A Cowboy for Keeps

by Jody Hedlund

  “Have you been living as his housekeeper or his wife?” Steele said again.

  She stared at the floor, her expression still mortified. “I guess it’s been more like a housekeeper.”

  “There.” Steele smiled at Hallock. “See? It’ll all work out for the best after all.”

  “Maybe so.” Hallock peeked shyly at Greta before he focused on his hands folded in front of him.

  Wyatt had the sudden need to drag Greta out the door and home to the ranch as fast as he could. Greta was his. He loved her. They belonged together.

  But what about Hallock?

  Wyatt’s mind jumped back to the previous summer when the sluice box had been as empty as his belly. He’d been down in the mouth, sitting outside his tent taking off his wet socks and airing out his sore feet when he noticed several miners laughing and pushing someone around. Of course he hadn’t been able to sit idly by. He jumped up and elbowed his way into the fray, rescuing Hallock and in the process gaining an unlikely friend.

  After that, Hallock had taken to inviting him to dinner at his newly constructed house several times a week. While they were complete opposites in nearly every possible way, Wyatt had come to see the good in the gentle-spirited man. He made sure the fellas gave Hallock the respect he was due. And Hallock made sure Wyatt had enough grub to fill him.

  While Wyatt didn’t want to give up Greta, how could he keep from hurting this kind and trusting man?

  “Don’t forget.” Steele narrowed his gaze upon Wyatt again. “Mr. Hallock’s the one who paid for Greta and Astrid to come to Fairplay. They’re indebted to him, not you. And if anyone deserves to have her as a bride, Hallock’s first in line.”

  Steele was right. Wyatt wouldn’t have been able to afford their passage, not in a hundred years. But Hallock would be able to give Greta everything she needed and more. He’d find the best care for Astrid this side of the Mississippi. He could take her to Denver, pay for her treatment, and even hire a physician to come to Fairplay.

  Sure as a gun, Greta and Astrid would be better off with Hallock.

  Wyatt’s shoulders slumped. He couldn’t promise them anything, especially not after losing his herd as well as the cattle deal with Steele. As much as he loved Greta—in fact, because he loved her—he had to let her go.

  How could he do anything less than release her from their vows and give her the better life she deserved?

  Chapter 26

  Greta was frozen in place. She wanted to run from the dining room and escape to some place far away, but she couldn’t make her feet or voice work.

  Phineas Hallock wasn’t dead. He was very much alive and standing less than a dozen paces away.

  He shifted, rubbed a hand across his nose, and then pulled out his handkerchief again.

  Beneath her hand, she could feel the tension radiating from Wyatt’s arm. Although she’d expected him to speak with Mr. Steele at some point, she certainly hadn’t been ready for him to be so candid about the true nature of their relationship the moment they walked into the hotel.

  During their exchange, she’d been ready to crawl underneath one of the tables. But then Mr. Hallock had spun around. It had only taken a moment for her to place his face with the picture he’d sent her, a daguerreotype she still had at the bottom of one of her bags.

  While he appeared older in person, his kindness remained constant. She could immediately sense in him a gentle spirit, one that had come across in his letters and convinced her to accept his marriage proposal.

  It was the same one now that told her she couldn’t spurn him, that to do so would be too cruel after all he’d done for her. Yet how could she leave Wyatt? How could she live without him?

  Those same questions had been plaguing her during the entire ride into town. Even if they’d forgiven each other, and even after all the things he’d said about loving her and wanting her in his life, she’d known deep inside she still had to do the right thing for Astrid.

  And that meant going to McLaughlin’s Livery to purchase two stagecoach tickets for Astrid and her to ride back to Denver.

  As hard as it was to imagine leaving Wyatt, she had to persist in her plan to get Astrid more help. She guessed Wyatt had every intention of accompanying them to Denver. But he belonged here working his land, buying more steers, and building the addition onto the cabin for his family. While she wanted to promise him she’d come back from Denver, she couldn’t guarantee that either, not without knowing how Astrid would fare.

