"I hear you, Lizzie. I expect the whole town hears you," Cooper said with a grin.
She shook her finger at him. "Don't you sass me, boy! This ain't funny, not a bit. It's a pure— o— dee miracle that ol' Rev. Norris didn' shoot you on sight, keepin' his precious baby girl out so late."
Lizzie's unreasonable animosity toward Katybeth Norris was becoming downright humorous and if he hadn't been upset by Eli's news, Cooper would have let her rant a while longer just for the fun of it. But he had other things on his mind now, so he told her the truth— not all of it, of course, but enough, at least, to pacify her misplaced anger.
"If it'll make you feel any better, Lizzie, I took Katybeth home at nine o'clock sharp, just as I promised I would."
Lizzie stopped grumbling and looked at him. "You wasn' out with Lil' Miss Titmouse all this time?"
"Lizzie, her name's not...oh, forget it. No, I wasn't out with Katybeth all this time. Something came up that I had to attend to."
Lizzie eyed him suspiciously. "And jis' what came up that kep' you out 'til 'way after midnight?"
Memories of that which had, quite literally, come up, flashed in his mind's eye and he grinned in spite of himself. But when he saw Lizzie's glower he quickly cleared his throat and said sternly, "It doesn't matter. It had nothing to do with Katybeth, I can assure you."
"Well, in that case..." Lizzie sniffed as she prepared to leave, "I reckon I'll leave you alone."
"Thank God," Cooper murmured. He hadn't intended for Lizzie to hear that remark, but the look she shot him told him that she had. "Shall I get one of the deputies to see you home?" he said quickly. "It's late for you to be walking alone."
"Naw, Sam Hayden's in the kitchen. He been waitin' to see me home since nine o'clock." She looked at him accusingly. "That is the time you tol' me you'd be back."
"I know, and I'm sorry I was so late, Lizzie. Am I forgiven?"
She snorted. "Well, I reckon I'll forgive you this time."
He bent to kiss her cheek. "Thanks old girl. You're a peach."
"Don't be tryin' to sweet— talk me, Boy. You go say hello to Sam while I look in on Lil' Miss Sugar— boo."
Cooper went in the kitchen to speak with Sam while Lizzie checked on Annie one last time. "I'm sorry I kept you waiting, Sam."
He big boned, ebony hued man grinned up at him. "No problem, Sheriff. Lizzie fed me some of her de— licious pecan pie. I do most anythang for a piece of that pie."
Cooper grinned. "You'll do most anything for Lizzie, won't you?"
"Yeah suh, that's the truth."
"Why don't you make an honest woman of her?"
Sam's grin grew wider. "I done tried and tried, but Lizzie she say she ain't gonna get married again till you do."
Cooper lifted a brow. "Oh, she did, did she?"
"Yeah suh, that's what she say."
Cooper leaned over and murmured in Sam's ear. "Well, you best be getting some wedding duds, Sam, 'cause I may be getting married again real soon."
"What you two whisperin' about?" Lizzie asked when she entered the kitchen.
"We're just having a little man— to— man discussion, Lizzie."
"Huh! Anytimes two mens gits they heads together, it mean trouble."
Cooper covered his heart with his hand. "Lizzie, you wound me!"
"If you wasn' so big, I'd switch your teasin' hide, Cooper Matthews, jis like I done when you wasn' no bigger than a tadpole."
Sam chuckled and took Lizzie's arm. "Come on, Woman, you done fussed at that poor man enuff for one night."
"What you mean, I done fussed enuff. I'll have you know, Sam Hayden, that I— " Cooper chuckled softly and shut the door on the last of Lizzie's protestations. Then, turning down the lamp in the kitchen, he tiptoed down the hall to Annie's room.
She was lying on her side, her dimpled arm thrown over the ever— present Gawggie. Cooper smiled and touched Annie's hair and a pale curl wrapped around his finger. After a moment, he pulled her blanket over her shoulders and tucked her in. "I love you, Annie," he whispered, and bent to kiss her plump cheek. "Sweet dreams, Angel— Face."
