A Bride to Heal His Broken Heart

by Melynda Carlyle

  “So, the U.S. Marshal came back and rescued us?”

  “They arrived after most of the shooting was over. Sheriff Chisholm managed to put together his own posse of townsfolk who were only too willing to see Orvis arrested.”

  “Where is he now?”

  “Orvis?”

  Lorna nodded. “Yes. And the railroad man: he knew what was happening and did nothing to stop it.”

  “George Hess and Orvis have both been arrested and will be standing trial in a few weeks, when the circuit judge comes through town.”

  “So, it’s over? The outlaws are all gone?”

  “Sheriff Chisholm is confident that the few who got away won’t be setting foot back inside Virginia City anytime soon.”

  Lorna nodded and then sobered. “But Darren got shot.”

  “Yes. But the men responsible, including the man who shot Mark, are going to pay for their actions.”

  Lorna thought about that and finally closed her eyes. Her head still hurt, and she was worried about Darren. And Ethan. So much needless pain and suffering, all because of greed.

  She wished she could understand what drove a man like Orvis, but it was beyond her.

  “Sleep for a bit and let your mind rest,” June whispered. “Maybe when you next wake we’ll have news from town.”

  Lorna held onto that hope as she allowed her mind to slow down and sleep to overtake her. As the pain began to recede, she dreamed of Darren and happier times. He had to be all right. She’d make sure of it, after she got some more rest.

  Chapter 40

  Darren felt himself floating as if in a deep void. It was dark and quiet. Too quiet. He tried to open his eyes, but they were heavy. He listened, trying to remember where he was and why he felt so odd.

  He couldn’t hear anything. That in itself caused him to try once more to open his eyes. He finally managed, blinking slowly as he took in his surroundings.

  Is this Doc’s office? What am I doing sleeping here? Maybe something’s wrong with Ethan.

  Darren pushed aside his questions and tried to sit up, only to gasp as a sharp pain shot through his chest and abdomen. He clenched his teeth and relaxed his muscled back onto the bed, willing the pain to go away.

  Once the pain was tolerable, he opened his eyes once more only to see a pair of beautiful green eyes staring back at him.

  “You’re awake,” Lorna whispered with a soft smile.

  Darren nodded slowly and tried to sit up again, but she stopped him. “Stay still.”

  Darren took her advice and then searched her face for signs of injury. He remembered Orvis pointing the pistol at her before he’d thrown himself in front of her. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine, just a bump on the head,” she assured him. “And a really big headache, but I’m fine. You saved me.”

  “I heard talking in here,” Dr. Ellsworth said as he came into the room. “Glad to see you awake, Darren. How are you feeling?”

  “Like I got caught in a stampede,” he replied weakly.

  “That’s probably pretty close to right. You got shot. I removed the bullet and stitched you up, but you’re going to have to take it easy for a few weeks. No chasing after outlaws or moving the herds.”

  Darren managed to muster up a small chuckle and assured him, “I think I can handle that.”

  “I’ll be speaking with your pa to make sure that you do,” Seth promised him. “I’ve already spoken to him about Ethan and given him the same instructions.”

  “Ethan? How is he?”

  “Faring a bit better than you at the moment. Brian and June are coming this afternoon to take him back to the ranch.”

  “I want to go, as well,” Darren informed him.

  Dr. Ellsworth looked at him and then sighed. “I don’t know that I’m comfortable with that. You’ve been unconscious and I don’t want to risk those stitches tearing.”

  “I’ll take it easy. I’ll rest better on the ranch.”

  “Well, I can’t argue with that.”

  “So, I can leave this afternoon?” Darren asked.

  “Yes, very well. I’ll plan to ride out tomorrow and make sure both of you are still doing well.”

  “Thanks, Doc.”

  Seth squeezed his shoulder and then gave Lorna a nod and a smile. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Ellsworth.”

  “You’re very welcome. Claire asked that you come and see her when you’re done visiting.”

  “I will,” Lorna told him with a small nod.

  “Very good.” Dr. Ellsworth left and Darren found himself alone once more with Lorna.

  “Where are Pa and Aunt June?”

  “They went back to the ranch yesterday.”

  “You stayed here? All night long?”

  Lorna nodded. “I had to be here. I’m so glad you’re awake.”

  The relief Darren felt was immense. When she reached out and took his hand between her own, he lifted his head and was surprised to see tears streaming down her cheeks.

  She lifted her hand, trying to wipe the tears away, but was unsuccessful. He lifted his free hand and managed to touch her cheek briefly before his strength failed him.

  She chuckled self-consciously and sniffed a bit before smiling. “I can’t seem to quit crying. I can’t even begin to tell you how grateful I am for what you did.”

  “I didn’t—”

  Lorna shook her head. “You did. You risked your own life to save mine. When I saw Orvis’s finger twitch on that trigger, I was sure I was going to die.”

