Wildcat Bride

by Lauri Robinson

  Jack waved. “There you are.”

  She rushed forward, stopping him at the edge of the hallway.

  “I just ran into Dr. Robb. He told me the good news.”

  “I’m not leaving,” she said abruptly.

  “What?” Jack asked, shocked.

  “I’m not leaving. So don’t say anything about what Dr. Robb just said.” The door down the hall had opened, and Bug now stood in the hallway.

  “Come on,” Eva said, pulling Jack in her wake.

  “And if you ever want to sell another one of my paintings, you won’t utter a word.”

  Kid stepped into the hall beside Bug. Eva took a fortifying breath, and exclaimed, “Kid! It’s wonderful to see you!” She rushed forward to wrap her arms around his middle and gave him a long hug. “What on earth are you doing here?” She didn’t wait for him to answer. “Let me guess. You finally came to take your little brother home. And it’s a good thing, too.

  He’s been driving me crazy.”

  “What? Driving you crazy?” Bug asked, shaking his head.

  She forced a giggle to trickle over her lips, and patted his cheeks. “Yes, driving me crazy. Along with yourself. I know how much you dislike the city, and I’ve said several times you should go home for a few days.” It was true, she had, but he hadn’t listened, and she hadn’t wanted him to.

  “I’m not going anywhere, not without you,” he insisted.

  She spun back to Kid. “I hope you’re here to convince him differently.” Hooking Bug’s arm with one hand, and Kid’s with the other, she led them back into the library. “I just spoke with Dr. Robb, and he says I’m healing quickly, but that I need to stay here for at least two more weeks.” She hated lying, but turned to Bug and said, “It appears I’m not getting enough rest. He insists I have no visitors for the next two weeks.”

  “When did he say that?” Bug asked. “I saw him this morning, and he didn’t mention anything close to that.”

  “He just left my room.” She turned and met Jack’s confused gaze. Begging for his aid, she said, “Jack just spoke with him, didn’t you Jack?”

  He frowned, staring at her deeply. Her teeth dug into her bottom lip. Silently, she pleaded for Jack to support her story.

  Ultimately, he did, “Yes, I just spoke with Dr.

  Robb. What Eva says is true. He’d like all of us to leave her alone for the next couple of weeks.”

  “No,” Bug said. “I’m not—”

  “Bug, please,” she said, not turning around. She couldn’t face him. Couldn’t lie to him again.

  “Where is he? I want to talk to him,” Bug insisted.

  “He’s left already, Bug.” Jack stepped forward, between her and Bug. “Come on. I’ll tell you everything he said. Let’s leave Kid and Eva alone for a minute. I’m sure she wants to hear how everyone back home is doing.”

  Bug hesitated, but finally gave in and allowed Jack to lead him out of the room. When the door clicked shut, she spun around. “Take him home, Kid.

  Please take him home.”

  Kid laid his hands on her shoulders. His knowing eyes bore into hers. “How much did you hear?”

  She shook her head. “Just take him home. I don’t ever want to see him again.”

  “Eva, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have spouted off like I did. I’m sure Bug can explain everything.”

  “I’m sure he can,” she said. “But I don’t want to hear it.”

  “Eva—”

  “Just take him home, Kid.” Tears fell now, she couldn’t stop them. “Please, promise you’ll take him home.”

  “I’ll take him home, Eva. But what about you?

  What’s happened?”

  “Don’t worry about me. Jack’s here. I’ll be fine.”

  She wiped at the tears. “I’ll write Jessie and tell her everything, but right now, I have to go lie down.”

  She spun about and ran from the room, stumbling and crying all the way up the stairs.

  She was lying on her bed, but her heart was still downstairs, splattered across the hallway in a million pieces when a knock sounded on the door.

  Before she had a chance to respond, the door opened and Jack came strolling in. She sat up, staring at the space behind him.

  “He’s left. For now,” Jack said, closing the door.

  “But we both know he’ll be back. And he’ll have talked to Dr. Robb, know you’re lying.”

