Western Dilemma

by Janelle Daniels

  Then it hit him—he didn’t suspect an ulterior motive from her.

  For the first time in his life, he was spending time with a woman who didn’t know who he was. Or more importantly, what he had. How Emery felt about him was because of who he was as a person. Not because of his money.

  At his slight misstep, Emery glanced up at him. “Are you well?” She frowned at his expression. “What’s wrong?”

  He didn’t know what to say. And with the confusion weaving through him, he didn’t want to admit to his realization. He knew he had to tell her who he was. There just hadn’t been enough time between her appointments the other day to say anything.

  But, for the first time, he was tempted not to. If things progressed between them, if she fell in love with Everett, a poor miner, it would be worth more to him than anything in the world.

  He would tell her soon. The ruse couldn’t go on forever, and everyone would know who he was soon enough. But he didn’t have to tell her today. The announcement was a few days away. He had time.

  He cleared his throat, slightly uneasy with his decision. “I’m well. Just a passing thought.”

  She didn’t look as if she believed him, but she didn’t press.

  “Will you be heading to the mine again soon?” he asked.

  “Yes. Lucas wanted me to stop by and let his builder know what I require for the on-site clinic.”

  Everett had heard that as well.

  They approached her wagon, already hitched up, and he placed her bag inside. He turned toward her, but instead of offering his hand to assist her, he stepped close, and her eyes widened at his proximity. He wrapped his hands around her waist and brushed his thumbs over her rib cage.

  She sucked in a breath, but before she could say anything else, he lifted her up and into the seat up front.

  “Thank you.” Her words sounded breathy, and he did his best to hide his smile as he rounded the wagon.

  Quickly, he tethered his horse to the wagon and climbed up next to her. “Shall I drive?”

  “Please.” She looked away, slightly chagrined. “I can do it, but I admit I don’t do it well.”

  He laughed. “It takes some practice.”

  Expertly, he took up the reins and flicked them to get the horses started.

  She raised a brow. “It doesn’t look as though you have any problems.”

  “I’ve had a bit more practice.”

  She didn’t ask any more questions, just nodded, accepting his answer. As they settled into the drive to town, she asked, “Has everything been all right at the mine?”

  He glanced at her. “Are you asking if there’s been any more accidents?” She remained silent, so he continued. “No. And I don’t anticipate any. It’s much safer than before.”

  She sighed, nodding. “I know that. Truly. I just wish it wasn’t so dangerous.”

  A little thrill wove through him. She was worried about him. “I’ll be careful.”

  “Sometimes that isn’t enough.” She looked away as if she were admiring the landscape, but he could tell she wasn’t processing any of it.

  “Emery…” He reached between them and took her hand in his.

  She stilled, but after a moment she turned her hand around and laced her fingers with his. She looked at their hands then back to his eyes. “This isn’t the best idea.”

  He knew what he said now could change everything. Softly he said, “It doesn’t have to be anything serious. We can take this day by day.”

  She didn’t answer for a moment, and his heart thumped in his chest. This mattered. More than he’d originally realized.

  Things were getting more complicated, but he found that he didn’t mind. He wanted those complications in his life.

  Finally, she smiled. “I can’t guarantee anything. But day by day sounds good.”

  His entire world lit up. Worried anything he said in that moment would scare her off, he replied by brushing a soft kiss on the back of her hand.

  Her lips parted slightly, and he had to fight the urge to take her into his arms and truly kiss her for the first time to see what she tasted like.

  He needed to keep this moment light.

  Instead, he settled for conversation. The rest of the drive went by quickly, companionably. Emery was quick and amusing, and from how she talked about the other women she lived with and the people in her past, she was loyal.

  As they approached town, guilt settled in his gut. She was an honest person. It wasn’t right to hold the truth from her.

  They pulled onto Main Street, and he cleared his throat, shifting on the bench. He needed to tell her. “Emery, um, there’s something I need to tell you.”

  She frowned, sensing the seriousness of the conversation. “What is it?”

  Panic rushed through him. How could he tell her in a way that she would understand? His mouth went dry, his brain trying out several different ways to continue the conversation. “There’s something you should know. About me. Nothing bad,” he rushed to say when she paled. At least, he hoped she wouldn’t think it was bad.

  He cleared his throat again and continued, “You see—”

  He glanced up as they pulled in front of the clinic. There was a line of people waiting. The first man pressed a bloodied cloth over his forearm.

  Emery saw them as well and rushed from the wagon. She grabbed her bag and rounded the back.

  Looking back at him, she paused, and an uncertain look crossed her face. “I’m sorry. I have to tend to them.”

  “Of course. We can talk later.”

  She hesitated a moment longer as if she wanted to say something else, but finally, she nodded and went to her patients.

  Everett was relieved.

  It felt like he’d escaped the noose—for now anyway.

  Emery was too honest to accept deceitfulness. But he hoped that he could appeal to her logic to make her understand why he’d originally kept his identity a secret.

