“Hmph” was the only response he got but he took it for a yes. He wanted to speak to Davy, anyway. Mr. Prentice was interested in buying beef from Davy if the price was right and he could supply the quantities he needed. Mr. Prentice believed a number of his contacts would be interested in dealing with the ranches in Clover Springs but they would prefer to meet Davy in person. Davy hated big cities more than Mick did so he wasn’t at all sure the man would go to New York.
“Sheriff, I got to bring Robbie in on your secret.”
“Who’s Robbie?”
“Robbie Fenton, going to be in charge of the new hotel he is building in Clover Springs. I need to introduce him to Davy and get some business dealings sorted.”
“This trip to New York seems to have gone to your head, Mick Quinn. Big hotels and business deals.”
“I am still the same guy you know, Sheriff. Don’t you worry about that. Robbie’s a good sort. You’ll like him.”
Robbie agreed to go the Sullivan ranch with them. Robbie and the sheriff got on very well and the day went better than Mick had anticipated. Davy wasn’t keen on going to New York but Robbie suggested Mr. Prentice would come to Clover Springs.
After they had spoken about business, Mick asked the ladies for help with his dancing.
“With Wilma’s big day coming up, there is bound to be dancing and last time I danced with Erin, I nearly broke her toes. Can you help me become a better dancer?”
“Sure we can Mick. You just need to count out the steps to the music,” Mary said kindly.
“Make sure you keep it a surprise from Erin. I don’t want her to know I had to take lessons. I bribed the sheriff into coming with me. Erin will just assume we are talking about Cathy’s case.” Mick saw the look of relief on the sheriff’s face. Poor man, had he really believed he would tell the women of his intentions?
“Sheriff, do you think they will still come looking for Cathy?”
“I don’t rightly know, Mrs. Sullivan, but we always protect our own. Your sister is one of us now, so unless they come with the correct legal paperwork, she isn’t going anywhere. I said to Mick I have some suspicions about what’s going on in New York. Seem to be taking their time to make their way here. So don’t you fret, we will sort it out.”
“Thanks, sheriff. Are you going to learn how to dance, too?”
“Well, Mick thought it best if I helped make up the numbers.”
Mick had to turn away so he wouldn’t laugh at the innocent expression on the sheriff’s face.
Chapter 32
Cathy woke up completely disoriented. Raising her head, she groaned. Everything felt so heavy. When she moved her limbs, it was like they were stuck in molasses. She needed a drink of water—her mouth was all dry and sandy. She tried to sit up but found she was tied to the bed. Terrified, she worked at the ropes but they didn’t loosen. She looked around her, not wanting to scream in case it brought back in whomever had done this to her. She didn’t recognize the cabin.
“Morning. How are you feeling?”
“What are you doing? Why do you have me tied to the bed?”
He pulled out a knife, causing her to shrink back into the pillow. Was this it? The end?
He sliced through the binds, freeing her. She sat up, warily watching him and the knife. He put it away.
“Sorry, Cathy. It was for your own good.”
She didn’t know what to believe. She couldn’t remember a lot. Some hazy images and wanting something so bad she was prepared to do anything. She looked at him closer.
“That’s a nasty scratch on your face. Who did you upset?”
“You.”
“What? I didn’t do that. I’d never hurt anyone.
“You did, but it wasn’t your fault. It was the drugs.”
Drugs? What was he talking about? She looked around her again. “Where am I?”
“We moved up to Cookie’s cabin for a few days. Been here about a week now.”
“Just the two of us?” she squeaked, pulling the covers up to her chest.
“Yes. Although Cookie and Little Beaver have been helping. They have left us food almost every day.”
“Why?”
“I was busy.”
“Doing what?”
He gave her a cup of water. She drank greedily.
“Cathy, the last few days. Do you remember any of it?”
She stared at him, trying hard to remember stuff but nothing was forthcoming. There was an uneasy feeling in her stomach that grew with every minute. She knew at some level she had done something, but what? She couldn’t be sure.
“I was ill?”
“You were recovering from taking too much medicine. I need to know, Cathy. Did you do it on purpose?”
“What?”
“Were you so unhappy you wanted to die?”
“Die? You mean, did I try to kill myself? No. That’s a sin.”
“Yes, I know it is, but I also know what it is like to feel you have no hope, no life and no reason for going on”
She studied his face, sensing he was being honest with her in the hope she would return the favor.
“I just wanted to sleep. Not forever. Just for a while. I was so tired and hurt and angry. Then those ladies…”
“What ladies?”
“Some women in town. I heard them speaking about me. You know you should never eavesdrop on other people’s conversation. You never hear anything good about yourself.”
He took her hand, gently caressing her wrist with his thumb. She gulped at the sensations moving through her body. She wanted him to stop, yet didn’t at the same time.
“They said I was responsible for my parents’ death. They suggested it was Davy’s money that was keeping me out of jail.”
“That’s nonsense. If the police wanted to arrest you they would have done that already. They haven’t so quit worrying. It will all work out.”
