She was in her chemise, and the covers were definitely not on her. Someone, probably Shannon, had wipe most of the blood from her hair. Good Lord her calves and feet were exposed. One ankle was bandaged. What a contrast, her legs were so white while her arms were so red. She cleared her throat, and he moved his gaze from her body to her face. “Hello,” he said in a soft tone.
“Hello yourself,” she croaked out.
“I, well, I thought you’d have more clothes on or at least have a sheet covering you.”
“It hurts when the sheet is on my arms. You could probably pull the sheet up to my waist but could you wait a bit? I’m feeling so hot.” A lone tear trailed down her face. “Thank you for finding me.”
“I’m just glad I did. No one is out that way often. I was looking for mustangs.” He pulled the chair back a bit more from the bed before he sat down. “It surprised me as all get out to see you there—and on foot.”
“I saw the black stallion, so you were on the right track. He whistled and off Gold Dust went, leaving me on the ground.” She squeezed her eyes closed then opened them. “The pain is unlike anything I’ve ever felt. Doctor Martin gave me some medicine and I’m hoping it will work right soon.”
“It will, just hold on. I figured Gold Dust threw you. You must have walked a long ways.”
“Yes, a few hours at least. I had my canteen on me.” She tried to smile but it quickly turned into a frown. “Even my face hurts. Shannon said you’re going to take care of me.”
Now was the time to back out and put an end to the assumption he’d play nurse to this woman. He had more important things to do. Looking into her eyes, he couldn’t tell her she was wrong. “Yes, I hope that’s fine with you. If you’d rather I find a woman to help you, I can.”
“No, Shannon explained to me that she would take care of anything I need privacy for and since it’s a family ranch it’s not improper. I’m a bit fuzzy on the last part. I would have thought it would be thought of as outrageous behavior.”
“A family ranch means no one talks about what goes on at the ranch. We’re family.” A lump formed in his throat at the word family. It was really all he’d longed for his whole life, a real family. It never occurred to him that he already had one and more. To think he had thrown it all away for all those months. It humbled him. “Do you need anything?”
“No, I’m just so sleepy.”
He sat there watching over her long after her eyes closed and her breathing became deep and even. Somehow, she made him feel comfortable in his own skin again. Being with her brought a sense of peace. Finally, he shrugged, stood up and went into the kitchen for a cup of coffee.
It was a big responsibility, taking care of someone. He’d only taken care of animals. He wasn’t qualified, and he had no business tending to a woman. What did he even know about her? She liked to bake and was making money at it. She had some uncanny way with horses, well not today but she was amazing. She pulled her weight around the ranch. Independent and capable came to mind. She didn’t seem to like people except for Judge Gleason. What else? She hailed from New York City. For a city gal, she had sure grown accustomed to ranch life fast. Her hair was nice—actually more than nice—and her blue eyes sparked at him when they talked.
He sat down, put his elbows on the table, and set his head in his hands then groaned. He knew more about her than most people he’d known forever. There was no sense in trying to get out of it. It would only make him look bad. No, he was in it until she was better.
Chapter Five
Ilene opened her eyes and blinked a few times. The flame from the oil lamp on the table next to her threw dancing shadows above her. She took a deep breath and winced. Her whole body hurt from her head to her toes. Turning her head was torture, but a slight smile tugged at her lips when she saw Tramp folded into the chair with his head tilted to one side, asleep.
His hair was mussed, and he looked much younger, almost as though he was finally peaceful inside. He still had deep lines from working outside all the time but the seriousness he always carried faded. He must have a lot bottled up inside of him.
Her arms hurt and were so hot that she was surprised when she shivered. Was Gold Dust all right? It wasn’t good for a saddled horse to be out in the wild. The tack could get caught. She needed to find the mare and unsaddle her. She tried to lift her head and realized she wasn’t going anywhere. Good Lord, what was she doing with just her chemise on and Tramp in her bedroom? She groaned.
Tramp sat straight up. “Are you in pain? Where does it hurt?”
