“Obviously not.”
His attitude riled her further. “Never mind me. You aren’t Colin Deane. You should be in prison, not out here luring an unsuspecting woman to goodness knows where.”
“Luring? I did nothing of the sort. I needed a wife so I wrote for one. You answered my letter, Miss Donnelly!” Cara flushed at his emphasis on her false name. “Looks like I’m not the only one keeping secrets.”
He drew up a chair suggesting she sit. She ignored him, so he pushed her shoulders making her fall into it.
“Stubborn as ever.” He shook his head. “You’ve had a long journey. You should rest. Ideally, you should change, but…”
“I’m fine. I’ll go back to the others and tell Mrs. Walters I’m going home.”
“Won’t get home for a while. The nearest train station is miles away and besides the trains aren't running due to the snow. Anyway, now you’re here, how about you tell me why?”
She looked at him, hearing the concern in his voice, mirrored in his eyes. He was worried about her. Nobody cared about her, except her Papa. But, now that she thought about it, Colin had too, hadn’t he? She swallowed hard.
“Colleen was devastated when you left her waiting at the altar,” she said. The concern was replaced by pain but she hardened her heart. “She loved you and you humiliated her in front of all of Boston. Thomas even came home for the wedding, but you never showed up.”
“I couldn’t attend—”
“Yes, we know. You’re a coward, not to mention a murderer. She had a lucky escape. She’s married now. Did you know that? She has a lovely husband and two delightful boys. Couldn’t be happier. Says the best thing that ever happened to her was you not turning up. She couldn't bear to be married to a liar who betrayed all his friends.” She spoke quickly, throwing out as many insults as possible.
He didn’t answer. He didn’t even look at her. She wanted a reaction. Needed to see him hurt as he had hurt her all those years ago.
“Thomas is doing really well now, too. A war hero feted and applauded wherever he goes. He’s married, too. A delightfully rich lady called Sophia Bellingham. Perhaps you’ve heard of her family? Heavy investors in the railroads and other things.”
She was rambling now. He still hadn't said anything, although the anger in his face at the mention of her brother had given her pause.
“So tell me, was it worth it?” she asked, trying to provoke him.
“What?”
“Do you sleep well at night knowing you betrayed all your friends? All those men who had trained and fought alongside you died so that you could live like a king?” She stood and walked around the small clinic. “Funny, doesn’t look like you have much left from those thirty pieces of silver, Judas.”
“Cara, please shush up. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I know you’re a deserter. You left when you were needed most.”
“You seem well informed. Who told you all of this? Or should I guess?” He stood straighter than a ramrod.
“Colin, how could you? Thomas was your best friend, yet you left him behind to die. Mother trusted you. We all did. He was lucky he was found. Otherwise, Mama would have buried another son. It would have killed her.”
He turned to face her, a look of agony in his eyes. “You believe all of that? About me?”
She did. Well, she should. She had listened to the same story over and over. Every little detail. She nodded. His eyes flared, but then hardened.
“Well, then, I guess you’ve found me guilty. There is nothing more for me to say.”
He stood staring at her, wanting to take her back to the other women, send her back to Denver, but he couldn't. He was responsible for her now. Regardless of how mature she pretended to be, Cara O’Donnell was only twenty-one, the fiercely protected younger daughter of a well-to-do society family. She was no more suited to the wilds of Noelle than Percival Penworthy was seriously ill.
“Cara, why did you write to me using a false name and lie about being older? Are you in trouble?” He softened his tone, hoping she would meet him half-way.
“What do you care? It’s none of your business,” she snapped back.
“Darn it, woman, it is my business. I’m supposed to marry you.”
“I wouldn’t marry you if you were the last man on Earth,” she said, standing up. “I wish to go back to the other ladies. I want to go…” She stopped. The look of loss on her face made him take a step toward her.
“Cara, what is it? What happened?”
