* * *
Katie awoke in one of the guest rooms at the Lazy G Ranch, but she wasn’t alone.
Tom sat beside the bed, watching over her, his eyes darting across her face, his hand holding hers.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“My head hurts, but I’m...all right.”
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, and when she gazed into his whiskey-brown eyes, when she saw the compassion brewing deep inside, the worry and vulnerability etched upon his handsome face, she realized she was seeing a different man than the one she’d thought she’d known before.
“Where’s Sarah Jane?” she asked. “Is she all right?”
“She’s taking a bath in Caroline’s room, and she’s in awe. Maria is filling her head with stories about her mother as a little girl.”
“Good. Does Mr. Graves know she’s here?”
“Not yet. Maria said he had a severe spell early this afternoon. He hadn’t wanted to take the medicine the doctor left for him, but she finally insisted he do so. He’ll have to wait until tomorrow morning to meet Sarah Jane.”
“He’ll be disappointed.”
“That’s why he resisted taking the medication—until he couldn’t stand the pain any longer.”
“I suppose that’s just as well.” Katie had wanted to be present when the introductions were made. “Is Sarah Jane nervous about meeting him?”
“She’s still not talking, but you should have seen her brighten at the sight of Caroline’s bedroom. She stood before the large portrait, then studied each small photograph for the longest time. The only way Maria could talk her into taking a bath was to promise to brush and curl her hair the same way she used to fix her mother’s.”
Katie smiled wistfully. She knew Sarah Jane would find comfort in these surroundings. And Maria would appreciate telling Sarah Jane stories of Caroline as a child. Katie almost wished she could be there with them, that she could listen to those memories unfold, too. But even if she were physically able, she didn’t want to intrude upon a special moment she had no right to witness.
“And what about Lobo?” she asked. “Where is he? Vanquished to the barn?”
“Actually, he’s overseeing Sarah Jane’s bath. It took some convincing on my part, but Maria finally agreed to let him remain with her.”
Katie smiled, then began to sit up, but Tom gently placed a hand on her shoulder and pushed her back onto the white cotton sheets of the feather bed. “The bullet only grazed your scalp, but you lost a lot of blood. I don’t want you passing out again.”
“I’m all right.” She touched her forehead and fingered the gauze bandage.
“I believe you, but I’d feel better if you took it easy.”
He’d feel better? Something hadn’t just changed about him. Something had changed about...them.
“Why would you feel better?” she asked.
“I should have been more careful. I didn’t figure he could reach us that far away, but he had a scope.”
Katie had been prying and prodding Tom into revealing his feelings, but when he reminded her of the danger, of the man who’d tried to ambush them, her focus changed to one that was more immediate. “Who shot at us?”
He didn’t answer, but she assumed he had a suspect. She had one in mind, too. “Do you think it was Jeremiah?”
Tom’s eyes, once compassionate and loving, grew hard. “I’m going after him before he hurts either of you.”
His resolve surprised her—not so much because he meant to protect Sarah Jane, but because he included her in his vow. She chuckled softly while searching his face, hoping to see a revelation of his feelings. Did she dare hope to see love in his eyes?
“What’s so funny?” he asked.
“I would have thought that you might have been relieved to be rid of me.”
“Katie,” he said, his voice soft and husky. “I’m beginning to think that I’m going to be burdened with you for the rest of my life.”
“Burdened?” she asked. “And maybe just a wee bit blessed?”
He smiled. “That’s left to be seen.”
She glanced down at their hands, which were still clasped together. He might be fighting what he was feeling, just as she had fought it since the first time she laid eyes on him on the street in Pleasant Valley, but it was there—plain as day. She wasn’t sure how she knew what he was feeling—or why. She just did.
“Don’t you think you could care for me?” she asked, hoping he’d admit it. “Just a little?”
He sighed, closed his eyes momentarily then opened them again. “I do, Katie. But love isn’t enough for what we’d have to face.”
Katie’s heart fluttered. “Your love would be enough for me.”
He shook his head. “Maybe right now, but not as the days passed.”
She squeezed his hand. “God seems to have brought us this far. Let’s see where He leads us next.”
“Fair enough.” Tom lifted their hands to his lips, his breath warm, vibrant and promising. Then he placed a kiss on her fingers.
She opened her heart again, hoping this time he would accept her gift and not toss it back at her feet. “I love you, Tom McCain.”
“Don’t say that.” His voice came out soft and gruff at the same time.
“I’ll say it as often as it comes to mind, so you’d better get used to hearing it.”
He glanced away, as though struggling with himself somewhere deep inside.
“You said that you cared for me,” she continued. “Did you mean it?”
“Yes. And I care for you enough to walk away rather than ruin your life.” He ran his knuckles lightly along her cheek, setting off a rush of warmth to her very core.
“I won’t let you walk away,” she said.
He reached for a strand of her hair, letting it curl around his finger. “I can’t see this working out between us.”
“It will work, Tom. And someday you’ll thank me for being so insistent.”
“We’ll see about that. But just so you know, I do love you, Katie O’Malley. More than I should.”
“No, never more than you should. Kiss me, Tom.”
