He remembered her recent dealings with the pastor in Lewistown. Emily had been notably changed, and she said it was all due to understanding more about God and His love. Caeden wanted to believe God’s love was real, but the pain of his past kept niggling at his spirit. If God truly was love, then why had it been the one thing denied his mother?
She had your love and that of your sisters.
His mother had always said how much that love blessed her. Caeden remembered his mother was also quite loved by her own parents and siblings. Not only that, but she had a great many friends, all who adored her.
But my father didn’t love her. He only used and abused her.
He frowned. “Lord, I want to believe that you care—that you love me—that you loved her. I just don’t understand why you let her suffer so. It hurts to remember her pain. It hurts to remember that I could do nothing to make it better.”
Emily’s cabin was just ahead. Caeden spied smoke rising from the chimney and felt a sense of relief. He drew up to just in front of the shack and dismounted. He felt like a nervous schoolboy. How could one woman so deeply affect his sense of calm?
Caeden tied the horse off and drew a deep breath. There was no sense in worrying about how he’d explain. He just needed to find Emily and get the job done. Simple truth was the best. He knocked on the cabin door and waited.
Emily opened the door dressed in her old clothes and canvas coat. Her eyes widened at the sight of him. “What . . . why are you here?”
“You left without your things last night. I brought them. They’re on my horse.” He motioned to the carpetbag he’d hooked over the horn of the saddle.
Without waiting for her to speak, he went back to retrieve the bag and brought it to her. “I had hoped to talk to you last night.”
“I didn’t want to keep you from your friends.” She looked down at the ground and then stepped back. “You might as well come in. I need to talk to you about the things you sent.”
Caeden stepped into the house and put the bag down just inside the door. There were crates sitting all around the small single room, and all were unopened.
“I don’t know what all you purchased, but you must take it back,” Emily began. “I can’t take advantage of your generosity.”
“Nonsense. I bought these things as a way to thank you and your father for letting me stay here.”
Emily put her hands on her hips and turned to face him. “You already did that before you left. You bought food for us and helped chop wood. There was no need to send anything more.”
“I wanted to.” He stepped closer. “You lost almost everything in the fire, and I was moved by the generosity of your neighbors. Those people had little or nothing and yet they were willing to share. That impressed me and also shamed me. I have great wealth and have never practiced even a fraction of their giving.”
Emily nodded. “They are good people and so are you. I am certain that had the needs of others been presented, you would have been as lavish as you’ve been with us.”
“Then it’s settled. You will keep what I’ve sent and enjoy it in the knowledge that it gave me great pleasure to do something useful with my money. Besides, it would cost a great deal of money to ship all those boxes back to Great Falls.”
She opened her mouth and looked as if she would protest, but instead she gave a brief nod. “Very well. I don’t suppose I will convince you otherwise.”
He smiled, feeling quite satisfied with himself. “No, you won’t.”
“Well then, I appreciate that you brought the carpetbag all this way. I don’t have anything in the way of refreshments to offer except for a cup of cold water.” She looked at the stove. “Jake’s bringing some meat today, and I do have a few eggs and some bread Millie gave me. If you’re hungry, I could make you something to eat.”
He nodded. “I’d like that. I left so early I didn’t get breakfast.” He glanced over at the crates. “If you open some of these, you’ll find a great deal of food. I bought up enough to get you through the winter as I figured it. There are quite a few canned items.” He looked around at the unopened boxes. “Why don’t I start opening these while you cook?”
She looked hesitant, but Caeden didn’t give her a chance to refuse. Instead he went to the stove and retrieved the poker. “I’ll just pry off a few tops and we’ll see what’s what.”
Caeden was halfway through the crates when he remembered his real reason for coming. Trying to sound casual, he brought up the topic of the Arnolds. “Those folks you met last night are from New York. Mr. Arnold was a business associate of my father’s. In fact it was Mr. Arnold and my father’s idea that I should marry Catherine.”
“She’s very beautiful. I can see why you would be happy to take her as a wife.”
“But I’m not.”
Emily turned from the stove. “You’re not what?”
Caeden pulled a sack of flour from one of the crates. “I’m not taking her as a wife.”
Emily looked confused as her brow knit together. “But Mr. Arnold said she was your fiancée and you didn’t correct him.”
“No, I didn’t. There were . . . there are some extenuating circumstances, and I’d like to explain them.”
She turned back to her cooking. “There’s no need. You certainly do not owe me an explanation.”
Caeden could see this wasn’t going to be easy. “I think I do. It’s important to me that you know the truth. When I left Albany I made it clear to Arnold that I had no intention of marrying anyone. I saw the wreckage left by my father and didn’t want to risk doing that to someone else.”
Emily scooped out the scrambled eggs onto a plate, then turned her attention to slicing bread. She said nothing, so Caeden continued.
“Catherine and I were never a part of the decision making. We had grown up together, although she was much younger than I. Still, I never lied to her or told her that I planned to honor the arrangement. She knew I didn’t love her.”
Still Emily said nothing, but Caeden knew she was listening. He only hoped that she would understand his current arrangement.