  “You didn’t, though,” Darren reminded her.

  She nodded. “I know, and that’s all because of you. I want you to know how much I’ve really enjoyed the time we’ve spent together.”

  Darren frowned. “You don’t look like you’ve enjoyed your time here in Virginia City.”

  Lorna swallowed and then cleared her throat. “I just wanted you to know how thankful I am to your family for accepting me, but I’ve caused you all enough pain. Especially you. I’m leaving Virginia City on the next train.”

  “You’re leaving?” Darren queried, confusion marring his brow. “I don’t understand.”

  “It’s for the best. I just came by to say goodbye and thank you,” Lorna told him, fresh tears running down her cheeks.

  Darren looked at her, unable to believe what he was hearing.

  Lorna is leaving? I thought she was happy here?

  In that moment, Darren realized two things. First, that he couldn’t possibly bear the thought of Lorna not being around. They’d shared so much. He’d miss her terribly.

  Second, that he had feelings for her. Strong ones. He’d never shared them with her; that was a mistake he needed to correct.

  She tried to pull her hand free, but Darren refused to let go. He tugged on her arm slowly, needing to see her eyes when he spoke his piece. He would never be able to live with himself if he didn’t tell her what he’d just come to realize.

  He squeezed her hand. “Lorna…I can’t let you leave without telling you something.” He looked deep into her eyes and then smiled. “I’m falling in love with you.”

  She looked shocked but remained quiet as he continued. “I know how you feel about Indians and I can appreciate why you feel that way. I know you can probably never be okay with my heritage, but I just wanted you to know how I feel. I don’t want you to leave.”

  He watched her face and was alarmed when she started sobbing uncontrollably. “Lorna, I’m sorry…”

  “Don’t be,” she told him between her sobs.

  “Please stop crying, Lorna. You’re breaking my heart here,” Darren pleaded with her to calm down. “I’m sorry I said anything…”

  “I’m in love with you, too,” she blurted out on a wave of fresh tears.

  Darren’s heart expanded with relief and joy upon hearing that. Then he saw her distress and shook his head. “I don’t understand why being in love with me is cause for so many tears.”
r />   “They’re happy tears,” she sobbed.

  Darren paused for a moment and then tugged on her arm, pulling her off balance. She caught herself from landing on his chest by bracing one arm on the far side of the table.

  “Darren, you’re going to hurt yourself,” she told him, trying to pull free and right herself.

  Darren released Lorna’s hand and cupped her face with both hands, effectively holding her still, inches from his face. “Losing you would hurt worse than any bullet wound.”

  He searched her eyes and then lifted his head, closing the distance between them, and kissed her gently on the lips. Her eyes fluttered closed, and after a moment, her body relaxed. He kissed her tentatively at first, and then with more intent for several long moments.

  When he released her and she stood back up, he couldn’t keep the silly smile from his face.

  Lorna loves me. I love her. Maybe things are going to work out after all.

  Chapter 41

  Two months later…

  Lorna glanced at her reflection in the looking glass and couldn’t contain her smile. She examined her attire with a critical eye, for a moment letting her mind wander back to the first time she’d set foot in Virginia City.

  She’d arrived with a purpose in mind: to marry Mark Wilson. She’d been so sure her life here was going to be a grand adventure. So many things had happened since that day, and yet…today she was preparing to get married again – to Mark’s brother, Darren.

  “Don’t you just look radiant,” June commented as she walked into the room with a ready smile upon her face. She held a small bouquet of daisies tied with a pretty ribbon.

  Lorna pressed a hand over her heart. “I can’t believe this day is finally here.” She took a breath and then let it out and smiled. “I’m getting married.”

  June came to stand next to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. She handed Lorna the flowers and smiled back at her. “You make a beautiful bride.”

  “Thank you for everything, and for helping me with this beautiful dress. That was the one thing I thought I would never get when I agreed to come out here and marry Mark: a wedding with a dress, flowers, and friends gathered around.”

  “You have many friends and they are all at the church, waiting. Are you ready?”

  “I think so,” Lorna told her. “Suddenly, I’m nervous.”

  June smiled indulgently at her. “Every bride is nervous on her wedding day.”

  “Were you?” Lorna asked. She knew June had been married many years earlier. Her husband had been a rancher like Brian and was thrown from his horse during a bad thunderstorm. He’d hit his head on a rock and when the ranch hands had found him a few hours after the storm passed, he was dead.

  June sighed and then nodded. “Yes. I was excited, but also nervous about what lay ahead. But I loved Samuel, and marrying him was all I could think about.”

  “That’s how I feel. I know I want to marry Darren.”

  “As he wants to marry you. Now, we can stand up here talking all day, or you can walk down those stairs and make someone a very happy man.”

