No more.
Today he’d almost lost her. Who knew, he still could. Her pale, battered face came to mind. He shook the image away and focused on what had happened.
He had no idea what the stranger wanted with his wife. What made the big man think he could just come and take her away? A shudder shook him. He might have succeeded, if Thomas hadn’t arrived in time.
The thought tore his heart. She would have been gone without ever knowing that he loved her. Once more Thomas urged the horse to run faster. He would tell Josephine he loved her. She might reject him and break his heart. If so, Thomas would learn to live with that. He loved her and his love didn’t depend on her loving him back.
* * *
Josephine awoke with a start. Where was she? She jerked upward and immediately cried out in pain.
Hazel’s soft voice and hand on her shoulder broke through the agony. “Easy does it. You’ve got a couple of broken ribs.”
Comforted to know Hazel was there, Josephine slowly laid back down. “Is my head broken, too?” She couldn’t decide which to hold, her head or her sides. Just speaking sent sharp pain through her temple.
“Naw. Doctor Bridges said your head is too hard for that.” The old woman chuckled. “And, thank the Lord, he says you’ll live.”
Josephine looked about the room and realized that she could see out of only one eye. Memories of Mr. Grossman hitting her repeatedly in the face came crashing back upon her. “Where is he?” She hated the sound of fear in her voice.
“That man who did this to you?” Hazel wiped a cool cloth across Josephine’s forehead.
She nodded and a new pain made its way down her back. Would she ever stop hurting? A groan tore through her throat.
“Thomas took him to town to the sheriff. He can’t hurt you anymore.” Hazel moved to the small table beside the window. She poured some type of liquid into a large spoon and came back.
So Thomas had returned. Josephine tried to sit up, but the pain in her ribs and head forced her back down to the sheets with a cry.
But the pain couldn’t stop her silent questions. What if Mr. Grossman told Thomas they were no longer married? Would he be pleased? That thought caused her heart to hurt.
“Jo, stop moving. The doctor says you need to lie still and rest.” Hazel held the spoon out to her. “Here, take this. The doctor said it will help you sleep.”
How many more times would Hazel say the doctor said? Josephine dismissed the silly question. If whatever Hazel held in that spoon would stop the pain, she’d take it. Josephine lifted her head from the pillow and allowed Hazel to pour the sweet liquid down her throat.
The brightness of the room hurt Josephine’s head. She shut her eyes in the hopes of blocking out the pain. “Did Mr. Grossman say anything?”
“Not that I’m aware of, but when I got here, that husband of yours wasn’t giving the big man time to say anything.”
“What do you mean?” Josephine yawned and her ribs protested the action.
Hazel chuckled. “I’ve never seen our Thomas so full of rage. He didn’t stop until your Mr. Grossman hit the ground for the last time and didn’t get up. Then he carried you in here and took that no-good son of a skunk to town.”
“He did?” Did that mean Mr. Grossman hadn’t had time to tell Thomas anything?
“He sure did.” Hazel paused. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to pull one of those rockers in here so I can sit with you a spell.”
So he’d been angry at Mr. Grossman. Had it been because of her? Or had the big man said something offensive before Hazel arrived? Had he told Thomas that they weren’t really married? The sound of the chair being dragged into the bedroom sent fresh reels of pain through Josephine’s head.
Then she heard Hazel drop into the chair with a big sigh. “You know, I’ve never seen your husband more worried over anybody. That man loves you.”
Josephine wanted to believe that Thomas loved her. She felt the effects of the medicine slowly relaxing her body and mind. Still, she couldn’t push back all the memories that Mr. Grossman’s visit had imprinted on her thoughts.
Her father was dead, murdered. She was married to the madman who had killed her father. And Josephine had money in the bank back home. Sleep claimed her senses and Josephine welcomed its interruption of her memories.
Josephine didn’t know how long she slept. It could have been hours or minutes, but the sound of her husband’s whispering voice filled her ears. “How’s she doing?”
She tried to open her eyes, tell him she was fine, but Josephine found she could do neither. Maybe she was still dreaming. Or maybe the medicine just had her body so relaxed it refused to obey her mind.
“The medicine that Doctor Bridges left put her back to sleep a few minutes ago,” Hazel answered.
“I thought he’d still be here when I got back. What did he say?”
“The Johnson kid came by and got him. Mrs. Johnson is having the baby, so he left pretty quickly.”
Josephine felt a calloused hand touch her cheek. Then she heard Thomas’s voice close to her ear. “What did he say about Josephine?”
“She has a couple of cracked ribs, but as far as he could tell, no other broken bones. He wrapped her ribs before he left and gave me that brown jar of medicine to help her relax.” The chair rocked. “If you don’t need me, I think I’ll head back to the house and milk the cow.”
“Thank you for coming by when you did,” Thomas said. He paused. “By the way, why did you come over?”
Hazel’s voice wavered. “I just wanted to see Josephine.”
Inwardly Josephine sighed. Her mind became fuzzy, but she pulled herself from its warm cocoon when she heard Thomas ask, “Did she know who that man was?”
