by Barbara Goss
He swore again, walked to the door, and yelled, “Who is it?” gruffly.
“Sheriff Conn—open this door immediately, or I’ll kick it in,” came the answer.
Elise could no longer see T.J.’s shadow. She swallowed hard. T.J. had a gun, and she knew he’d use it rather than get caught.
Sure enough, T.J. fired several shots into the wooden door. He had a six-shooter, and after his last bullet, the door came crashing in. So much happened so quickly that all she remembered was Harlan picking her up and running with her.
She rested her head on his shoulder. Despite all the commotion, it felt wonderful and safe.
When she felt cool air on her body, she knew they were outside of the hotel.
Harlan stood her up, but he held her securely. “Are you all right?”
All Elise could manage was a nod.
“Did he hurt you?”
Elise pointed at her temple, where T.J. had punched her.
“That dirty, rotten... he did that to carry you into the hotel quietly. If I didn’t have to take care of you right now, I’d go up there and break every bone in his lily-livered body.”
Pedro walked up to them. “The sheriff has him. It’s a good thing he warned us all to stand away from the door. He must have known the man would try to shoot us through the door.”
Harlan said, “Here—hold Elise. I’m going up there and knock the daylights out of him.”
“No,” Elise cried, “I want to stay with you.”
He looked down at her, “But...”
“I feel safe, don’t let go of me.”
Elise rested her head on his chest. “Let the sheriff handle him.” Her head throbbed, but she still felt secure in Harlan’s strong arms, and she didn’t want to leave him.
She heard a commotion along with a lot of swearing as the sheriff led T.J. out of the hotel. Sheriff Conn walked T.J. right up to Harlan and Elise. “Here,” he said, “I think this money I found in his pocket belongs to you.”
Elise watched Harlan take the thick wad of money and put it in his pocket.
“Wait,” T.J. yelled, “some of that money is from my cattle drive.”
“Yeah, well those cattle weren’t yours to sell. I’m taking you to jail, and then you’ll tell me where the poor owner of that ranch in Hunter’s Grove is.” Sheriff Conn pushed T.J. down the street to the jailhouse at gunpoint.
“Is Elise all right?” Clay asked.
“I think so,” Harlan said. “I’ll check her over better when we get home. She’ll ride with me.”
Harlan handed Elise to Clay while he mounted his horse. He picked her up by her waist and sat her in front of him. “If you feel sick or dizzy, just lean back and rest on me.”
When they got Elise home, Martha ripped her from his arms, and said she was going to prepare her for bed, and then, when she was done, he could come up to check on her.
As soon as Martha walked in with Elise, Millie ran to her and hugged her. “I was so worried.”
“I’m going to get her cleaned up and ready for bed. You skedaddle into your bed and try to sleep. It’s late,” Martha said.
When Harlan walked into the bedroom, she was covered to her chin. She smiled at him because he looked so worried. “I’m fine.”
“Let me examine your head.” He felt her head, eying it carefully. “He didn’t break the skin, but you have a nice goose egg.”
“And a headache,” she murmured.
Clay peeked in. “You all right, Elise?”
“I’m fine, Clay. Don’t worry.”
Martha said, “I think everyone needs to leave so she can get some sleep.”
Harlan shook his head. “I believe that’s the worst thing she can do until Pedro returns with Doc Grant. If she has a concussion, sleeping isn’t a good idea.”
“I think you’re right,” Martha said. “I do recall hearing that somewhere. I’ll go down and put the kettle on.”
After a thorough examination by the doctor, Elise was allowed to sleep, but she woke up several times in the night, not in shock over her kidnapping, but remembering how safe it had felt in Harlan’s arms.
Harlan lay in bed, trying to relax enough to sleep. The night had been so action- and emotion-filled, he felt wound up tighter than a clock as he tossed and turned. Harlan thought about how the night could have ended, and his heart pounded like a drum against the quilt. T.J. had meant to make Elise his, but thankfully, she stayed unconscious. Things could have ended so differently, and he must have thanked God ten times that night.
