Cherished (Cutter's Creek Book 9)

by Vivi Holt

  Marlene!

  She was walking toward him along the sidewalk, a basket over one arm and a smile on her pretty face. She saw him coming and raised her hand to wave, but her eyes traveled to his raised gun and a faint frown crinkled her forehead.

  Clifford motioned to her to move, his mouth flying open to yell her name, but it was too late. Craddock reached her and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her to his side. She screamed, stumbling and grazing her knees, before he yanked her forcefully back to her feet with an arm beneath her chin, pressing hard against her pale neck. He pulled her after him across the road as he raised a Colt revolver and aimed it at Sheriff Gillard.

  Clifford’s heart leaped into his throat. “No!” he yelled, lurching for his boss.

  But before he reached him, Gillard fired. The outlaw threw Marlene in front of himself as the crack of the sheriff’s shot rang out over the screaming and bedlam of the terrorized street. The bullet hit Marlene in the center of her chest, and a ring of blood soaked the blue gingham of her dress. As she fell to the ground, Gillard fired again, hitting Craddock in the arm. The outlaw lurched sideways and crawled behind a building into a dusty lane, following behind the rest of the escaping gang.

  Clifford ran across the street, his gun pointed at where Craddock had disappeared. When he reached Marlene, he fell to the ground and lifted her into his lap, his heart hammering, his throat tight. “Marlene! Marlene! Open your eyes. It’s Cliff – please open your eyes.” He stroked her hair as townsfolk crowded around them.

  “Marlene!” Her father appeared on the edge of the gathering of townsfolk and pushed his way to them. He dropped to his knees in the dust and dirt and pulled Marlene from Clifford. He gathered her in his arms, tears streaking down his cheeks. “My darling … oh no. What happened?”

  Clifford stood slowly to his feet and backed away. He noticed a blood stain on the left leg of his pants and brushed at it absently. He felt his breathing slow, and he spun around and ran to his horse, tethered to a rail outside the sheriff’s office. He leaped onto the gelding’s chestnut back and reached for the reins of the sheriff’s black stallion, pulling him free.

  “Hiya!” He kicked the gelding in the ribs, and the horse broke into a gallop after the escaping outlaws, with the stallion following close behind. He would find Craddock and bring him to justice if he never did anything else in his life.

  His eyes were dry, but his heart ached within his chest. Marlene was gone. The truth of that soaked into his soul and left him empty. Sweet, pretty, happy Marlene, the girl he’d rescued at the ranch, who had captured his heart in just a few short weeks … she was gone. And it was all Craddock’s fault.

  Chapter Two

  September 1871

  Cutter’s Creek, Montana Territory

  Camilla Brown wiped the sleep from her eyes and shook her fuzzy head. Charlotte and Harry’s toddler Johnny had been up five times again the previous night, and she’d barely gotten any sleep. Or at least it felt that way.

  She’d heard him crying, and Charlotte getting up, shushing as she carried him from his cradle to the rocking chair. When Camilla had snuggled back down under the covers, willing sleep to take over, she’d heard him fussing as Charlotte burped him. Then Charlotte had paced the hall with him, singing a lullaby while he mewled and fussed. Finally he was back in bed and Camilla drifted off, only to be woken again two hours later. In the haze of sleeplessness, she felt like she was back home in England again, sharing a room with her younger brothers and sisters.

  She frowned as another yawn squeezed her eyes shut. Charlotte must be exhausted. Little Johnny was doing the same thing night after night. She wondered when he would outgrow the phase, but wasn’t sure if she’d make it that long without sleep.

  She pressed her fingertips against her eyes. It was time for her to move out. She hadn’t had a chance to break the news to Harry or Charlotte yet, but she’d decided to move back in with Sam and Estelle. Her Aunt and Uncle had a cozy little house in the middle of Cutter’s Creek, and she’d lived there with them before Harry built this house. She’d asked them about it yesterday, and they’d agreed, saying it would be best for the newlyweds as well as for her to have separate spaces. Now was as good a time as any to broach the subject with Charlotte.

