by Connie Mason
Sarah barely listened as Ryan rambled on. She was still seething at the callous way Chad had revealed her secret to his brother. The least he could have done was ask her permission to divulge her secret. She hoped Ryan didn’t expect her to marry Chad. She’d already had one child out of wedlock. She supposed that having another couldn’t do any further damage to her reputation.
Suddenly Sarah turned a peculiar shade of green as the same vile morning sickness she’d been experiencing the past couple of weeks returned with a vengeance. Bile rose in her throat and she swallowed convulsively.
“Would you be needin’ this, Miz Sarah?” Cookie asked, noting her sudden pallor. “Chad asked me to brew up some of them herbs he gave me yesterday in case you needed them this morning.” He handed her a cup.
“Thank you,” Sarah said as she took a sip of the soothing tea. “It does seem to help.”
“Now you know why Chad wants you to stay home,” Ryan contended. “You can’t travel while heaving your guts out every morning.”
“Your concern is gratifying,” Sarah said sarcastically. Ryan made her sound weak and incompetent. She’d managed fairly well on her own until Chad came along and disrupted her life. “Pregnancy is a natural condition, the sickness will pass in a few weeks.”
“But until it does, you’re better off at home where we can take care of you.”
“Excuse me,” Sarah said, pushing up from the table. “I think I’ll return to my room. The tea seemed to work wonders.”
“That’s one stubborn woman,” Ryan remarked after Sarah left. “We’re going to have our hands full trying to keep her from following Chad. Cookie, if I ever get notions about taking a wife, just remind me of the problems Pierce and Chad had with their women.”
“Why do you think I never got hitched?” Cookie said, slapping his knee and chuckling. “It’s gonna be kinda nice havin’ a little one around, though. Can’t wait to spoil the tyke.”
Sarah didn’t see Chad again until he returned late that night and let himself into her room. She would have locked the door on him but couldn’t find the key. He looked so tired, though, she almost forgot how shabbily he had treated her.
“Everything is ready. We’re heading out at first light tomorrow,” Chad said as he sat heavily upon the bed.
“I’m going with you,” Sarah insisted.
“You’re staying here.” Chad’s tone brooked no argument. “It’s bitter cold outside. The snow isn’t deep right now, but that could change tomorrow, or the next day. Montana winters are unpredictable.”
Sarah thought it best not to argue. She didn’t want to rouse his suspicion. She knew what she was going to do and no one was going to stop her.
Chad undressed quickly and climbed into bed. Before Sarah could move away, Chad captured her in his arms and brought her against him. “You feel so good,” he whispered as he nuzzled her cheek. “And you smell good, too. I never believed it possible to want a woman the way I want you.”
“It’s too late, Chad,” Sarah said, trying to push him away. “I don’t want you.” To Sarah’s disgust, her body didn’t agree with her mind and she knew Chad sensed it.
“I want to love you, Sarah.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. It’s not what I want.”
“I think it is,” he said. Suddenly he frowned and placed a splayed hand over her stomach. “Will it hurt the baby? If I recall, Pierce and Zoey had a rather active love life while she was increasing.”
“It won’t hurt the baby, but that doesn’t mean…” Her sentence ended in a gurgle of surprise as Chad’s mouth converged on hers.
He kissed her ravenously, showing her without words how much he loved her, how sorry he was to have hurt her, and how desperately he needed her right now.
His kisses were potent reminders of Sarah’s attraction for Chad. His roving hands and soft lips made it difficult to resist the need pounding through her. She tried, truly she did. But the clamoring of her blood and furious beating of her heart destroyed her will, making her even more resentful of Chad and the effect he had upon her. He had besotted her mind until she fancied herself in love with him. Now her mind refused to believe she no longer loved or wanted him.
“Let me,” Chad said as he raised her nightgown and kissed a trail of fire to the sensitive crests of her breasts.
Sarah forgot to breathe as his lips closed around an aroused peak and he suckled her. She made one last effort to defy his seduction, and when that failed, she gave a small cry of surrender and arched up against him.
“Sarah… Sarah…” He sighed her name as he spread her legs and thrust into her.
