Once she thought the broth had cooled enough, she carefully rose from her squatting position and headed to the overhang. Kyle’s eyes were closed. At least his forehead was no longer beaded with perspiration and he wasn’t groaning. What a strong man he was to be able to survive such serious injuries.
She would change his bandage later and apply more of the foul-smelling salve. Goodness only knew what was in it although it had kept his wounds from getting inflamed.
His chest was badly bruised, probably as a result of the impact of the bullet against the bronze medallion. She had taken it from around his neck and placed it in the pocket of his vest. It had certainly turned out to be a lucky charm for him. A pity there was so little of it left now.
“Kyle.” She knelt beside him.
His eyes flickered open.
“I made you some broth.”
“Take it away.” He let out a loud groan.
“No, you have to drink it. It’s nourishing and will help you regain some strength.”
“Too tired.”
“You are not too tired. You will eat it. Now, do you think you can sit up with my help?”
“Probably not. My ribs are killing me.”
“Drink this then you can rest. Later, I’ll change your bandages. I washed and dried the previous lot.”
“Thanks.”
She placed the mug well away from him, not wanting to risk it getting knocked over as the contents were too precious. “Okay. Do you think you might be able to sit up if I stand your saddle up behind you?”
“Yeah.”
She raised his head and shoulders and slipped part of the saddle behind him. Perspiration poured from him; the effort had obviously cost him a lot of his strength. She let him recover for a moment then reached for the mug. His hand trembled as he accepted it and she helped guide it to his mouth.
He took a couple of gulps. “Tarnation, what is this swill?”
“I cooked a strip of your jerky in a little water. It’s nourishing, so drink it.”
Grimacing he gulped it down.
“Don’t turn your nose up at it, I worked hard to cook that up for you.”
“Thanks for all you’ve done for me.”
She shrugged. “I’m sure you would have done the same for me had our positions been reversed. Would you like me to help you lie down?”
“No, I’ll try to sit up for a few minutes more. You were right, we can’t stay here much longer.”
“Maybe I can ride for help.”
He was staring at her, his blues eyes puzzled, speculative. “No, there’s nowhere to go. I’ve got a small ranch about forty miles away. We’ll have to make for there.”
“Why?”
“Because I have to lie low for a time, let them think I’m dead.” His face was white and drawn, although his voice had lost its huskiness.
“Where were you heading?”
“Austin.”
“Austin!” His exclamation was followed by a groan of pain.
“What were you doing out here then?”
“I um, got off the train for a minute when it stopped, and it took off without me.”
His eyes narrowed slightly as if he didn’t believe her. Not that she blamed him, she hadn’t sounded particularly convincing even thought it was only a partial lie.
“Where did you come from?”
“New Orleans.”
“You sound like a Texan to me,” he said.
“I am. I lived here until I was…. about twelve.” This lying wasn’t easy. She would have to eventually confess about being female or he would discover it for himself. If she could keep up the charade for a little longer until he was more able to look after himself and not need such close contact with her. If anyone ever found out her reputation would be ruined. “Maybe you should try and rest now.”
“Yeah. I could just about kill for a coffee.”
“Not yet.”
“You are a hard-hearted boy.”
“I have to be.” She leaned over to help him lie down. He suddenly grabbed her wrist. “There’s something strange about you, boy.”
Her mouth dried up. “Thanks very much. Rest for a while.” She climbed to her feet and walked away, willing herself not to run.
Chapter Eight
Kyle woke up, the pain in his shoulder had subsided to a dull ache. Jem had changed his bandage and had liberally covered the wound with salve. His chest even felt less painful. Something warm and soft lay next to him. Jem. The boy wriggled closer sending a strange sensation whirling around in the pit of his stomach and he despised himself for starting to have feelings for this – this strange boy. His brain must have got injured in the attack. It was the only explanation.
It was dark outside, the blackness only broken by the red glow of embers in their makeshift fireplace. He had to regain his strength and head for his ranch. The isolation would protect him until he was well enough to see his attackers receive the justice they deserved.
Frank had been so cunning, playing the lazy bumbling deputy yet all the time pumping him for information. No wonder he could never catch Seth or Black Bart even though his planning had always been meticulous. Now he knew why. Frank was leaking the information to them. Luckily, he hadn’t mentioned where his ranch was, just that he had inherited a rundown spread.
After giving a little wriggle, Jem’s backside rested against his hip sending shafts of awareness down his leg. He wanted to shift away but couldn’t. Cursing under his breath he tried to sleep.
***
When Jemma woke up, she couldn’t believe it, she was cuddled up to Kyle. Carefully, she edged away from him, wondering why she suddenly felt bereft.
The sun was beginning to climb over a distant mountain range. Rolling to her feet, she stretched. Hopefully this new day would bring further improvement in Kyle’s condition. He was doing well considering the severity of his wounds. They couldn’t stay here much longer. What would they do when the food ran out? If he wasn’t well enough to leave by tomorrow, she would ride into Coyote Crossing and take her chances, even though he had mumbled something about the town being corrupt.