“Yes and everywhere. What are you doing here?”
“I’m taking care of you.” He stood and raised his arms up over his head, stretching.
“Why you? Why are you in my bedroom? Tramp, what is going on? Did you undress me?” Her voice grew louder with each question.
“Do you need more laudanum?”
“No, I don’t. Can you at least help cover me up? Then you can go.” His amused stare infuriated her. She started to clench her fists and realized one of her wrists was bandaged. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. “How hurt am I?”
“Oh, darlin’ you’ll live. I know it doesn’t look good. You sprained your wrist and one ankle. Doc Martin thinks your knee looks very swollen. You hit your head and it bled—a lot. You’re sunburned as all get out. Oh, and you have blisters on your feet.” He sat back down. “Shannon volunteered me to stay with you. She undressed you, and you have two underdresses on, so I can’t see through them or anything. I wanted to cover you, but with the burns and all, it hurt you.”
“So, you’re not trying to take advantage of me?” She smiled when his eyes grew wide. “I’m joking. I’m grateful you’re here. Is Shannon going to be here in the morning?”
“I have no idea. It sounded to me that I’m your caretaker. Don’t worry about it. Don’t you remember our conversation when you woke up earlier? I told you about this being a family ranch.”
She furrowed her brow for a moment then nodded. “I do remember. It’s a bit hazy though. What about the girls? You know the squatters. Surely one of them could watch me.” Tramp’s brows raised, and she couldn’t tell if he thought it a good idea or if he didn’t want to be replaced. What was she thinking? Of course he didn’t want to be here.
“I can talk to Shannon about it. I think they have their own to look after. They were thinner than they looked at first. From what I heard, it’s going to take them a good while to regain their strength.”
“Those poor people. Thank you for bringing them here. I thought for sure if I told you about them, you’d have them driven off the ranch.”
He glanced down at his boots as though he found them to be fascinating. “Truthfully I did intend to run them off. It’s just the way of things out here. You can claim land as yours but you need to make sure it stays yours. There is a lot of land in Texas. Enough for everyone to have their own. I don’t see a reason to try to make your home on someone else’s property. I suppose there are always exceptions.”
“Ava seems taken with you.” She didn’t know why his answer was so important to her but it was.
He glanced up at her. “I suppose so.” He gave her a big smile and her heart dropped. “You looked pained. Let me get the laudanum.”
“No! I don’t want that nasty stuff anywhere near me. You take it when you’re ill, but some people can’t stop taking it, and they lie and steal to get more.”
“Not if you only take it when you’re sick.”
She cried out as she shook her head. “I just don’t want it. Promise me you won’t try to put it in my coffee or something. I’ve seen what it can do, and I want no part of it.”
He reached out and touched her hair. “Don’t worry. I might be a big pain but I wouldn’t do something so underhanded. I won’t give you any more.”
Sighing deeply she then yawned. She could feel exhaustion take over. “Thank you, Tramp.” She closed her eyes.
It had been three days of taking care
of Ilene, and Tramp was at the end of his tether. Not that she was demanding or unreasonable. He just itched to go out and round up horses. He was made for doing, not sitting. Cookie brought over the meals and took their laundry. Doctor b stopped in to change her bandages. That morning he’d shown Tramp how to wrap her ankle and wrist. Shannon was a frequent visitor, and she always brought Olivia. It surprised him how much he’d come to dote on the baby.
She didn’t seem to have any other friends. Her sadness when he asked about friends pulled at his heart mighty fiercely. Ava Plunkett came in a few times, but he could tell the visits were to see him more than out of concern for Ilene.
Ilene never smiled at Ava. In fact, she acted as though she couldn’t wait for the other woman to leave. She either answered Ava’s questions briskly or not at all. It was all he could do not to laugh.