  Pain had wedged into each part of her heart during the ride into town. She’d decided to make the arrangements for the ride back to Denver before she could change her mind—or Wyatt convinced her otherwise.

  But now . . .

  She glanced from Mr. Steele back to Phineas, who lifted his curious gaze to her once more, then rapidly dropped it and shifted his feet.

  She couldn’t do as Mr. Steele suggested and marry Phineas in place of Wyatt, could she? But she certainly couldn’t just walk away, not after Mr. Steele’s reminder of how much Phineas had paid for Astrid and her to travel to Fairplay.

  With all eyes suddenly focused upon her, her face heated. “I’d like the chance to talk with Mr. Hallock privately. If that’s agreeable to him and everyone else.”

  Wyatt’s features hardened. “Nope, it ain’t agreeable to me, but I’m guessing I don’t have much say in the matter.”

  As conversations erupted around them, she squeezed Wyatt’s arm and leaned in. “Please try to understand, Wyatt.”

  “Understand what?” His voice was low and his eyes filled with hurt.

  “I won’t let Astrid and me be the reason you lose your ranch.”

  “Without cattle, I’m bound to lose it eventually anyway.”

  “No.” She shook her head, refusing to believe he’d have to give up everything he’d worked so hard for. He couldn’t. She wouldn’t let him.

  Determination surged and chased away the embarrassment that had been strangling her. “Mr. Steele, you were wrong.” Her voice drowned out the commotion in the room.

  At her accusation, Mr. Steele’s conversation with a man next to him stalled. He shifted his attention to her, his mouth half open and his brows lifted.

  “You were wrong,” she said again, as silence descended. Her nerves quivered, making her legs weak, but now that she had everyone’s attention, she had to speak. “The day I arrived in Fairplay destitute and homeless, I realize you were trying to help a desperate lady out of a desperate situation. And I do appreciate your concern. You were kind to both Astrid and me.”

  At the mention of Astrid’s name, more brows rose.

  “Astrid is just fine,” she assured them. “We found her this morning at a hot spring. She is unharmed and as well as can be.”

  Some of the men nodded, their expressions relieved.

  “And I thank each of you for your help in searching for her. Your kindness means more than you will know.”

  Again the men began to speak, and Greta was afraid that she was losing her opportunity to try to help Wyatt. And once lost, she doubted she’d regain it. “You’ve all been kind.” She raised her voice again. “And Mr. Steele in particular.”

  The gentleman shifted his attention back to her, his expression wary. No doubt he was wondering where she was going with the conversation.

  “Mr. Steele, I know you were looking out for Astrid and me when you brought up marriage to Wyatt. But you were wrong to make me a part of the cattle bargain.”

  “Greta, don’t,” Wyatt softly pleaded.

  “I don’t think you understand,” Mr. Steele said.

  “Maybe not everything. But I do know Wyatt’s one of the hardest-working men I’ve ever met. He’s got more willpower in one finger than a lot of men have in their entire bodies.”

  Wyatt tugged on her. “It’s alright. Let it go.”

  Mr. Steele’s gaze shifted to Wyatt, frustration flashing across his suave face. “That might be true, but—”

  “He deserves
a deal of his own, for being a man of integrity as well as for being so hardworking. The fact is, if you loan him the money he needs to invest in a herd, you’ll be the one who stands to gain a profit off his hard work. And if I’m not mistaken, the profit on beef will only increase as the access to eastern markets gets easier with the building of more railways.”

  Wyatt released an exasperated breath, but she kept her attention fully upon Mr. Steele. She couldn’t show any signs of weakness or hesitation now, or she might lose his interest. “As a matter of fact, any mine owner in the area willing to invest in the cattle will stand to earn a hefty profit.”

  If no one else took the bait, she’d plead with Phineas to loan Wyatt the money. It was the least she could do for Wyatt after everything he’d done for Astrid and her.

  She lifted her chin. “If you don’t want to give Wyatt the loan, then he’ll need to start asking around for another investor. And I have a feeling that someone else, perhaps Mr. Hallock himself, would be more than eager to invest.”

