He wanted to be free. He wanted to live his life with Claire and the children they would have. It wasn’t too much to ask, was it?”
Gabe stared down into the empty glass, wishing he could magically fill it up. He saw the lever for the beer barrel on the other side of the bar. It was too far away for him to reach but he stretched out his arm anyway, wishing it would stretch all the way. He made grunting sounds.
Sam came back toward him, saw what he was doing and burst out laughing. “I take it you’d like some more,” he said. “Here, let me get you some. Hold your horses.”
Gabe gave him a wide grin when Sam took the mug he was holding out. “I thought that might get your attention,” he said light-heartedly. The best way for him to make the most of the situation was by bringing humor into it. He would block out the inevitability of the discovery of his past and decided to live in the moment. He couldn’t predict the future. Perhaps it would stay hidden.
Sam refilled the mug. When he turned around to hand it to Gabe, he leaned over the counter and gestured with his head in Agatha’s direction. “You wanna take her a cup of coffee? That one she’s got is cold now.”
“I guess so,” Gabe said reluctantly. He truly felt sorry for the woman. She was obviously extremely sad about something. He knew he could cheer her up. He just didn’t want her to think anything more of it than it was. That would only lead to more tragedy. He wouldn’t be surprised if the woman burned down the hotel with them all in it if she felt like it.
He took the coffee cup and saucer and went to Agatha’s table slowly. She hadn’t looked up at him. She looked almost as if she was sleeping sitting up, with her eyes open.
Gabe set the cup down in front of her, moving the old one out of the way. He sat down opposite her. She didn’t look up until he sat down.
She looked surprised. “Oh, I thought you were Sam,” she said. “But he never sits down. So I thought it was strange. It’s… it’s good to see you, Gabe. How are you?”
“I’m doing well, Agatha, and you?”
“Oh, I’m honestly not doing that well, Gabe. Thank you for asking. I have been in a lot of pain lately and its… it’s been causing me to drink a lot. I know everyone thinks badly of me for being in here so often. But I am in great pain.”
Gabe nodded. “No one thinks badly of you,” he lied. “I am sorry you are in pain. What’s hurting you? Your head? Your back?”
She shook her head. “My heart. It’s my heart, Gabe. It’s aching. It needs to be loved but the good Lord just doesn’t want to provide for me. What did I do wrong, Gabe? Where did I go wrong?”
Gabe felt as awkward as he’d ever felt. He didn’t know how to respond. His heart went out to the woman, but if he comforted her, would she take it as a sign that he wanted to be with her?
Probably.
He reached across the table and patted her hand. “There, there, Miss Agatha,” he said consolingly. “Drinking in the saloon is probably not the best solution when you have matters of the heart to deal with.”
“You do it, don’t you?” she asked, suddenly becoming hostile. She immediately looked guilty. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”
Gabe patted her hand again. “You should let me take you back to the hotel. You shouldn’t be out here and you shouldn’t be drinking anymore.”
“I’m not,” Agatha responded, defensively. “This is coffee. It doesn’t have liquor in it. Sam wouldn’t do that. He wants me to stop.”
“All of your friends want you to stop, Agatha.”
“I don’t have any friends.” Suddenly, the woman began to bawl loudly. Gabe looked around him, embarrassed.
“Hush, Agatha, you are making a fool of yourself,” he hissed. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings but she was destroying her own reputation. She would never get a good job in Wickenburg if everyone knew her as the town drunk – and a woman nonetheless. They would drive her out of town before they let her give Wickenburg such a bad reputation. Gabe stood up when it looked like he wasn’t going to get her to stop crying loudly.
He hesitated only a moment before he moved to her side, leaned down and scooped her up in his arms. She immediately rested her head on his shoulder and was quiet. He tried not to be angry.
“Come on, Agatha,” he said quietly. “I’ll take you back to the hotel.”
“Thank you, Gabe,” she replied in an equally soft voice.
As he carried her through the saloon, all eyes were on him. He didn’t look around at anyone, not even Sam. He pushed through the doors and walked down the street toward the hotel. She wasn’t crying, talking, or moaning. She was quiet.
He had the sneaking suspicion it had all been an act--that she had been sober the entire time he was talking to her. That’s why she snapped at him and almost gave away her true feelings. When being mean didn’t work, she decided to revert to the victim, the damsel in distress.
He felt himself getting angrier and angrier at the woman as he approached the hotel doors. He wanted to throw her to the ground but no gentleman would do that. It was the manipulations of women that had gotten him in trouble all his life.
Everyone had seen him carry her out. Everyone out at that time of the evening saw him carrying her to the hotel.
What if Claire saw him? What would she think?
It made him sick to his stomach. He wished he’d never gone over and talked to her. He would have to tell Sam thanks for nothing the next time he saw him.
Claire stood inside the lobby, looking through the large rounded window. She took a few steps forward and lowered herself to the cushioned window seat, folding up one leg underneath her. She looked toward the Horse N Saddle and spied Gabe approaching, Agatha in his arms.