  She tiptoed into the sitting room and found Charlotte in the rocking chair with a chubby Johnny on her chest, both of them fast asleep. She sighed and sat on the loveseat. They looked so peaceful, and Johnny so precious with his little fist pressed up against his soft rosebud lips. His lashes were black against his creamy cheeks, his pudgy legs wrapped sweetly around his mother’s round belly. Charlotte was expecting another child in two months, and Camilla couldn’t help smiling at the thought of another tiny member of their family.

  Sleeplessness aside, babies really were adorable. It almost made her heart ache just to look at Johnny’s little face, and she was excited to meet her coming niece or nephew. If only she were welcoming one of her own – she wondered if that would ever happen. It seemed she was destined to spend her life helping other women with their offspring rather than having any of her own. She frowned as the familiar pang of longing spread through her once again.

  Charlotte stirred, her eyes blinking open as Johnny squirmed against her chest. She turned her head and saw Camilla watching her. “Cammie, how are you?” she yawned, and covered her mouth with one hand, her eyes closing briefly.

  “I’m well. And you? You must be tired after last night.”

  “I am. So tired … this pregnancy is really taking it out of me. If only little Johnny would sleep through the night, just once. I really could do with a full night’s rest.”

  “I agree. I don’t know how you’ll do it once the baby comes. Johnny is only a year old – hopefully he’ll learn to sleep better by then.”

  “I do plan on weaning him before the baby comes, so that should help. At least I hope so. I really do appreciate your help, by the way – I couldn’t do it all without you. You’ve been an absolute life saver. I’ve never done housework before – all the cooking, cleaning, laundry and everything else that goes along with it. I don’t say it often enough, but you’ve rescued me so many times. Thank you, my dear friend.”

  Camilla’s face flushed under Charlotte’s praise, and she swallowed. This was going to be harder than she’d realized – Charlotte would be crushed that she was leaving. “Well, I wanted to talk to you about that, actually …”

  Charlotte leaned forward to set Johnny, now fully awake, on the floor at her feet. He gurgled and sat up straight, chewing on one fist. “Yes?”

  “I have really loved living here with you and Harry. I got to be here when Johnny was born, and that’s a moment I’ll never forget. But I think it’s time for me to move out.”

  Charlotte’s eyes widened and she drew a quick breath. “Move out?”

  “Yes. I’ve spoken with Estelle and Sam, and they’re happy for me to move back in with them. Now before you say anything, I just want you to know that I’ll still be spending plenty of time here. I’ll help out as much as I can, and I’ll miss you all … it’s just that I think you need your space, and I need mine. But most of all, I need sleep. I’m sorry – I think I’ll be of more use to you if I can get some decent shuteye. I don’t know how you do it, Charlotte. You’re amazing, the way you can look after Johnny with so little rest.” She paused to swallow, watching Charlotte’s face closely as she smiled faintly.

  “Well, I suppose I can’t expect you to stay here forever. You want a life of your own, and I can’t blame you for that.”

  Camilla sighed with relief. “Thank you, Charlotte. I was so worried you’d be angry with me.”

  “Angry? Why would I be angry? You’ve been such a blessing to me over these past months. And I’m so very grateful to you. But you’re right – you do need your space. Only I do hope you’ll still visit us – a lot!”

  Camilla hurried to Charlotte’s side and embraced her friend, kneeling at her feet. “Of course I wi
ll. You can’t get rid of me so easily.” She wiped away a stray tear that glistened on Charlotte’s cheek. “And I’ll be here when the baby comes.”

  “I’m glad,” Charlotte sniffled. “I don’t think I could do it without you.”

  “Yes, you could. But I’ll be here nevertheless.”

  “Motherhood is a lot harder than I thought it would be,” said Charlotte, wiping her cheeks dry.

  “I know. I watched Mam over the years and helped her along the way, so I suppose I knew what it would be like for you. Though I have to say, I’m looking forward to getting a good night’s rest at Sam and Estelle’s. After years of getting up with children through the night, I appreciate sleep when I can get it.”

  Charlotte laughed and lifted Johnny to her side as she stood. “Well, I suppose I’d better get started on supper. I’ll have to get used to making it on my own. I’ve relied on you so much, Cammie.”