  “Indeed, indeed,” Phineas said in a high, shaky voice. “I should very much like that.”

  The men began to talk again, throwing out suggestions for other wealthy mine owners who might be willing to help Wyatt out.

  “Be quiet, everyone!” Mr. Steele waved a hand for attention. “I never said the deal is off. I’ve already contacted the breeder in Missouri, and I’m not planning to bail out now.”

  Next to her, Wyatt tipped up the brim of his hat, his expression guarded.

  Mr. Steele locked glares with Wyatt. Silence filled the space between the two. Finally Mr. Steele picked up his hat from the table, settled it on his head, then pushed in his chair. “McQuaid, I’ll meet you in my parlor in thirty minutes. We’ll talk cattle, and I’ll also have my assistant draw up annulment papers.”

  Annulment. The word hit Greta like a blast of winter air, just as it had the first time he’d mentioned it.

  Mr. Steele stalked past them without waiting for a reply.

  Wyatt stood rigidly as the other men milled around the room.

  “You’ll get your cattle, Wyatt.” She forced the words past her tight throat. “And your ranch is going to grow and become very successful. I just know it.”

  His beautiful brown eyes studied her face, as if searching for something. His expression was somber but still oh-so-handsome, so much that her heart hurt just looking at him.

  As much as he might think he wanted to stay with her, in the long run he’d realize the wisdom of investing in his ranch instead. She had to stay strong and push through her need to throw her arms around him and beg him not to end their marriage.

  “This winter you’ll be able to construct the new addition onto the cabin, work on expanding the irrigation ditches, and start building fences in the pastures. By the time summer comes, you’ll be ready for your family and the cattle.” She hoped what she left unsaid came across—that he couldn’t give up all that to be with Astrid and her.

  “Let’s just go on home, and we’ll figure it all out there. Please, Greta.”

  “I have to speak with Mr. Hallock first.”

  Before Wyatt could respond, some of the men who’d been helping search for Astrid approached and wanted to know more details about her condition. As Greta filled them in on the details, she was keenly aware of Wyatt next to her, the way he took off his hat, dug his fingers into his hair, and then expelled a taut breath. Finally, he jammed his hat back on, pivoted, and walked out, letting the door slam behind him.

  An ache rose swiftly into Greta’s throat. She’d just cut him loose from his obligation to her and pushed him away. It was for the best, but she resisted the urge to run after him and tell him she didn’t want to lose him.

  “Miss Nilsson?” A man cleared his throat.

  She forced her attention back to the conversation at hand to find that Phineas had approached her. He was twisting at the buttons on his vest. Already stretched to the limit, the buttons looked as if they would pop off at any moment.

  “Mr. Hallock,” she said as graciously as she could, finding that she was almost peering down at him since he was a good two inches shorter than her five-feet-five inches. While he’d mentioned that he wasn’t a tall man, she hadn’t expected to stand above him.

  “I do apologize for my delay,” he said with a squeak.

  What could she say, especially after all that had transpired over the past three months since her arrival in Fairplay?

  With the others pushing in around them and growing louder, she glanced at the door. “Perhaps we could step outside to talk?”

  “Indeed, indeed.” He bolted to the door and held it open for her. As she exited, her heart dropped. Wyatt had already unloaded the beef from her horse and was gone, with no sign of him or his steed anywhere along Main Street.

  For a moment, panic seized her. Then she gave herself a mental shake. Surely, she’d see him at least one more time when she returned to the homestead to gather Astrid and their belongings. Even so, her limbs were weak as she lowered herself onto the bench in front of the hotel.

  “Miss Nilsson, thank you for speaking with me.” Phineas sat beside her, perching gingerly on the edge as though he might jump and flee at the slightest cause. “I regret the inconveniences and hardships my delay has cost you.”

  He went on to explain that he’d gotten a much later start leaving San Francisco than he anticipated. When the stagecoach had reached Salt Lake City, he’d been delayed indefinitely due to trouble with Indians on the trail. Apparently, he’d written to her regarding the setback, but the letter had gone to her home in Illinois, and she never received it because she’d already departed for the West.