Brandy was a horse who stood out, everyone would recognize him. Maybe she could ride close to town, hide him and continue on foot. It was the only plan that came to mind.
The fire was almost out, with just a few smoldering embers. She used a stick to poke it up and fed a few handfuls of dry grass on it. She had stacked dry twigs and small branches close by. Fortunately, there was plenty of fuel lying around.
Her stomach growled with hunger. She had been living on a can of beans a day with a couple of sticks of jerky. It wasn’t enough.
She had thought about shooting something, in fact had seen a rabbit or two, but her shooting skills were so rusty she’d be hard pressed to hit the side of a barn now. Rather than waste bullets it would be better to wait for Kyle to recover a little more. A lawman like him would be a crack shot. She didn’t doubt it for one moment.
She felt dirty and disheveled. The best she had been able to do was strip off her shirt and moisten a piece of cloth with water from the canteen and wiped it over her arms and breasts. She stripped off her shirt and started to wipe the cloth over her body. She would never take having a bath for granted after this ordeal.
A noise behind her had Jemma spinning around. With a cry of distress she grabbed her shirt to cover her breasts. Too late. Kyle stood leaning against the rock wall. He must have seen.
“What the….”
Hurriedly she put on the shirt and buttoned it up.
“You’re a gal?” His knees gave way and he slowly sank to the ground.
She dashed over to help him.
“Don’t touch me,” he growled. “You lying little….”
“I didn’t lie, you assumed I was a boy and I let you.”
“We…. We’ve slept together.” He tried to get up and couldn’t.
She didn’t know whether
it was shock or because of his wounds that he had collapsed.
“My God, I’ve compromised you.”
“No-one knows except us. What was I supposed to do? Leave you to die for the sake of propriety?”
“Well…”
“I did what I had to do even if I didn’t like it.”
“You, you undressed me.”
“Only down to your drawers.”
“T…. touched my body.”
Her cheeks burned. “Only the parts I needed to.”
“What are we going to do now?” He groaned out loud.
“I know what you’re going to do Kyle. Rest.”
“How can I, knowing….”
“The longer you delay getting strong enough to leave, the longer we’re stuck here.”
She stepped over to him. “Come on, I’ll help you back inside.” He leaned so heavily against her she bowed like a sapling in the wind.
He gritted his teeth and cursed as she lowered him to the ground. As she went to move away he grabbed her hand. “What’s your real name?”
“Jemma Holbrook. And you’re Kyle what?”
“Lovitt. What are we going to do now Jemma Holbrook?”
“Exactly what we’ve been doing for the last three days. I’ll look after you until you’re well enough to ride then we’ll make our way to the nearest town. You go your way and I’ll go mine.”
“Austin? How will you get there?”
She shrugged. “I’ll have to find a way. Where’s your ranch?”
“It’s a couple of days ride from here. Brandy can’t carry two of us for long.”
“I don’t expect him to. You can ride and I’ll lead him.”
“It could take days for us to get home that way.”
“Isn’t there somewhere closer we could go?”
He thought for a moment. “There’s an old Mission about thirteen miles away from here.”
“A Mission out here in the wilderness?” She couldn’t believe she was hearing right.
“Yeah, an old priest, Father Joseph, runs it. It used to be a fair-sized place once, trainee priests used to once go there. When Father Joseph dies it will probably close.”
“What would they do out here?”
“There used to be a reservation nearby and a few old Indians and Mexicans still live there. The place caters for them I suppose. I’ve only passed through it a couple of times.”
“I was thinking,” she said. “If I heated up some beans and mashed them up, maybe you could eat them.”
“They would have to be better than that broth stuff,” he said, screwing up his nose.
“The meat is all gone. I’ve tried to ration it, but I have to eat something otherwise I’ll get sick then where would you be?”
“Dead. I’m sorry for yelling at you, Jemma, but I was so shocked.”
“Well, at least I can wear my hair loose now. I hated having to wear it pulled back so tightly all the time. We’ll try the beans. Okay?”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
Chapter Nine
Kyle watched Jemma traipse over to the fire. He couldn’t believe she was a gal, and a pretty one at that. No wonder he felt, well he wasn’t sure exactly how he felt. Didn’t want to think about it, truth be known. He still felt terrible about lying here for days letting her do everything for him. Everything! Heat spread across his body. She must have…. Would have…. He glanced over at the far wall scarcely six feet away from him and spied two empty tins. Dear God, his body suddenly felt on fire and it had nothing to do with fever. How could he ever look her in the face again? She had no right. He was acting like a fool, it would have had to be the tin or let him wet himself.
She wouldn’t be doing it anymore. Even if it killed him, he’d be handling that himself from now on. If only he didn’t feel so weak and debilitated. He tried to remember her doing it and couldn’t, thank goodness.
She had moistened his lips with a damp rag and trickled water down his throat, he vaguely remembered that. Soothing words, gentle hands caressing his forehead. At least his brain was functioning now even if his body wasn’t.