Sarah tried to deny her love for this exasperating man, attempted to control her response, but failed miserably. Chad was touching her in places, both inside and out, that made her body sing and her blood boil. She felt her soul leaving her body; she was a mass of tingling nerve endings and skin so sensitive Chad’s merest touch set her to trembling. Then she shattered, crying out from the sheer beauty of it.
Chad held onto his control by sheer dint of will. He was so near to the edge he could feel his seed rushing toward final culmination. When Sarah went to pieces beneath him, he set himself free, grasping her thighs and raising them to his shoulders, opening her to his furious stroking. Then he was there, crying out her name as his seed filled her.
Sarah knew that no other man could ever affect her like Chad. He had but to touch her and she was his to do with as he pleased. Freddie Jackson had hurt her in the worst possible way, but Chad had driven all the pain from her mind and heart. She wasn’t a sinner like her parents claimed. She was a mother who loved her son intensely. And she would love this child just as fiercely. Deep in her heart, she knew she loved Chad, too.
Chad watched the play of emotions on Sarah’s face. She was so transparent he could almost read her thoughts. He prudently refrained from intruding upon her silence as he held her in his arms, content with the knowledge that she would be safe when he left tomorrow. Then he felt Sarah relax against him and knew she had finally fallen asleep. Only then did he seek his own rest.
Sarah awoke with a start, dismayed to find that Chad had already left her. She glanced out the window at the hazy gray dawn and realized she had overslept. She wasn’t too worried. She’d have no trouble catching up with Chad and the slow-moving cows. She rose swiftly and dressed in her warmest clothing. Then she reached for the doorknob, stunned when the door refused to budge. She spit out an unladylike oath, enraged at Chad’s devious methods to control her.
He had locked her in! How dare he.
Sarah pounded on the door until her knuckles bled. No one responded. She cried and cursed, to no avail. She should have known Chad would do something despicable like this. He’d been deaf to her pleas, ignoring her need to be with her son. And to think she’d actually been softening toward Chad. No one, absolutely no one, was going to keep her from her son.
Cookie unlocked the door to bring her breakfast a short time later. Sarah sent him a venomous look and turned away. “Take the tray away. I’ll eat downstairs in the kitchen.”
Cookie gave her a soulful look. “Sorry, Miz Sarah, Chad’s orders. You can take supper downstairs with Ryan this evening. But you’re to be locked in your room again tonight. Chad ain’t takin’ no chances this time. He don’t want to worry about you tryin’ to follow him. You’d best eat somethin’. I brewed you some tea, drink that first.”
He left before Sarah’s scathing reply left her mouth. She heard the key turn in the lock and felt the uncontrollable urge to pick up the tray of food and toss it at the closed door. Clenching her fists, she forced a calm she didn’t feel. Whether she liked it or not, she was stuck in this room, and when she was finally released it would be too late to catch up with Chad. She should have anticipated that he’d try something like this and been prepared to deal with it. There was nothing for her now but to sit home and pray that Chad reached Abner in time, and that he found the boy in good health.
Chad found travel agonizingly slow. Driving cows, even a small number of them, during winter was time-consuming and difficult. Chad was kept busy digging them out of the drifts and prodding them to maintain a steady pace. Fortunately the weather held. Though no new snow had fallen, the wind at times whipped what snow there was into a fine froth, while the temperatures were manageable, but barely. Still, Chad kept to his pace.
Despite his efforts to remain focused on the trail, Chad couldn’t help but wonder about Sarah. He regretted having to lock her in her bedroom, and feared it would adversely affect their faltering relationship. He had wanted to keep her safe and would do it again if he had to. Still, he couldn’t help glancing behind him, fearing that Sarah would somehow outsmart her brother and Cookie and follow him. When three days passed with no sign of Sarah, Chad allowed himself to breathe easily again. If nothing drastic happened in the next several days, he would reach Cunning Wolf’s camp with time to spare.
“The camp is just beyond those trees up ahead,” Chad told Murray as they herded the cows along a narrow trail. Suddenly several braves burst from the trees, surrounding them on all sides. Chad greeted them calmly but warily.
