Courting Kate

by Rich, Mary Lou

  The first time they had made love, she’d been foolhardy, living only for the moment, the passion. It was a wonder she hadn’t gotten pregnant. She might not be so fortunate if it happened again. And it would have happened again if she’d stayed. She loved him too much for it to be otherwise. That was one of the reasons she had to leave.

  Well, she had left, so that was no longer a problem. She had a whole new life waiting for her just up the road. Then why did she feel such sorrow, such an overwhelming sense of loss?

  The stage slowed on the rising grade. The whip cracked and the horses blew as they labored up the hill, but Kate paid little attention to the sounds or the scenery. Her thoughts were still on Tanner.

  The wind whipped and whined around the stage windows, making Kate glad she was inside the coach and not on top with the driver. The steady chuck-chuck of the wheels and the rocking of the coach finally lulled her into closing her eyes. Exhausted from the late hours she’d been keeping, her mind retreated, seeking a place where there was nothing but peace. Even there, Tanner filled her dreams. And peace was not to be found.

  * * *

  The stage jolted to a stop. Kate, yanked from a troubled sleep, sat up and rubbed her eyes. A sense of unease drew a wrinkle to her brow and made her wonder if something might have happened to the coach without her being aware of it.

  She peered out the window and saw a two story white building beside the roadway. She recognized it as a way station and knew they had stopped to change horses. A sign swinging crazily from a rafter over the steps of a wide front porch read

  Wolf Creek Inn.

  A jingle of harness bells drew her attention to the opposite window, and she saw a long string of mules and a freight wagon pull up beside a corral.

  The freighter, a burly man in plaid shirt and black denims, shouted a greeting, his breath forming white clouds against the cold air. He climbed down to join Uriah Jones, the stage driver, and the hostler, who were in the process of changing teams. They welcomed him jovially, as if they were all old friends.

  Nothing seemed to be amiss. But the sense of foreboding wouldn’t leave her. If anything it grew stronger.

  A stiff gust of wind picked up the dust and swirled it about the coach. A shiver skittered down her backbone, leaving goosebumps in its wake. Her palms grew clammy. Her heartbeat quickened.

  “Miss, are you all right?”

  “What?” Disoriented, she whirled toward the open door and stared at the driver.

  “Are you sick or something?” Uriah asked, his weather-beaten face mirroring his concern.

  “No, I’m all right,” she shakily assured him. She raised a trembling hand to her cheek. Her face was wet with tears. She hastily wiped them away.

  “Wolf Creek Station,” he said. “We’ll be going on to Canyonville to spend the night, but I thought you might like to get something to eat or drink while I change teams. Don’t take too long, though, I’ve got a lot of time to make up.”

  She allowed him to help her to the ground. “Thank you.” She managed a feeble smile, but was grateful when he left her to return to the other men. She took a moment to get the kinks out, then, anxious to be out of the cold, she walked toward the building.

  Overhead, a trace of crimson tinged the purple sky. Beneath it, ever-deepening shadows infiltrated the evergreen hills. Sunset. Soon it would be dark. She shivered with dread.

  She had no reason to be so anxious, she told herself. She was overtired; she must have had a bad dream, even though she couldn’t remember it. That was all it was, that and her imagination.

  But a sixth sense told her it had been something else—a premonition. Her footsteps slowed. She had experienced that same kind of feeling before—when someone she loved had died.

  A familiar face, etched with pain, flashed through her mind. “Kate,” she heard him cry.

  She froze. “Tanner!”

  She whirled and ran toward the driver. “Mr....Mr...Uriah—“Yes, miss?”

  “You must turn the stage around. I have to go back.”

  The driver shook his head. “Afraid I can’t do that. This stage is Portland bound. I have a schedule.”

  “Please,” she begged. “I have to return to Jacksonville.”

  “Sorry, but there’s nothing I can do.”

  If she couldn’t go by stage... There had to be another way. She turned to the hostler. “Can I rent a horse?”