  “Well, how about I help tonight anyway? I’ll go tomorrow. Let’s make potato soup – it always reminds me of our time in New York together.”

  Charlotte smiled and nodded. The two women walked toward the kitchen as the afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows across the kitchen table and glinted off the blackened surface of the stove.

  The fire in the potbellied stove had dwindled, and Camilla hurried outside to the woodpile to gather more kindling. The steep peaks behind the house of the Bighorn Mountain Range threw jagged shadows across the narrow valley below. She carried the kindling back inside to the stove and stacked it on top of the embers. Leaning in close, she blew gently at the base of the pile and saw the flames flicker, then leap to light the wedges of timber.

  Charlotte sat with Johnny at her feet, peeling potatoes and reciting a lilting rhyme to his great delight. He chewed on a stick of bread and scattered the crumbs in a wide arc around himself. Camilla smiled. She was going to miss the warmth and homeyness of this house and family. But she wanted to be closer to town, to be a part of things.

  What she truly wished for, more than anything, was a husband and family of her own. She longed to have a home and children that were entirely hers. That was her heart’s desire, and she didn’t think that was going to happen living out of town on the small mountainside ranch with Harry and Charlotte. It was time she started her own life. And tomorrow would mark the beginning of that adventure.

  Chapter Three

  “Cammie dear, are you ready?”

  Estelle’s voice echoed from the living room as Camilla hastily pressed the final hairpin into her auburn bun. She turned from side to side, taking one last look at herself in the mirror, and grimaced at the freckles . They’d grown in number over the summer and were now splashed across her entire nose and cheeks. She grabbed her sun hat and pressed it onto her head before scurrying from the room. “I’m coming!”

  Estelle and Sam stood waiting by the front door. Estelle turned to her with a smile as she fixed her straw hat. “Ah, there you are, my dear. Let’s go, shall we? Sam has already packed our picnic basket and blanket in the wagon.”

  “It’s a beautiful day for it,” added Sam with a grin. He offered his arm to Estelle, who took it with a loving smile as she looked up into his face.

  Camilla’s heart warmed at their open affection for each other. She hoped she’d one day be able to share that kind of relationship with someone. She followed them outside to where a bay gelding stood hitched to their peddling wagon. The bright colors of the sloped lettering stenciled on the wagon’s sides shone in the morning sunlight, and she stood still for a moment to breathe in the fresh fall air.

  It was three years since she’d first arrived in Cutter’s Creek, Montana Territory, with her brother Harry, her now sister-in-law Charlotte, and friends Winston and Justin. In that time, Harry and Charlotte had built a house, gotten married and had a baby. Winston and Justin had bought land and were working hard to establish a ranch. She was the only one who hadn’t taken a step forward in her life.

  In fact, she’d just gone backwards, returning to live with Sam and Estelle. She shook her head. Why was it that everyone else’s lives were progressing and hers wasn’t? She felt as though she was walking in place, when all she wanted was to take the next step – to have a family and home of her own.

  She walked to the wagon and let Sam help her up onto the hard seat. There were certainly plenty of eligible men in the area, and a few of them had expressed interest in her, walking her home from church or bringing her flowers. But no one had really stood out to her. She wanted to find someone who made her heart beat faster, who brought a flash of heat and sent a tingle over her skin at a touch. So far, she hadn’t found anyone who did that.

  Well, that wasn’t entirely true – but the one man who made her feel that way didn’t seem to share her feelings. Winston Frank was so handsome, and yet stoic at the same time. She could never tell what he might feel, and he certainly didn’t seem anxious to tell her. He’d traveled to Montana Territory as part of their wagon train, and had included Harry in his prayer group at a time when Harry really needed it.

  He was a good man. A godly man. He’d worked hard to set up a ranch with his brother, and she could see that he’d be a reliable provider for any family he might have. She just wished he’d court her, or even talk to her a little more often. He certainly made her pulse race. If only he’d give her the opportunity to get to know him better.

  The wagon trundled past the little red chapel and out of town. The air was full of the aroma of wildflowers and fragrant grasses, and Camilla soaked in the warmth of the sunshine as it beamed down upon her head. Autumn in Montana Territory was beautiful: the contrasting colors of the landscape, the buzz and hum of wildlife around them, the trickle of a nearby stream. It was wild and lovely and striking, all at the same time.