Assured that Annie was down for the night, Cooper went to his own room. As he stripped off his clothes, he noticed a spot of blood on the small bandage that covered the wound at his groin. He inspected the wound and saw that it was no longer bleeding. He supposed the evening's strenuous exercise had caused it to ooze. It occurred to him that he hadn't even thought his injury. If there had been any pain, he hadn't noticed— hell, he doubted he would have noticed a herd of buffalo trampling him at that point. His mind had been on only two things: Mary Louise and the way she responded to his lovemaking. God, she was wonderful! He wanted to experience making love to her again, and again, maybe even for the rest of his life.
Cooper flopped on his bed and sandwiched his hands under his head. Now he must wrestle with his latest dilemma— if what Eli told him were true— and he had no reason to doubt his attorney— he had no legal claim to Annie. Which meant that there was a distinct possibility that Mary Louise could convince a Court of Law that she, as Annie's aunt, had a legitimate claim to her niece. Eli seemed to have offered the only solution to this latest problem: Marry Annie's aunt as soon as possible.
Cooper smiled to himself as he suddenly realized that the idea didn't sound half bad. As a matter of fact, he rather liked the idea of taking Mary Louise as his lawful wife. Such a marriage would mean he'd always be Annie's father and, as an added bonus, he would be able to make love to Mary Louise whenever he liked. It was almost too perfect! He'd be a fool not to follow through with the idea. Now, all he had to do was tell Mary Louise that he'd changed his mind and would take her up on her proposal after all. Considering what had happened between them tonight, he was certain she would no long insist that the marriage be in name only. Cooper smiled in the darkness. He could hardly wait to see her face when he told her the good news.
THE NEXT morning, Cooper went directly to the hotel. He was whistling when he stepped up to the front desk and smiled at the clerk. "Would you mind seeing that Miss Markham gets this note, Ben?"
"I'm sorry, Sheriff Matthews, but Miss Markham checked out early this morning."
"She what?"
Noting Cooper's scowl, the young clerk pulled at his collar nervously. "Yes ,sir. She left with the gentleman, sir, the one who checked in last night— a Doctor Knudson, I believe his name was. Dr. Erik Knudson."
"Well, I'll just be damned— Did she say where she was going?"
"No sir, she didn't. But wait, I almost forgot, she did leave a letter here for you, sir." His hand shook as he held out the envelope.
Cooper snatched the letter from him. "Why didn't you tell me that when I first got here?"
"I— I'm sorry s— sir, I— I just— "
"Forget it," Cooper snapped and strode out of the hotel. On the boardwalk outside, he quickly tore open the envelope and began to read:
"Dear Cooper," it began, "I usually pride myself on having a great deal of courage, and I know I should say all this to you in person, but I find that I am a coward where you are concerned. I hardly know what to write to you except to say thank you for last night. It was an experience I'll carry in my heart for the rest of my life.
"I am leaving this morning and returning to Belle Rive. I do hope that you will allow Annie to visit Papa and me at some time in the future.
"I'm leaving without saying good— bye because I am afraid that in the cold light of day, you may regret what happened between us. Forgive me for making you do something you might not have intended. I know that as a man of principal, you may feel obligated to offer marriage. Please put that thought from your mind. I haven't forgotten your words that day I foolishly proposed marriage. You said you would never marry again without love. And you were right in your feelings. Like you, I can think of nothing worse than spending one's life in a loveless marriage. What happened between us was entirely my doing, so try to put aside any guilt you may have in regard to last
night and think of me only as—
"Your Devoted Friend, Weezie."
Cooper crumpled the letter in his fist. "Damnation!"
THROUGHOUT the months of September, October and the first week in November, Cooper tried to put Mary Louise out of his mind. She was gone and that was the end of it. And hadn't he gotten what he wanted? After all, he no longer had to worry about her taking Annie away. She certainly couldn't find out that his marriage to Marietta was invalid if she were in Tennessee, now could she? And she hadn't even blamed him for taking her virginity. She'd shouldered all the blame for that incident and had even asked for his forgiveness! He ought to be relieved and happy at the way things turned out.
