Katherine set her bag on the floor by the bed and moved her arms to cross in front of herself.
“Well, it’s dry,” Wyatt offered.
“No, it’s nice,” Katherine said, still uneasy.
Wyatt moved farther into the room, setting his bag by the vanity. He walked over to the window and looked down on the street below.
All Katherine wanted to do was put on something dry and crawl into bed. They had another big day tomorrow.
“Are you hungry?” Wyatt turned, his eyes on her.
Katherine’s stomach churned at the thought of food. She hadn’t eaten since the quick bite they grabbed by the train station.
He drew close to her. Perhaps a little too close for her comfort. “You look tired,” his voice was gentle. “And cold. I’ll go find something to eat while you get into dry clothes. I think I spotted a café downstairs. We can have a picnic up here before you get tucked in.”
Katherine had to admit that sounded wonderful. “Thank you.”
Wyatt had to squeeze by her to get to the door, crossing quite closely to her body. The warmth emanating from him threatened to draw her in. But then she remembered who it was and moved out of his way, all but scurrying across the room.
Wyatt’s eyebrows furrowed for just a moment before he stepped out into the hallway.
Katherine closed and locked the door behind him. The last thing she wanted was for Wyatt to walk in on her while she undressed. Eager for dry clothes, it was mere moments before Katherine had divested herself of her wet garments and pulled on her nightclothes. She located a robe in her suitcase as well, for which she was thankful. It would give her an added layer of modesty. Laying out her dress and chemise to dry, her thoughts again began to drift.
Today had been a blur. And now she was married. Married to Wyatt Sullivan. All for a good cause, she told herself. Tomorrow they would see it come together. They would go to the church and present themselves as the best candidates to take the orphaned children. Would the mayor and Timothy see it their way?
Timothy . . .
What would he think when he discovered what she had done? Katherine wished she had told him. She did not relish the idea of his reaction. How she wished she could avoid hurting him! But she had been a coward. And so there was nothing left but for him to find out this way.
A knock on the door echoed in the room. Katherine pulled her robe tighter around herself and moved to answer it. “Yes?”
“It’s Wyatt.”
Katherine unlocked the door and opened it just enough to peer out. It was indeed Wyatt and he had plates of food. She swung the door open the rest of the way to admit him.
“I hope you don’t mind. I took the liberty of ordering you pot roast.”
“Mind? It’s my favorite meal.” How did he know?
“Is it?” He flashed her a smile.
She settled in the bed, pulled the covers over her lap, and reached for the plate.
Wyatt sat on the edge of the bed with his plate of chicken and dumplings.
All was silent for a few moments as each enjoyed their warm dinner. But her eyes drifted to Wyatt. What was he thinking? Was he relieved? Or full of regret?
“What a day, huh?” Wyatt spoke at last.
She nodded, taking another bite of potato.
“How are you . . . that is, are you . . . what’s on your mind?” he managed.
She looked at him, gauging his question against her own mixed thoughts and emotions. “I have been thinking on many things. Mostly about tomorrow. And the next day. I’m afraid we haven’t planned that far ahead,” she said, her appetite waning. “I don’t even know where we will live.”
“With me, of course.” Wyatt’s face was blank.
“What is . . . I mean, how big is . . . that is, where is your house?” Katherine hid her warming features by examining her food.
“It’s not far outside of town. I need to be close in case of late-night emergencies.”
She nodded her understanding.
“It’s the old Womack homestead,” he offered.
That didn’t help. Katherine had never been to Bob Womack’s home.
“There will be a room for me and for you and for Jack. I’m afraid Susie may have to stay with you until I can commission an extra room be added.”
Katherine nodded again, relieved he did not anticipate that the two of them share a room.
“You look as though you can barely keep your eyes open.” He laughed a little.
“I guess I am quite tired after everything today.” The understatement of the year.
“It has been a long, rather eventful day,” he agreed. He reached out to take her plate. “I promised I’d take these back downstairs.”
As he took her plate, she settled against a pillow and pulled the covers up to her chin.
“I’ll be back soon.”
With that, he was gone. Katherine turned down the lamp and rolled over so her back was to the door. She closed her eyes and attempted to quiet herself to sleep. Moments later, when Wyatt came back, she pretended to be more asleep than she truly was.
He leaned over her and must have decided she was indeed asleep as he went about changing his clothes.
Katherine tried not to look as she heard the rustle of clothing, but something in her was too curious. So, she peered through eyelid slits at his form, silhouetted against the moonlight as he dressed in his sleepwear. He must have felt her eyes on him as he jerked his head back around to look in her direction. She closed her eyes.
It wasn’t long before she heard him moving around the room and then she felt him leaning over her again. Was he going to slip in the bed beside her? Her heart stopped and she prayed he would not be so bold.
The unused pillow swished from beside her. And the chest at the foot of the bed creaked. She guessed he pulled out extra coverings. Was he preparing a makeshift bed on the floor?
Letting out the breath she didn’t realize she was holding, she said a prayer of thanks for his gentlemanly sensitivities. It wasn’t long before she heard his deep, even breathing. Then, and only then, did she fall into sleep.