Her stomach jumped up into her throat and she thought she might vomit. She put one hand over her mouth, jumped up from the window seat, and ran up the stairs. She didn’t want him seeing her like that.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ELIZABETH TO THE RESCUE
ELIZABETH TO THE RESCUE
Gabe pushed the door open with his foot and moved sideways through the doorway. He saw the bottom of Claire’s slip on shoes as she rounded the corner at the top of the stairs. His heart sank.
“Oh, no,” he whispered.
Agatha looked up at him, squeezing his neck with her arms. “Oh you are such a gentleman bringing me back, Gabe. Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“You’re better now? You can walk right?”
“Oh, I’d rather not,” Agatha protested quickly. “I think I might fall if I try to stand. I don’t want to hurt myself. Can you take me to the couch? I want to sit and look out the window. Or maybe you could take me to the window seat there and maybe you can get me some tea or coffee?”
Gabe had never felt more manipulated in his life. He wanted to tell her to get her own tea or coffee. He wanted to tell her to walk to the window seat. He was done helping her. He couldn’t though. It wasn’t in his nature. He was a helpful person. He hated to say no. Once it started to really get to him, then he would say no. Vehemently at that. However, it wasn’t that time yet. He felt obligated to do something for the woman, who may be manipulative, but was still a very depressed, alcoholic woman. Once she was safely on the cushioned window seat, he turned and went around the corner, down the hall and through the kitchen door. He prayed on his way that Elizabeth or Mrs. Campbell or even Dr. Campbell would be in there. However, they weren’t. The room was empty.
“Where in heaven’s name did everybody go?” he asked. It was so quiet. It was too quiet.
He went to the icebox and pulled out the container holding the sun tea. He poured her a glass and replaced the container. He turned to take the tea back out to her and almost dropped it when he saw her standing at the door watching him.
“Agatha! I thought you were resting on the window seat! What are you doing?”
“I just wanted to watch you pour the tea.”
He frowned. “You what? Why? That’s very odd, isn’t it?�
�
“I don’t know. I just like to watch it when someone does something nice for me.”
“You must not have had anything to drink for a while,” Gabe said. “You aren’t acting drunk.” You’re acting crazy, he thought, and immediately hoped that didn’t show on his face.
“I do feel all right. I guess the coffee sobered me right up.” She smiled at him. “I would even be open to going back and drinking a beer if you want to.”
He shook his head. “No. I need to rest up. I have a big project I’m doing tomorrow with Mark and I want to get started on it early.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
Gabe realized he was still holding her tea and reached out to hand it to her. She took it and smiled at him again. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He was still looking at her through suspicious eyes. He felt like she was up to something but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He didn’t want to judge her for her suspicious, private behavior. He had his owns skeletons in the closet. He had his own secret to hide, one that could potentially blow apart his life. Now, with Claire seeing him carrying Agatha in, there may not be anything for him here in Wickenburg after all. He’d come back for a fresh start, not for new pain.
She would listen to him. His eyes flicked up to the ceiling, knowing that she was upstairs; she was somewhere up there above him. He wanted to run to the stairs, jump them all, bang on her door and grab her up close to him when she opened it. He didn’t though. He was a gentleman. He would reserve himself and save his reputation.
“You do seem much better already,” he said. “You haven’t even taken a sip of your tea.”
Agatha took a hurried sip, looking at him over the rim of the glass. “I’m taking a sip, see? It’s very good. Very good.”
“Yeah, I made it myself. I like to add the sugar crystals to it. Makes it nice and sweet.”
“I love it. It’s delicious.”
“Thank you. So what are you going to do with yourself? You should rest. You should sit down on the window seat or go upstairs and lie down. However, you need to rest. It’s the only way you’ll be able to function tomorrow.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“No, I must insist that you either sit down out there in the lobby or go to your room to rest.”
She looked at him squarely. He could see the friendliness was wearing off.
“And what will you do if I don’t?”
Gabe shrugged. “I wouldn’t want to be you if you don’t. Real women respect their men. They don’t talk back and argue. That’s what you’re doing now. I do hope you know I have no plans to marry you.”
“That might change,” Agatha said.
Gabe looked squarely at her. “That’s not likely to change, Agatha.”
“But it might,” she insisted.
He closed his eyes and lifted both hands. “I don’t have time for this right now, Agatha. I have things to do.”
“What could you possibly have to do, Gabe?” Agatha said in a nasty tone of voice. “You don’t have ties here anymore. No one here even knows who you are.”
Gabe felt an uneasiness slide through him. This woman was a venomous snake. If he didn’t separate himself from her, he was going to lose more than Claire. He was going to lose his mind.
“That’s very insulting, Agatha. If you would please move out of my way, I would like to leave this kitchen.”
He could see she realized the error of her ways. Her eyes opened wide and she stepped closer to him, preventing him from leaving the room. “Wait, Gabe. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. Please. I didn’t mean it. I truly didn’t. Will you forgive me? Please…”
“Stop begging me and get out of my way, Agatha,” Gabe said in a firm voice. He looked at her and shook his head.
“What have I done wrong, Gabe? Please tell me. Please.”
“I don’t have to stand here and be insulted by you. You don’t even know me. You know nothing about me. Move, Agatha, or I will be forced to move you.”