  He just didn’t know how he would justify the rest of it.

  Chapter 8

  It’d been hours since Everett had dropped her off in town that morning, and the desire to see him was almost overwhelming.

  It was her day at the mine again, and she wanted to see him more than she wanted to do the job she loved.

  That had never happened before. She’d always liked men, had even been courted by a few, but she’d never felt like this.

  She chewed her lip as she approached the mine. A relationship with Everett would end in disaster. She knew that—but she couldn’t stop herself from wanting it.

  Things couldn’t end well between them. She’d already grown attached, but there was no good outcome—Everett wasn’t staying in Promise Creek, and she wasn’t leaving.

  Because of that, she was determined to keep fighting her feelings. What other choice did she have?

  She arrived at the mine, slowly bringing her wagon to a stop in the yard. Lucas came out of the office just as she dismounted with her bag.

  “Good afternoon,” he said.

  She smiled at him in greeting. “Good afternoon.”

  “Are you ready to see your patients?”

  She laughed, grateful to focus on something else. “I’m always ready to see patients.”

  “Excellent.” He gestured for her to follow him. “We’ve set up a tent for you to work in until the on-site clinic can be constructed.”

  She beamed at the temporary structure. “It’s perfect.” The last time she was there, she’d seen her patients out in the open. It hadn’t been ideal. Although the workers were healthy, at some point she’d need privacy to do a more in-depth exam. A tent would work just fine.

  “Good. When you’re done, come to the office, and we’ll go over your needs for the clinic. We might not be able to do everything, but we’ll be able to accommodate most of it.”

  “It won’t be much,” she assured him. “I’m not planning on having a full surgery here. Just a basic exam room with first aid supplies will be suffici
ent.”

  Lucas grinned. “We can definitely manage that.” He glanced over her shoulder as one of the workers walked up. “Looks like your first patient is here.”

  She said her goodbyes before giving her attention to the young miner who waited outside the tent.

  The appointment was quick and basic. She instructed him on how to avoid tunnel disease, hoping that educating the workers would cut down on the spread of it.

  The next several appointments went the same way, and she fell into a peaceful rhythm. Although the clinic and attached boarding house were her passion, she found satisfaction in this work as well.

  She walked her patient out, ready for the next one, when she stumbled to a stop. Everett was outside, a grin on his face when he saw her.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked, looking around for her next patient.

  “What do you think?”

  It hit her then. “You’re my next patient?” She shook her head in amusement. “I can already say there’s nothing wrong with you.”

  He stepped toward her. “I might need a second opinion.”

  “I’m the one who gave you the first opinion.”

  “Then what’s the harm in getting another one?”

  She gestured for him to come in. “Are you really here for a check-up?”

  He closed the flap behind him, giving them privacy. “No. The man who signed up for this slot was detained in the mine and couldn’t make it.”

  That made more sense. She looked down at her list and crossed the name off. “Hopefully he’ll sign up again.”

  “I’m sure he will.” He wandered around the tent, and she couldn’t stop her eyes from following him.

  He was clean, much cleaner than he should be if he’d been down in the mines. His clothes were fresh, his hair damp, and his skin glowed. “You’re looking well.”

  He leaned back against the only table in the room, crossing his arms and legs, and grinned. “Was that a compliment?”

  Her cheeks flushed. “You could look at it that way. I’m happy to see you’re recovering well. You look stronger every day.”

  “I feel better every day.”

  She could tell. His muscles bunched and flexed as he pushed off from the table and moved toward her. She stilled as he came near, her heart galloping.

  It ached to watch him. He affected her in a way she couldn’t understand.

  He reached out, and her breath caught, but instead of enveloping her in his arms, his hand gently moved through her hair until he pulled away, taking a small leaf with him.

  He held it out to her. “This was caught,” he said softly.

  “Oh!” He response came out louder than she intended. “Thank you.” She took the small, dried leaf. “It must’ve gotten stuck on my way here.”

  She expected him to step back now that he’d handed her the leaf, but he didn’t. Instead, he stayed close, watching her as if trying to gauge how she felt.

  Refusing to look like a timid creature, she lifted her chin and looked him in the eye. But before she could say anything, he reached for her hand once more. Her heart leaped at the contact.

  “I want to give you the time you need to make a decision about us.” He looked her in the eyes, and the raw passion she saw took her breath away. “I’ll give you as much time as you want, but tell me there’s a chance.”

  She knew she should turn him down now, should end things before they became even more complicated. But standing here with him, just a breath away from being in his arms, she couldn’t find the words. “There’s a chance.” The words whispered from her lips without her even realizing it.

  Regardless of what was logical, this was what her heart wanted. “I don’t know what I’m doing,” she admitted.

  He squeezed her hand. “You don’t need to know. Just go with what feels right.” He raised his other hand and cupped her cheek, bringing her eyes to him. “Do what feels right, Emery. Don’t worry about anything else.”