  “All the horses belong to the stage line.”

  “Miss, Jacksonville is on my route,” the brawny freight driver broke in, running a hand over his unshaven face. “But I don’t know if you’d care to ride with me, and the seat on that wagon ain’t exactly the place for a lady.”

  She hesitated. The man’s rough appearance certainly didn’t inspire confidence. But if she had learned anything these last few months, it was not to go by first impressions. And with her growing fear for Tanner, she would have accepted a ride with the devil himself. “You could take me?”

  “You would be safe with Jules,” Uriah assured her. “But like he said, it sure would be uncomfortable.”

  “When can we leave?” She managed a grateful smile. “I do need to get there as quickly as possible.”

  “The mules have to rest. And I’m a bit tuckered myself. But I will be leaving at dawn tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?” Frustration threatened to choke her, but she tried not to let it show. So much could happen in that length of time. Something had happened to Tanner; she knew it. And she knew he needed her. More than anything she wanted to be at his side.

  It also looked like she would need wings to get there before tomorrow.

  Trying not to appear ungrateful, she looked at the teamster and nodded. “I’ll be ready.”

  * * *

  Dr. Thomas rubbed the sleep from his eyes and shuffled into the sick room. “Any change?” he asked softly.

  Matt shook his head. “Coffee’s on the stove. Looks like you could use it.”

  “Thanks.” He went back to the kitchen and poured himself a cup. He twisted his back to remove the stiffness. It was hard to find a spot that didn’t hurt. He was getting old, and that ride up the mountain had just about done him in. After that, he’d been with Tanner most of the night, until Matt had forced him to lie down for a while.

  After assessing that Tanner had a concussion, two broken ribs, two more cracked, and the broken leg, he had rebandaged the injuries.

  He still found it hard to believe that Mark had come up with the same conclusions, or that the youngster had set the leg. A practicing physician couldn’t have done any better.

  Remembering all the times Mark had come to him with questions about some hurt varmint he had found gave root to an idea. It was a shame for the boy to be stuck up here on this mountain, especially when he had such talented hands. If somebody, say an aging medical man like himself, took the boy under his wing, Mark would make a fine doctor someday, if that was what he wanted to be.

  Examining the notion, he poured a second cup and carried it back to the sick room. He handed it to Matt. “Don’t you think you could use some rest, too?”

  Matt shook his head. “Mark ran me out after you left. He’s the one who stayed here all night. I got up a little bit ago.”

  “Where is Mark?”

  “He’s down at the barn, tending to the stock.”

  “He did a good job on Tanner.”

  “Yeah, I know. But all the doctorin’ in the world isn’t going to do a lick of good if we can’t keep Tanner from frettin’.” Matt looked over at his brother and frowned.

  Tanner was sleeping, due to the laudanum they had forced down his throat. Even though they had given him enough to put a horse to sleep, he had continued to moan and toss and call for Kate. Finally, afraid he might hurt himself if they didn’t, they had tied him to the bed.

  Now they had to wait, let nature take its course, and pray that no infection set in.

  Doc sipped his coffee. If Kate were here, that would ease one part
of the problem.

  Although he was certain Tanner would deny it, he had called out for her in his sleep. He had also fought against taking the drug, saying that he had a contract to finish. It had taken not only the doctor, but Matt and Mark to hold him down, while Luke administered the drug.

  “This contract....” the doctor began.

  “After I heard him muttering about it, I went to find the papers. I also found some notes he’d made. Tanner didn’t tell us, but he has to get it finished right away. If he doesn’t, he will lose all the work he put in. He’ll also lose the mountain.”

  Doc let a whistle slide between his teeth. “No wonder he’s worried.” He looked at Matt. “What are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know. Mark and I could try to finish it ourselves, but I doubt if we would make the deadline. If Tanner woke up and we weren’t here, he’d get out of bed if he had to crawl.”