She stared at him, her expression so like that of the child he had once known. Thomas and her sisters had once teased her by pretending her cat had run away. Thomas had hidden it in the attic of the house, leaving it no way to escape. Cara had been devastated. He’d found her hiding in the back garden, her eyes swollen from crying.
When he found out why, he’d made Thomas tell him where the cat was and returned the poor animal to Cara. He could still see the look of shock and love shining from her eyes when he gave her little Monica. She’d named the cat after Saint Monica, the patron saint of patience as her mother prayed constantly for patience to deal with Cara.
He smiled to himself. Cara had been a thorn in her mother’s side for as long as he could remember. “Please tell me. Maybe I could help?”
“Mama announced my engagement to Senator Kavanagh.”
Colin didn’t understand why she was so upset. Announcing an engagement was what society women like Cecilia O’Donnell did. It was expected.
“She didn’t even ask me if I wanted to get married. All she cares about is his money and political ambitions. She didn’t care that he was mean, old and looked at me like I was his next meal or something.”
Colin hid a smile at her innocence but didn’t interrupt.
“He’s so horrible and smells so bad, I ran away. Papa helped me. He gave me some money. Sister Maura knew of the Benevolent Society of Lost Lambs, so I went there. But then Senator Kavanagh tracked me down. He threatened to have me locked away in an asylum if I didn’t marry him.”
Furious she had been treated so badly, Colin fought to control his anger and tried to stay calm.
“He can’t do that. Your parents would…” His voice trailed off as he looked into her eyes. “No, Cara. Even your mother wouldn’t do that.”
“Wouldn’t she? You know she arranged my sisters’ marriages. None of them were what you call love matches. She always hated me, blames me for not being the son she wanted. Since you jilted Colleen and caused a scandal, she’s hated me even more.”
“But why would she blame you for what I did?”
Cara flushed and wouldn’t look at him. She stared at the floor.
“Cara. Why?”
“I defended you. I told them you couldn’t do something that horrible. I said Thomas must have been mistaken. I…well it doesn’t matter. I was wrong.”
She was shivering now, a combination of the shock and her cold, wet clothes. He had to get her warm again.
“Cara, we need to talk properly, but not now. You’re cold, wet and no doubt hungry. I have to take you back to the other women where you can be looked after.”
She didn’t answer.
“Cara please, for the sake of our old friendship, don’t discuss my past with anyone.”
She looked at him straight in the eyes. “Why?”
“Very few people know the truth.”
“I am not going to lie for you,” she said quietly.
“I am not asking you to. I need some time to think and you do, too. Meeting again has been a shock to both of us. Now, please take my hand and pretend you are happy…”
She was happy but also hurt. He was alive and well yet he had never tried to contact her. Not her but her family. Why not?
“I am not that good of an actress.” She stood up, swaying slightly, but when he reached out to steady her, she rebuffed him. “Please take me back to Mrs. Walters.”
He nodded, opening the door for h
er and then locking it behind him. He pocketed the key. “Can we talk tomorrow?” he asked as he offered her his arm again. She took it reluctantly, telling herself the ground was slippery. She remained silent as they walked past the saloon where the sleigh was now parked. There was a group murmuring outside. He stopped suddenly, causing her to stumble.
“Sorry about that. I just…oh, never mind.”
“What?” she asked.
“Well, it seems like you’re staying in the local house of ill repute.”
“What?” Cara repeated. She couldn’t believe her ears. She’d never seen a house like that, never mind walked inside one. “You’re teasing me. I don’t appreciate your sense of humor.”
“I am not teasing. Looks like your Mrs. Walters may have bitten off more than she can chew.”
“Mrs. Walters didn’t know. She wouldn’t agree to that. Why can’t everyone be honest in their dealings with people?” she fumed aloud, making Colin laugh. “What’s so funny?” she demanded.
“Honest? This coming from a woman calling herself Donnelly when her name is O’Donnell.”
“Oh, you…” Cara walked off, head held high as his laughter followed her. She wished she knew a name to call him, but that type of language hadn't been part of her education. Fina would have known what to say. Nobody made fun of her new Mexican friend.