  Whatever the case, Phineas hadn’t died. And the murdered and mutilated body discovered in the mountain pass that spring obviously belonged to some other unfortunate soul.

  “The delivery of everything I purchased will be postponed until next spring.” He shook his head, his fleshy forehead wrinkled in consternation.

  “Please don’t trouble yourself on my account.” She couldn’t keep herself from searching every horse and rider that rode past. Hopefully, Wyatt was only selling the beef and hadn’t left without her. No matter his frustration, he was a man of too much principle to make her fend for herself.

  Phineas’s attention kept flitting to the livery and several passengers still waiting by their luggage. He had to be relieved to be back in Fairplay.

  He toyed with his buttons again. “I just never expected the additional delay out of Salt Lake City.”

  “I’m sure you didn’t.” She couldn’t rouse the enthusiasm he deserved. Back in August when she’d arrived, she would have been excited to meet him. Of course, she would have been nervous too, but ultimately she would have made the best of their marriage of convenience.

  She had to muster the same resolve now. But how could she, not when she cared so deeply for Wyatt? When he was all she could think about? When he was the only man she wanted?

  “Then you won’t mind living in the house without all the furniture and decorations?”

  Could she really live with Phineas? Marry him? Be his wife? She swallowed hard, gripping her hands tightly together in her lap. Maybe once a loveless marriage would have been enough. But it wasn’t anymore. Not after all that she’d experienced with Wyatt.

  She didn’t know how she could go through with marrying Phineas, but she couldn’t tell him that. At least not yet. Not until she had a chance to figure out what to do. For now, it was best if she didn’t hurt his feelings or cause him undue stress. “No, I’m sure we’ll be fine without furniture and decorations.”

  His shoulders slumped, almost as if he’d hoped she’d say otherwise.

  “And you won’t mind—not getting into the house?” His voice squeaked again as the words tumbled out haltingly. “I need to give the renters plenty of time to find other arrangements.”

  Maybe that’s what she needed. Plenty of time. She could try to get him to postpone marriag
e plans since she was taking Astrid to Denver for further treatment. That would give her more time to figure out how to repay him for the cost he’d invested in her travel to Fairplay.

  “Mr. Hallock, about Astrid . . . She hasn’t been getting better. Her condition, in fact, has worsened. As a result, I’ve decided to take her to the hospital in Denver. I’ve heard good things about what the physicians there are doing for consumption patients, and I’m hoping they can help Astrid.”

  He didn’t reply.

  She chanced a sideways glance to find that he was staring at the passengers near the livery, his face a mask of sadness and despair. She waited for him to say something, perhaps protest her desire to leave so soon after his arrival. But he remained silent, which made her heart sink farther.

  “I’m sorry to disappoint you,” she said quietly. “I know that’s not what you were expecting after arriving home.”

  He shifted his attention to her, his brow creasing. “Not what I was expecting?”

  “Yes, I’m hoping to leave on the stagecoach tomorrow.”

  He sat up, his girth straining against his vest. “I don’t understand. Why are you leaving?”

  Hadn’t he been listening to what she’d just said? “I’d like to take Astrid to Denver.”

  His face remained blank.

  “For further treatment.”

  “Then she’s not getting better?” He glanced away again, clearly distracted.

  Greta paused.

  He wiped at his eyes.

  Was he crying? And if so, why?

  “Mr. Hallock? Is something wrong?”

  “What?” He blinked rapidly. “No, no, no. Of course not.”

  “Are my plans to leave hurting you—?”

  “That’s not it at all.”

  Was it because of Wyatt? Was Phineas upset she and Wyatt had lived together and grown close? Her throat clogged again just thinking about losing Wyatt.

  She twisted her hands together tighter and fought against her longing for Wyatt. She didn’t want to love him. But the simple truth was that she did. She loved Wyatt McQuaid, and the need for him welled up so strong and hard she could barely breathe.