Train from Marietta

by Dorothy Garlock

  She got quickly to her feet, wiped the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hands, and hurried out the door. Emily knelt on the ground beside the still dog, crying as if her heart would break.

  “Old Bob!” she sobbed, her hands in his fur. “Old Bob, get up!”

  Kate ran over and knelt down beside her. With all that had happened, she’d forgotten that Squirrelly had shot the brave dog. “Let me look at him, Emily. I need to know where he’s hurt.” Immediately she saw the dog was still alive, but panting shallowly Looking closely, she found that the bullet had creased the dog’s head, taking off part of his ear.

  Gently scooping up the limp dog, Kate carried him toward the porch as Emily followed along behind. Yelena met them there and folded an old blanket to lay him on. After cleaning the wound and smearing it with pine tar, Kate wound a bandage around Old Bob’s head.

  “Don’t cry, Emily,” Kate said comfortingly. “He’ll be all right in a few days.”

  When Emily settled down beside the dog, Kate hurried back to Tate.

  Her heart lurched; he was lying so still and pale. She placed her hand on his chest and felt a steady beating. Relieved, she kissed his face again and again. Taking his hand in both of hers, she hoped the doctor would arrive before he awakened. He would be in terrible pain.

  Silently she prayed.

  Chapter 30

  TIME CRAWLED BY AS KATE WAITED FOR THE DOCTOR. Tate moaned occasionally but never regained full consciousness. Luke came silently to the door, looked in, and just as silently left. Yelena kept Emily on the back porch near Old Bob and amused her by showing her how to make a chain with a piece of yarn and a crochet hook.

  Jorge returned and came immediately to Tate’s room. Kate was upset that the doctor was not with him.

  “Woman have baby,” Jorge explained. “Doctor come soon.”

  “Did you tell him what happened? Did you tell him Tate needs more stitches in his side?” Kate worried that the message she had sent hadn’t been properly relayed. Fear gnawed at her gut that the delay in receiving medical attention might mean Tate would die.

  “I tell him all you say, señorita. He come soon.” “All right,” Kate sighed. “I guess that’s all we can do.” Jorge moved slowly toward the bed, his hat in his hands. He looked intently at the crimson stain that seeped from the white bandages on Tate’s side. “Señor bleed plenty.”

  “I’ve done all I can do. We need the doctor to sew it up again.”

  Jorge nodded solemnly and headed for the door. Before he left, he turned and said, “Talk in town about Hayden. Hunters saw buzzards circling in sky and found body.” Without waiting for a reply, he left.

  For the next hour, Kate was alone with Tate. She felt tired, worn-out from all that had happened, and struggled to keep from falling asleep. Then, when she glanced over at him, she saw that his eyes were open. Quickly she went to kneel down beside the bed. His lips moved, but she had to put her ear close to his mouth to hear what he was saying.

  “Are you all right?” he whispered.

  She smiled. “I’m fine. Eddy killed Squirrelly to keep him from hurting us.” Kate bent over and kissed him softly on the brow. She cupped his rough cheeks with her palms. “Sweetheart, I know you’re hurting. Jorge went for the doctor. He’ll be here soon.”

  “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

  “Not much.”

  “I’ve never wanted to kill anyone that bad. Damn rifle was too heavy, wouldn’t stay steady.”

  “How did you manage to get out of the bed?”

  “I knew that I had to. I could hear what those bastards were saying and that they were going to hurt you. I couldn’t let that happen.”

  The image of Tate standing at the end of the hallway was burned into her thoughts. The pain must have been excruciating! “It’s all over now. Just lie still until the doctor gets here.”

  “What about Emily?” Tate asked weakly.

  “She’s all right. The only thing she saw was Old Bob. Squirrelly shot him when they arrived, but I think he’ll be fine. He’ll just be missing part of his ear.”

  “Thank God everyone’s all right.”

  Hot tears began to well in Kate’s eyes. Even as badly hurt as Tate was, his first thoughts were for the safety of those he loved. “I died a thousand times when Squirrelly kicked you. I thought he was going to take you from me.”