  “In his condition that could kill him.” Doc downed another gulp of coffee. “Damned shame.” He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Looks like Tanner’s going to be out for a while. Is Luke up yet?”

  “I’m up,” Luke said through a yawn, peering through the doorway.

  “Come on into the kitchen, son. I’ve got some things that need doing in town. Maybe you could take care of them for me.”

  “Sure thing, Doc.”

  “First, we could all use some breakfast.” Matt followed them into the kitchen and put the skillet on the fire.

  Several hours later, Luke sat in Madame Jeanne’s parlor, his hat wadded in his hand.

  “Relax, Luke,” the Frenchwoman said with a smile. “Would you like a cup of tea?”

  “No, ma’am.” He couldn’t tell her he couldn’t abide the stuff. That wouldn’t be polite.

  “Maybe a piece of Kate’s pie?” she asked, her dark eyes merry.

  “I thought Kate had left.”

  “She has. I saved these.”

  “That would be right nice, ma’am.”

  “Jeanne. I inseest.” She got to her feet. “Come eento the kitchen. I theenk we will be more comfortable there.”

  Two pieces of pie and a cup of chocolate later, Luke bid her goodbye.

  “Tell Dr. Thomas not to worry.” She fanned herself with the letter. “I take care of eet. I am certain Chauncey weell help out, too. Geeve heem sometheeng to do besides wear a hole een my carpet.”

  “Thanks, ma’am—Jeanne.”

  Luke mounted his horse and headed for home. Although his curiosity had been killing him, he still didn’t know what was so important in that letter. And neither the doctor, nor Jeanne had volunteered to tell him. “Guess they figured it wasn’t none of my business.” Which it wasn’t. Nevertheless, he couldn’t help but wonder.

  He wondered all the way home.

  * * *

  The freight wagon rumbled into Jacksonville shortly after noon. Kate had the driver unload her things at Madame Jeanne’s, then thanked the man and bid him goodbye.

  Jeanne, surprised and happy to see her, told Kate about Tanner, then sent someone to find Chauncey. Kate was nearly hysterical by the time the old miner arrived at the boardinghouse door.

  “Kate, honey, I’m so glad you came back,” he said. “Now I know Tanner is gonna get well.”

  “Can you take me to him?” Kate asked, trying to keep the desperation out of her voice.

  “I’ve already got the horses outside.”

  He tied Kate’s carpetbag on behind the saddle, plus several things Madame Jeanne thought the doctor might need. Within minutes they were heading up the mountain.

  Although Kate tried to be optimistic, she knew Tanner’s injuries were serious. She took comfort in the fact that Dr. Thomas was with him. She was also determined to do what she could to aid his recovery.

  Seeing riders ahead of them, Kate frowned. She had never seen anyone up here before. At the switchback, she turned to glance behind her. A steady stream of men were coming up the trail. “Chauncey, who are all these men, and where are they going? Is there a new gold strike?”

  The old man chuckled. “They’re going to Tanner’s.”

  “To Tanner’s? Why?”

  “Honey, Tanner has helped out pert’ near everybody in these parts. Now they are going to return the favor.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “The timber contract.” Chauncey grinned. “We found out it has to be finished right away or Tanner will lose the mountain. He didn’t tell anybody. The boys found the papers. That man’s so danged proud he probably wouldn’t stand for it if he knew what we were doing. But we ain’t gonna give him a say in the matter. It was Doc’s idea to get him some help. I’ve jest been passing the word.”

  Tears stung Kate’s eyes. The boys and the mountain meant everything to Tanner. The loss of either of them would destroy him. She knew he had been worried about the contract, but she didn’t know the situation had been so desperate. And she, unknowingly, had put even more pressure on him. Now her actions seemed vain, petty. With the loss of his home hanging in the balance, no wonder he hadn’t come to see her. She wouldn’t blame him if he never wanted to see her again.

  At least now he wouldn’t have to fret about the contract. Now he could concentrate on getting well.

