by Kit Morgan
“We ran into a little trouble on the trail,” he rasped. “Landslide.”
“Merciful heavens!” Elsie said. “Did a rock land on you?”
“More like half a hillside,” he muttered. Then louder he said, “Where’s Imogene? I expect she’s in town.”
“She’s still at the mercantile talking with Belle and Sadie,” Nettie sighed from inside Amon’s arms.
Newton stepped away from the other men as well. “Sorry to worry you, Nettie.”
Nettie pulled away from Amon. “Well then, don’t do it again!” Then she noticed what the men had been circled around. “Oh my! Is that who I think it is?”
Chase the blacksmith went to stand between her and the item of interest. “Careful, Mrs. Cotter. He’s unpredictable.”
“For Heaven’s sake, that’s Penelope’s rooster,” Eloise said with a grin. “Wherever did you find him?”
“I think that crazy bird found us,” Cutty remarked with a grimace. “Dang fool thing’s crankier than Mrs. Dunnigan.”
“But look at him – he’s beautiful!” Nettie said. “And he looks perfectly calm to me.”
Clyde the chicken looked right at her as if to say, why, thank you, but all that came out was, Cluck.
“And friendly too,” she added. She took a step toward the bird.
Chase blocked her way. “I wouldn’t get too close to him.”
Clyde turned to him. Cluck-cluck, cluck.
Chase stared back. “I don’t like the way he’s looking at me …”
“I’d better get Penelope,” Eloise said. The others watched her hurry down the street.
Chase shook his head in dismay. “Poor August. He was probably hoping this darn rooster would stay lost.”
“Where did you find him again?” Grandma asked.
“He found us, ‘bout halfway to the Indian camp,” Cutty remarked as he rubbed his right shoulder.
Nettie noticed his shirt was torn. “Oh my goodness, are you bleeding?”
“It ain’t nothin’,” Cutty grumbled.
“I’ll be the judge of that,” Grandma said and reached for him.
He stepped back. “Keep your hands to yourself, woman! I said I was fine.”
“A man wearing a torn shirt with blood underneath is not fine in my book!” she shot back.
“Nor mine,” Elsie added.
“Cutty, let them look at you,” Nettie urged him. “They’re only trying to help.”
“Oh, all right, but they’d better not make a fuss over it.”
Grandma and Elsie began to examine his shoulder. “Land sakes,” said Grandma, “what happened to you? You fall off a cliff or something?”
Newton and Cutty exchanged a look. “Cliff fell on me, more like,” Cutty groused.
“Best come back to the house so we can fix you up,” Grandma ordered.
“Not ‘til I see Imogene,” he said, jerking away from her.
“Why, you stubborn old goat!” Grandma snapped. “Nettie can fetch Imogene for you. You’re coming with us!”
“No one calls me a stubborn old goat ‘cept my intended!” he shot back.
“Your intended, eh?” Grandma said with a grin. “Well, you’d best marry her while you’re still in one piece. Now come on.”
Nettie watched as he followed Grandma, grumbling all the way. She took Amon by the hand and set off to let Imogene know that the men had returned. By the time they reached the mercantile the Cooke women were just coming out. “Oh dear,” Sadie said as she took in the group passing by. “What happened to you?”
Cutty’s face twisted up into a grimace. “Landslide!”
“Looks like the whole Rockies fell on you,” Sadie remarked.
“Imogene!” Belle called over her shoulder.
Imogene emerged from the mercantile, took one look at Cutty and gasped. “What happened?” She hurried down the porch steps. “Is that blood?”
“Yeah, it’s blood,” Cutty groaned. “Now if ya womenfolk’ll stop makin’ such a fuss, maybe Grandma and Elsie can get this cleaned up for me.”
“Good idea,” Imogene said and glanced around. “Where’s Newton?”
“Down the street with the others and that dangblasted rooster of August’s.”
Penelope had just come out of the mercantile with Eloise and heard the last part. “Where is he? Where’s my Clyde?” She noted Cutty’s injuries and gasped. “Oh dear me, did Clyde do that?”