So why was he so damned miserable?
Cooper sighed. Because he still wanted her. He'd realized something that night in her hotel room, and he'd spent every minute since then trying to deny it. There was something different, something special about the way he felt about Mary Louise. He cared for her, cared more then he'd ever cared for any woman. The funny thing was, he'd felt a strange connection almost from the first moment he saw her. He'd told himself it was nothing more than common lust , but deep down, he'd known even then that it was more than ordinary lust he felt. And the night he'd made love to her...well, if lust had been all there was, he'd have gotten over his obsession once he'd bedded her.
But he hadn't gotten over her. If anything, his need for her was even stronger than before. He remembered lying beside her while she slept and thinking that there was no place in the world he'd rather be. So why hadn't he told her then? "Because," he mumbled, "I'm a damned fool."
He lurched from his chair and strode into the outer office. "Joe Bob, do you think you and the boys can handle things here for a week or so?"
Joe Bob looked up from the report he was writing. "Well, sure, Sheriff? Why?"
"Because Annie and I are going to take a little trip."
"Yeah?" Joe Bob grinned. "Where to?"
"Thought we might take the train up to Memphis for a few days."
"You goin' to see Miss Markham, ain't you?" Joe Bob crowed. "Hot damn, I knowed you wouldn' let her git away. Me 'n' the boys got a bet goin' and it looks like I jus' won!"
"Deputy, you know gambling is illegal in Hollisburg." Cooper tried to look stern but couldn't quite bring it off. "How much was the bet?"
"Twenty— five smackeroos!"
Cooper laughed. "Enjoy your winnings, Deputy."
"I will, you can count on it. When you leavin'?"
"First thing tomorrow if I can get everything ready."
"You bringin' her back with you, Sheriff?"
"I hope so, Joe Bob, I certainly hope so."
LIZZIE WENT with them to the train station. "Now don't you let Annie git away from you, Cooper," she admonished for the tenth time that morning. "You know how she can slip off without no warnin'."
"I'll keep an eye on her Lizzie, don't worry."
"An' make sho' she eats somethin'."
"I will, Lizzie, I promise."
"Don't let her talk to no strangers."
"Lizzie, I'm a grown man. I'll keep Annie safe, I swear it. Now, kiss her good— bye and let us get on the train."
Lizzie leaned over and kissed Annie's cheek. "Good— bye lil' Shuga— Boo. Lizzie gonna miss you."
"Bye— bye Zeezee," Annie said. "Ah— nee wide twain! Ah— nee go wid Papa."
Cooper chuckled and hugged her. "That's right, Annie— girl. We're going to see Weezie."
The child giggled. "Ah— nee wuv Weezie." She put her little hands on Cooper's cheeks and looked him in the eye. "Papa wuv Weezie?"
Cooper didn't reply, but cleared his throat uncomfortably.
"How come you don't answer her, Cooper?" Lizzie asked, her black eyes twinkling at his discomfiture.
He cleared his throat again. "I care a great deal for Weezie, Dumpling."
"You care for' her? Is that all?"
"Stay out of this, Lizzie." Cooper growled. "I said I cared for her. Isn't that enough?"
"I don't know. It's enuff for' me, but I ain' so sure it's gonna be enuff for Weezie."
"I'm not going to make declarations that I don't mean, Lizzie, so don't try to make things out to be more than they are." He glanced over Lizzie's iron— gray head. "Look, we've got to go, the train's ready to leave." He took Annie from Lizzie's arms and then picked up his overstuffed valise. "Take care of things while we're gone, and take care of yourself."
"I will. You take care of my baby, Cooper Matthews."
Cooper nodded his reply and hurried to board the train. When they were settled in their coach, Cooper pointed out the window to Lizzie and Annie waved to her until she was completely out of sight.
ANGUS Markham stood in the doorway of the library and studied his daughter as she sat staring out from the window seat. She'd been home for over two months and in all that time she'd hardly left the house— or this room, for that matter. And though he wasn't sure, for she'd never been a heavy woman, she seemed to have lost weight.