Pushing back her shoulders, Cara refused to turn back for another look at Colin. He was dead to her family and to her.
“Wait, Cara. There may still be customers in there. Let me escort you.”
Cara hesitated—he was right. She didn’t fancy bumping into a “customer” any more than she fancied spending more time in the freezing cold. She could also get lost as she didn’t know where the house was.
She held her body rigid as he took her arm leading her down the street. As they turned right, around the bend, she saw some of the other brides standing outside what looked like a hotel of some sort. She hoped it had warm, comfortable beds. Not that she was likely to get much sleep.
He walked her to the door.
“Cara, please…”
“Don’t say another word. I’m done listening.” Cara pushed the door and walked inside, letting it swing back, only narrowly missing Colin’s face. She didn’t need him to check for customers. The other brides were here. Together they would be fine.
She bit her lip in a bid not to cry. She needed to speak to Mrs. Walters but she wasn’t anywhere to be found. A petite blonde woman with pale blue eyes stared at her. Cara stared back, despite knowing she was being rude.
“You look upset. Can I get you anything?” The woman smiled as she spoke. She was trying to be kind, yet Cara couldn’t speak. She’d been brought up not to cry in front of strangers. Instead, she shook her head.
“You’re exhausted, poor thing. Come with me. You can have my room. Some of your friends are already making themselves comfortable.”
Cara followed the petite lady, feeling huge by comparison. She smiled at her gratefully as the woman pointed out a bed. Cara threw herself on the pillow. She had wished so often for Colin to return, to sweep her off her feet and rescue her. Now he was here, he was her fiancé but it was all a mess.
Chapter 4
The 1st Day of Christmas
December 25, 1876
Colin gazed out the window at the Cayuga River and the snow-covered mountain peaks behind. He loved the view from his office, it was almost as nice as the one from his house. He had bought the house from a man called Finegan. The locals had nicknamed the house “Finegan’s Folly” as they watched Finegan ship in carpets, curtains, tables, chairs, beds and everything else you could imagine in a society home in a big city. The man had a dream to create a beautiful home on the edge of the mountain, but Colin figured Finegan hadn’t bargained for the realities of the weather. After losing his fiancée in a tragic accident, Finegan had decided to pack up and go back to New York. As a result, Colin purchased the beautiful, fully furnished house at a steeply discounted price. It had the potential to be a fabulous home but he didn’t spend more time there than he had to. Somehow being in such pretty surroundings only made him lonelier. At least his friends Cookie and Mick got to enjoy the luxury surroundings on their annual Christmas visit. He liked to hear about their visits to different places, one town seemed to hold more attraction than others. Clover Springs. It wasn’t that far away but Colin had never been there. Maybe now would be a good time for a visit.
He’d promised Percy he would be in the clinic this morning. He’d much rather be up in the mountains hunting. Or, rather, hiding if he were being honest with himself. Colin knew he’d have to face her eventually, but he didn’t feel up to it yet. He would have to talk to Reverend Chase or maybe he could speak to Hardt. Explain how it wasn’t possible for him to go through with the wedding. But then the town would suffer.
Although why couldn’t the wedding go ahead? She was of age now and obviously in some sort of trouble. Girls from society families didn’t end up as mail-order brides. He could be saving her if he married her. And maybe, just maybe, she could save him right back.
He threw the rest of his coffee down the sink. A girl like Cara didn’t want saving, least of all by the likes of him. She wanted to be romanced. She wanted to have fun, to go shopping and riding and dancing. She didn’t want to be stuck in a backward town in the middle of the mountains.
Small as Noelle was, he liked the town and didn’t want to move. Although he was in regular arguments with other mine owners over health and safety, Hardt took his advice seriously. Hardt had a reputation for being mean, but it wasn’t true. Colin knew Hardt had paid the men out of his own pocket when the mine had been closed after the last cave-in. He had paid Colin’s bills, too, meaning the hard-pressed miners didn’t have to choose between having medical treatment or trying to treat the ailment themselves.