  Tate brought Kate’s hand to his lips and kissed it, his eyes on her face. “Did I dream you told me that you loved me?”

  “It wasn’t a dream,” Kate said as a tear broke free and rolled down her cheek. Tate wiped it away with a finger. “You said you loved me too.”

  “What about us?” he asked.

  “Now that I’ve found you, I don’t want to give you up.”

  Before Tate could reply, the sound of a car turning into the drive drew her attention. She rushed to the window and looked out. Dr. Duval was getting out of his car and running toward the house.

  “Thank God!” Kate exclaimed. “The doctor’s here!”

  For the next hour, Kate assisted as the doctor restitched all of Tate’s wounds. Kate worried that he’d lost too much blood. Dr. Duval worked confidently. By the time he was applying the last bandage, Tate was asleep.

  “He’ll be sore, but he’ll live,” Dr. Duval said after they’d retreated to the kitchen.

  “Did you bring anything to help ease the pain?”

  “I can leave morphine. I’ll write out the dosage. Make sure you don’t give him even one drop more. After a couple of days of rest, he won’t need it anymore.”

  “Thank you, Doctor.”

  “He’s not out of the woods yet.” Dr. Duval gathered up his medical bag. “He isn’t running a temperature, but if one spikes, send Jorge to fetch me. We might need to take him to the hospital in Alpine.”

  After the doctor had left, Kate went back to Tate’s room. She was surprised to see that he was awake. “You should try to rest,” Kate advised. “You’ve been through a lot.”

  “You’ll stay with me?” he whispered as he closed his eyes.

  “A team of mules couldn’t drag me away.”

  The next morning, Yelena was pulling a pan of biscuits from the oven when a car drove in and stopped at the back of the house.

  Kate entered the kitchen carrying the wash pan from Tate’s bedroom. She had washed his face and smoothed back his hair. After a full night’s rest, he was much improved. “Is someone here?” she asked.

  “It Señor Lyle,” Jorge said from the window. “Someone with him.”

  She went to the kitchen door. “Daddy!” she exclaimed, and dashed out of the door and across the porch, throwing her arms around the big, dark-haired man. “How did you get here so quickly?”

  “I flew in an airplane, honey. I had to be sure you were all right.”

  “So much has happened. It will take me all day to tell you.”

  “I’ve got a few things to tell you too, but first I want to introduce you to someone.” John indicated the man who had been driving the car. “Kate, this is Lyle Holmgaard, my Texas Ranger friend.”

  “It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Holmgaard.”

  “Nice to meet you, ma’am,” the man said with a tip of his hat. He struck her as an easygoing man that most people would find instantly likable; he had a smile that reminded Kate of a preacher.

  “I suppose I have you to thank for sending Tate after me?”

  “How is he?” Lyle asked, his smile changing to a look of concern.

  “He’s resting now. The doctor came last night. He left us with some morphine for the pain. It will take time and plenty of rest, but he should be fine.”

  “That’s good to hear. Tate Castle is one tough son of a gun.”

  “I owe him my life,” Kate said softly.

  “And I owe him a lot. The man is a hero,” John said.

  “What about you, Daddy? What happened in New York City? Did the police arrest William?”

  “He’s sitting in a
jail cell right now, sweetheart. The police went to his apartment and found the ransom money hidden in his safe. He’ll get everything that’s coming to him.”

  Their reunion was interrupted as Yelena came out onto the porch. “ Hola, Señor Lyle.”

  “Yelena, this is my father,” Kate said, introducing them.

  “ Bienvenido, señor. Come in, come in. Biscuits out of oven.”

  “Come on, John,” Lyle said as he slapped the other man on the shoulder. “All this talking can wait until after breakfast. Yelena’s biscuits are the best in Texas, and that’s saying a lot.”

  John seemed completely at ease in the ranch kitchen. At first, Emily was quiet with the stranger, but after she found out the man was Kate’s father, she warmed up to him. As they sat down for breakfast, she surprised everyone by asking, “Can I sit on your lap?”