“Ya'll be happy to know he didn’t,” Cutty said, then narrowed his eyes at her. “Some others weren’t so lucky.”
Penelope’s eyes rounded to saucers. “Good heavens! No serious damage, I hope?”
“I have no idea,” he said. “But judgin’ from the amount of dust kicked up and all the screaming, he might’ve.”
“Stop teasing the woman!” Grandma ordered, “and get on over to my house.” She gave him a shove for emphasis. “Now!”
Cutty grabbed Imogene by the hand and pulled her along beside him. “Stupid rooster. That thing’s a nuisance!”
Imogene chuckled. “You’re not too much the worse for wear. What happened? Surely the rooster didn’t do this.”
“I already told ya – it was a landslide, and I got in the way.”
“You said nothing about a landslide to me!”
“Well, I said it to somebody! Never mind – it’s over and we’re all fine.”
“That’s the most important thing,” she agreed. “Now let’s get you cleaned up.”
He glanced at her as they reached Doc and Grandma’s house. “I could use a sandwich or somethin’. I'm powerful hungry.”
“I’ll take care of it while Grandma tends you,” she told him as they entered the house. They watched Grandma and Elsie head for the kitchen as Imogene kept them at the front door. “Did you tell him?” she whispered.
Cutty looked at her and sighed. “No.”
* * *
“Why on earth not?” Imogene asked later as they sat down to tea.
“Because of that stupid rooster and a bunch of rocks,” he grumbled.
She studied him a moment. “You look terrible. And you’re crankier than normal. What else happened out there?”
Cutty slumped in his chair. “I don’t wanna talk about it. If I ever have to see a bunch of Injuns again it’ll be too soon.”
“Good heavens – they didn’t hurt you, did they?”
“No they didn’t hurt me, or anyone else. But …”
“But what?”
“Nothin’.”
“What aren’t you telling me, you stubborn old coot?”
One corner of his mouth curled up into a smile. “Ya know I kinda like it when ya call me that.”
“Don’t change the subject … old coot.”
“And ya like sayin’ it, don’t ya?”
She smiled and gave in. “Fine, tell me later. Now drink your tea.”
He took a sip and winced. “It’s hot.”
“Of course it’s hot. But you need it.”
He looked at her. “I need ya more.”
She smiled. “Why, Cutty, what a sweet thing to say.”
“It’s true. Being out there made me realize it. I need ya, Imogene. I want to marry ya, right here and right now. But it wouldn’t be right.”
She leaned toward him. “Then take care of the business at hand.”
“I will.”
“You’ve spent your time with Newton, now do it.”
“Consarnit, woman, I just said I would.” Now he sounded more tired than angry.
She nodded solemnly. “I’m simply being selfish. After all, I’d like to get married sooner rather than later.”
He smiled, reached over and took her hand in his. “I’ll tell him as soon as we’re done here. That is, if I can find him. I ain’t seen him since I got drug here.”
“He’s probably in his room resting. You might want to wait until tomorrow. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to rush you.”
“Nah, yer right. I need to get it done.”
“W
hy didn’t you do it while the two of you were together?” she asked.
Cutty shook his head wearily “Too much goin’ on …”
“You’ll have to tell me about it after you’ve rested.”
He nodded but said nothing.
They sipped tea and munched cookies in silence. By this time, Amon had gone home, as had everyone else, including the Cookes. Imogene was stuck in town for a while. At least that was something to be glad for. If Cutty had his way he’d march her straight to Preacher Jo’s house and marry her. But he still had to square things with Newton first. For now, he’d just enjoy her company.
He’d almost gotten himself killed out there, but he wasn’t about to tell her that. If a few more rocks had landed on him he’d be dead. He was lucky he escaped with the few injuries he had. Things wouldn’t have been so bad if that darn rooster of August’s hadn’t pecked at his foot while he was trapped between a boulder and a fallen tree. Thank heavens Amon and Newton had dug him out when they did …
“I’d like a dress,” Imogene said, breaking into his thoughts.