  They came to a small abandoned shack on their left, and pulled into the long driveway. At the end of the track, a series of wagons, buggies and sulkies were parked around the place, with horses tethered nearby grazing on the drying yellow grasses. Camilla could hear the chatter and laughter of the picnickers down by the river.

  “You’re off with the fairies today, my dear,” laughed Estelle, clambering down from the wagon seat as she leaned on Sam’s arm.

  “Sorry, Aunt Estelle. I was just thinkin’ how beautiful it is in the fall.”

  “Yes it is. I wonder if Winston will be here.” Her eyes twinkled as she watched Camilla for a response.

  Camilla’s eyes widened. “I really couldn’t say. Although it don’t matter to me, of course.”

  “Of course,” Estelle laughed. “Well, I, for one, hope to see him. Such a lovely young man.”

  Camilla’s cheeks grew hot. She pulled the picnic rug from the back of the wagon and laid it over her arm. Was it so obvious to everyone how Winston affected her? She certainly hoped not. It would be most embarrassing if he knew how she felt about him and didn’t feel the same way.

  As they ambled down a winding trail toward the picnic, she squinted against the sunlight to see who was there. Charlotte, Harry and Johnny were seated on a blanket at the center of the group, surrounded by Amos and Agatha Waverley, Heath Moore, and Abigail and Jasper Smith. She saw Rev. Howard Latsch and his wife Mary standing on the river bank, looking out over the water together. Near them were Jack and Willow Carlson with their toddler by their side. Willow was bending down to show the boy how to skip a pebble across the shining surface of the Yellowstone River, one hand on her swollen belly.

  Camilla smiled – it certainly was a happy group. Suddenly she was very much looking forward to joining the gathering. She hadn’t spotted Winston yet, and that was just fine with her. Now she could really relax and enjoy her time with friends.

  ***

  Camilla nestled Johnny close to her chest and rocked him in her arms. She glanced around, noticed Harry and Charlotte walking side by side along the riverbank, deep in conversation, and smiled. She was glad to be able to give them some time to talk together without their little boy in
terrupting them.

  With his stomach full of good food, he had readily succumbed to sleep when she gently rocked him, and now she was just enjoying holding him close. His little fist was clenched beneath his chin, as it so often was, and his eyelids fluttered as if he were dreaming. He was getting so big now – pretty soon he'd be walking. He had turned one year old in August, but she still thought of him as a baby.

  “You look well, Camilla.”

  A deep voice from behind startled her, and she turned around to find herself facing Winston Frank. Her legs trembled. “Winston, what a pleasant surprise. I’m very well, thank you. And how about yourself?”

  “Fine, thank you. Care to take a walk?” His cheeks were pink, and he held his Stetson awkwardly in one hand, the other extended toward her.

  “Yes – I’ll just give Johnny back to Charlotte.” Charlotte and Harry had returned, and Camilla carefully passed the sleeping boy to his mother, kissed his cheek softly, then joined Winston. Charlotte’s eyes shone, and she smiled meaningfully at Camilla, who felt the blood rush to her cheeks.

  She fell into step beside him, one hand on his arm, the other looped behind her back and resting on her full skirts. Her breath quickened to walk so close to him, tall and strong, one hand loose at his sides and his sleeves rolled up to show tanned and muscular forearms. She glanced at her own hand resting on one of those forearms. It looked small and pale, and she resisted the urge to run her fingers over his skin.

  “I’ve been meaning to come by the Todds’ house to see you,” he said, placing his hat firmly on his head, then brushing at his beard absently.

  “Oh?”

  “Yes, I’m sorry I haven’t seen you much of late. I’ve been spending every moment I can setting up the ranch. But I’ve been thinking of you.”

  Camilla glanced at him, and their eyes met for a moment. She felt the spark between them and a shiver went through her body. Her palms were damp, and she unlocked her hands to pat them against the fabric of her dress. “Well, that’s nice to hear. I’ve been lookin’ forward to this picnic.” She smiled at him.