Chad hissed a warning when Murray and Clem shifted nervously in their saddles and looked as if they wanted to bolt. “Don’t be frightened. All they want are the cows.” Then he spied Spotted Deer and rode forward to meet her.
“Come no further,” Spotted Deer said, raising her hand to stop them.
“What is it?” Chad asked in alarm. “Where is Abner?”
“There is sickness in the camp. It came on suddenly. One of our people must have caught the spotted sickness before we left the reservation and told no one for fear of being left behind. It spread swiftly. Many have died.”
Chad paled. “Smallpox. What about Abner? Is he … Has he…” He couldn’t say the word, let alone think it.
“Abner is sick, but he still lives. I have been treating him with herbs and ancient remedies. He is strong; he will not die.”
“What about Sarah? Could she still fall ill from the disease?”
“I believe Sarah is safe. She did not mingle with us like Abner did.”
Chad allowed himself to breathe again. “Are you sure Abner will recover?” If anything happened to Abner, Sarah would never forgive him.
“I have done everything in my power to save him. I will bring him to you.”
“That won’t be necessary. I’ve already had smallpox. I will get him myself.”
Spotted Deer nodded and trotted off.
“Wait here,” Chad told his companions. “I’m going to get Abner.” He took off through the trees after Spotted Deer as the Indians took charge of the cows and wagon.
Few people were in sight as Chad entered the camp. The ill were unable to move from their beds, and those who were well nursed the sick. Chad found Abner lying on a pallet in Spotted Deer’s tipi. He dropped to his knees and brushed damp strands of hair from Abner’s forehead. His pale face was covered with tiny eruptions and he moved restlessly upon his pallet. Abner opened his eyes when Chad lifted him into his arm.
“You’re here,” Abner said weakly. “I’ve been waiting. Where’s Mama?”
“Waiting for you at home. I’m taking you away from here, son. We’ll be home in no time.”
“I’m sick, Chad. Am I gonna die?”
Chad forced a smile. “No, you’re not going to die. I won’t let you.”
“The wagon has been unloaded and fitted with a pallet for Abner,” Spotted Deer said.
“A wagon will slow us down. You keep it. I need to get Abner home as quickly as possible.” He ducked outside and handed Abner to Spotted Deer. After he mounted, he held out his arms for the boy. “What about Jackson and Sanchez?” he asked as he settled Abner on his thighs. “I’d like to turn them over to the law.”
Spotted Deer’s expression hardened. “Fred-die cheated me of my revenge. He was one of the first to die of the spotted sickness. I wanted to peel the skin from him strip by strip, but it was denied me. Sanchez died yesterday. They are beyond the law now.”
“It’s just as well,” Chad said, feeling no remorse over their deaths. Jackson had put Sarah and Abner through hell “What will you and your people do now?”
“When our sick recover, we will journey to Canada, where we can live free. The cows will feed us until we reach our new hunting grounds, and the blankets will keep us warm.”
“May your journey lead you to peace,” Chad said, eager to be off as he nudged his horse into motion. With luck and good weather on his side, he would reach home soon. He prayed that Abner would survive the trip.
“He’s back!” Cookie cried, rushing into the kitchen to inform Sarah and Ryan. “He just rode into the yard.”
“Is Abner with him?” Sarah asked, leaping to her feet.
“He sure is,” Cookie grinned. “Come see for yourself.”
Sarah grabbed a wrap and ran out the door. Ryan followed more slowly, hindered by his crutches. She skidded to a halt when she saw Chad dismount with Abner in his arms. Abner was so still Sarah knew immediately that something was wrong, dreadfully wrong. She ran out to meet them.
“Stop her!” Chad shouted. “Don’t let her come any closer.”
His words stunned Sarah. She faltered, inadvertently allowing Ryan to catch up with her.
“What is it?” Ryan asked. He was having trouble restraining Sarah and motioned for Cookie to help.
“Smallpox,” Chad said grimly. “I know you’ve had smallpox, Ryan, but I don’t know about Sarah or Cookie.”
