in her heart, stopping her thoughts in their tracks.

Maybe you can’t ignore him because he’s dangerous to your heart.

No!
she argued silently.

Maybe you’re in love with him. Maybe that’s what you’re fighting.

I am not in love with him!

But in spite of her denial the words dug into her heart, and Meri was wide-awake as slow realization dawned.

How can I be in love with him? He drives me crazy. He’s bossy. He laughs at me. He… He… His horse is faster than mine.
The thought was petty, and she knew it. Laughing hazel eyes peered through her memories coaxing her to join in their merriment. They are rather pretty eyes, she admitted with a sigh.

Another memory lit up the dark room. A handsome man placing an outrageous bid and sitting across from her to indulge in his hard-won gingerbread. More images paraded past. An arm supporting her during the three-legged race; his chagrin at losing the sack race, but his delight in her win; the look on his face when rotten egg dripped down his shirtfront.

Meri grinned. Since when did a man look good in rotten egg? She sighed again. At the very least the man fascinated her. She was beginning to believe it went much deeper than simple fascination.

“Are ye awake, lass?” McIsaac’s whisper broke the silence, and she jerked at the sound. Biting back a moan, she breathed past the pain. “Yes.”

The strike of a match warned her, and she closed her eyes as the lamp flamed to life. Squinting against the sudden brightness, she watched her father pour a glass of water. Bringing it to her, he carefully raised her head to allow her a drink. The cool liquid tasted wonderful, and Meri drank the entire glass before resting her head back on the pillow. “Thank you. That tasted so good.”

“How do ye feel?” He placed a hand on her forehead.

“Sore.”

“I heartily sympathize.”

“Now I know why you were unconscious so long. You didn’t want to deal with the pain.” Meri grinned at him.

“Me secret comes to light at last.” He shook his head in mock shame.

Silence fell for a moment, and Meri swallowed hard before she spoke. “Faither?”

“Aye, lass?”

“Will you forgive me for my terrible attitude the past few months? I know I’ve been a pain to be around, but the Lord finally got my attention. I was angry and blaming Him for Mither’s death, thinking He wasn’t hearing my prayers. I kept telling myself I was sad, but I was taking out my hurt and anger on those around me.” Meri choked on the sudden rush of tears.

Arms surrounded her in a gentle hug. “Wheesht, lass. I knew ye were hurting, and I prayed ye’d let the Lord heal ye as He has me. Of course I forgive ye. I love ye more than me own life. I’m so grateful the Lord spared ye.”

He pulled away, tears glistening on his cheeks. Pulling a handkerchief from his pocket, he dried her tears before wiping away his own. “Yer mither would be laughing at the both of us. She always said she was the only stoic Scot in the family.”

Meri grinned at him. For the first time since her mother’s death, the mention of her didn’t send a shaft of pain through her heart. Instead the memory of her mother’s teasing statement whenever father got emotional was heartwarmingly pleasant. They softly reminisced until Meri’s eyelids drooped again, and her father turned the lamp down low.

Leaning over, he softly kissed her forehead, his Scottish brogue rumbling softly against her ears. “Sleep well, lass. Yer Faither will be watching over ye. And so will I.”

* * *

The day passed in a confusing blur, laudanum keeping the worst of the pain at bay, but making Meri’s brain so foggy, wakefulness and sleep swirled together in a surreal tangle. She wasn’t sure if she dreamed Wyatt’s voice, but the word
sweetheart
spoken in a rich baritone brought a drowsy smile to her lips.

The sun was high in the sky the following day when she finally woke with a clear head and ravenous hunger. Her father was busily scanning the newspaper, but at the sound of her growling stomach, he lowered the paper to his lap. “Ye’re awake. And hungry from the sound of it.” A relieved smile lit his face.

“I’m starving.”

The door swung open, admitting Dr. Kilburn. “How’s our patient feeling today?” Meri’s stomach rumbled in answer. “Sounds like your appetite is in good working order.” Doc laughed as he felt her head and reached for her wrist. “We’ll get it quieted down in a few minutes. Until then, how are you feeling?”

“Still trying to figure out which end is up.” Meri shifted slightly, regretting it instantly as the pain reminded her why she was flat on her back, or rather, propped up on pillows.

Dr. Kilburn smiled. “Your wound is looking good, no sign of infection, and you haven’t had any laudanum for several hours. How’s the pain?”

“Bearable, as long as I don’t move.”

“Then don’t move. It’s going to take some time to heal, and you’ll be sore even after that. Now, how about some food?”

“Yes, please.”

He left the room, and soon Mrs. Kilburn breezed in with a fragrant-smelling tray. Setting it down on the bedside table, she turned to Meri. “Do you want to try sitting up?”

“Yes, I’m tired of lying down.”

Meri thought better of the idea when Mrs. Kilburn helped ease her into an upright position, but she gritted her teeth and refused to let a whimper escape. Mrs. Kilburn artfully arranged the pillows to support her while keeping pressure off the damaged shoulder, and Meri gratefully sank against their softness. Pain had effectively quieted the noisy rumbling of her stomach, leaving her nauseous instead.

“I don’t think I’m hungry anymore.” A bead of sweat trickled down her back.

“I brought some nice broth to start with. Why don’t you try a few sips and see if it doesn’t calm your stomach?”

Meri felt very weak and helpless as the woman spooned broth into her mouth, but after a few swallows, Mrs. Kilburn proved she knew what she was talking about.

Meri’s appetite returned with a vengeance. The broth disappeared quickly, and she gratefully accepted the soft, buttered bread. “Thank you. That tasted wonderful.”