* * *
Katherine clawed at the walls of the mineshaft, trying to escape. Her air was running out. At last, the wall started to crumble and she saw a pinprick of light. Continuing to pull at the rocks, her heart leapt; she made progress.
Amidst the sound of the rubble, she heard a voice crying out. She stopped moving. And stopped breathing.
“Katie!”
It was Ellie Mae!
“Ellie Mae, where are you?” she hopped down and stepped back toward the darkness, unable to see anything beyond the step in front of her.
“Katie, help me!”
“I’m coming!” Katherine picked up her pace, now running back into the tunnel. The rumbling sounds grew louder, surrounding her. Filled with fear, Katherine was tempted to turn around, but she trudged onward, into the darkness, determined to help her friend.
“Katie, don’t leave me!”
“I won’t, Ellie! Where are you? I can’t find you!” Katherine followed the voice into the pitch darkness. Then it seemed her cries would come from another direction. Was she becoming disoriented? The sounds of the quaking around her became paralyzing, but she was desperate to find Ellie. She couldn’t leave her. No, not again.
The thundering of the tunnel became so loud she couldn’t hear Ellie anymore.
“Ellie!” she screamed, “Ellie! Ellie!”
“Katie!” Someone shook her, rubbing her face. “Katie!”
Her eyes opened. There was no tunnel, no Ellie Mae. She was in the hotel room in Denver with Wyatt. He leaned over her, hands on her arms, shaking her awake. Ellie was dead and had been for many years. Katherine lay covered in a layer of sweat as tears flowed down her face.
“Katie, are you all right?” Wyatt asked, his voice now gentle as he pushed her hair out of her face. He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her into his embrace. “That must have been some nig
htmare. But you’re safe.”
Katherine did feel safe in his arms, but the memory of what happened to Ellie was fresh in her mind, in her heart, and she couldn’t let herself remain in Wyatt Sullivan’s embrace. She pushed at him to create some distance between them.
She smacked at her face, wiping the tears away. “I’m fine,” she lied.
His eyes darkened. Who cared if he didn’t believe her?
But she would have none of his comforting. The wound was fresh. He had left Ellie Mae behind. If it weren’t for him, she wouldn’t be having these nightmares.
“Very well,” he said, getting up.
Immediately, she wished she had let him calm her. But she would not have it. Heart racing a million miles a minute, she panted.
He walked over to his pallet on the floor. Moving as if to lie back down, he paused, then turned toward her and said flatly, “Just so you know, Katherine, I, too, have nightmares about that day.” Then he dropped onto his mat.
She stared after him. Wyatt? Nightmares? It couldn’t be true. No, he was cold and uncaring about what had happened that day. That’s how she’d always imagined him, so that’s how he had to be. Right?
* * *
Tom and Lauren Matthews stepped out of the church and into the bright sunlight. Lauren raised a hand to shield her eyes as they prepared to say their farewells to the reverend who, as usual, stood at the exit. He always shook hands with each of the church members, sharing a few words with them, and then sent them on their way with a quick blessing. Now their turn, Tom and Lauren each took a turn clasping Timothy’s hand.
“Lovely sermon, Reverend,” Lauren said, a smile on her face.
Tom nodded in agreement.
“Thank you,” Timothy responded. But he hesitated. There seemed to be something more he wanted to say. “I didn’t see Katherine today. Is she well?”
Lauren and Tom exchanged a look. Had Katherine not said anything to Timothy after all? If that was the case, Lauren was certain neither she nor Tom were at liberty to share Katherine’s plan. But she didn’t want to lie about her daughter’s whereabouts either.
It was Tom who ended up speaking. “Thank you, Reverend, she is quite well. Found herself on an errand in Denver this weekend.”
“Denver?” Timothy’s voice betrayed his surprise. “When . . . ” He cleared his throat. “When will we have the pleasure of her company again?”
“We expect her back this afternoon,” Lauren said, slipping a hand into the crook of her husband’s arm.
Timothy smiled at that. “I look forward to it.”
Lauren sensed he wanted to ask something further, but held back.
Instead, he straightened himself and returned to his pastoral posture. “May the Lord bless you this week. Go in peace.”
Nodding her thanks, Lauren allowed Tom to lead her down the few steps off the church’s porch and onto the lawn. There they waited for David and his family. It wasn’t long before they, too, made their way out of the church and into the churchyard.
There was no mistaking her David anywhere, but he looked different today. His features were drawn, and his eyes had lines under them. And his skin, it appeared almost a sickly pale. It tugged at her mother’s heart.
But the rest of the clan looked well enough. Gazing over at Mary, her bright eyes and liveliness brought a smile to Lauren’s face. And little Jessie. A picture of everything a girl should be in her gingham dress and matching bows holding her twin braids. Mary carried the wiggling Peter in her arms, his light brown curls bouncing in the sunlight.
Lauren and Tom moved to intercept them.
Leaning down to meet her granddaughter’s eyes, Lauren said, “You are so pretty today, Jessie.”