At the soft knock on the door, Tramp groaned inwardly, hoping it wasn’t Ava. He walked from the kitchen to the front door and opened it. It was a surprise to see both Judge Gleason and Edith Mathers. Damn, so much for having just the family know he was here with Ilene. He mustered up a smile and gestured them inside. Before he closed the door he scanned the yard for Shannon or Cookie. Only the Plunkett family was about. He closed the door and followed the two visitors into the kitchen.
“This is a nice house,” Judge Gleason said as he touched the walls, examining the workmanship. “You designed this didn’t you?”
Tramp smiled and nodded. “I did with Cinders’ help. It did turn out well, didn’t it?” His smile faded when he noticed Edith’s glare. “Well, I’m sure you’re here to see Ilene. Let me make sure she’s decent.”
Edith gasped and put her hand to her chest.
Damn, he’d said the wrong thing, the worst thing. He hurried to the bedroom and inwardly groaned. Ilene was sleeping. He hastily grabbed the sheet and began to put it over her when he heard another of Edith’s gasps. He dropped the sheet; it wasn’t worth making Ilene uncomfortable to make Edith happy. The damage was already done.
He glanced at Edith and then at Judge Gleason who entered the room behind her. He could only imagine what the speculative looks they gave him meant. “She’s asleep. Why don’t we talk in the kitchen?” He sighed as they all walked out in single file. “Would you care for something to drink?”
Neither answered; they just stared at him, and a lump formed in his throat. He’d heard about shotgun weddings, and he had a sinking feeling he was to play the groom in one.
“Does Cookie know you’re here? I can’t imagine him condoning something like this. Shannon has always gone against propriety, but Cookie? Are you even supposed to be in here? Did you sneak in so you could take advantage of Ilene?”
It was on the tip of his tongue to say yes, he had snuck in but they had interrupted his evil intentions. “Everyone knows. Nothing has been going on. I’ve been taking care of her. She can’t do for herself, and everyone else is busy. I’m the one who found her out on the range.”
Judge Gleason rubbed the back of his neck and began to pace. “This type of thing destroys reputations. Why I made Cinders marry Shannon when he wanted to hire her. You know, out here your good name and your reputation is all you’ve got. This whole thing stinks bad. Other arrangements could have been made. We met the Plunkett family. There are more than enough of them to share in taking care of one woman.”
Tramp widened his eyes. He thought the judge would have been on his side. “This is a family ranch. We do for each other, and no one finds out.”
Edith laughed. “Who are you trying to fool? When has one secret ever been kept in all of Asherville? Nice try, though. So, are you going to marry her?” She crossed her arms in front of her and tapped her toe.
Judge Gleason nodded. “I agree the sooner the better. Dang, Tramp, why did you have to go and ruin Ilene? I was getting ready to court her.”
“I’m—I’m not ruined.” Ilene barely got the words out before she began to sway.
Tramp raced to her side, swept her up into his arms and carried her back to bed. “Hey, darlin’, don’t you worry now. You just concentrate on getting well.”
“No, they are trying to make something out of nothing.” Tears formed in her eyes.
“I’ll take care of it. You can count on me. Just rest for a while. I’ll be right back.” He turned to leave the room and right outside the doorway stood Edith and Judge Gleason. He wished he could just push them out of the way and leave the house. But he couldn’t. Wouldn’t. No more running away.
“I’d like to speak to you both outside.” He walked to the door and glanced back at them to make sure they were following. He saw them exchange glances, and after a few breaths they followed. He waited until he shut the front door before he spoke. “Listen, I don’t know what you two are trying to pull but Ilene is sick and injured. The last thing she needs is you two stirring up trouble.”
Edith took a step toward him. “You know very well you are in the wrong. You are going to marry that girl.”
“I’m sorry he can’t. He’s already marrying me.” Ava Plunkett sidled up next to Tramp and put her hand on his arm. “Thank you for watching Ilene for me so I could wash up. I’ll just head on in now.” She gave him a slow smile before she went into the house.