“Dress?”
“A wedding dress. I’ve decided I’d like one.”
“I thought ya’d already decided that,” he said in confusion. Had she? Good grief, he hoped he didn’t have some sort of head injury.
“It was mentioned,” she said, pouring herself another cup of tea. “By the way, if you go out there again, I’m going with you.”
Cutty almost choked on his tea. “Absolutely not!”
She set the teapot down. “Who’s going to stop me?”
“I won’t have to stop ya because I ain’t never going out there again!”
Imogene sobered. “My darling Cutty, what happened?”
He swallowed hard. “Trust me, ya don’t wanna know.”
“Yes, that’s why I keep asking,” she said sarcastically. “Come now, it couldn’t possibly have been that bad. I thought the Indians were friendly.”
“Oh, they’re friendly all right. Too friendly for my tastes.”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “Whatever are you talking about?”
“Never ya mind, woman. Hand me another biscuit.”
“You know I’ll wheedle it out of you eventually,” she said and handed him his treat.
“Never.”
She leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek. “Not even if I kiss you?”
“Ya just did.”
“You know what I mean. A real kiss.”
He looked at her in annoyance. “Imogene Sayer, don’t do somethin’ that’ll force us to marry sooner than ya want.”
She laughed. “You silly old fool. If that were the case, I’d have kissed you a long time ago.”
He chuckled, took her hand again and double-checked that no one was eavesdropping. “And I you,” he whispered in his English accent. “I don’t deserve you.”
“Of course you do, and much more if I have my say. You’re a changed man and I’m going to see to it that everyone knows.”
“I love you, Imogene.”
She smiled and squeezed his hand. “Yes, I know.”
“What if your family doesn’t agree with you?”
She looked away and swallowed. “Then I suspect I shall not see them for a very long time.”
“Imogene,” he breathed. “They’re your family, the only ones you have in this country.”
“I made my mind up while you were gone. You’re more important to me and I’ll not let them get in the way of our marriage. If they can’t see the man you’ve become, then they’re no family of mine.”
“Imogene, no,” he pleaded. “They’re family.”
“So are you,” she said softly. “You’re my family.”
Cutty’s gaze met hers. “Well, then … let’s hope I don’t disappoint them. I don’t want you to have to choose. I’ll offer to pay them back for whatever grief I’ve caused them. Then maybe they’ll not argue with you when we wed.”
“They had some cattle stolen, but they were all returned,” she reminded him. “And that kidnapping business wasn’t your fault – you had no hand in it as I understand. If you owe anyone anything, it would be my girls.”
“Your girls?”
“Penelope, Constance, Eloise, Lena, Fina and Apple.”
Cutty gaped at her. Oh, yes, Penelope, he thought, and then realized what she said. “Egads! All six?”
“Come now,” she said. “You and I know perfectly well that all those gentlemen who tried to call on them met with some sort of accident. I know you don’t want to think about it, but …”
“Now wait a minute – I didn’t have a part in all of them!”
“Then which ones?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.
Cutty sighed, thought, and lowered his head. “The first one, Penelope. I’m beyond ashamed for what I did. But no one was killed. Not even the bloke that fell down the stairs – he just suffered a broken ankle. And not only did I not push him, but I paid his doctor’s bills.”
“But what of the others?”
“By the time they were of age I was already here. Cad that I was, I might have, but I was in no position to – not an ocean and a continent away. Thank God for small favors.”
Imogene stared at the table as her brow puckered in confusion. “That’s right, you were here. How odd.”
“But that does beg a question … if something happened to their suitors, that means someone else was trying to keep them from marrying. Whom?”
Imogene looked at him. “I have no idea.”
Fourteen
Cutty and Imogene spent the rest of the day together. Imogene read to him a few stories from one of the new books she’d ordered; she’d brought it along in hopes of seeing him and wasn’t disappointed. Now they were in the hotel lobby, just the two of them. Seth and Eloise had gone into the dining room to have their supper with Mrs. Upton, but Cutty and Imogene had yet to join them.