“She called him Mr. Grossman. What did the sheriff have to say?”
Thomas exhaled loudly. “He wants her to come to his office when she’s feeling better.”
Her mind worked. Had Mr. Grossman claimed her as his wife? What had the man told them? Troubled, Josephine drifted back into the deep warmth of sleep.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Josephine woke up with Thomas sitting in a rocker beside the bed. For the past two days, he’d stayed by her side. His soft snores filled the room.
She eased out from under the bedding, careful not to wake him. Josephine took small steps and inched toward the kitchen. Each step felt excruciating, but she needed a drink. Her mouth felt stuffed with cotton. And she was tired of lying about.
When she got to the table, Josephine eased into a chair. Weariness rested on her shoulders like a heavy blanket. Thanks to the medicine the doctor had left, she’d slept away the past couple of days, waking only long enough to eat and assure both Hazel and Thomas that she was feeling much better.
Thomas hadn’t asked her many questions, but he’d cared for her as if she were made of fine china. Every so often it appeared he wanted to say something, but then he’d shut his mouth and simply smile at her.
Josephine looked toward the stove, where the coffeepot sat. If only she had the strength to walk over and pour herself a cup. She sighed.
“What are you doing out of bed?”
She turned to find Thomas leaning against the doorjamb. “I was thirsty.” Josephine grinned but winced at the pain in her lip.
His light brown hair was tousled from sleep. Green eyes studied her. He stood in stocking feet. “You should have woken me. I would have gotten you some water.” Thomas yawned as he walked to the bucket.
Josephine pushed away from the table. “I’ll get it. You are exhausted, too.”
“Stay put. I’m already here.” He looked down at the water. “I think I’d like something stronger. How about I make a fresh pot of coffee?”
She smiled. “That sounds wonderful, but can I have a
little water while I wait for the coffee to brew?”
He got her the water and then began to make the coffee. Once he had it on the stove heating, Thomas came back to the table and sat down. “I’m glad to see you felt like getting up. How are the ribs?”
“Sore, but I’ll be all right.” Josephine combed her fingers through her tangled hair. She must look a sight. Split lip, black eye and swollen jaw.
“Good.” He leaned back in his chair. “Feel like talking about what happened? You don’t have to, if it’s too painful.”
“No, I need to tell you. I’m not sure how you are going to feel about me when I’m done, but I have to tell you.” She sighed. Lord, please let him understand.
Thomas reached across the table and took her hand in his. “Whatever happened, we are in this together.” His thumb rubbed the back of her hand in soothing circles.
Josephine swallowed. “I’m not sure how much of what Mr. Grossman said is true. Maybe none of it. It just seems like a nightmare now.” She ran her tongue over the split in her lip.
“Well, then, maybe you don’t have to tell me at all.”
“No, I have to tell you.” Hot tears filled her eyes. “He said that my uncle made sure we were married in September by having a proxy wedding.” Her lips trembled.
“How can that be? And what does it mean for our wedding?” His thumb stopped moving.
“Well, if he’s telling the truth, I guess it means I am legally married to him and illegally married to you.” She pulled her hand away from his.
“I see.”
She took a deep breath. “There’s more.”
Thomas looked into her troubled eyes. “What?”
Josephine shut her eyes tightly. “He bragged that he murdered my father and dumped his body in the St. Joe River.” The hot tears eased between her eyelashes.
His hand pulled hers back into his grasp. “Josephine, I am so sorry. Why would he kill your pa?”
She opened her eyes and the tears spilled down her cheeks. “Papa found gold in California, and according to Mr. Grossman they banked at the same bank. He talked the banker into letting him see our family accounts, and he found out that if anything happened to my parents, I am to receive the money.”
Thomas stood and walked to her side of the table. He bent down beside her chair and gathered her into his arms. “I’m so sorry.”
Josephine allowed him to hold her close while she cried tears of sorrow for all that had been lost to her. After several long minutes she pulled away. “He may have been lying about the money.”
He sighed. “I don’t think so.”
“What makes you say that?” She took a sip of her water and tried to dry her face with her dressing gown.
“Josephine, have you ever looked in your mother’s locket?”
She shook her head. “No. I tried once, but it was too stiff to open.”
“May I try?” he asked, sliding into the chair beside her.
This turn of events confused her, but she nodded. “I’m not sure I can take it off by myself.”
“You don’t have to take it off.” He reached for the chain about her neck and pulled the locket from under her nightgown.
“Just hold your hand out under it.”
She did as he said and watched in fascination as he unlatched the locket. He tilted the opening toward her outstretched hand. Josephine gasped as a heavy stone fell into it. “It’s a rock.”
“It’s a gold nugget,” Thomas answered.
Josephine looked up into his green eyes. He didn’t seem surprised. “You knew about it?”
“Yes.”
“How did you know?” She turned the golden-tinged rock over in her hand. What Mr. Grossman had said was true?
“Remember the other day when the chain broke?” At her nod, he continued. “I opened the locket then.”
“Why didn’t you say something?” Josephine studied his face. Both her uncle and Mr. Grossman would have stolen it. With shaky fingers she replaced the nugget into its place in the locket, but no matter how hard she tried the clasp wouldn’t close.