  * * *

  Although the trip up the mountain seemed to take forever, Kate knew they had made it in record time. When they finally arrived at the house, little John and Fluffy burst through the door to greet her.

  “Kate, you d-did come b-back,” the boy cried, wrapping his arms around her. “I kn-knew you w-would.”

  She gave John a big hug and kiss, then patted the whining dog’s head. “How’s Tanner?” she asked, almost fearing to hear his answer.

  “Sleeping.” John frowned. “He got hurt, you know.”

  “I heard.”

  “I’ll put the horses up, Kate,” Chauncey said. “You go on in and check on your man.”

  My man. Needing no encouragement, Kate raced up the steps.

  Matt and Luke met her at the door. After giving her hugs of welcome, Matt took her to Tanner’s room. Luke went to help Chauncey. She found out that Mark was out guiding an earlier group of men into the woods.

  When she entered the sickroom, Doc Thomas looked up from the bedside. “Thank the Lord. How did you know?”

  “I sensed he needed me. That’s why I came back.” She moved to the bedside.

  Tanner lay unmoving. His pallor and the bandages sent a bolt of fear tearing through her chest. She stared at the strips of cloth running from the bedposts to his hands and feet. “How is he?”

  “Holding his own. He’ll get better now that you are here. He’s been calling for you. Every time he regains consciousness, he tries to get out of bed. That’s why he’s tied down. He’s been fretting about the timber.”

  She smiled. “Thanks to you and Chauncey, and every able-bodied man in the area, I hear that’s being taken care of. Dozens of men are on their way here now.

  “Tanner’s got lots of friends. They are glad to help out when they can.” He looked at her and smiled. “He’s also got a woman that loves him. That makes him pretty lucky, I’d say.”

  “I do love him, but I’m not sure the feeling is returned.”

  “Words don’t come easy to a man like Tanner, but he loves you. You have my assurance of that.” The doctor rubbed his neck, then yawned and got to his feet. “Now that you’re here, I think I’ll take a little nap. Oh, if you’d like you can untie him, he’s sleeping sound enough that he won’t be going anywhere.”

  “What if he does wake up?” she asked. “Is there anything I’m supposed to do?”

  “Seeing you here would be the best medicine I could prescribe. Just make sure he doesn’t try to get out of bed.”

  “Don’t worry about that. Tanner Blaine isn’t going anywhere until I tell him he can.”

  Chuckling, the doctor left the room.

  Kate took the seat he had vacated and pulled it close to the bed. She untied the straps, t
hen lifted Tanner’s hand. Scarred, rough—and those blisters... She bent and pressed her lips to his palm. Once she would have thought such a hand denoted commonness, a lack of breeding. Now it represented strength and integrity, as well as gentleness—everything she could ever want in a man.

  As she stared at Tanner, she wondered how she could ever have imagined she could leave him. “I love you,” she whispered. As if she had reached into his consciousness, Tanner opened his eyes. “Kate,” he called weakly.

  “I’m right here.” She smoothed his hair back from his forehead and gently kissed his brow.

  “I’m not dreaming?” he asked, trying to raise his head.

  She pushed him back against the pillow, then touched her mouth to his cracked lips. “Does this feel like a dream?”

  “You’re here. You’re really here.” He closed his eyes, then opened them again. “Don’t leave me, Kate.”

  Tears welled in her eyes. “I’ll never leave you again.”

  * * *

  Several more times that day, Tanner opened his eyes, searching the room until he found her. Then, apparently satisfied, he went back to sleep.

  Kate stayed by the bedside even though both Matthew and the doctor urged her to get some rest. She had given Tanner a promise. She would not leave his side.

  Despite her good intentions, in the wee hours of the morning exhaustion claimed her. She was still asleep when Matt carried her to the other room and tucked her into bed.

  * * *

  The next day, Tanner seemed to gain strength, his lucid periods growing longer. Twice Kate even managed to get him to swallow some broth.

  “He’s getting well,” Dr. Thomas said from behind her when Tanner had gone back to sleep.