“How are you so sure?”
“Doc Erin has friends in New York. One of them hired some Pinkertons to investigate the accident. Another is on the police force. They will prove you were innocent. Doc Erin thought it was a bit fishy that you weren’t arrested. She thinks, and I agree, it was all rumors.”
“But why would anyone say something so horrible.”
“Cathy, what was the situation between you and Archibald Johnston? Were you in love?”
She shook her head. They weren’t even in like. She certainly didn’t like him. She thought he was shallow, mean-minded and dull. He appeared to hate her, a feeling he’d had since they were young.
“No. It wasn’t a love match. I didn’t even know there was anything said about us being married. Then Archibald showed me the letter my father wrote. He appointed Archibald my guardian and suggested we marry. He didn’t think I would be able to cope managing his estate, I guess.”
“Archibald was the one who first gave you the medicine?”
“No, a doctor gave me that. Archibald asked him to look after me because I was so upset about Mama and Papa. I had nightmares about drowning and everything. And then when I found Mary’s letters, I felt so betrayed. Like everything I had ever known was a lie. I guess I had some sort of breakdown.” Cathy fidgeted. “Are they going to put me in an asylum?”
“Nobody is going to do that.”
“But if they think I tried to kill myself and if that doctor says I had a breakdown, then surely nobody can stop them.”
“I can and I will. You’re my wife now, Cathy. Nobody can hurt you. This Archibald guy has no control over you.”
She tried to smile but the tears came instead.
“Are you unhappy?”
“No, I’m crying because I am so relieved. He took me to visit the hospital for the insane once. He insisted we see the patients and the wards.” She shuddered.
She saw his hands clench.
“I think it was his way of making me do as he wanted.”
“What a pig. You are best off without him.”
She wanted t
o ask him to hold her, but suddenly found she was too shy. Which was ridiculous, as if what he said was true and they had been here for a few days, he had seen and touched every part of her already. Her face grew hot.
“Are you feeling sick again? You have gone very red.”
“No, just thinking,” she squeaked.
He grinned as understanding spread over his face.
“You have nothing to worry about. I swear I was a perfect gentleman.”
“Thank you.”
“It was very hard, though. You have a lovely…”
“Abe! Stop it.”
“I will on one condition.”
“What?” She wondered if he would demand a kiss?
“You have a bath. You don’t smell too good, Mrs. O’Malley.”
“Oh, you…” She picked up her pillow and hit him with it. He roared with laughter before telling her he was going to boil some water.
She lay there for a few minutes after he left, wondering about him. He’d been so kind and caring. He’d gotten angry when she’d spoken about Archibald. He’d claimed her as his wife more than once. Did he want a real marriage? Did she?
Chapter 33
Abe sat outside, waiting for Cathy to finish her bath. Even though he had seen her in all her glory, it was different now she was awake. She seemed to be doing okay. He wondered how long it would be before the cravings returned.
He got up to chop some wood when his thoughts went wandering where they shouldn’t. She was his wife so it was natural, but still it wasn’t as if they were a real couple. She had agreed to the marriage to avoid being locked up. He had agreed to it because…why had he agreed to it? Was it really just down to his friends asking or was it more personal than that. If he was honest, he’d found her very attractive from the beginning. She had beautiful eyes, but it was more than just physical. She’d woken a need in him. An instinct to protect her. She seemed to reach inside of him and just squeeze his heart.
He chopped faster. If anyone could read his thoughts, they would be locking him up for going soft.
“Abe, I am done. It’s safe for you to come in now.”
He walked indoors to find her in front of the fire, trying to get the tangles out of her hair. He’d been shocked by how long it actually was, that first night he’d seen it. He emptied the bath and put the tin container outside. Closing the door, he found her still working her way through her hair. Wordlessly he took the brush from her and started combing out the tangles. Her hair was smooth and silky. He imagined how it would feel against his…
“Abe, thank you.”
“For what?”
“For all this. I am sorry I took that medicine.”
“Next time you feel real bad, come talk to me.”
“There won’t be a next time. I will never take that stuff again.”
He stopped combing and sat down on the rug beside her. Putting his arm around her shoulders, he drew her closer.
“Cathy, Doc Erin and Cookie both said there might be a next time.”
When she moved to protest, he shushed her with a finger against her lips. “Nobody is saying you are weak, only that drug is powerful and it will tempt you. Again and again. We just have to work together to stop things ever getting so bad you feel it’s the only answer. Okay?”
She stared into the fire, a look of terror on her face.
“Look at me, Cathy. Think about what you did already. You knew something was wrong, that someone was giving you drugs. You got out and came to Clover Springs all by yourself. Doc Erin says you were almost wasting away yet you still wouldn’t eat or drink for fear of taking that stuff again. You did all that once. You can do it again. Only this time, you won’t have to starve. I won’t let anyone, Archibald or anyone else, near you. I promise.”
“Can you be sure of that? He has lots of money and is very powerful.”
“I don’t have money but we have friends here. I would like to see a namby pamby city boy try to survive out here.”