  “Of course, you can, little honey.” John had a pleased grin on his face when he lifted Emily and set her on his leg.

  “Kate told me a story,” she said proudly.

  “I used to tell her stories when she was a little girl, just like you.”

  “My daddy hurts.”

  “I’m sure he’ll be all right, honey. He just needs to rest, and before long, he’ll be up and telling you stories.”

  “Kate’s stories are better.” The little girl smiled, and everyone laughed.

  Once breakfast was finished, Kate excused herself and went to Tate’s room. He was awake but didn’t seem to be in the best of spirits. “Your Ranger friend and my father are here. Do you feel like talking to them?”

  “Did your father come to take you home?” Tate asked gruffly. The tone of his voice surprised her; he sounded angry.

  Kate didn’t answer. “He’s eager to meet you. He’d like to thank you for all that you’ve done for me.”

  “I don’t need his thanks,” he muttered.

  A light knock on the door frame ended their conversation. Lyle eased into the room. “I see that Hayden finally caught up with you,” he said with a grin.

  “Bastard would have killed me if Kate hadn’t shot him.”

  “That so? Some hunters found his body and brought it into Muddy Creek. Everyone in the whole darn county’s talking about it. The buzzards had a turn with him, but it was definitely him.”

  “He could have lain out there and rotted as far as I’m concerned …”

  Tate fell silent as another man stepped into the room. He looked the stranger up and down before grabbing hold of Kate’s hand and holding it tightly. Kate felt confused at his reaction but smiled and introduced them.

  “This is my father, John Tyler,” Kate said. “Daddy, this is Tate, the man who saved my life. He rescued me from the cabin and brought me all the way to Muddy Creek.”

  John Tyler walked to the bed and extended a hand the size of a ham. “Pleased to meet you.”

  “Likewise,” Tate murmured.

  Tate’s eyes went from the big man to Kate. He could see no resemblance between the two. John Tyler was as big as an ox and had rough features, but his daughter was small-boned and dainty. Even his eyes were a darker blue than hers. Kate stood by while her father and Tate assessed each other.

  “Saying thank you seems insufficient after all you’ve done for my daughter. There’s no way for me to adequately repay you.”

  “It was my job,” Tate said.

  Kate looked down at him. My job? She held her tongue to keep from voicing the question. “Here’s a chair, Daddy. I’ll go get another one for Mr. Holmgaard. I know you all have a lot to talk about, so I’ll leave you for a while.”

  A half hour later the men were still talking in Tate’s room. Kate had tried to busy herself helping Yelena in the kitchen, but her thoughts were never far from what was happening in the other room. Finally she could stay away no longer. She knocked gently on the door and entered the room. “Are you all right, Tate?” she asked.

  “I’m fine.”

  “How about you, Daddy?”

  “Splendid, but I will be leaving soon. My plane is waiting in Alpine.”

  “Can’t you stay longer?”

  “No, sweetheart, I can’t. There are many things that still need to be settled at home. I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but I’m afraid that your stepmother had a part in the kidnapping scheme.”

  “Oh, no!” The shock of her father’s words felt like a blow to the chest. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “But why? How could she have done something like that?”

  “For money, I would suppose. We found her in William’s apartment when we went to search for the ransom money. I was shocked myself, but what’s done is done. I haven’t pressed charges against her, but I’ve already asked my lawyer to file for a divorce. The sooner that I am free from her, the better. She’s moved out of the house. Sorry to say, Susan has chosen to go with her.”

  “Why would Susan do that? Was she involved in what happened?”

  “I don’t think so, but your sister is terribly confused. She’ll want what is comfortable. She belongs more in Lila’s world than in mine.”

  “I’m sorry, Daddy,” Kate said, and sincerely meant it.

  “This whole ordeal has been difficult for everyone. They’ve made their choices, and they’re the ones that will have to live with them.” Kate knew that what her father was saying applied to her as well. She had her own choices to make.

  “Lyle,” John said, turning to the Texas Ranger, “did you remember to bring that train schedule with you?”