What if the clerk had given him the room number? He’d have barged into the room and probably gotten himself shot. Thankfully, he’d gotten the sheriff first. He wouldn’t have had the sense to move to the side of the door after knocking. No, he would have been charged with emotion and just crashed through the door to face T.J. and his six-shooter.
Then, he thought, what if he hadn’t gone to town looking for Elise, and T.J. had violated her and probably have left her for dead? Chills ran through his body. As usual, God had protected them all. Elise had become such an indispensable part of the family, he couldn’t imagine her not being there. Was that a subconscious hint to him of some kind? There was only one way to keep her there forever and that would be to marry her. He cared deeply for her—that night had proven as much to him. The big question was: how did she feel about him?
He remembered how Elise’s body had trembled with fear when he’d held her, and it had taken her a while to calm. She’d felt good in his arms, and he was glad she felt safe there.
All of his money had been returned, and then some. He’d square things with Jay when he came for the auction.
The auction!
Harlan sat up in bed. He had just a few weeks to prepare for it. Would he be able to do it?
Chapter Seventeen
Elise awoke, but she kept her eyes closed. The window shade hadn’t been pulled down the night before, and she knew before opening her eyes that the room would be flooded with sunlight, and her head still hurt. She massaged her temples lightly in an effort to lessen the pain, grimacing when the pain worsened at her touch. She let her hands fall back to her sides on the bed, and she prayed that her pain would lessen. The doctor had left some laudanum, but she didn’t want to take it unless she had to.
She sighed.
A strong, callused hand took hold of hers. It startled her somewhat, but she knew to whom it belonged. Her heart told her, since its beating had increased. “Harlan?” she whispered.
He rubbed her hand. “I’m here. I thought you were asleep until you moved your arms.”
“If you pull down the shade, I’ll open my eyes.”
Harlan let go of her hand, and she missed it being there. It had been comforting. She could see the room was darker, even through her closed eyelids. Elise opened them and blinked several times.
“How do you feel this morning?” he asked.
“My head feels like it was run over by a stampede of cattle.”
“I see the doctor left you some laudanum. Let me give you a little.”
Elise wanted to shake her head, but she knew it would be too painful. She was now desperately in need of something, so she said, “Just a little. I don’t want to sleep the day away.”
While he prepared the medicine, she wondered how much of a mess she must look. Her hair must be a sight, she knew her face would be pale, and she probably had dark circles under her eyes. Since there wasn’t much she could do about it, she hoped he’d remember how she'd looked on Sunday in her best dress and hairdo.
Harlan said, “Let me prop your head up a little.” He put his arm gently under her neck and shoulders, lifted her with one hand, and held the spoon to her mouth with the other. “I’ve given you half of what the doctor ordered.” He eased her slowly back onto the pillow.
“Can I follow that with a chaser?” she said with a grimace.
“What? Oh, water, yes.” He poured her some water from a pitcher on the dresser into a cup, a
nd lifted her, once again, so she could drink.
“Laudanum isn’t the best tasting,” she said.
“I’ve never had it, but I heard it was nasty,” he said, seating himself on the chair beside her bed.
“Where is everyone else?” she asked.
“Since it’s just six in the morning, no one else is up yet, although I think I heard Martha rattling a pan or two downstairs.”
“I think it wouldn’t hurt to sleep a few more hours, then,” she said, closing her eyes.
He put his hand over hers again. “I did want to say something, though.”
“All right.”
“I’m sincerely sorry for being angry with you about bringing T.J. to the ranch. I got angry because I love Millie so much, and I thought I’d lost her. Even though I’m a God-fearing man, if I’d have caught the man who hurt Millie, I think, I’d have killed him.”
“It was my fault entirely. I told him I had a job at a large horse-breeding ranch. I didn’t realize this was the only one in Russell. My mother warned me about talking to strangers, but it was such a long trip, and—”
“Shush, now. You’re getting all worked up over something that no longer matters. I was equally concerned when you went missing.” He squeezed her hand. “You’ve become dear to us all.”