Good man that he was, he did just as she asked.
* * *
The morning sunlight danced upon the west wall of Harrison’s study as Tom paced the tiled floor and awaited the old cattleman’s entrance.
Katie, her skirts fanned upon the brocade divan near the bookshelf, fiddled with a crocheted handkerchief. She looked every bit the lady as she faced the unknown.
Tom knew relinquishing Sarah Jane to Harrison’s custody would be difficult for her, but it had to be done. Caroline’s daughter belonged to the land, and so did her descendants, who would live in the adobe-walled hacienda, ride the vast range and raise strong, healthy sons and daughters.
Dwarfed by the tufted leather chair on which she sat, Sarah Jane swung her feet and tapped her fingers on the hand-carved mahogany armrests.
Tom thought of her mother. Like Harrison, there were things he wished he could say to her, too. I brought your little girl home, Caroline. I only wish I could have brought you, as well.
As the door opened, everyone turned and watched Harrison enter the room.
The old man shuffled inside, but as he spotted Sarah Jane, he stopped to study her. After a moment, a slow smile crossed his face. “You do, indeed, favor your mother, young lady.”
Sarah Jane perused the old man just as intently as he studied her, then returned his smile.
That said and done, Harrison slowly took a seat behind the large, mahogany desk. He’d no more than set his cane aside when the little girl got to her feet, crossed the room and approached his desk. Then she reached behind her neck and removed the leather medicine bag Tom had given her.
The silence of the room was palpable as Sarah Jane loosened
the leather drawstrings and pulled out a small, gold locket.
“What do you have there?” Harrison asked, leaning forward and arching a gray brow.
Katie opened her mouth as if she intended to answer for the child but, appearing to have second thoughts, remained silent.
Tom sat beside her and took her hand in his. She smiled at him, her bottom lip quivering, then gave his fingers a gentle squeeze. They both watched intently as Sarah Jane offered the locket to her great-grandfather.
Harrison fingered it before springing the tiny clasp. When he peered inside, his mouth dropped open.
“This is me,” he said, as tears filled his eyes. “Where did you get it, child?”
Sarah Jane pointed to the portrait of Caroline hanging on the wall.
“Was that woman your mother?” he asked gently.
She nodded.
He took a deep breath and sighed. “About eight years ago, I took your mother to Dallas. She insisted I have my photograph taken. We argued about it for two days, but I gave in—that time. I should have given in more often, but I was a stubborn old man. I can’t tell her how very sorry I am, but I’ll tell you now. Will you forgive me for not being a better grandfather to your mother, and for not being a part of your life until now?”
Sarah Jane nodded, then reached out small, thin arms to hug him. Harrison embraced her, and his shoulders shook as he wept.
Moisture filled Tom’s eyes. Unwilling to let anyone see it, he turned and glanced out the window.
He’d wanted to meet his father’s people. To learn what kind of blood he carried in his veins. And he’d wanted the satisfaction of seeing Harrison Graves apologize for not helping him and his mother years ago.
Never had he entertained even a brief hope that Harrison would accept him as the grandson he never knew he had, nor had he thought to find peace with the stubborn old man. He still didn’t. But this poignant display of love and acceptance for Sarah Jane would be enough. And it would last a lifetime.
Harrison Graves had redeemed himself in Tom’s eyes.
“Sarah Jane,” Harrison said, “I’ll have Maria get your mother’s dollhouse out of storage. She used to play with it for hours. I think you’ll like it.”
“I’d like to see it, too,” Katie said. “Perhaps we can play together later. I never had a dollhouse of my own.”
Sarah Jane broke into the liveliest smile Tom had seen since Erin’s assault, and it seemed as if her healing might truly take place on the Lazy G.
“You’ll both enjoy playing with this dollhouse,” Harrison said. “It cost me a small fortune to have it made years ago. Perhaps you ladies can make new curtains—or whatever else you think it might need.”
Katie smiled. “We’ll have to ask Maria for help. I’m not much of a seamstress.”
“I’m sure she’d be delighted to be included.” Harrison patted the top of Sarah Jane’s head, his fingers lighting upon the long strands as though they were spun gold. “Katie, would you mind taking Sarah Jane to find Maria and asking her to get the dollhouse?”
Tom expected an objection of one kind or another, but Katie surprised him by getting to her feet, striding toward Harrison’s desk and reaching out her hand to Sarah Jane. “Certainly. Let’s go, honey.”
When they’d left the room, Harrison turned to Tom. “Now that we’re alone, I’d like to have a word with you.”
“What’s on your mind?”
Harrison took a deep breath, as though unsure of whether he should share his thoughts. “I saw Jeremiah Haney early this morning.”
“Where?”
“In my kitchen. He said he was coming to check on me, but I found him rummaging in a drawer. He had a candle beside him because the sun had yet to rise.”
Tom clenched his fists, and fought off a curse word. “Do you really think he came to check on you?”
“I’d like to think so.” Harrison leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, but Tom wasn’t fooled. The old man, his complexion pale, was in pain. And the meeting with Sarah Jane had weakened him. “But to tell you the truth, I didn’t like the uneasiness I felt when I looked into his eyes.”
