She came up behind him as he placed a hand on the door to open it. They then made their way to the livery, all the while stealing glances behind themselves to ensure no one was trying to sneak up on them.
Wyatt first helped her into the wagon, and then climbed up to sit next to her.
Katherine looked at him strangely.
“We’ll get my horse tomorrow,” he said.
As they rode out of town, Wyatt felt relieved though his anger had not dissipated. He wished he had done more to those men who dared to threaten and lay hands on his Katherine. The muscles in his arms stiffened as he thought of what he would do if he could get his hands on them.
“I’m sorry I caused such trouble for you tonight.” Katherine’s voice was timid, small somehow.
Wyatt pulled himself from his murderous thoughts to focus on her. “No, Katie. It wasn’t your fault.”
“I know better than to be out on the streets so late unescorted. This is not the town we knew as children.” She sniffed, but no tears came.
Wyatt frowned and looked ahead. She may have taken an unnecessary risk, but that did not mean she was to blame for what happened.
“I fell asleep grading papers.”
Wyatt glanced over at her again, eyebrow quirked.
“It was senseless, I know.” She didn’t seem to be able to meet his eyes, her green orbs darting this way and that, before turning away from him altogether. “I’ve just been so tired of late.”
He fixed his eyes on the road. She had been doing most of the night feedings. And Susie was in her room. Katherine probably stirred every time Susie made a sound. Then there was the amount of energy she had to put in to each day, both for their children and for the school children. It was just too much for one person. What could be done to remedy that?
There didn’t seem to be much time to think on it as they were fast approaching the Matthews’ homestead. Wyatt wanted to leave Katherine in the cart and gather the children himself, but that would only worry her parents. So, he helped her down. The grimace on her face as she released her weight into his hands did not escape him.
She glanced about. Was she fearful that even here, at her parents’ homestead, she was unsafe? He reached for her hand and drew her closer. It had been meant to make her feel safer, but the closeness of their bodies flooded him with sensations of a different kind. Why should he be having such thoughts? And after what she’d been through?
They stood at the door and he raised a hand to knock. How would her parents react? Would they be angered as he was? Would her mother fall apart? He didn’t know if he could handle two crying women.
Tom answered the door, light spilling out onto the porch as the inside illuminated the darkness beyond.
“We were starting to worry . . . ” he began. But his eyes landed on Katherine. And though her face was downturned, it did nothing to disguise the early evidence of bruises. Tom’s face fell.
“We’re all right,” Wyatt was quick to say. “Everyone is all right.”
“What has happened?” Tom said, his voice soft, but firm and demanding all the same.
Lauren stepped up behind her husband, holding Susie in her arms.
Katherine raised her eyes to meet her mother’s.
“Katie? What’s happened to you?” her mother’s features contorted. Brows furrowed, mouth opened. She raised a hand to her lips as if to contain further outcries.
She was going to fall apart. One glance over at Katherine and Wyatt saw his fears coming true. Pretty soon they would have two crying women on their hands. He needed to quell these out of control emotions soon.
Still holding Katherine’s hand, he drew it across his body, so he could clasp it between both hands. “As you see, Mrs. Matthews, Katie is well. There is no cause for worry. We will explain everything.”
Tom moved out of the doorway. Did he bid them enter? “We want to hear everything.”
Wyatt and Katherine stepped into the house. He sensed more than felt that Katherine had started shaking again. Putting an arm around her, he attempted to soothe her fears. But it seemed to do nothing to assuage her.
Lauren stood back, eyes locked on Katherine’s face. Susie started crying, but Lauren didn’t respond even to that. Wyatt sat Katherine in one of the more comfortable chairs in the family room and moved over to Lauren, relieving her of the squalling bundle. He bounced Susie lightly. That worked to calm her.
Tom had drawn Lauren over to sit near Katherine, his hand on his wife’s shoulder. Katherine sat, hands clasped tightly in her lap, drained of all color. Wyatt pulled a dining room chair over next to Katherine and sat beside her.