"It's a beautiful day, isn't it," he said at last, just to let her know he was there.
She glanced over her shoulder at him. "Yes, it seems that the rain has stopped for a while."
"I was thinking of taking a walk to exercise my leg. Won't you join me? The fresh air will do us both good."
She shook her head. "Not this time, Papa. Thank you for asking me, though."
"Mary Louise, is there something you'd like to talk about?"
"No, Papa."
Angus groaned in frustration. "Damn it, girl, something is bothering you. Why won't you tell me what it is so that I can help you."
She turned to face him. "It's nothing really, Papa. I'm just feeling a little melancholy— I miss Annie." She turned her face back to the window. "I'll soon get used to not seeing her."
"Perhaps there's a way we could obtain custody, if that's what you want. It's been a while since I've dealt with cases like it, but there may be something we could— "
"No," she interrupted, "I don't want custody, Papa. Annie is happy where she is. Cooper Matthews loves her as if she were his own flesh and blood— and Annie loves him. He's the only father she's ever known. It would be cruel to take her from him. I couldn't do that to either of them, so put any thought of it out of your mind."
"But it pains me to see you like this."
She rose and walked to where he stood and hugged him. "I know it does, and I love you for caring. I'll be fine after a while, I promise."
Angus frowned. There was more to Mary Louise's unhappiness than met the eye, something other than her pining for the child, but for the life of him he couldn't fathom what it was. "I've invited Erik to come for the week— end. Perhaps he can cheer you where I have failed."
"I always love seeing Erik, but, Papa, you must stop foisting me off on my poor uncle. He does have a life outside this family, you know."
"I'm quite aware of that, Mary Louise. But Erik loves you nearly as much as I do and he's concerned about you, too." And besides, Angus thought, Erik knows more about this matter than he's disclosed, I'm certain of it. Angus was determined to get to the bottom of his daughter's misery if it was the last thing he did.
"I must admit that it will be nice to have Erik here," Mary Louise said, finally. "He always manages to make me laugh."
ERIK ARRIVED the next morning. The November day was cold and the dark clouds threatened to bring the season's first snow. In spite of the cold weather, however, Mary Louise gave in to Erik's urging and went riding with him. When they were far away from the house, he stopped under a copse of trees and dismounted.
"Come," he said, "let's talk for awhile."
She slid from her horse and joined him on the dry, straw— like grass. "Now that we're here, why don't you tell me what's on your mind."
He smiled at her and took her hand. "Your father has been quizzing me about you since my arrival. What shall I tell him?"
"Nothing. Tell him nothing, Erik."
"But he's worried about you— for that matter, so am I."
"Then stop worrying. You gave me your word, Erik. You're not to mention my relationship, or lack of one, with Cooper Matthews."
"All right, I won't mention a word to Angus. But, I think you should consider writing to Sheriff Matthews and telling him how you feel."
"No. I won't do it. I won't make him feel obligated."
"That's ridiculous, Weezie. Why would telling him you love him make him feel obligated? You know, he might feel the same about you. If you'd spoken to him before you left— "
She stood up and brushed off her skirts. "This conversation is going nowhere, Erik. It's getting colder so I think I'll go back to the house, if you don't mind."
He grabbed her wrist and frowned up at her. "I do mind. Weezie, sit down." His tone brooked no argument and so Mary Louise sat. "What else is there to talk about? I won't write to Cooper, no matter what you say."
Erik studied his niece. "Mary Louise," he said at last, "what did you mean when you said you wouldn't make Cooper Matthews feel obligated to you?"
She shrugged. "I meant just what I said."
"Why do you think telling him how you feel would make him obligated?"
She avoided his gaze. "He's a man of great integrity. If I told him I was in love with him, he would feel obliged to do something about it, that's all."
Erik shook his head. "No, that doesn't wash, Weezie. I don't care how much integrity a man has, a woman telling him she loves him would not make him obliged to marry her, unless— " His brows shot up. "Mary Louise, what happened between you and the sheriff?"
She refused to look at him. "I don't know what you're talking about. Nothing happened between us."
For the Love of Annie Page 20