“When I went to Great Falls I had a chance to speak with Catherine alone. She told me that her father is in dire financial straits. He was victim to my father’s schemes. At least that’s what I was told. I have my uncle back in Albany checking on the situation.”
Emily plopped two pieces of buttered bread into the skillet. “Do you want me to make coffee?”
Caeden hoisted the large sack of flour and brought it to where Emily stood. “No. Where do you want this?”
She scrutinized the sack for a moment. “I suppose in the corner. I’m not sure how I’ll ever keep the mice out of it.” She turned back to the bread.
Without waiting for further instruction, Caeden dumped the sack in the corner and returned to the stove. He hoped Emily would finish with the cooking, then come sit with him while he finished telling her the story.
“I don’t have any jam,” she said, flipping the pieces.
“That’s fine. I’d like it very much if you would join me at the table so I can finish telling you what you need to know.”
“I need to know? What in the world would I need to know?” She looked at him without emotion, but rather than wait for an answer, she pointed to the table. “Go sit down.” She took up the plate of eggs. “I’ll bring this to you in just a minute.” Emily turned her attention back to the stove, and Caeden felt he had no choice but to wait. He took a seat and watched her in silence. Just the sight of her made his heart beat faster. Her mother had once told him that God had sent him as a husband for Emily. He hadn’t believed it then, but now her declaration seemed quite reasonable. Maybe God really did love him.
In a few minutes Emily placed the plate in front of Caeden. She then drew a fork from her apron pocket and set it alongside the plate. For a moment she did nothing but stand there staring down at the food. Caeden glanced at the plate. The toast was golden brown and the eggs cooked to perfection. �
�It looks delicious.” He pulled out the chair beside him. “Why don’t you get a plate and share it with me.”
“I’ve already eaten.”
“Then please sit with me, and take off your coat, for pity’s sake. You look as if you’re about to run away.”
She acted as though she would refuse but finally nodded. She hung her coat on a nail by the door, then returned to take a seat at the table. Caeden bowed his head and offered thanks—something he hadn’t done in a long time but that suddenly felt very right.
“Father, we give thanks for your provision. Amen.”
“Amen,” Emily murmured. She looked at him for a moment and sighed.
Caeden lost no time. “Once I knew the situation with Arnold and his finances, I realized he would stop at nothing to see Catherine married to a wealthy husband. Catherine is already in love with someone else, but he doesn’t have the large fortune her father would like. She is terrified he will sell her off to one of his old cronies.”
“Sell her off? Like a slave?” Emily’s tone was incredulous.
“In some ways. Arnold is the kind of man who sees Catherine as a prize to be bartered for. He would find the man who could most benefit his coffers and future plans. Then Bishop Arnold would force his daughter into marriage with that man.”
“How awful.” She toyed with the hem of her apron, refusing to look him in the eye.
“Yes, it is, but it’s very often done among the elite of society. Marriages aren’t always about love but rather business dealings.” He waited for her to comment, but she didn’t.
“So, because Catherine was up against this, we agreed to let her father believe we were accepting of the engagement he and my father had contracted. It’s nothing more than a sham, however.”
This got Emily’s attention. “For what purpose?”
“To buy time,” Caeden explained. “Catherine needs time. We will plan for a long engagement. Meanwhile, she hopes to arrange an elopement with her young man. If her father believes she’s engaged to me, he won’t have any further plans for her.”
“How will this help his financial problems?”
“Despite the betrothal being a sham, I’m paying Mr. Arnold a large dowry or bride-price for Catherine’s hand. It’s a small thing to do in order to keep Catherine from a life of misery. In a short time, after she has the opportunity to put her plans in action, I will break the engagement. If I cancel the engagement, then I will be expected to forfeit the dowry. I alone will bear the shame, and Catherine will still be highly regarded in her social circles. In fact, she will no doubt garnish a great deal of sympathy. More important, she’ll be able to marry her true love.”
Emily finally seemed to relax a bit. She met his gaze and nodded. “That’s quite admirable of you. She’s fortunate to have you as a friend.”
“Miss Emily, are you home?” Jake Hoover called from outside.
Emily jumped to her feet and hurried to the door. Caeden grimaced. He wasn’t through with what he wanted to say, but with Jake there he couldn’t continue. Instead he focused on the food she’d fixed for him.
“Well, hello there, Mr. Thibault,” Jake said, coming into the cabin with two sacks slung over his shoulder. “I thought you’d gone on your way.”
Caeden swallowed. “I was delayed. I needed to speak with Emily about some important matters.” He turned his attention back to the food, hoping Jake would finish his business and leave.
“Well, I brought the little lady some elk.” He put the sacks on the table opposite Caeden, then looked around the cabin. “Looks like I’m not the only one makin’ deliveries.”
“Caeden sent this stuff to us. It arrived after Pa was shot and moved to Lewistown. I just found it here this morning. He said it was in thanks for what Pa had done for him.”
Jake smiled. “The Lord works in mysterious ways.” He looked at Caeden and raised a brow. “It would seem you were mighty thankful.”