Tramp stared at her retreating form. What the heck had just happened? Maybe she thought she was helping but there was no way he was going to marry Ava. He wasn’t marrying anyone. He turned back to his two guests and didn’t rightly know what to say. Edith had a big scowl on her face while the judge had his right brow cocked.
Tramp shifted his weight from one foot to the other, trying to figure out what to do. Going with Ava’s lie would be the easiest but he didn’t want any more lies in his life. “I never asked Ava to marry me.”
Edith’s jaw dropped and then she snapped it closed. “You can’t trifle with women and not have them expect marriage. Just how many women have you been using this way, Tramp? I have to tell you I’m highly disappointed in you. Does poor Ilene know about your trysts? Poor, Poor Ilene.”
Poor Ilene? His head felt the urge to start spinning. “Listen, Edith, nothing has been going on and now that I think of it, it’s not any of your business. Like I said this is a family ranch which you are no part of.” He was instantly sorry for his last few words when he saw the hurt on Edith’s face. “Talk to Cookie and have him explain. I have things to do.”
Judge Gleason took a step forward. “Now you wait one minute. Something underhanded is going on around here, and you’ve got Ilene mixed up in it. What do you have to say for yourself, and how are you planning to make things right?” His voice grew louder with each word. The whole Plunkett family turned and stared.
Tramp put on his mask of indifference. It was harder to wear this time. He wanted them to know he was angry, but that wouldn’t help Ilene any. “The only thing going on is Ilene nearly died out on the range, and I’m nursing her back to health. Right now I’m the best candidate. The other men are needed to round up the cattle, Shannon is busy with Olivia, Cookie and Jasper’s wife are doing the rest of the work. Cookie brings us food. Shannon comes and takes care of any of Ilene’s personal needs, including bathing her. Mainly, I watch over her as she sleeps, and I make sure she eats. I even read to her. But that is all. Did you even look at her? She can hardly move, so how we could be doing anything inappropriate is beyond me. I think of it as one friend looking after another. That is all I’m going to say on the subject. Now I need to go, Ilene isn’t so fond of Ava. Good day.” He didn’t wait for their replies, just turned and marched into the house and slammed the door shut.
He didn’t care about the shock on their faces or their disapproval. None of it mattered to him. Now he had to untangle the mess Ava had made. He stopped and took a deep breath. She was just trying to help. She didn’t need his anger.
Ilene listened while Ava chattered on and on about marrying Tramp. It was painful to hear, but Tramp had his own life. He’d never mentioned Ava to her, so the
news stunned her. A lump grew in her throat.
“He is ever so handsome, don’t you think?” Ava asked as she plopped herself down on a chair next to the bed.
“I suppose.”
“He has wonderful manners, and have you noticed how strong he looks?” Ava smiled widely.
“He is strong. He’s had to carry me more than once.” Ilene was being catty but she didn’t care. “I’m getting a bit tired. Could you go make a fresh pot of coffee?”
Ava nodded and stood. “Of course. I’m good in the kitchen. I’ll be a fine wife.” She walked out of the room with a bounce in her step.
Ilene’s bottom lip trembled as she tried to fight off the despair that filled her. She had no claim on Tramp. He probably didn’t really like her. Why would he? She was just someone he was helping out at the instruction of Shannon. He must be visiting Ava whenever Ilene napped or was with Shannon. She tried to fight off the despair that filled her.
It was none of her business. Tramp was his own man and could marry whoever he wanted. And then…Tramp and Ava would be living in this fine house. Ilene sighed. She’d known she’d have to leave soon but it felt as though she was being pushed out. When was the wedding taking place? Was Shannon helping them to plan it? Each thought squeezed her heart. There must be something special about Ava. She’d only been here a few days.
Ilene lay looking at the ceiling willing her tears to go away, but instead they slid down the side of her face. She heard Tramp come back into the house and then she heard him and Ava murmuring. Her tears spilled faster.
“Here’s your coffee, Ilene.” Tramp put the cup on the table and frowned. “Hey, is the pain that bad?”
Tramp's Bride Page 7