Agatha narrowed her eyes. “If you move me, I might have to tell someone you touched me inappropriately.”
The door swung open and Elizabeth came through. She stopped when she saw the two of them. Without hesitating another moment, she passed Agatha.
“I’m getting ready to start dinner. Is there anything special either of you would like me to make?”
“I won’t be eating here,” Gabe said, taking advantage of her arrival to push his way past Agatha, who gave a small squeak of protest. “I’m going to my cousin’s.”
Gabe hadn’t had any intention of going to his cousin’s, but it was looking like a better idea every minute. He escaped the kitchen, ignoring Agatha’s pleading looks and went directly up the stairs. He stood outside Claire’s room, his heart thumping in his chest. She’d seen him carrying Agatha. She probably thought something was going on between them. He lifted his fist to knock on the door but hesitated again. She might be angry. He didn’t want to deal with an angry jealous woman, especially when they had not established they had a relationship yet. However, his heart yearned for her.
Instead of knocking, he turned and went to his door. He looked back once more before going in his room. Once he was inside, he wanted to turn around and go back out. He sat on his bed and stared out the window for a few minutes.
He heard something in the hallway. It sounded like soft footsteps on the hardwood floors. He turned to look at his door. After a moment, there was a knock.
He almost didn’t answer it. If it was Agatha, he was afraid of what he would do.
He got up and went to the door. “Who is it?” he called through it.
There was a pause before he heard, “It’s me, Claire. Can we talk?”
He pulled in a deep breath and opened the door. He stepped out and closed the door behind him. “Claire.” He said her name in a soft voice. He struggled to breath regularly. She looked beautiful, her blond hair curling around her cheeks, gently resting on her shoulders. He wanted to pull her to him and wrap her in his arms. He wanted to hold her close.
“I… I would like for you… to walk with me around the festival tomorrow. If you want.”
He blinked rapidly. “I would love to walk with you tomorrow,” he replied. She smiled weakly.
“All right. We’ll meet in the lobby at 8?”
He nodded. She nodded back. She turned to walk away.
“Claire,” he said her name again.
She stopped but didn’t turn back right away.
“I know you saw me carrying Agatha.” He kept his voice as low as he could, knowing Agatha could come up the steps at any moment. “I want you to know why.”
She turned back and looked up at him. “It doesn’t matter, Gabe. I don’t own you. You aren’t my property. You can do whatever you want and talk to whomever you please. I won’t stop you from anything. It’s not in my power.”
He shook his head, taking a few steps toward her to close the distance. He wanted to speak as softly as he could. “You don’t understand, Claire. She… she was very drunk in the saloon. Sam asked me to help her. I thought it best she come back here but she was stumbling and I didn’t think she would make it back. I was just trying to help her.”
Claire nodded. “I understand.”
Her expression hadn’t changed. Gabe didn’t know what to make of it. She said she understood. Did she really though?
After a moment, she moved even closer to him so that she was only inches away. She turned her face up toward him. “She was in the saloon when I was there with Miss Berry, too, Gabe. I know you’re telling the truth. I’m not mad that you carried her or that you wanted to help her. I know she is not well. I just… I just felt a little… a little jealous for a moment and I… I didn’t want you to see me like that. And I didn’t want to see her in your arms either.”
“I didn't want her in my arms, Claire,” Gabe said quietly. “Just know that. Remember that. There’s… someone else I would like to hav
e there instead.”
She licked her lips, gazing up into his dark blue eyes. Her heart was pounding like a drum, hammering against the inside of her chest with such force that she thought it might come out. She tried to control her breathing. She wanted him to kiss her. His lips looked delicious to her. She wanted to know what they felt like pressed against hers.
“I hope you are talking about me,” she whispered, turned and darted back to her room. She went in and closed the door behind her. She leaned back against the door, resting her head back and closing her eyes. She giggled. She felt like a school girl with a crush. The look of amusement on his face when she’d turned away from him was priceless. She wished she could make that memory last forever.
She ran through it in her mind over and over, seeing his handsome face on the back of her eyelids.
It was going to be exciting from now on. As long as Agatha didn’t interfere. Claire could see herself having a long life with Gabe, many children, lots of pets. Dogs and cats. Claire loved both. She would take care of any animal that came along, even if it was not something someone would generally call a pet. She’d even had a pig at one point. She’d called him Diddly-doo. Remembering the pig made Claire’s good mood come back. She’d loved that adorable round animal.
Everyone in Wickenburg had something to deal with, she thought to herself as she moved to the window and pushed the curtains aside to look out. No one was a saint. She had her own past to think about, though she’d never done anything wrong. She’d never hurt anyone or been hurt herself. She wasn’t about to start now.
She went to her bed and sat down, picking up a book from the table next to it. It was a good book but she knew she wouldn’t be able to get into it. She was distracted. All she could think about was Gabe. She wanted to be in his room right now, despite the rumors it would cause. She had no doubt she would not regret it. She would wait though. She would wait until the appropriate time to let Gabe know she wanted to be courted, she wanted to be married and she wanted to have his children. She’d seen enough to let her know he was the kind of man who could handle a family. He would protect them, love them, and be just the kind of man her father had been.
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