by Ana Leigh
Caroline gasped and choked back a sob.
Jed lowered his head in despair. “Guess I better send those telegrams.”
“I’ll stay here in case Rico wakes up,” she said.
The doctor followed Jed out of the room.
“It might be worth your time to talk to Charley Walters. He and several of the men in the bar witnessed the whole thing.”
“Witnessed,” Jed said contemptuously. “But they didn’t step forward to help a man being beaten to death. They were the same way when that bunch was beating me up.”
“Don’t condemn Charley, Mr. Fraser. He’s a fair and honest man. And he stepped out against their drawn weapons to help the sheriff when they were about to string up your cousin.”
“Then I guess I owe him my thanks for that.”
The sheriff had returned to town by the time Jed left the telegraph office. “Was the victim your cousin, Mr. Fraser?”
“Yes. I just sent telegrams to our family and to Father Chavez, Rico’s uncle in Hope. What do you intend to do with those bastards who beat him up?”
“I figure on letting them out after they sleep off their drunk. I don’t have anything legal to hold them on. I sent a telegram to the marshal. If what your cousin says is true and they murdered his mother, it’ll be the marshal’s job to settle it.”
“You’re a generous fellow, Sheriff Newman. If I were in your boots, and had a conscienceless bastard like Ben Slatter harassing anyone who gets in his path, the town wouldn’t be big enough for both of us.”
“You think I’m not doing my job, Mr. Fraser?”
“Locking a man up to sleep off a drunk is not protecting the people in this town. How many more times do you figure on letting this crazed man harm someone before you do something about it? The man is a rapist and murderer, and you’re releasing him if you don’t hear from the marshal? My brother’s a lawman—and if someone like Slatter showed up in his town, the man wouldn’t have lasted ten minutes.”
Jed spun on his heel and headed back to the doctor’s office.
CHAPTER
25
Once again Caroline found herself and Jed on a vigil for a beloved family member. As she sat at Rico’s bedside holding his hand, she thought of Jed’s family. When one of them suffered a crisis, they became a single body, with a unified purpose and one huge beating heart of love. One’s pain or torment became their pain; one’s laughter became their joy.
Clay’s return wire to Jed had expressed that attitude succinctly. “We’re on our way.”
No message laden with questions of who, what, where, why, or when. Four simple words of assurance: “We’re on our way.”
The hours passed slowly through the night. Rico slipped in and out of consciousness, his pain so severe the doctor kept him as tranquilized as he could.
One time while Jed and the doctor had stepped into the other room, Rico had become agitated and kept calling out for the chain.
“Rico, you must remain still,” she pleaded.
“Chain,” he repeated. “Pocket.”
She went over to where his trousers hung on a peg on the wall, and in a pocket she discovered a thin gold chain with a cross dangling from it.
She returned to the bedside and slipped the chain into his hand. A peace seemed to come over him, and he quieted. They sat the rest of the night, their hands linked together by a slim chain clasped between their fingers.
Toward morning Rico’s bouts of unconsciousness drifted into slumber, and longer stretches of alertness prevailed. His fever had not increased, which was a favorable sign, but his pain did—which the doctor said was to be expected.
With the continued oppressive heat, and his ribs bound tightly, Rico was becoming increasingly restless and uncomfortable. Once again the doctor gave him a thorough check, and assured that there was nothing broken other then his nose, right hand, and several ribs, he permitted Rico to sit up in bed.
At first it made him dizzy, but gradually his head began to clear.
Caroline bathed his neck and shoulders with cool towels, which helped to ease the discomfort of the heat. The doctor removed the patch he had put on Rico’s eye, and decided the eye itself did not appear to have been injured, which was another hopeful sign.
“You have a remarkable power of recovery, young man. Yesterday I wouldn’t have given you a fifty-fifty chance to survive. So don’t overdo it; healing takes time.”
“What of my hand, Doctor? That is my greatest concern.”