  Lorna nodded. “I’m ready.” She followed June from the borrowed room at the boarding house. Everyone was gathered at the church, and she and June made the short walk together.

  Lorna’s heart was pounding with anticipation. Since the day Darren had first declared his feelings for her, her life had taken some drastic turns. She still worked with the doctor in town, but only a few days each week.

  Darren had been very concerned about her dislike of the Indians. Lorna had challenged herself to try and move past her own prejudice. With Darren’s help, she’d started visiting the Paiute camp once a week, offering her help with their injuries and illnesses.

  Over the last nine weeks, she’d developed a respect for their way of life. She’d also come to understand something she’d never even considered before: the Indians had lived on this land for centuries before the white men arrived. The white men were the interlopers, not the Indians.

  She’d also discovered that the Indians and white men had many things in common. While she might not understand their customs or lifestyle, she’d discovered she could come to appreciate them. This change in her thinking had come after spending time amongst the Paiute tribe. She had tried to put herself in their position and was confident that she would want to protect her home, just like they did. Tenaya and his people had been displaced by towns, ranches, railroads, and miners, just as other tribal peoples had been.

  Lorna now considered the Paiute her friends. She enjoyed watching Wanekia’s little one grow, and Pamahas and Wanekia had been very open to sharing with her about their culture. Even Tocho had been willing to share his knowledge about natural remedies.

  Dr. Ellsworth had even visited once or twice with her. Lorna was hopeful that one day soon, other townsfolk would come to view the Indians as their friends.

  She wasn’t naïve and knew that there were other Indians across the country who wanted nothing to do with the white men. Many Indian tribes had been displaced from their ancestral lands by brute force and soldiers. Their ability to hunt and live their lives the way their forefathers did had been taken away from them in the name of progress.

  Lorna had come to appreciate the fact that she lived in a place where the townsfolk wanted to live peaceably with those who had inhabited the land first. It would take time, but Lorna was confident that one day there would be trust built between the townsfolk of Virginia City and the Paiute tribe of Darren’s birth.

  “Lorna?” June’s voice pulled her back to the present.

  Lorna blushed. “Sorry, I let my mind wander a bit.”

  “Well, let it wander down the aisle.” June squeezed her hand and walked with her to the bottom of the church steps. Brian was there, waiting for her.

  Lorna’s heart skipped a beat and a smile spread across her face.

  June released her arm when she was only a few feet away from Brian. The older woman kissed her cheek and then quietly climbed the steps and entered the church.

  Lorna looked at Brian, feeling her heart swell with pride. “Thank you for welcoming me into your home and family.”

  Brian shook his head. “No thanks are needed.” He turned and looped their elbows together. “I owe you a debt of gratitude and thanks for saving my family and bringing Darren back to life. When Mark died, I thought for sure I was going to lose Darren as well. Maybe not to the grave, but he was so hurt and angry. Then you came along.

  “The timing was horrible, or so I thought. But I was wrong. You brought hope back to us when we were at our lowest. I’m honored to be walking you down the aisle and giving you away to my son.”

  Lorna felt tears sting her eyes. When Darren had asked her to marry him, she’d been filled with joy, but the moment had been bittersweet. Her own dear father couldn’t walk her down the aisle. She was certain he was watching from heaven above, but it wasn’t the same.

  Then Brian had offered, and she’d known that was what her father would have wanted. Brian wasn’t her father, but he had earned a place in her heart, and she thought of him as a second father: a man of wisdom who watched over his family and only wanted the best for them.

  “I must be the luckiest girl in the West. Not only do I get to marry a man I admire and love, but I get to become part of his family.”

  “It’s our pleasure. Ready to go put my son out of his misery?”

  Lorna frowned. “What’s wrong with Darren?” Darren had been fine last night when she’d said goodbye to him. June had insisted that they spend the night at the boarding house in town. She’d told Brian and Darren that a bride shouldn’t have to travel over dusty trails before her wedding.

  Brian shook his head and then calmed her by saying, “There’s nothing wrong with him except that he’s nervous and excited.”

  Lorna’s worry faded and she smiled. “That’s okay, then. I am feeling the same way. I’m glad I’m not alone.”

  “Child, that is one thi
ng you will never be again. Let me be the first to welcome you to our family.” Brian hugged her and then turned and straightened his Sunday-best suit jacket. “Ready?”

  “Most definitely.”

  Brian led her up the steps and the two of them slowly made their way down the aisle. The entire town had come out to witness this occasion; even the Paiute had shown up to help them celebrate. That was a first for the town, and Lorna was so humbled and grateful for her new friends.

  She smiled at them as she made her way down the aisle, her nerves slowly fading away when she looked forward. Darren was standing in the center of the aisle. His eyes were watching her intently, but the smile on his lips let her know how happy he was in this moment.