“I still am.” Caeden finished the last of his toast and said nothing more.
Jake seemed to realize he’d intruded and started for the door. He put his hand out and touched Emily’s coat hanging there. “I see Millie got this cleaned up for you. Knowing her, she probably cleaned your gun as well.”
Emily smiled. “I didn’t check, but I was happy to get both back.”
“I was sure you would be. Look, I’ll check on you again, Miss Emily. Let Millie know if you need anything. She can always get word to me.”
“Thank you, Jake. You’ve been most kind. Once I get organized I promise I’ll make you some of your favorite cookies.”
Jake hesitated for a moment at the open door. He looked back at Caeden as if ascertaining his trustworthiness. Caeden held his gaze for several moments before Jake nodded and left the cabin. Emily waved from the door and seemed in no hurry to return to Caeden’s company. He frowned. This was turning out to be more difficult than he’d expected.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Emily said, reaching for her coat. “I need to go down to Millie’s.”
Caeden got to his feet. “Please wait. I have something to say.”
Emily was already out the door but paused. Caeden followed her, hoping, very nearly praying, for the right words. His entire future depended on this moment.
“Well?” Emily looked at him and offered him a hint of a smile. She moved away several steps. “What is it you want to say?”
“I . . . I’m going to be gone for some time.” Caeden searched for the words, but nothing seemed right. “I wanted to . . . well . . . I wanted you to know that . . .”
He looked at her for a long moment, then did the only thing he could think to do. The one thing he’d wanted to do for a very long while. He closed the distance between them in two long strides and pulled Emily into his arms. Without another word he covered her mouth with his in a long and passionate kiss.
He felt her yield to his touch, melting against him just as he had hoped she might. He deepened his kiss, bending her slightly backward. Her arms went around his neck. Caeden wanted the moment to never end, and Emily seemed to be in no hurry to go.
She does care about me. She wants me as much as I want her.
When he ended the kiss, Caeden continued to hold her. He knew time was of the essence, but moments like this weren’t soon to come back his way. “I love you, Emily.” He whispered the words against her ear. “I didn’t think it was even possible for me to fall in love, but I have.”
He turned his head to gaze into her eyes. She looked at him with eyes wide and mouth slightly agape. Whether she was more surprised by the kiss or his declaration, it didn’t matter. Caeden put his hand to her cheek. “I have to return to Washington, and as I said, I’ll be gone for some time. I had to come here, however, and ask you if you’d consider . . . if you’d mind . . . waiting for me?”
He wanted to ask her to marry him but worried that the suddenness of the entire situation would cause her to bolt. He swallowed back the lump in his throat. Her silence was killing him.
Emily could hardly believe what Caeden had just said. Frankly, his entire appearance at the cabin, not to mention the kiss—her first—had been quite stunning. She had cried herself to sleep the night before, hating that the marshal didn’t believe her and that Caeden was to marry another. Now with his arm still around her, his thumb stroking her cheek, Emily found structured thought almost impossible. She didn’t want to ruin the moment by saying anything. In fact, she would have really liked to hear him declare his love once again.
“Emily?”
She put her hand over his and pressed it to her cheek. “I’ll wait.”
He smiled one of those rare, heartfelt smiles she had come to love. “I knew you cared for me.”
“I do.” Her voice was barely a whisper.
He chuckled. “Just remember those two little words. They should come in handy in the months to come.”
Caeden kissed her again, this time much quicker. When he stepped back Emily immediately longed for his
return.
“I’ve got to go.” He mounted the bay and looked down at her. “I’ve set up a bank account for you in Lewistown. I know you and your father are ever so self-sufficient, but humor me and draw on the account if you need to. I don’t like the idea of you being out here by yourself trying to pan for gold in a blizzard.”
Emily laughed. “I’m not that foolish. Still, I did tell Pa I’d try.”
“I don’t see as you should have to tell him where the money came from—just that you have what you need.” Caeden shrugged. “It’s not a lie.”
For a moment neither one said anything. Emily could see the longing in Caeden’s eyes. It matched the feeling in her heart. “You’d best go.”
He nodded. “I suppose so.” He turned the horse toward Yogo City. “You’ve changed everything in my world, Miss Emily Carver. I hope you realize that.” He gave the horse a nudge in the side and urged him forward.
Emily stood fixed, watching until Caeden was out of sight. Last night everything had seemed so hopeless. What a difference a few hours could make.
21
Kirk Davies fought off the dizziness that threatened to put him on the floor. He hadn’t felt good in days, and upon waking this morning he’d found it almost impossible to put weight on his left leg.
He muttered curses, most directed at Emily Carver. If she hadn’t bit him, he wouldn’t be dealing with any of this now. He certainly wouldn’t be sitting in a doctor’s office in Utica with his leg swollen beyond its normal size.
The doctor, an older man with a no-nonsense approach, entered the room and eyed Davies for a moment. “What seems to be ailing you?”
“My leg. I . . . I injured it and now it’s causing me grief.”
The doctor felt his forehead. “You’re burning up. No doubt it’s infected. Drop your pants and I’ll take a look.”
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