Then he met Tom and Lauren’s eyes. How was he supposed to tell them about the events of the evening? It would serve him best to just be straightforward.
“Katherine was attacked this evening.”
Lauren gasped, clutching her chest. Tom’s expression displayed his concern, but his hands remained on his wife’s shoulders.
“Two men followed her from the saloon.”
“What did they . . . ? How did they . . . ? What did they want?” Lauren’s voice trembled as she spoke.
“My coin purse.” Katherine’s voice was stronger than he would have expected.
Wyatt glanced over at her. That was certainly not what he saw. Had she lied to spare her mother’s sensitivities and worries? Lauren did appear somewhat relieved.
“Are you . . . badly hurt?” Lauren’s eyes became glassy.
“Nothing Dr. Sullivan can’t take care of.” Katherine looked over at him. He could not conjure a smile for her. Not tonight.
Lauren’s shoulders relaxed. And though a tear escaped, no more followed.
“I think the best thing for Katherine is to get her back to her own bed.” Wyatt spoke up.
Lauren and Tom nodded. Had he expected them to argue? To insist that they remain there?
Tom stepped forward as Wyatt helped Katherine to her feet. He embraced his daughter, saying something too softly for Wyatt to discern.
Next Lauren stepped in and hugged Katherine to herself. “I’m glad you are safe . . . ” She continued speaking, but Tom stepped over to Wyatt, cutting off his ability to hear more of Lauren’s interaction with Katherine.
“We’re real thankful for you taking such good care of our Katie.” He clapped Wyatt on the back.
Wyatt nodded at Tom, but looked over at Katherine and her mother as they held each other.
“I would do much more for her,” he said absently. The words came out before he could stop them.
When he caught Tom’s eyes again, he saw the kind appreciation there. It warmed him. His father never looked at him like that.
“It will not happen again.” Whether or not Wyatt could truly promise that, he would do everything he could to ensure that this was the last time it did.
Katherine stepped over to where they stood just then, a small smile on her face. Soon enough, Lauren nudged Tom and urged him to get Jack from where they had laid him down in David’s old room.
And so, moments later, Wyatt and Katherine were on their way to their own house, Jack and Susie in the back of the cart.
Once they arrived, Wyatt did everything he could to return them to their normal evening routine. With one exception: he insisted Katherine rest in one of the family room chairs even if she must help with Susie.
Jack had awakened on the ride home and insisted on a story, so Wyatt busied himself getting Jack into his bed and rushing through the bedtime story. But Jack was tired and precious little was required of Wyatt to send him off to dreamland.
As he came out into the hall, he spotted Katherine carrying a drowsy Susie into their shared room. But Wyatt stopped her.
“I think it’s time to move the cradle to Susie’s new room.” He met Katherine’s eyes and held them. Susie’s room had been completed for some time now, but Katherine had been resistant to moving her.
Even then, Katherine opened her mouth to protest.
“I know
you don’t want to, but I think she will sleep better. Perhaps even wake less. And I know you will sleep better. Please, trust me on this.”
Katherine looked down at the sleeping child in her arms. Then she nodded reluctantly.
Stepping around her, Wyatt went into the bedroom Katherine and Susie shared to gather the crib. Then he walked it down the hallway into Susie’s new room. He had expected Katherine to follow him. But when he stood up, he discovered she had not. So, he went back out to find her still rooted to the spot, swaying with Susie in her arms.
He watched the two of them for a handful of moments. The picture they made tugged at his heart. Wasn’t this everything he wanted in a family? But something nagged at him and he knew, this wasn’t quite what he wanted. No, he wanted, needed Katherine, his wife, to return his affection. And it was still a mystery to him where her heart lay. How could it not be? Wyatt didn’t know where his heart was.