“It was smashed, and bones were broken. Fingers are not like the toes on your feet; they must be reset or they will be deformed. I hesitate to try to do it now, because it’s excruciating.”
“I would prefer you try, Doctor. What is a little more pain than I feel already?”
“Very well, if that is your wish. I can give you some laudanum, but it will still be painful for you. Jed, I’ll need your help in holding him down.”
“I can’t watch this,” Caroline said. She hurried from the room and went outside in the hopes of shutting out any sound.
Nathan and Garrett arrived early and accompanied her to the diner for breakfast until the doctor finished setting Rico’s fingers. When Jed finally joined them, she was relieved to hear that Rico was sleeping quietly.
“So what do you boys intend to do about Slatter?” Nathan asked. “Charley told me the sheriff released him and his gang this morning.”
“We’ll talk it over. I know what Colt and Garth would want to do, but Clay is the steadying force in the family, so we’ll see. I imagine they’ll be coming in on the morning train.”
“I know what family honor means to you, Jed. But consider whether it’s worth possibly going to prison for years,” Nathan said.
To Jed’s disappointment, his brothers weren’t on the train, and the next one wasn’t due until later that evening. Since Rico appeared to be out of any foreseeable danger, Jed suggested Caroline go home and get some rest.
“What about you? You’ve been awake all night, too,” she said, as they sat in the diner lingering over a cup of coffee, while Nathan and Garrett made a short visit with Rico.
“I want to wait for my brothers.” He reached over and squeezed her hand. “Thank you, Caroline.”
“For what?” she asked.
“For being such a wall of strength to my family.”
“It’s Garrett’s and my family, too,” she said gently. She got to her feet. “Here come Father and Garrett. I don’t suppose you have any idea when you’ll be home?”
“Not at this time.” Jed kissed her on the forehead. “Thanks again for everything, Caroline.”
She blurted out, “You know those men are dangerous, Jed. Will you promise me that none of you will do anything that could get you hurt?”
“I can’t make any such promise, Caroline.”
She sighed. “I didn’t think so.” She left and Nathan drove them home. Caroline slept all the way.
Later that day, Jed was standing alone at the bar when Slatter and his henchmen came in. For a change, they were sober.
“Will you look who’s here, boys,” Slatter said.
“Why don’t you go back to your jail cell, Slatter, where you belong and leave decent people to their enjoyment?” Jed said.
“Heard tell that half-breed we beat up is supposed to be a cousin of yours. Someone in your family dip his fingers into the honey pot of some señorita, Fraser?”
“Yes, Rico’s my cousin. And I don’t like what you did to him, or my aunt. I’m going to have to beat the hell out of you.”
Slatter burst into laughter. “Little old you is gonna beat the hell out of us? Hear that, boys?”
“Your hearing must be as worthless as your brain, Slatter. I said beat you up—not them.”
Slatter poked Kansas with his elbow. “Hear that, Kansas? You boys can stop shivering. The stupid Reb is just gonna beat me up,” he said, and pounded the bar laughing.
The other three men joined in his laughter.
> “And what do you think my boys are gonna do? Stand by and just watch you?”
“If they’re smart, they’ll get the hell out of here now, while they can still walk,” Garth said, rising to his feet from a nearby table.
“Who the hell are you?” Slatter asked.
“Name’s Fraser. Garth Fraser.”
“You a cousin to that half-breed, too?”
“I have a cousin Rico, if that’s who you’re referring to,” Garth said.
“What a coincidence,” Colt said, rising to his feet from a different table. “I have a cousin Rico, too. Could be it’s the same fellow. Tell me, Mr. Slatter, are you and those flunkies of yours the same ones who go around ganging up on a man?”
“Or raping and murdering helpless women,” Clay said from the other side of the room. The four men’s eyes swung to him as he rose to his feet. “Because we all have the same Aunt Elena, too.”
“No more four-to-one odds now, Slatter,” Jed said. “They’re pretty even, aren’t they?”