Thomas shrugged. “There wasn’t anything to say.” He gently removed her hands from the locket and firmly closed the clasp. Then Thomas studied her face and said, “If Grossman told the truth about the money, then he’s probably telling the truth about your marriage to him.”
Josephine sighed. “Yes.” She stared at him. What was he thinking? He’d proven that he could be trusted not to steal from her, he’d said they were in this together—but if they weren’t legally married, where did that leave them?
* * *
He’d come so close to telling her that he loved her. Now Thomas watched her face. If she was legally married to Grossman, then he didn’t feel he had the right to confess his love. It would only confuse her more and make their separation harder.
If she wasn’t his wife, she might never be. That thought tore at his heart.
Thomas stood. “I’ll see if the coffee is ready.”
She pushed her chair back. “My head is hurting. Do you mind if I go back to my room? I may have overdone it a little.”
“Of course not. I’ll get your medicine.”
Josephine held up her hand. “No, I don’t want to take it anymore. It makes me sleep too much.”
Thomas wondered if she feared he’d try to steal the gold from her locket. He watched as she shuffled slowly to the bedroom. “Josephine, I will never take what is yours.”
Her hand went to the necklace. She clasped the locket and offered a lopsided smile. “I know. Thank you.” Trust seemed to shine from her brown eyes. Then she shut the bedroom door.
Thomas had never seen that emotion in her eyes before. Just when she’d learned to trust him and he’d decided he loved her, they discovered that they weren’t legally married. Life wasn’t fair.
The door to the cabin opened and Philip came in shaking snow from his hat and coat. Thomas welcomed the sight of his brother. “You’re back early.”
Philip laughed. “Hello to you, too.”
Thomas grinned. “I’m sorry, we didn’t expect you until tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I know. Heard you had some trouble out this way, so I came on home instead of staying at the home station. Is Josephine all right?”
Thomas poured coffee into two mugs and motioned for Philip to join him at the table. “She’s recovering.”
Philip sat down with a sigh. “I’m glad to hear that. She needs to go into town and set that Grossman straight.” He took a sip and wrinkled his nose. “You never were any good at making coffee.”
Thomas ignored the jab at his coffee-making skills and asked, “What’s he saying?”
“Oh, just that you two aren’t married. That he’s married to her and he wants her out of this house now. As soon as he gets out of jail, he’s taking her home.” Philip’s serious gaze met Thomas’s. “You gonna let him do that?”
“Nope. Soon as the sheriff learns that Grossman killed Josephine’s pa, he’ll never get out of jail.”
Philip whistled low. “What about his accusations that you two aren’t married?”
Thomas sighed. “I’m not sure what will happen with that.”
A cocky grin came across Philip’s face. “Well, if he hangs for murder, he won’t be married to her anymore and you two will still be married.”
Leave it to Philip to think like that. “Philip, I don’t think that’s how it works.” Thomas shook his head.
“Probably not.” He took another drink of his coffee and then sat the cup down. “I’m going to bed.” Philip stood and clapped Thomas on the shoulder. “I’m glad you are all right, too.”
“Thanks.” He watched his brother head to the bedroom. Thomas took their cups to the washtub and set them inside. Then he head
ed out to the barn to do his chores.
He didn’t want to lose Josephine. No matter what the outcome was, Thomas knew he wanted Josephine to be his wife and just prayed she’d want him to be her husband.
Chapter Twenty-Four
What would Thomas think when he found out she’d sent a letter to the bank in St. Joseph? She had to find out if what Mr. Grossman had said was true or not. If she was wealthy, then they’d be able to start the ranch that Thomas wanted. Wouldn’t that make him happy? She wasn’t sure.
She heard the front door shut, indicating that Doctor Bridges had left. Josephine pulled her housecoat about her body and walked into the sitting room. Thomas turned from the door. “The doctor says you are doing very well.”
“Yes, that’s what he told me, too.” She eased into one of the rocking chairs.
He joined her. “Do you think you’ll feel like going into town tomorrow?”
Josephine looked at him. “If I need to, I suppose I can.”
“The sheriff has requested that you come as soon as you feel up to it. There is still the matter of what to do with Mr. Grossman.” He leaned his arms on his knees and studied her bruised face.
Josephine sighed. She didn’t want to face her attacker and her father’s killer but knew it had to be done. “I suppose I’ll feel up to it.”
He frowned. “If you don’t, we can put the trip off. I don’t want you to go if you aren’t feeling up to it.” Concern laced his green eyes.
Josephine offered him a weak smile. “I’ll be fine. I just dread the jostling my poor ribs are going to take in the wagon.” She didn’t bother telling him that she didn’t want anyone to see her bruised and battered face.
“Philip got in last night. He’s still sleeping. If you don’t mind, I’d like to go over to Hazel’s and see how she’s doing.” Thomas stood and stretched.
The muscles along his shoulders and ribs drew her attention as they flexed beneath his white shirt. “No, I’ll be fine. Doctor Bridges said I need to start moving around more now, anyway.”
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