Just after he'd said that, she must have fallen asleep. She didn’t remember anything after that because her body relaxed when the medicine started doing its job.
What finally woke her was the smell of food. Her stomach growled slightly at the aroma. She was extremely hungry, and her head felt much better. She opened her eyes to see a concerned Millie standing at the foot of the bed, and Martha setting a tray on the bedside table.
“Finally, she’s awake, Martha!” Millie exclaimed.
“Just in time for some chicken and dumplings. Your favorite,” Martha said as she propped up another pillow behind Elise. Then, she left the room, saying something about tea.
“What time is it?”
“It’s suppertime, Elise,” Millie answered. “I have to go tell Papa you’re awake. He’s been very worried about you.”
“Why? I was just asleep.”
Millie paused on her way out of the bedroom. “He was afraid he'd given you too much medicine.”
Millie wasn’t gone five minutes before Harlan came rushing in. “Are you all right?”
“No, I’m starving. Can you help me to the chair so I can eat properly?”
He handed her the cotton robe that lay across the bottom of her bed and helped her slip her arms into the robe. “Are you sure you’re able to get up and walk to the chair?”
“I’m fine,” she answered, sliding her feet to the side of the bed and carefully covering them with the robe. “My headache is nearly gone, but I’m starving.”
Harlan took her arm and walked her to the chair. He pulled the nightstand in front of her so she could eat from the plate on top of it.
After taking several large forkfuls, she smiled. “Martha made my favorite dish.”
“I’ll leave you to your meal, but I’ll be back in fifteen minutes to walk you back to the bed,” Harlan warned.
Millie was thrilled that not only were Elise and her Papa speaking, but they were actually being friendly. What could she do to make her prayers come true?
In school, she’d learned that Ben Franklin had said, “The Lord helps those who help themselves,” and hadn’t Martha said that sometimes we have to do our part to help God answer our prayers? She wasn’t sure if God worked with love or not, but she had to think of a way to make sure Elise became her mama.
She’d been doing a lot of spying and listening at the door. Her papa was actually overly kind and helpful to Elise. Was that enough, though? Elise had said that for a marriage to take place, the couple had to be in love—how might she make that happen? She had to try. Her papa had said he would be back to help Elise get into bed. She knew what she had to do, and her tool to do it was hanging on the kitchen wall. When Martha caught her taking the tool and asked what she was doing, Millie answered, “I’m helping God.”
True to his word, Harlan returned to help Elise back into bed.
“Thank you, Harlan, but I think tomorrow I’d like to get back to normal. I still have two horses to train, and I feel fine, now.”
“I’ll tell you what—I’ll get the doctor here in the morning, and if he agrees, I’ll let you get back to work,” he said easing her onto the bed. As he was adjusting her pillows, the door to the room slammed shut, and they heard a key turn in the lock.
Harlan went to the door and tried to open it. “Millie? Open this door!”
“Is it locked?” Elise asked.
“Yes, and I know who did it because I heard her little feet scamper down the hall.”
“Why would she—oh, no,” Elise said with a sigh.
Harlan returned to her bedside. “You know why Millie locked us up?”
Elise felt herself flush, which she knew meant she was blushing. “I’m afraid I do.”
“Please, let me in on the secret.”
“It’s not a secret... well, not exactly. I don’t know the whole story, but from what little I could get from Martha and Millie, it seems my coming here wasn’t totally an accident.”
“What do you mean?”
Elise didn’t like seeing Harlan frown again, but she had to tell him. “Millie wants me to… um... be her… um... mama.”
“What?”
Now, Harlan sounded angry. It didn’t matter. He’d find out sooner or later.
“It seems Millie confessed to Martha that she wanted a mother. Martha didn’t have an answer for her until you mentioned you needed a horse trainer. That’s when Martha remembered me. She sincerely sent for me to train your horses, but they had hoped... at least, Millie did, that we’d...” Too embarrassed to finish her sentence, she simply shrugged.