  She closed her eyes as feelings assailed her. This did feel right. She felt good and free and happy, and she didn’t want it to stop. She opened her eyes to see him watching her. “Kiss me.”

  His mouth parted, and his gaze dropped to her lips, but he didn’t move forward. “Are you certain?”

  “I want to know what it’s like,” she pressed. She was out of control, her nerve endings snapping, and for the first time in her life, she was throwing caution to the wind.

  As if sensing that, he held still. “You don’t have to—”

  She was done listening. She stepped closer, rising to her toes, and brushed her lips against his.

  Like he’d been struck with a live wire, his body jerked, and before she could do anything more, he wrapped her tight in his arms and took control.

  She gasped in surprise as he settled his lips firmly against hers. Teasing, tasting, he was completely in the lead now.

  He changed the angle of the kiss and delved deeper, pressing her more firmly against him. She’d never been held like this. Had never been so consumed.

  Everett seemed easygoing on the outside, but she’d seen hints of this side of him. And seeing it, feeling it, was even more intoxicating than she’d imagined.

  She wrapped her arms around the back of his neck and tugged his hair as she burned from the inside out.

  He growled in approval, picking her up and moving over to the table. He swiped a hand and knocked over her pencil and papers before sitting her on the edge. Stepping between her legs, he closed the distance and took her mouth again, nipping, licking, kissing, until her vision swirled and all she could do was feel.

  She hadn’t known such sensations were possible. Hadn’t know that a kiss could bind pieces of her to another until every part of her was ensnared.

  His hands ran up and down her back, sending chills and aches to the far regions of her body. Every touch, every kiss, only made her crave him more.

  He groaned one last time before pulling back. His chest heaving, he watched her with a wild look in his eyes as he continued to hold her loosely.

  After a moment, when they’d both regained a semblance of control, he brought his hand to her cheek again. “Please tell me you’ve made up your mind.”

  She shook her head automatically, and his groan ended on a laugh.

  When he looked at her again, the twinkle she was so used to seeing was back. “You might be the death of me. But at least I’ll die a happy man.”

  A strangled laugh left her lips, and he finally stepped away from her.

  He helped her down, glancing sheepishly toward the floor. “I hope those weren’t important.”

  She dusted off her clean skirts, hoping to keep herself from reaching out for him again. “Oh, not really. Just all my patient records.”

  He winced. “I guess I shouldn’t have shoved them off like that.” He shrugged again. “Although I can’t really bring myself to regret it.”

  She agreed wholeheartedly. He could throw any records he liked on the floor if she could experience that once more. Her heart skipped a beat just thinking about it.

  Because she was a nurse, she’d thought that she knew what happened between men and women. And in a clinical sense, she did. But no clinical knowledge could have prepared her for that.

  If that was what it was like to kiss Everett, she couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to marry him. Her body tingled, craving to know, but she shoved the thought away.

  Her brain was starting to function again, and regardless of how pleasurable it was to be with him, it still didn’t change all the reasons why being together was a bad idea.

  She knelt to gather her papers, but he got to them faster. “Let me. I’m the one who made the mess.”

  He stacked the records quickly and handed her a neat pile. “I should probably let you get back to work.”

  Her lips twitched. “That’s probably best. I do have another patient coming shortly.”

  “We can’t make him wait, can we?” He walked toward t
he flap but paused before opening it. He swiveled around to look at her. “May I accompany you home once you’re finished?”

  Her heart galloped, thinking of being alone with him once more. “I might be late,” she said, unable to say no but trying to dissuade him all the same.

  He smiled as if he knew he was making progress. “I have plenty to keep me busy. Just come find me when you’re ready.”

  Worried she’d say something foolish, she just nodded and watched him walk out.

  With him gone, she sagged against the table. Excitement washed over her, and she realized her reasons for staying away from him were fading.

  She didn’t see his profession as an obstacle any longer. It was just something he did. He could even get a permanent job here. She was sure she could talk to Lucas about it.

  And with her constantly at the mine, seeing to the miners’ health and safety, the danger of his profession lessened significantly.

  As her heart worked to convince her to accept Everett, she realized something else.

  She was falling in love with him.

  It didn’t matter how logical she’d tried to be, he’d slipped past her defenses, and she’d come to care for him.

  She let out a slow breath. She couldn’t put off her decision any longer. She needed to make a choice, and she needed to make it today.

  But instead of the dread she felt previously, joy filled her. Life was turning out even better than she could have imagined.

  Chapter 9

  Everett counted down the minutes until Emery finished her appointments and he could take her home. When he’d gone in to visit her earlier, he hadn’t expected more than conversation.

  But once Emery’s lips had connected with his, he’d been lost.

  He let out a long breath and scrubbed his face with his hand. He wasn’t sure how it had happened so quickly, but he was now certain he wanted Emery in his life.

  Permanently.

  He’d already envisioned how their lives would be, the children they’d have, the passion they’d share. He could see it clearly, and he hoped that she would as well.