“Who are you guys?” Slatter snarled.
“Name’s Clay Fraser.”
“Colt Fraser. You’ve met my brother Garth and Jed already. Tell me, do those henchmen of yours have names? I always like to know a fella’s name when I’m about to beat the hell out of him.”
Slatter looked around at the four Frasers, then reached for his gun on his hip. Before he could draw it, Colt’s had cleared the holster.
“Don’t even think it, you son of a bitch. Nothing would give me more pleasure than putting a bullet right between your eyes.”
“Gentlemen, please take your fight to the street,” Charley said. “I can’t afford to keep repairing the place after you guys bust it up.”
Garth grabbed the shirtfront of Kansas and slammed him against the bar. “What is your name, sir?” he asked the bartender, as Kansas struggled to free himself.
“Charley,” the bartender replied.
“Well, Charley, we have no intention of busting up your bar. But this piece of shit is another matter.” His punch sent Kansas sprawling backward over the bar, knocking Charley off his feet in the collision.
“He’s all mine,” Jed yelled, when Clay reached for Slatter.
Clay shoved him at Jed as if the man was a bag of potatoes. “Then take the bastard; he stinks like hell.” Then he reached for Eddie, who had already begun to whimper before Clay’s fist smashed into his nose.
Colt beckoned a finger to Curly, who had started to back away. “Ever hear of ‘Do unto others as you would have others do unto you’?” Colt’s punch sent the coward sprawling to the floor. He picked Curly up by the belt and dragged him outside.
After several more punches, Garth dragged Kansas out and tossed him next to Curly.
A whimpering Eddie was crawling on his hands and knees to try and escape being hit again. Clay’s kick to his rear end sent Eddie flying out the door, and he landed on the other two men, just as Jed’s punch to Slatter’s gut, followed by an uppercut to the jaw, sent their leader staggering into the pile-up.
Garth turned to Clay in disgust. “Hell, Brother Clay, you told us we came here for a fight.”
Clay turned to the crowd of people who had gathered to watch. “Take a good look at them, folks. There’s the pile of shit you all let beat up defenseless victims. Why the hell didn’t some of you step in and prevent it?”
The sheriff stepped through the crowd and stared down at the gang. “I’ve warned you fellows for the last time about getting likkered up and fighting. Get on your horses and ride out of here. If you step foot in this town again, I’ll shoot you on sight.”
“We ain’t drunk, and we didn’t start this fight,” Slatter shouted. “These Frasers did.”
Garth said innocently, “Our mama raised us never to hit a woman.” Then he grinned. “You need any help in hauling these ladies out of here?”
The Frasers left, taking Rico to see him safely back to his home and the healing hands of the nuns who would see to his recovery.
While Jed was upstairs saying good night to Garrett, Caroline roamed the house restlessly. Tomorrow Jed would leave, departing from their lives for a long time; tomorrow this emotional seesaw would be over and her life would settle back to normal.
In the past thirty days, she felt she had lived a lifetime. The fear of having her secret exposed, regret for the marriage, and hatred…had she really believed she hated him?
There had been laughter, sadness, tears, heartache. Moments of jealousy, moments of resentment.
She had known extreme joy when her son’s life had been spared, and the low of despair she felt now, knowing she had to endure Jed’s departure. And what single word could ever describe those moments making love in his arms? Ecstasy? Rapture?
Now that the time had come for him to leave, the time she had once wanted so desperately, she didn’t know how she would get through it.
But one thing remained before they parted. She had to tell him the truth about Andy.
Caroline sat down at the piano to calm herself. She only needed to get through one more night of pretending his leaving didn’t matter to her. One more night of pretending that the next eleven months wouldn’t be an eternity to her.
She knew when he came downstairs; she could feel his presence in the room. He didn’t speak, and she continued playing as she fought back the rise of tears.
“I’ve never told you how beautifully you play, Caroline.”
When had he come so close?
“Thank you,” she responded woodenly.