“We’ll give you something a little more substantial for supper, but Doc wanted to make sure you handled this okay before trying anything heavier.” She gathered up the dishes. “I’ll be back in a few minutes to help you freshen up. You’ll have guests before long. You’re quite our most popular patient.” Mrs. Kilburn grinned and winked before bustling out of the room.

“What did she mean?”

McIsaac lowered the paper he’d been quietly reading. “I’m not sure who’s left to run the ranch since most of the hands rode in at various times yesterday to ‘check on you’ and carry news back there. Half the town has stopped by to check on ‘Miss Meri.’ Franks is more worried than I’ve ever seen him.”

She was humbled so many people cared about her, but had Wyatt not stopped in? Was that why her father hadn’t mentioned him? Maybe she
had
only dreamed the sweetheart endearment.

Mrs. Kilburn returned, interrupting her musings. Hustling McIsaac out of the room and closing the door behind him, she helped Meri with a personal urgent need. When she was settled back in bed, exhausted, Mrs. Kilburn brushed Meri’s hair smooth and tamed it into a neat braid. Then she bathed Meri’s hands and face in refreshing warm water before arranging a pretty little crocheted bed jacket about her shoulders and straightening the colorful quilt around her waist.

“There,” she said, stepping back to admire her work. “Don’t you make a lovely picture?”

“If you happen to like looking at what the cat dragged in.”

“Absolutely not!” the woman argued stoutly. “You look fashionably pale, and I know a certain lawman who won’t be able to take his eyes off you.” A distant knock sounded, and Mrs. Kilburn smiled knowingly. “I suspect that’s him now.” She eyed Meri’s blooming cheeks. “Ah, you’re not quite so pale now. Feel up to a little company?”

Meri’s heart was in her throat, so she could only nod. First she was disappointed when she thought he hadn’t dropped by, and now she feared seeing him again.

Fickle female! You don’t know your own mind.

“I’ll show him in then.” Mrs. Kilburn pulled the door closed behind her.

Meri barely breathed, straining to hear identifiable voices. When she heard steps approaching, her heart shuddered to a stop.

You don’t even know if it’s him.

But she did. She recognized his steps on the wood flooring. Her stomach lurched as they came to a stop outside the door, and a light tap caused her heart to explode back into action.

“Come in.” It was more croak than voice, but it did the job because the door swung inward.

Chapter Eighteen

W
yatt stepped into the room and stood looking at her for a long moment, his eyes seeming to absorb every inch of her. His powerful presence shrank the space until it felt too small to hold two people comfortably, and Meri felt he could see all the way through her. She wanted to lower her gaze, but it tangled irretrievably in his.

He exhaled a noisy sigh. “You look so much better today. You had me worried, Mac.”

Meri opened her mouth to protest the name then shut it abruptly. She might actually be starting to like it.

“Uh-oh. I thought you were doing better, but maybe I ought to call Doc.”

“Why?”

“You’re not arguing with me. You must be feeling worse than I thought.” The sparkle in his eyes belied the concern in his voice, and Meri felt an answering grin struggle for freedom.

She sobered quickly, however, and dropped her eyes to the quilt. “I need to apologize for that.”

“Apologize for what?”

“Apologize for always arguing with you.”

“You don’t
always
argue with me. I seem to recall we worked pretty good together at the picnic.”

Meri ignored the heat in her cheeks and forced herself to continue. “I’ve been fighting the Lord on some things, and I allowed it to affect my attitude and how I treated those around me, you especially. I’ve been rude to you, lost my temper…” Meri felt tears sting her eyes but refused to release them. “I’ve asked the Lord to forgive me, now I’m asking you to forgive me.” The apology was hard enough without blubbering all over the man.

“Forgiveness granted, and I have a confession of my own.”

Her eyes flew to his.

“You’re not completely at fault here.”

“I’m not?”

“No.” He chuckled. “I did my fair share of provoking you.”

“Why?”

“Unlike most females of my acquaintance, instead of fussing about a ruined dress, a mussed hairdo or even acting helpless when you landed at my feet that day at Franks’s, you came up fighting. I liked your spunk and wanted to see it again. You mind if I sit down?”

The question caught Meri off guard. “Of course.”

“You want me to leave?”

“No! I mean… Yes, you can sit down.”

“You had me worried for a minute there. I was afraid you were going to throw me out on my ear,” Wyatt said good-naturedly, seating himself in the chair by the bedside.

If the room had shrunk when he’d walked in, it now felt positively minuscule. Meri looked down at her fingers mindlessly twirling a bed jacket ribbon. She folded her hands, forcing her gaze back toward Wyatt. He was watching her with a look she couldn’t decipher, but it made her stomach quiver. She rallied her retreating courage; just because she was more accustomed to arguing with him didn’t mean she was incapable of carrying on a normal, civil conversation, despite evidence to the contrary.

Lifting her chin slightly, she broke the silence. “Thank you.”

Those intense eyes never left hers. “For?”

“For saving my life.”

A breathtaking smile curved his lips. “The Lord saved your life, but it was absolutely my pleasure to be of some assistance. You scared a few years off my life when I realized you were bleeding. I’d rather not experience that again, if you don’t mind.”

“I’d rather not repeat it myself. It’s painful. Would you tell me what happened after I was shot? Faither said the bank robber and the man who shot at us were the same person and you had him in jail. And you never did tell me why you and Jonah were out there in the first place.”

Wyatt leaned back in the chair and crossed one ankle over his knee. “There were a lot of pieces that didn’t add up about all that, and I couldn’t figure out why the bank robber was still hanging around.”