Sarah tried to break free, but failed. “I’ve not had smallpox, but…”
“Then you can’t come near,” Chad warned. “What about you. Cookie?”
“Not that I know of, Chad.”
“Then Ryan and I will be the only ones allowed in Abner’s room until he’s fully recovered.”
Sarah couldn’t believe her ears. It wasn’t enough that Chad had separated her from Abner, now he wanted to keep her away from her son’s sickbed. “You can’t do that!” she all but screamed at him.
“Be reasonable, Sarah,” Chad pleaded as he carried Abner into the house. “You’ve a responsibility to your unborn child. If you catch smallpox, you’d harm an innocent child. Think about it.”
Ryan held Sarah securely as Chad disappeared inside the house. Sarah was wild with worry. Her child was sick and needed her. If she didn’t already hate Chad, she would now. Garnering her strength, she twisted out of Ryan’s grasp and rushed after Chad. She arrived too late. Chad had already reached Abner’s room and closed the door to her. Undaunted, Sarah grasped the doorknob, fully intending to disobey Chad’s orders and care for her son herself. Her intentions were thwarted when she found the door locked against her.
“Damn you, Chad Delaney! You can’t keep me away from Abner. Let me in!”
“I sent Murray to town for the doctor,” Chad called through the door. “Don’t worry, love, I won’t let anything happen to Abner.”
When it became apparent that Chad wasn’t going to let her inside the sickroom, Sarah slid down the length of the door to the floor. She wasn’t going to move until Chad let her in. Ryan stayed with her but didn’t try to move her. Two hours later, Doctor Adams arrived and found her huddled against the door with Ryan sitting beside her.
“This is Doc Adams, Sarah,” Ryan said, helping her to her feet. “He’s going to take care of Abner. Move away so he can go inside.”
“Thank God you’re here,” Sarah said on a sob. “I’m Sarah Temple. Abner is my son. Chad won’t let me in the room.”
The rotund doctor gazed at Sarah with compassion. “Let me go in first, Sarah. If I think it’s safe for you to go inside, you’ll be allowed in immediately. Am I right to assume you’ve never had smallpox?”
“Yes, but…”
“Ryan said you’re pregnant.”
Sarah slid Ryan a reproachful glance. “That’s true, but…”
“Let me be the
judge of matters pertaining to health,” the doctor said kindly.
Chad must have heard voices in the hallway, for he appeared in the open doorway and motioned the doctor inside. Before Sarah could follow, the door closed in her face and the key turned in the lock. “Damn you, Chad,” she muttered darkly.
“Cookie has a pot of coffee going, why don’t you go down to the kitchen and wait. You’re not accomplishing anything up here,” Ryan said.
“I can’t accomplish anything down there, either,” Sarah said crossly. “I want to see Abner. I’m his mother, Ryan. Why can’t anyone see that he needs me? This wouldn’t have happened if Chad hadn’t taken me away from Abner against my will.”
“Now that’s downright stupid,” Ryan chided. “You could have done nothing to prevent this. Besides, you might have fallen ill yourself. Think of the consequences, Sarah. Chad did the right thing.”
Sarah turned away, refusing to bandy words with Ryan. Chad and his brother were cut from the same fabric; she expected them to stick together.
As the minutes ticked by, Ryan was unable to coax Sarah from the hallway outside Abner’s closed door. She paced restlessly, hardly noticing when Ryan gave up and returned downstairs. A good hour passed before the door opened and Doctor Adams stepped into the hallway to speak to Sarah.
“How is he, Doctor? Can I go inside now?”
“Abner is holding his own, Sarah. He’s young and healthy. I expect him to make a full recovery. Chad is doing a fine job of caring for him.”
“Chad isn’t his mother. I want to see Abner.”
“I’m afraid that’s impossible. Abner is still contagious. I’ve left medicine and instructions for its use. And I’ve instructed Chad to bathe the lad with a baking soda mixture to ease the itching. We don’t want Abner to carry scars the rest of his life, do we?”
“How long are you going to keep me from my son?” Sarah asked, refusing to be humored.
Suddenly the door opened and Chad stepped into the hallway. Sarah ignored him.