  She twirled her thumbs, staring at how the tips could circle around one another.

  The bed sank as Jack sat down beside her.

  “What happened?”

  “You tell me,” she said, not looking up. “Why was Bug arrested in New York?”

  “That’s not my story to tell. It’s Bug’s. Ask him.”

  She tugged her hands apart and folded her arms. “When did he adopt three kids?”

  Jack remained silent.

  “Are you going to tell me anything?” If not it was useless to ask about Jenny Staples and the impending wedding waiting for Bug.

  Jack didn’t even glance her way.

  She bounced off the bed. “Fine. I thought you were my friend.”

  “I am. And because I am, I’m going to tell you the truth.” He let out an exaggerated sigh. “I’m tired of this game you’re playing.”

  Eva spun around to stare at him. “What are you talking about? What game?”

  Jack met her gaze. “No wonder Bug left three years ago. You go from hot to cold faster than a north wind.”

  Flabbergasted, she could barely breathe, let alone speak.

  “Don’t try to deny it.” He folded his arms, as if he was ready to wait her out.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Like hell you don’t.”

  She turned around and walked to the window. “I sent Bug home because that’s where he belongs. His fiancée’ is there. His children are there.”

  “Oh, shut up.” A second later he was at her side.

  “Or better yet, listen to yourself. Poor Eva, she has a conflict with Bug, so what does she do? Runs, or sends him away.”

  “I don’t do that.”

  “Yes, you do. And I want to know why.” He spun her about. “I’ve seen the other side of you. I’ve seen the Eva who doesn’t flee. The one who stands up and fights for what she wants. Why don’t you let that girl come out when Bug’s around?”

  “I…”

  “You what? Think he wants a weak girl who runs as soon as the road gets a little bumpy?”

  Her defenses where shattering. “Jack, I don’t understand why you’re being so mean about all this.”

  “Mean?”

  She nodded.

  “I’m not being mean, Eva. I’m being honest. You turn into some kind of little lost girl when Bug’s around. Don’t you think he’ll get tired of catering to your whims someday? Don’t you think he wants to know you can stand on your own?”

  A chill rippled her spine. It was true. She was so afraid Bug wouldn’t like the person she’d become the last few years. “I—” She swallowed. “Is it that bad?”

  “Yes.” He patted her cheek. “And no.” Taking her hand he led her back to the bed and set her down. He sat beside her. “We all face rough patches in relationships. You’ve faced a really bad one with your surgery and all. And Bug’s been here the whole time. Never once has he even complained about any of it. Yet, you, as soon as you learn something about him you don’t like, you run or hide. I don’t understand it. I’ve seen what you’re made of. Bug told me you wouldn’t let anyone contact him about Willamina or your art show. Why?”

  “I had to do that.”

  “Why? Why are you so unfair to him?”

  “I’m not unfair. It was because I didn’t want Bug to find out about Willamina that way, or to come home until he was ready.”

  Jack took her hands in his. “In other words, you wanted Bug to come home for you, not because
of something else.”

  “Yes,” she admitted. That is exactly what she’d always wanted.

  “Then why don’t you tell Bug that?”

  Eva’s mind tumbled about, and her stomach plummeted. “I can’t. Bug fell in love with the girl I was. If I’ve changed, maybe he won’t love me.”

  He shook her hands sternly. “Eva!” After a disgust-filled sigh, he said, “Haven’t you wondered why Stephanie Quinter refused to allow you two to get married that night?”

  She frowned.

  “Yes, I know all about it,” he assured. “There’s very little I don’t know about.”

  “Because she wanted us to wait…” She plucked her mind for Ma’s reasoning.

  “Did the thought that perhaps she was giving you the chance to stand up to her, and show Bug just how much you love him enter your mind?”

  Her spine grew stiff, like it does when the truth hits you smack dab in the stomach.

  “If you had stood up to her that night, you and Bug would already be married.” He sighed. “He wouldn’t be pulling his hair out, and we wouldn’t be sitting here having this discussion.”