“I get the idea.” Harlan turned around to face the door so Elise had no idea if he was laughing, smiling, or frowning. He then turned and sat in the chair with his head in his hands.
Elise was silent and unsure of what to say or do.
Finally, he spoke, and he sounded apologetic. “Millie wanted a mother. She never told me. I never planned on marrying—I had no idea how that would affect her. I love her so much, and I’d give her anything she wanted if I could, but this? This is something I can’t easily give her.”
“Why not? The ranch is already successful, and I’m sure you could find a woman to marry.”
“Here in Russell? There are very few single women.”
“Oh,” was all Elise thought to say.
“However,” Harlan said slowly, “there is someone I am terribly fond of, but I’m not sure if she feels the same. I wasn’t sure about her, but she gradually stole my heart.”
Elise felt so disappointed by his answer that she had to look away to blink back tears. Finally, she said, “My mother once told me that, when she met my father, she didn’t care for him at all. Of course, they grew to love each other and slowly, too. If you really are in love with the woman, you need to tell her and propose. Not just for Millie, but for yourself.”
“Hm... I think you’re right, Elise. I guess sometimes men are afraid to confess they love someone, fearing it won’t be mutual, and that he’d feel like a fool.”
“Being a woman, I’d say that if she didn’t reciprocate that love, she’d still be honored, and if she’s a decent, well-bred woman, she’d let you down easy.”
Harlan nodded. “I think you’re right, but how do we get out of this room?”
Elise replied, “You tell Millie you have a mother all picked out for her, and you’ll ask her to marry you, soon. That should make her happy.”
“What if she doesn't like the woman?”
“Millie? She’s such a sweet girl, she’d love any woman you choose; I’m sure of it.”
Harlan hesitated while stroking the arms of the chair. “What if...”
Elise waited for the rest of h
is sentence, but he’d stopped short. “What if?” she asked.
“What if you were that woman?” Harlan blurted.
Chapter Eighteen
Elise was stunned at first, but then she thought that he might just want her opinion as a woman. “If it were me? I’d love to be Millie’s mother. I love that child. However, when you’re talking about marriage, feelings for each other would have to be mutual. You can’t marry a woman because of your daughter’s like or dislike of her.”
“That’s not what I meant, Elise.”
Her heart pounded so hard in her chest she feared he’d hear it. “Did you mean what if I were the woman you’d proposed to, and I didn’t feel the same way about you? I’d tell you how honored I was to have such a fine, successful, smart, and handsome man confess his love for me, but I’d explain that I didn’t feel the same. Then, I’d suggest we continue being friends. Is this woman someone here in Russell, Harlan?”
“I’m afraid she’s someone in this very room.”
Elise gasped, and she noticed the hurt in Harlan’s eyes. “No, Harlan... I was surprised is all. Are you saying you love me?” she whispered.
Harlan simply nodded.
Elise felt tongue-tied for a few moments, and she saw Harlan’s face prepare for disappointment. “I love you, as well.”
Harlan smiled. He fell down on his knees before the bed. “Will you marry me, Elise?”
Once Elise had calmed down her heart and pulse, she said, “It’s not that simple... yet.”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Love comes in many forms. I love Millie, too.”
“So, what are you saying?” he asked, resuming his seat on the chair.
“I’m saying that I want to know what makes you think you love me, then I’ll tell you why I think I love you. It really has to be genuine, Harlan."
“All right. I’ll start with the first time I realized I might be in love with you. It was during our walks together and when we were working together. It was the way you treated Millie and Clay. The way they both loved you, although I had no idea Millie was looking for a mother. The idea of love was there, but it was not yet definite enough to admit it, even to myself. Then, Millie was kidnapped, and I blamed you. I was truly angry, and the whole atmosphere in the house changed. You’d brought so much life and laughter into the home, but now, everyone was sullen and cross. That’s when I knew I’d been wrong to be angry with you. Before I had the chance to properly apologize, I had to leave town to go after T.J. and his friend. During that trip, I thought about you all the time. I dreaded coming home because I thought you might have left.