“Then maybe you’re ready for the truth.”
Harrison gazed steadily at Tom. “I’m always ready for the truth. What’s on your mind?”
“A couple of days ago, I rode to Rio Seco.”
Harrison arched a gray brow. “Why?”
“To find Cord Rainville and ask why Martha Haney hired him to follow Jeremiah.”
“And?”
“He followed Haney to Taylorsville, where Caroline and Sarah Jane lived. Rainville told Martha that Jeremiah had been visiting Caroline off and on for years.”
Harrison paled, and his jaw tensed. “He’d better have a good reason for not telling me he knew where to find her.”
“I’m sure he had a good reason, but one that only suited him.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It wasn’t long after Rainville reported back to Mrs. Haney that word got out in the community that poor Martha Haney had lost her mind. Jeremiah hired a Spanish-speaking nurse to continue to medicate her with laudanum.”
“What are you speculating?”
“My guess is that he wanted to insure her silence and cooperation.”
Harrison leaned his head back in the seat. “Suspecting my friend’s son of wrongdoing doesn’t sit well with me.”
“I don’t suppose it does. Murder is a very serious charge.”
Harrison shook his head. “I can’t believe he’d go to that extreme.”
“Then I suggest you speak to Rainville yourself. I asked him to meet me here.”
Harrison studied Tom intently. “I’m not admitting I agree with you, but tell me something. Why have you gone to the trouble of trying to solve the mystery of this crime?”
Because Caroline had meant more to him than Harrison would ever know, but Tom didn’t think the old man would care to know why.
Then again, maybe he feared that none of it would even matter. So instead, he said, “Caroline was a loving, goodhearted woman. And I don’t believe she stayed away from you because she was angry. I think she would have come home years ago if she hadn’t been convinced that you’d disowned her.”
“I threatened to disown her,” Harrison said, voice rising. “But I never followed through. I never would have. I had a terrible temper, and so did she. Our arguments were loud and furious, but they rarely lasted more than a day or two. Until that last one.”
“Someone, other than you or Caroline, created the estrangement, Harrison.”
“How do you know?”
“Caroline suggested as much to a friend.” Tom sauntered toward the door, his steps slow and methodical. He paused at the doorway and looked over his shoulder. “I also think Sarah Jane’s life is in danger. Someone tried to ambush us when we rode to the Lazy G. So I asked Cord Rainville to hire on for a few days. I want that little girl watched at all times.”
“I told you before that I could lock this place up tighter than a fortress. I’ll have guards posted. No one will get to her except by our invitation.”
“Good. Why don’t you invite Jeremiah and Randolph to come for dinner this evening. I think it’s time to confront them both.”
Harrison cocked his head. “What are you planning?”
“Let’s watch Sarah Jane’s reaction when she meets him.”
“You expect her to recognize him?” Harrison asked.
“I think she’ll expose him as the one who assaulted her mother’s friend, and possibly as the man who shoved her mother down the stairs.”
“I hope you’re wrong.”
“I’m sure you do.”
As Tom opened the door, Harrison spoke to his back. “Were you in love with my granddaughter?”
Tom turned
his head, his response slow and deliberate. “No, sir. I thought of her as a sister.”
Harrison nodded, then locked his eyes on Tom’s. “She would have been lucky to have a brother like you. I only wish you would have found her sooner.”
“So do I.” Tom stepped from the room and closed the door.
He hadn’t been able to save Caroline. But, God willing, he’d lay down his own life to save her daughter.
Chapter Sixteen
Katie sat with Maria, watching Sarah Jane arrange small furniture inside a little, open-sided, blue-and-white house.
While growing up, Katie didn’t have dolls or toys like other little girls had. She really hadn’t known what she’d been missing since her love of reading had provided her and her father with so many hours of conversation and debate.
Yet living in a world of adults or literary characters had put her at a disadvantage when it came to conversing with the other children at school, most of whom struggled to comprehend the stories in their McGuffey Readers.
Looking back, she supposed that was one reason the other girls excluded her so often. She hadn’t minded being left alone to read under the shade of a tree, but it would have been nice to have been included in games of tag sometimes. Or to have been defended when one of the boys had pulled her braids or called her names.
“I remember one Christmas,” Maria said, drawing on yet another memory to share with Sarah Jane. “Your mother decorated that little dollhouse with sprigs of pine needles and red ribbon. Then the following spring, she went out into the meadow beyond the adobe walls and picked the colorful wildflowers that grew near the cottonwood trees. Then she made tiny bouquets and placed them in each of the rooms.”
Sarah Jane looked up from her play and smiled, her eyes brighter than Katie had ever seen them before. She really was thriving at the Lazy G. The memories of her mother were helping to make her whole again.
Harrison had been right. The child would undoubtedly enjoy playing with her mother’s dollhouse for hours.
Boot steps sounded, and Katie glanced up to see Tom enter the sitting room. Lobo, who was lying contentedly upon a gray-and-black woven rug in front of the fireplace, wagged his tail and whimpered a greeting.
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