Their supplies would be running low. They had to leave tomorrow at the latest. Father Joseph’s Mission was the closest place to seek sanctuary. He had barely exchanged more than a few words with the old man when he had passed through with the Rangers a couple of years ago. They had traveled up from Austin on the train with their horses in pursuit of Black Bart, the meanest outlaw he had ever come across. Unbeknownst to him, Seth was on his payroll, or maybe it was the other way around.
Had Frank been honest and done his job and backed him up like he was supposed to both those evil varmints would be dead or on their way to an appointment with the hangman.
Seth had been behind numerous murders and robberies and he now had the proof yet couldn’t use it. Thank goodness he hadn’t told Frank where he’d hidden the evidence. That’s why they tried to kill him, to stop him telling what he knew and handing the evidence over to the authorities.
“Kyle, the beans are ready.”
Jemma coming up to him interrupted his thoughts.
“I’ve squashed them up as much as I can and there’s a little bit of juice as well.”
“Help me sit up and I’ll feed myself. I’m sorry you had to do, well, the things you had to do for me.”
Her face turned crimson and she lowered her head. “It doesn’t matter.”
“To me it does.” He groaned as she raised his head and shoulders until he was half sitting. “I’m getting up in a little while.”
“You are not,” she shot back.
“When I need to relieve myself, I’m doing it on my own. Understand?”
She thrust the plate half full of sloppy squashed beans at him. “Don’t waste any of it. What you don’t eat I’ll finish off.”
“I didn’t realize we were that short on supplies. I couldn’t have a coffee, could I? Please.”
“Well, maybe a weak one if you eat your beans.”
“Tell me, Jemma. What were you doing on that train?”
“Escaping from New Orleans. I couldn’t afford the price of a ticket, so I jumped a freight train. I must have fallen asleep. When I woke up the wagon I was in and a couple of others had been shunted off the main railway line.”
“Why on earth would you be wanting to escape from New Orleans?” He forced himself to eat the beans even though they were squashy, watery and horrible.
Once he heard her story, he was shocked. “The day before your wedding? Despicable varmints. The man was a fool to let a gal like you go.”
She gave a tight little smile. “At the time I was distraught but now I don’t care. I had a lucky escape from them both. Not that I’ll ever trust a man again.”
He pushed the plate to one side after eating only half the beans. “I can’t eat anymore.”
“I’ll have it.” She wolfed it down and he suddenly realized she must be half starving, begrudging herself food to conserve their stores. He felt even worse about the position he had placed her in.
“We’ll leave here tomorrow and find Father Joseph. He can be trusted,” he said.
“If you’re not well enough it would be….”
“I’ll be well enough to ride. Have you been caring for Brandy?”
“Of course, I have,” she said indignantly. “What kind of person do you think I am?”
“A very brave one.”
“No, I’m not, I’ve been scared witless. I really thought you were going to die.”
“I didn’t, thanks to you.”
“What am I going to do once I’ve seen you safely to the Mission?”
He gnawed his lip. “What do you want to do?”
“Go to Austin like I planned. What else can I do?
She looked so little and sad his heart ached for her.
“I don’t even know if my friend is still living there. It’s been a long time since we last corresponded.�
��
“Do you want to go there, Jemma?”
“Not really.” She shrugged. “I guess it’s as good a place as any.”
“You could stay with me. The ranch is run down, but I aim to fix it.”
“All right, I will, thank you. At least that way I can see you safely home.”
“There’s only one condition.”
“What is it,” she asked warily.
Kyle couldn’t believe the words he was going to utter. He had to take care of her after all she had done for him. There was only one way to save her reputation if it ever got out about what had happened to them. His mother who had been a religious woman would roll over in her grave if he didn’t do right by Jemma.
“What condition, Kyle?”
“A marriage between us.”
“Marriage! Are you so desperate for a wife you’d marry me? Someone who doesn’t even have any proper clothes.”
“I’m not desperate for a wife. I’ve never thought much about marriage before. It’s the right thing to do. I could look after you, see no harm ever comes to you.”
“What would you expect in return?”
“I haven’t thought that far ahead. Whatever you’re prepared to give me, I guess. Father Joseph could marry us.” He watched her fighting an inward battle with herself. Was he such a poor prospect in the husband stakes? He had to be better than that polecat who virtually left her standing at the altar. There was little of his body she would see in their marital bed that she hadn’t already seen. His skin burned thinking about it.
“I…I. Can I think on it?”
What is wrong with you Jemma Holbrook? This is a reasonable offer, probably the best you’re ever going to get. It’s not as if you are repelled by him, quite the opposite. It was better than putting herself up as a mail order bride. At least she knew Kyle. He was a man who had been betrayed like her.
“Yes, I’ll marry you.”
“You said you wanted to think about it.”
“I did think about it.”
His laugh was followed by a wince.
What would it be like if he kissed her? Would he try once he was recovered? He had said his ranch was run down. Together they could build it up until it was prosperous, raise a family, lead a good Christian life. The more she thought about the idea the better she liked the thought of becoming his wife.
Rejected Bride Page 5