  “I did.” Lyle pulled a small pamphlet from the breast pocket of his shirt. He handed it to Kate.

  “What is this?”

  “It’s a listing of arrival and departure times for the Southern Pacific Railroad. I’m not even going to try to talk you into coming back to New York with me.” John chuckled. “But your uncle is still expecting you to join him in San Francisco in a week’s time.”

  “San Francisco,” Kate repeated, her voice trailing off. She looked up from the pamphlet to see Tate staring at her. This was it, the moment that had been destined to come. This was the time for her to make her decision and to live with it. She knew what she wanted to do; she wanted to be with Tate. But what does he want?

  “Kate?” The voice came softly from the bed. Tate had pushed himself up onto one elbow. He trembled from the effort. The hand that Squirrelly had stomped on was stretched out to her. She crossed the room and took it in her own hand, holding it gently. “Are you going to leave?” he asked.

  “Do you want me to?”

  “You know I don’t, but as your father said, you have to make a choice you can live with. We’ve talked about this before. Our lives are as different as night and day. I can only be what I am, and you can only be what you are. You’ve seen my home. This is all I can provide for you at the present. I won’t ask you to give up your dreams and the life your father has given you.”

  “Do you love me?” she whispered. Her whole world hinged on the answer.

  “With all my heart. If you stay with me, I’ll never let you go.”

  “What’s going to make me happy is to be with you. You and Emily. This isn’t what I thought would happen, but I can’t change the fact that it did. You came into my life, and I don’t want to leave you.”

  “Sweetheart, you’ve got to decide right now, before your father goes.”

  She bent down and kissed Tate’s lips, then looked up at her father, her eyes bright with happiness. “I want to stay with Tate, Daddy. I love him and he loves me!”

  “Is this what you truly want?” John asked.

  “Yes. This is what I want.”

  He smiled brightly. “Then I’m happy for you.” He held out his hand to Tate and said, “Happy for both of you. Welcome to the family.”

  After the two men had shaken hands, Kate looked down at Tate. He had never been more handsome to her. Her heart soared with elation at the thought of them spending the rest of their lives together. All she wanted was to kiss him. As she bent down a
nd their lips touched, she heard her father chuckle behind them.

  “I guess this means that I have a granddaughter.”

  Epilogue

  September 1937

  IT WAS EVENING. Kate and Tate sat on the porch swing and watched Emily come from the side of the house, Old Bob at her heels. She walked easily on the shoe that Grandpa John had sent from New York.

  “Hello, Mama. Hello, Daddy.”

  Tate had his arm around his wife. “Look at the smile on her face. That shoe has done wonders for her.”

  “Why are you always kissing Mama, Daddy?”

  “Because I like to kiss her.”

  “She’s prettier than Patty May’s mama.”

  “Really? I was thinking about trading her for Patty May’s mama.”

  “No,” Emily screeched.

  “Stop teasing her, Tate. She’ll wake up John Amos.”

  “He’s already awake and wanting his dinner.”

  Emily came up onto the porch and leaned against Kate’s knee. Kate hugged the little girl. “Your daddy’s a tease.”

  Emily grinned. “I know.”

  Kate had not dreamed that her life could be so complete or that she could be this happy.

  Tate had not been intimidated one bit by John Tyler and his wealth. Kate’s father came to visit them several times. The man had become very fond of his son-in-law and knew better than to suggest financial assistance. The only help Tate had accepted was John’s offer to find a shoemaker to make Emily a special shoe. The results had been amazing. It had changed the child’s life. She adored her Grandpa John.

  From inside the house, they heard their son crying.

  “He wants his mama, but so do I. I’m getting tired of playing second fiddle to a three-month-old cowboy.”

  “Oh, you. You’re so terribly neglected.”

  “I’m not used to sharing.”

  “You shared me with Emily before John Amos was born.”

  “That’s different,” Tate countered. “Emily has changed since she got her shoe and the baby came. She can go see why he’s fussing.” Tate laughed.