Colin gave himself a mental kick. He didn’t want to think of the patients he had lost to so-called traveling doctors, the snake-oil salesmen who wandered from one mining camp to another selling their own brand of medicine. An elixir so potent it would cure everything from a cough to a broken leg. The “medicine” was almost always more dangerous than the ailments it purported to cure, being mainly a mixture of poisonous herbs and alcohol. Yet some men swore by its effectiveness. He made some more coffee and cooked breakfast, although he didn’t eat it. He was far too agitated to sit down and enjoy food. He did some chores around the clinic, but by noon, there was still no sign of Percy.
Percy could wait. It wasn’t as if he were really ill. Colin pushed the hair back from his eyes. He should go and see Cara. He couldn’t put if off any longer. He had to check on Fay, too. She was near her time and getting skittish. He pulled on his coat, opened the clinic door out to the street and stalked off in the direction of the cathouse.
Chapter 5
Cara turned and twisted just as she had done all night. It was Christmas day and her dreams had been filled with previous Christmases. One, in particular, kept recurring—the Christmas Colin had given her a book. Her favorite, A Christmas Carol. She had read it over and over until the pages fell out. Nobody else had indulged her love of reading. Did he even remember giving it to her?
Of course he wouldn’t. He’d been besotted by Colleen, and who wouldn’t be? Her elder sister was tall with jet-black hair, deep blue eyes and a waist so small a man could span his two hands around it. She had been the belle of the ball. Every man in the neighborhood and beyond had been in love with Colleen, but she only had eyes for Colin. As a doctor’s son, he wasn’t the type of husband Mama favored for one of her daughters, but Colleen could always get Mama to see things her way. That same Christmas, Colin had proposed to Colleen. She’d said yes and everyone was delighted. Even Mother, who had fallen under his spell, too. Cara could remember thinking how wonderful it would be for Colin to be her real brother at last. A nice one instead of Thomas, who was horrible and forever pulling her braids or getting her into trouble.
Sh
e beat the pillow again.
“What is wrong with you? You kept me awake all night with your twisting and turning,” Fina said.
“Sorry, I have a lot on my mind.”
“I saw him kiss you last night. Didn't take him long to get to know you.”
Cara didn’t reply. She didn’t want to talk about Colin.
“He’s romantic, too. Such a tall man and a doctor. Such wonderful hands,” Fina went on.
Cara wasn’t at all sure she liked the fact Fina seemed so taken with her doctor. Her doctor. Colin Cowan—or Deane, as he called himself now—wasn’t her anything. She had to see Mrs. Walters today and get out of this mess.
“What do you think we’ll do today? It is Christmas day, after all.”
“I don’t know, Fina. Have you made plans to speak to your groom?”
“Maybe, maybe not. We shall see.”
Cara didn’t understand the look on Fina’s face. She wasn’t sure if the girl was happy with her groom. She hadn't said anything and Cara was too shy to ask. She was worried it would be rude to ask personal questions.
A knock on the door distracted both of them. Soon after, a woman of indeterminate age entered. Cara hadn't seen her before. She wouldn’t have forgotten her hair. It was such an unusual shade of yellow—it couldn’t possibly be natural.
“Excuse me, ladies, but in our haste to depart last night, I appear to have forgotten some things. My name is Jolie.”
“I’m sorry, Jolie, is this your bedroom? I thought it was Pearl’s. I didn’t know you had to move out because of us. I am very sorry,” Cara rushed to apologize.
“Ah, yes, you’re the doctor’s bride, aren’t you? The one he kissed.”
Had everyone seen Colin kiss her? Cara was about to deny it when the girl continued. “You have my sympathy, you poor dear.”
“Why?” Cara didn’t want pity from anyone, let alone a girl whose smile didn’t reach her eyes.
The Maid_The Eighth Day Page 2