“But he knows I am in Clover Springs.”
He drew her closer and kissed her gently on the head. “Then we will move. Somewhere he doesn’t know us. Our friends here won’t tell him where you’ve gone. Cathy Johnston can just disappear.”
“Leave Mary and everyone again?”
“We don’t have to go far. We can stay in Colorado and visit or they can come visit us.”
She lay back against him, her face flickering as she digested what he had said.
“Cathy, do you trust me?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
He leaned down and took her mouth with his. Pulling her closer, he melded her to his body, not hiding his need for her.
“I’d like you to become my wife. For real.”
“I’d like that, too,” she whispered back, not looking at his face. He smiled as he kissed her. He had to be gentle and take things slowly.
Chapter 34
The next few days were some of the happiest Cathy could remember. She and Abe were getting to know each other in every way possible. They bickered a little, but never for long. Cathy found each day she woke feeling better. She started to believe Abe was right—she could win her battle with the drug.
This morning, Cathy tried to make some coffee but she couldn’t find any. She kicked a couple of things as she moved in the relative darkness.
“Do I smell breakfast?” her husband teased from the bed.
“No. I can’t find the coffee.”
“Good job I didn’t marry you for your cooking talents.”
“Sorry. I just wanted to do something nice for you. But I’ve got a lot to learn.”
“Leave it and come back to bed.”
“Abe!”
“Wife, get back to bed now. You promised to obey me, remember.”
She put the pot down and almost jumped into the bed beside him. He cradled her in his arms.
“What do you think about us going back to the ranch today?”
“Today? Do we have to?” She hated sounding like a child but she didn’t want this to end. She was getting to know her husband and enjoying the process.
“Can’t we stay another day or two?”
“I thought you would hate it up here. It’s not exactly luxury. “
“I think that’s part of the charm. I never thought I would be happy in such a small place, but I am.”
“We have to face the real world sooner or later.”
“Can’t we make it later, please?”
“Well, you could convince me,” he whispered, putting on a rakish accent. It made her laugh.
“That wasn’t quite what I had in mind,” he responded, sounding a little sulky. She kissed his bare shoulder, then his neck before finding his mouth.
“Better?” she asked in between kisses
“Much…” he said rolling her over as he folded her close to his body.
“Anyone home?” Cookie’s voice broke into their little world.
“Darn it, anyway. Where did he come from?”
She couldn’t answer, she was too busy laughing at the look on his face. Cookie’s voice sounded once again.
“You best go see what he wants,” she prompted.
“Why can’t you go?”
“Be serious, Abe. I can’t go out like this.”
“Might make him leave faster. Oh, okay, don’t look at me like that.” He rolled out of bed and dressed quickly. “I’m coming,” he yelled to Cookie. Then he bent down and kissed her quickly “We will have to take this up again when he leaves.”
She hid under the covers so Cookie wouldn’t hear her giggling. She was so happy but scared, too. Would she be punished for feeling so good after everything that had happened?
“Morning. You’re early.” Abe greeted Cookie.
“Grumpy, aren’t we? And it’s almost lunchtime, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
Abe didn’t say anything. He hadn’t realized it was so late.
“I didn’t mean to butt in on you guys, but I
got news.”
Cathy had come out of the cabin, but neither man seemed to hear her approach.
“Bad news?” she said, but her voice came out all squeaky.
“Why don’t you make some coffee and I will tell ya,” Cookie said.
“I’ll make it. Cathy hasn’t got the hang of the fire yet. She is more used to stoves.”
“Mrs. Higgins sent up an apple pie and some cookies. Said the fresh air would give you an appetite.”
Abe couldn’t meet Cathy’s eyes for fear of embarrassing her. He busied himself making the coffee while his wife got some dishes and clean mugs. The three of them sat down.
Cookie took his time drinking and eating before Abe lost patience.
“Come on, Cookie, tell us. The both of us are on a knife edge wanting to know.”
“I got good news and some not-so-good news.”
Abe felt Cathy reaching for him. He held onto her hand tightly.
“The good news is that the police have confirmed you are no longer a person of interest, ma’am. Seems the boat wasn’t river-worthy or something. But nothing you could have done would have changed the outcome. Your father threw you off the boat and then tried to rescue your mother. But it was too late. They have ruled your parents’ death an accident and have dropped the charges of fraud and theft.”
“That’s fantastic. Hear that, Cathy?”
Cathy’s eyes were glued to Cookies face.
“What’s the bad news?” she asked.
Cookie took a rather noisy drink from his coffee. “Well, I guess it’s best I told you and you don’t hear it from the gossips.”
“Cookie, out with it.
“Seems this Archibald fella you been talking about, he got a judge to rule that your adoption was never legal. Therefore, you are not the heiress to the Johnston estate.”
“Let me guess, that conniving little snake is?”
“Yes, Abe, he is.”
“What do you mean it wasn’t legal?” Cathy asked him. “How could they adopt me if it wasn’t allowed?”
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