  Eva bolted off the bed, needing to move and give her mind time to sort through the thoughts flying in and out like birds in a storm. She paced the floor, catching memories one at a time.

  Jack sat, watching her. When she stopped and turned to stare at him, he said, “I don’t know anything about Bug adopting three kids, he’ll have to tell you about that. I do know about his arrest, and I believe I know what the new findings are, but again, that’s his business. The one thing I can tell you is Jenny Staples is a woman who knows what she wants, and is willing to do about anything to get it. Including traveling across the country. When she heard about you, she didn’t send Bug home, she tried to find a way to make him stay in New York, and when that didn’t work, she followed him to Kansas. I’m shocked it took her this long.”

  Eva’s mind had already been made up before he said his last piece, but now that he had, she became more determined. “Book me a seat on the next train heading west.” She moved to the wardrobe and pulled her bag from the bottom.

  “I’ll have to check the schedules,” he said.

  “Jack.” She pointed to the door. “There are four railroads rolling in and out of Scott City every day. I don’t care if it’s a cattle hauler. You find a train that will drop me off in Scott. Today!”

  “What about Bug? He probably hasn’t left yet.

  Don’t you want to talk to him?”

  “Why?” She set the bag on the bed and returned to the wardrobe.

  “So he can explain—”

  “I don’t give a damn about his explanations. And I hope he hasn’t left for home yet.”

  Jack looked dumbfounded.

  She grabbed several gowns from their hooks and thrust them into his arms. “When Bug does arrive home, Jenny Staples will already be on her way back to Pennsylvania and the preacher will be ready to perform our wedding ceremony.” She spun back to grab more clothes from the wardrobe. The easel holding the picture of a bouquet of roses stood beside the cupboard. “Oh, and Jack.” She pointed to the painting. “My name is Eva Robertson, soon to be Eva Quinter, and that’s how my paintings will be signed from now on. If you can’t agree with that, I’ll have to find myself another agent.”

  He opened his mouth. She shook her finger, stopping whatever he’d been about to say and pointed to the clothes in his hands. “Put those on the bed. You have a ticket to go purchase. I’ll be at the station within half an hour.”

  ****

  Chasing down Dr. Robb was harder than catching a free range rooster. Bug tapped his toe on the floor, staring down the hospital hall, and waiting for the man’s familiar shape to appear. He’d been ten steps behind the man all day yesterday and truly wondered if the doctor ever slept. Bug had been kicked out of the hospital close to midnight last night, so this morning, figuring it was the only way to see the man, he’d made himself an appointment to be seen. Dr. Robb had been in surgery all morning, and his first chance to see someone, was now, at three in the afternoon.

  The click of heels on the wood floor had Bug leaping from his chair.

  “Bug,” Dr. Robb said. “What are you doing here?

  Has something happened to Eva? Why wasn’t I informed?”

  “How could I inform you when I couldn’t catch up to you?” Bug replied.

  Dr. Robb shook his head. “I’m sorry, there was a carriage accident that kept me in surgery all night and morning.” The man rubbed his hands over his face. “What’s happened to Eva? I’ll get my bag.”

  Bug followed the man into his office, feeling a touch of empathy for how tired the doctor looked.

  “You don’t need your bag. At least I don’t think you do.” “Then why are you here?”

  “I want to know why you said she can’t have any visitors.”

  Dr. Robb shut the door, and frowning he stared at Bug as if gathering his thoughts. “Visitors? I didn’t say she couldn’t have visitors. I released her.”

  “Released her?”

  “Yes. She was ecstatic. I figured you’d already left for home.” Dr. Robb walked across the room to where a large package sat. He tore the paper from the frame. “She gave me this as a token of her appreciation.”

  Bug moved closer to examine the painting. It was of the doctor and a little girl, but it was the signature down at the bottom that caught his attention. “She signed it Eva Robertson.”

  “So she did.” The doctor looked up from the painting. “Who told you she couldn’t have any visitors?”