Katherine looked up and caught his eyes. They exchanged a meaningful gaze. One that warmed him. Then he stepped forward and slid an arm around her back to lead her toward Susie’s bedroom, where they put Susie down together.
As they slipped out of the room, Wyatt noticed Katherine brush a tear away. She had been through much this evening. He put an arm around her shoulders in an attempt to comfort her.
“It’ll be fine. Trust me.”
She sniffed back more tears as he led her back toward her room. Pausing at the doorway, Katherine peered into the darkness beyond. It seemed her mind was turning. Was she thinking about the events of the evening? Of course she was. And now he had asked her to sleep alone, without even Susie’s steady breathing to keep her company.
“Hey,” Wyatt said, keeping his tone soft and reaching out with tentative fingers to touch her face. “Are you all right?”
She nodded, looking up at him. Their eyes locked. He didn’t know how long they remained like that, but she leaned into him, pressing her lips to his. And he responded to her, moving his arms to pull her closer.
When she tilted her head, allowing him to deepen the kiss as her hands moved up the front of his shirt, it nearly drove him mad. His hands were on her back, pressing her body to his. Then his hands were in her hair, unpinning the tresses so they spilled down her back.
Wyatt pulled back slightly to look into her eyes. They were bright and eager, inviting. His mouth melted to hers again.
He wanted to slow down, but there was an urgency in him that wouldn’t allow it. She filled his senses and he was overtaken. Leaning over her, he bent down and swept her off her feet and into his arms. One of her arms flung around his shoulder, her hand exploring the muscles there.
A few paces took them into her bedroom and he laid her on the cushion of the bed, breaking contact. Then he leaned over her, searching her face for any hint he should stop. His mind screamed for him to. Something wasn’t right about this. But she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him back down to continue their kisses.
How could any hot-blooded man resist? He swept kisses across both cheeks and then leaned over to nuzzle the side of her neck. She made a small sound.
His hands, almost as if acting of their own accord, moved between them to begin unbuttoning her dress. Then he felt her hands on his shirt collar. Once there was a significant V opening, she slid a hand over his smooth flesh. He halted his work on her dress, surprised at her caresses.
Leaning down once again, he claimed her sweet lips. When he pulled back, he saw tears in her eyes. He wiped them away and kissed the trails where they had been before pressing another, deeper kiss to her lips. Their kisses soon became more fevered, hungrier, and hands began to work on divesting each other of clothing again.
In that moment, Wyatt was struck. This wasn’t right. Did he have the power to stop himself? He had to. For Katherine. She deserved better. So, he placed his hands on either side of her head and pulled away, his breaths labored.
“I can’t do this,” he panted.
When he did chance a glance at Katherine, he saw that she stared up at him, wide-eyed, and he knew she was confused. And hurt. But he couldn’t deal with that now. It was taking all he had to pull away.
He dragged himself off her and stepped to the other side of the room, turning his back to her as he leaned against the wall.
“Katie, I’m sorry . . . I’m sorry . . . ” He kept repeating those words as he was kicking himself inside. How could he have been so selfish? After what she’d been through, then for him to take advantage of her. She was innocent and trusting, and he was a monster.
He heard Katherine sniffling behind him, and there was no doubt she was crying. Placing his back firmly against the wall, he glanced back in the dimness of the room to see her pulling at her dress, trying to cover herself. She rolled away so that her back was to him and her form shook with sobs. Did she think he didn’t want her? It took all he had not to go to her, wrap her in his embrace, and comfort her. But he had to be strong. Wyatt knew where that would lead.
“Katie, I . . . ” he started, but the sentence trailed off. What could he say?
“Just go,” came her whispered, almost breathless response.
His head dropped, and he backed out of the doorway, closing the door behind himself. But he couldn’t make himself go any further. So, he slid down the door to the floor. And tortured himself with the sounds of her sobbing.