At the moment, Imogene was busy worrying about Colin, Harrison and the rest of the Cooke family. What would they say about Cutty’s true identity? Even if they accepted him for who he was, would His Grace Duncan Cooke, Duke of Stantham, agree? If he said they were a bunch of imbeciles for doing so, would they side with him, or let she and Cutty live in peace?
No matter how she looked at it, it was a gamble. She hated the thought of leaving her relatives. They were, as Cutty had pointed out, almost all she had. But she wouldn’t leave Cutty either. She loved him, wanted to marry him and would … as soon as everything was arranged.
“How’s the book comin’ along?” he asked, pulling her from her thoughts.
“Well enough. I need to put my heroine in dire straits, but haven’t decided how yet.”
“A few years ago I could’ve helped ya with that, but I ain’t one to think about those things no more. I’ve seen my fill.” His voice trailed off as his eyes drifted away.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked.
“Just tired, that’s all. Who’s comin’ to fetch ya?”
“I have no idea. I simply told Jefferson I wouldn’t be returning home with them. There was no talk of anyone coming to take me back. They probably assumed I wanted to spend the day with you.”
“And ya have.”
She smiled and sighed. “When all this is over, we could go away …”
“Go away?” he said and sat up in his chair. “Where?”
“Oregon City? We’d still be close enough to visit now and then, or the family could come to us.”
“I’d rather stay here and take whatever them Cooke brothers are gonna give me. I’m tired of bein’ a coward.”
“I know,” she said softly. “But I won’t see you suffer, either.”
He thought a moment. “They’re waitin’ for us in there.” His eyes darted to the dining room.
“Let them.”
“Imogene, I got myself into this, I hafta be the one to get myself out.”
Before she could answer, Newton came down the stairs an
d made his way to where they sat. “Good evening.”
“Newton, you look …” Imogene began, then winced. “What happened to you? I was so concerned about Cutty that I …”
“A few rocks fell on him too,” Cutty quickly interjected. “Ain’t that right?”
Newton fidgeted with his frock coat. “I’m afraid so.”
She noticed he had a black eye and a cut on his right cheek. He also looked as if he’d dropped weight. “Are you quite all right?”
“Famished is what I am. Shall we?” he asked, motioning to the dining room.
Imogene noted the look in his eyes. There was an emptiness she hadn’t noticed before. It was oddly familiar. Then she remembered … “Good heavens, dear, are you ill? You look much like Amon did when he was sick.”
Newton swallowed hard. “I’m fine. But hungry … very hungry.” He glanced at the hotel doors. “Let us eat.”
Cutty jumped up from his chair. “She’s right, ya don’t look so good. Maybe Mrs. Upton should fix ya a tray and take it to yer room?”
“Don’t be absurd,” he said and headed for the dining room.
They watched him stride away. “My, he’s a bit cross, isn’t he?” Imogene mused.
“Nah, it’s like he said – he’s hungry. I am too, come to think of it. Let’s eat.” Cutty paused, then added, “If’n he gets to lookin’ any worse, though, I’ll go fetch Doc Drake.”
“Agreed,” she said.
They entered the dining room and sat with the others. Mrs. Upton waved to the food laid out on the table. “Help yourselves – there’s plenty here.”
Cutty and Imogene each began to serve themselves as Newton glanced over his shoulder at the lobby. “Looks wonderful as always, Mrs. Upton,” he said absently.
“How can ya tell?” asked Cutty. “Ya ain’t lookin’ at the food. Ya expectin’ someone?”
Newton’s head snapped around. “Not at all.” He swallowed hard and stared at the food.
“I thought ya said ya was hungry.”
“Of course,” Newton mumbled and reached for a bowl of mashed potatoes.
“Seth tells me you men had quite the adventure,” said Eloise. “I almost wish I’d been there,” she added.
Newton froze and locked gazes with Seth for a moment, then relaxed a notch. “You should have been. You too, Imogene – I dare say it would be tantamount to one of your tiger hunts.”