  “She did.” Bug sighed.

  Dr Robb shook his head. “I really don’t know why she would have said that. Is she still at Westmaster?”

  “I assume so. I haven’t been back there since yesterday when she said she couldn’t have visitors.

  I’ve been tracking you down the whole time.”

  The doctor moved to his desk and fluttered through some papers. “I should have a report here.

  They delivered the painting so I’d assume they would have sent her paperwork as well. Aw, here it is.” He frowned as he read the sheet he picked up. “It says she left yesterday before noon.”

  “Left? Before noon?”

  “Yes. I would have finished my visits there by ten or so. She must have left shortly after I’d seen her.”

  “Where’d she go?”

  Dr. Robb set the paper back on his desk.

  “Home.”

  “Shit.” Bug plopped onto the chair behind him.

  The way his mind ran circles around itself was downright exhausting.

  “What’s going on between you and Eva, Bug?”

  He didn’t know what the doctor asked.

  Shrugging, he shook his head, unable to answer.

  Dr. Robb sat down in his chair. “You’ve told me some, Eva’s said some, so has your mother and Jack Houston, but I’m still confused.”

  “Try being in my shoes,” Bug muttered.

  “Well, I have to tell you, if I hadn’t seen with my own eyes how deeply in love the two of you are, I might not offer the bit of advice I’m about to offer.”

  “Oh.” Bug was downright tired of the advice others offered on a continuous basis. All he wanted was for him and Eva to get married and live their lives. It might not look like a perfect life to others, but it would be for the two of them—that is if everyone else would back off and let it happen.

  “If I were you,” the doctor started, “I’d go home, and not give a damn what others want. I’d marry her in a heartbeat, no matter what your mother says. You’re both adults and know what you want.

  Quit trying to please everyone else and please yourselves.”

  Bug stared at the doctor for a moment. A smile twisted his lips, gushing up from his chest like oil shooting out of a new well. He stood. “You know what, doc? I think that’s the best piece of advice I’ve heard in years.�
��

  Dr. Robb stood and held out one hand. “Then get the hell out of here.”

  Bug, laughing, grasped the man’s hand and shook it firmly. “Thanks, Dr. Robb. Thanks for all you’ve done.”

  “My pleasure. And I wish you and Eva the best of luck.”

  Bug nodded and then shot out the door. He found Kid pacing the boardwalk in front of the hospital. “So, what did you find out?” Kid asked.

  Slapping his brother’s back, he announced, “That it’s time for a wedding.”

  Kid laughed. “Well, it’s about time.” He stopped then, as if startled and asked, “Whose?”

  “Mine and Eva’s,” Bug declared solidly—and damn if it didn’t feel good. “Let’s go, big brother.” He started walking. “We got a train to catch.”

  “Where’s Eva?” Kid asked, marching down the street beside him.

  “Probably at her house by now.”

  Kid shook his head. “Damn it’s hard keeping up with you two.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  The train arrived late in the night, so Eva didn’t have a chance to put the plan she created in place until now—early this morning. Stepping out on her porch, she was a bit surprised to see several children running across the front yard. A thin woman with light brown hair followed them.

  “Good morning,” Eva greeted.

  “Oh, goodness. Did we wake you? I’m so sorry,”

  the woman said, moving toward the porch. “I’m Joanna Porter. Mrs. Quinter hired us to take care of your place until you got home. We heard you arrive late last night but didn’t think we should disturb you by making our introductions.”

  “No, you didn’t wake me,” Eva assured as she moved down the steps. “I’m Eva Robertson, and thank you for taking care of everything.” She nodded toward the children. “Who do we have here?”

  “Oh, this is Adam, our oldest, and Anna.”

  Joanna Porter pointed to the two children hiding behind her skirt. They looked about four or five.

  “And these three, are Tucker, Reed, and Heather.”

  The woman pointed to the redheaded children standing a short distance behind her. Their little faces were sparkling clean and their hair freshly combed. Their clothes were new and neatly pressed.