* * *
It was a grim day. Nothing good could come from the happenings of this day. The miners, having heard about the meeting between the sheriff and the mine owners to raise an army of deputies, were arming themselves to create their own army. David looked at his own firearm.
I cannot be a part of this!
But yet he was.
A hush fell over the crowd of miners as Calderwood began speaking.
“ . . . must go to raise funds for our cause! But I leave you in the capable hands of former United States Army officer Junius J. Johnson!”
Another man stepped forward. His features were hard, and his jaw set in place. It was clear he had seen battle and his share of war. But was he prepared to rally this collection of rapscallions into a group of troops? That became all the more clear as he started to speak.
“We find ourselves in a hard place. A place in which our livelihood is being attacked, in which our lives are being threatened. And how we react will determine what kind of men we are. We are only as strong as our weakest link. Woe is it to the man who is found to be that link. For he will have to answer to me!
“We shall go from here to Bull Hill where we shall build up fortifications in preparation for whatever may come from the enemy. If you are not with us, you are against us. And you’d best leave now, for there is no place for you among us. So, who is with me?”
A cry went out from all of the miners who also raised their weapons to show solidarity with Johnson. Not one of them wanted to be found to be a strikebreaker. Not even David.
Chapter 13
Lauren took a sip of coffee, glancing over the rim of her cup at Mary across the table. The younger woman watched her children playing in the family room beyond the dining area, but that’s not where her mind was. No, she had been quite preoccupied these last few days. And it wasn’t difficult to guess what had her so distracted. It had to be the goings on at the mines.
Thoughts of what may be happening bothered Lauren, too. She worried after her son’s well being. While she didn’t watch him walk away from her each day to join the picket lines, she knew he went. And she spent many hours just as concerned. Especially with all this talk of fighting and violence. What would it all come to?
Tearing herself from these thoughts, she shifted her focus back to her daughter-in-law.
“Mary, dear, you’re awful quiet,” Lauren said, setting down her cup and laying a hand on Mary’s arm.
Turning her head to meet her mother-in-law’s gaze, Mary remained silent. Only then did Lauren see the tear that had formed and was even then falling down her face.
&n
bsp; “Oh, Mary, I know how you feel!” Lauren dug for a handkerchief. “But rest assured, that man is made of strong stuff. He comes from a long line of stubborn men. Much too stubborn to let something like this get him down.” Finally laying a hand to a handkerchief, she surrendered it to Mary.
Mary nodded. “I know. It’s just . . . I just . . . ”
“There, there,” Lauren patted her hand.
Mary blotted her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. Then she seemed able to gather her composure. “Thank you,” she smiled. “Unfortunate for you, it seems Katherine inherited that stubborn streak, too.”
Mary was attempting to change the subject. Lauren allowed it. “Don’t I know it!”
“And now Wyatt will be stuck figuring out how to navigate that stubborn streak.”
Both women laughed.
“Wyatt is a good man,” Lauren said. “I just . . . ” She stopped herself, her eyes flitting over to Mary’s and then away again. “I best not say such things.”
“You wonder if he’s good for Katherine?” Mary prodded.
Lauren bit her lip and nodded. This, too, had weighed heavy on her heart these last weeks.
“I think there’s more going on there than they would like anyone to believe,” Mary said.
“Be assured of that.” Lauren had seen enough of the stolen glances between the two to know better. They may not even be aware themselves.
“But you wonder if it’s made of the stuff that will last?”
Lauren nodded. “And keep them both happy as long as they both shall live.”
Lauren returned to her coffee. Both of her beloved children faced many challenges. If only she could step in and fix everything as she did when they were schoolchildren. But no more. They were on their own. They had to find their own way.
* * *
Wyatt flipped through the pages of the latest medical publication, but he had read the same article at least three times. His mind just wasn’t on his work lately. It hadn’t been for a couple of days now. Things were still a bit awkward between him and Katherine. And he didn’t like it one bit. Their near miss haunted him. That night, their kisses, and what had almost happened between them.
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