Jessie did a little curtsy and twirl for her grandmother.
They all laughed, even David. It did Lauren’s heart good to see him laugh.
“I heard you mention to the reverend that Katherine is in Denver?” David’s question rushed out of him.
Lauren paused, straightening to her full height again. “That’s a bit of a long story,” she said, her words slow, chosen carefully. “But one that we can share over lunch. Y’all still coming over?”
“Of course.” David’s eyes darkened with concern, but he turned to Mary, who nodded.
“Then, shall we?” Tom offered his arm to Lauren, indicating they should move on to their carts.
“We shall,” David agreed, mimicking his father and offering his arm to his wife.
They loaded their carts and maneuvered the horses toward the Matthews’ homestead. Soon after, they were all gathered around the lunch table, enjoying the fruits of Lauren’s hard work preparing the Sunday meal. Their conversation touched on many things, but Tom and Lauren had not yet shared anything about Katherine.
“How are things on your front, son?” Tom ventured to ask.
David shook his head. “About the same. Nothing much to say. We’re still on strike.”
Lauren sensed he didn’t want to say anything more about it. It weighed on him. And that bothered her. She was glad Tom steered clear of the subject for the rest of lunch. It became easy enough when Mary brought up the subject of Katherine.
“What were you going to tell us about Katherine?” Mary asked.
Lauren and Tom exchanged a look. Who was going to tell them?
Tom shrugged.
And so, Lauren decided it was up to her. Glancing over to ensure the children were happily distracted with their toys in the family room just beyond, she lowered her voice as she related the tale of what Katherine had decided to do.
“And you let her go?” David asked, incredulous. “You let her carry on with this crazy plan?”
“It’s not our place to stop her,” Lauren said, blinking in surprise at David’s comment. “No matter how much we may or may not disagree with our children’s decisions, we can only give our advice. Then we must do our best to support them.”
David looked down at his food. Was he realizing his own hypocrisy?
“It’s not been an easy decision for Katherine, but she’s doing what she thinks is best by those kids. I’m sure she will need your support, too,” Tom added.
David nodded.
“Of course,” Mary said, “We’ll do whatever we can to ease her transition. I can’t imagine how her life will change in such a short amount of time . . . from single and childless to working wife and mother of two. That is, if the town council will even let her continue teaching.”
“I don’t know if she’s considered that.” Tom wrapped his hands around his coffee cup.
Lauren nodded. “There will be many questions to be answered when she returns. Things she will have to face. And issues she will have to resolve. It won’t be easy. And if they allow her to teach for the remainder of her contract at the school, I’ll be watching the little ones during the school day. That is if she and Wyatt are awarded the children. We’re not even sure they will be.”
“I hope you’re not putting yourself out,” Mary said, leaning toward Lauren.
“What other choice does Katherine have? She has a contract at the school for the remainder of the semester. The town needs a teacher. And Wyatt can’t close his practice during the day to watch the children. I’m happy to help any way I can.”
“And we will, too,” David’s voice was now firm, resolute.
“Yes, I’ll come over at least a couple of days a week to help you,” Mary offered.
Lauren smiled. “Thank you, I’ll enjoy the company.” Her heart swelled to see her family working as a unit, helping each other out, and supporting each other through tough things. This, after all, is what family was all about.
* * *
A cloud of dust surrounded the telegraph office as the coach came to a stop. Pressed against the inside of the door, Katherine barely waited for someone to open it and offer her a hand in her hurry to get to the ground. Her feet touched the solid surface of the dirt road and she breathed a sigh of relief. They made it. But there
wasn’t a moment to lose. Lifting her skirts, she pushed off, racing toward the church.
“Katherine, wait,” Wyatt called after her.
She didn’t so much as pause.
Wyatt gave the driver instructions as to their bags, but she was soon too far away to hear anything more.
As she pushed onward, Katherine’s lungs begged for her to slow down, muscles burning from the exertion. But she dare not. They might already be too late. And once again she cursed their bad fortune to have been delayed at the train station.
Nearing the church, she heard Timothy’s robust voice through the open windows. “If there are no other volunteers, it seems Mr. and Mrs. Jones are the only family to step forward to take in one of these precious souls.”
Her heart pounded, jumping into her throat. She prayed Timothy would listen.
The door to the church rushed toward her and Katherine held up her hands to push it out of her way. Then she burst into the church.
“Wait,” she cried out, breathless. Vision blurred, she leaned forward, hand on her stomach, her breathing uneven.
“Katherine?” Timothy’s voice rose above the din of whispers around her.
Rising to her full height, she met his gaze. She had never seen his eyes so wide. And as she took in the space, she noticed that everyone in the church stared at her with gaped mouths. The Joneses, the mayor and his wife, even a small boy she guessed to be Jack. The intensity of their eyes threatened to silence her, but she forced herself to swallow past the lump in her throat and push her trepidations to the side.
“I . . . wish . . . to . . . take . . . both . . . of . . . the . . . children.”
Timothy’s features shifted, becoming set and stern. His gaze moved across the room. Was there something he hesitated to say in front of this small crowd?
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