“That’s a beautiful piece you’re playing.”
“It’s by Mozart. He’s one of my favorite composers.”
“I’m going to miss hearing you play.”
Suddenly she couldn’t take it anymore, and she bolted to her feet and ran outside through the garden door.
Jed followed her. “What’s wrong, Caroline? Are you angry with me?”
She spun to face him, treacherous tears betraying her and sliding down her cheeks. “Yes, I’m angry with you. And with myself. I’m angry at life, Jed. It’s as if we’ve lived a lifetime in these past few weeks, and now we’re faced with the reality that nothing in our future will ever equal them!”
He gently took hold of her shoulders. “You speak as if we have no more future together. There will always be something for us to look forward to—just as there will always be sorrow, and joy to weather that sorrow. And there will always be hope, Caroline.”
She sniffled. “And what are your hopes, Jed? Riches? Good health? Happiness?”
“I can’t predict what life will bring, but I know that hope is eternal—the guiding belief that tomorrow will be better than today, and today is better than yesterday.”
“Yesterday.” She sighed. “Jed, I’ve been trying to tell you about one of my yesterdays—but somehow, something always interrupted me.”
“What is it?”
“I want to tell you the truth about Andy. Until I do, it will always hover in the background.”
They sat down on a garden bench. “Andy and I were never lovers in the true sense of the word,” she began. “We had spoken a few words occasionally or nodded casually in passing, but that was the extent of it.
“Then one day I was reading by the pond near our home, when Andy walked by. He stopped and asked me what I was reading, and before you know it, we were chatting away about school, books, music, the likelihood of an impending war between the states.
“Soon we became close friends. We’d exchange books or talk about our futures. He encouraged me to go on with my music and told me he wanted to enter a seminary to become a clergyman, but feared his father would expect him to go to a military academy like his brothers.
“Then one day I burst into tears when I told him that my father insisted we go to California before the war broke out. I was crying about having to be separated from my father, and also from Andy, the only true friend I’d ever known.
“He put his arm around me to console
me, and for some reason he kissed me. No boy had ever kissed me before, and I don’t think he had kissed any other girl, either. It was all very tentative, both of us experimenting with something we’d never experienced before. The kissing led to petting, and the petting led to…you know what.”
She took a deep breath. “We both were so naïve and inexperienced. The next day we were too embarrassed to even look at each other when he apologized, and we pledged to write to each other. It was the last time we ever spoke. The following day my mother and I sailed for California.
“When I realized I was pregnant, I decided to wait until the baby was born. I wrote to him then, but he never responded.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Now I know why.”
Caroline took another shuddering breath. “Still I’m eternally grateful that I have Garrett!” She closed her eyes, and Jed gently brushed a teardrop from her cheek.
Caroline gasped and opened her eyes when he cupped her neck with his warm palm and then lowered his head to hers, so close their breaths mingled.
“Thank you for telling me, Caroline.”
The air was charged with the tension building between them. She could feel the draw of his compelling dark gaze, the desire in his eyes generating the same rising passion in her.
Now that she was in love with him, she desired him with an even greater intensity. Her common sense told her to run because he would be leaving in the morning, while her body ached with the need to feel his touch once more, if only for one night.
Her quickened breath matched the rhythm of his. “Is this a mistake, Jed?”
“This moment is ours to share, Caroline. Tomorrow it will be too late. Are we to let this moment pass?”
She trembled as passion surged through her, making the feminine chamber of her loins ache. The overpowering demand of his kiss drained the breath from her, and she gasped when he trailed quick kisses down the column of her neck, then reclaimed her lips.
Their bodies would not accept denial.
He swept her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs to his room, where they rapidly undressed each other. Then he picked her up and, sliding her slowly down his naked body, he lowered her to the bed, then covered her with his body as he drove his tongue past her lips and pulled her tighter into the circle of his arms, crushing her breasts against his bare chest. The heat from his body coursed through her as it had in the storm.
