The Country Doctor's Bride (Historical West - The Cowboys of Naked Bluff, Texas series Book 6)

by Anita Philmar

He dropped a comforting arm around her shoulders. “Once we’re through here. You’ll be able to go upstairs and rest. That trip from Centerville can be tiring at the best of times. Add in the adrenaline rush you must have experienced, and you’re probably dead on your feet.”

  She laid a hand on her forehead and shielded her eyes from the deputy. “Nathaniel, please...”

  “It shouldn’t take long. Zack and Logan filled me in as to what happened after you arrived in town. Now, I need you to tell me what occurred out on the road?” Bo picked up his cup. He watched them both over the rim for a moment, and then took a few sips with a grimace. “Damn, Doc, you make your coffee stronger than I do.”

  With a grin at his friend, Nathaniel directed Dixy over to the chair he’d vacated, pressed her into it, and walked to the counter. He had to get her talking, or Bo would think she wasn’t telling him the whole story. “There now, why don’t you start with why you were traveling with Tobias?”

  Chapter Three

  Exhausted by the events of the day, Dixy closed her eyes and fought to recall everything that happened before she arrived in Naked Bluff. Her mind immediately jumped to Chipita’s trial. For a long time now, Dixy had been fighting the image of her dear friend hanging from a rope.

  Shoving the horrible vision from her head, she blinked and studied the dark-haired, brown-eyed man across the table. His unbroken focus remained on her while he sipped his coffee. “I, uh, arrived in Centerville several days ago. A friend told me to talk to Madeline Cowden, said she might help me find a ride east. She introduced me to Tobias.”

  Deputy Kildare glanced at Nathaniel. The two shared some form of silent communication. Then with a raised eyebrow, he resumed with his questioning. “Did she say what you should do once you reached here?”

  “No, she merely suggested it’d be a good place to settle for a while until I found another ride.” Dixy hadn’t particularly cared for the idea, but she figured it was a few miles closer to her final destination. “However, Tobias said he’d see what he could do to help me get to Shreveport. He mentioned his boss regularly scheduled trips there.”

  “That makes sense. Gab Van Pelt has a place not far from here. It’s just off the road to Longview. He runs a shipping business and has men all over the state moving supplies.” Deputy Kildare closed his mouth and patiently waited for her to continue.

  The thought of never talking to Tobias again sent a rush of grief through her. She’d like him, had considered him a friend. Now, he was dead because she hadn’t been able to save him. Guilt swelled inside her. Tears pricked the corner of her eyes and clogged her throat with emotions. She sobbed, “I didn’t sleep much the night before we left. So I decided to...”

  Her mumbled words must have come out as gibberish because the deputy raised a hand. “Hang on, repeat that.”

  Nathaniel stepped to her side and lightly squeezed her shoulder. Having him so close shouldn’t have reassured her, but strangely it did. “Easy, sweetheart, take your time. You were tired and decided to rest.”

  “How in the hell,” Deputy Kildare started but shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. “Doesn’t matter, go on Dixy.”

  She drew in a breath and placed a hand over the one on her shoulder. “I crawled in the back and snuggled up under the tarp covering the boxes. It helped block the wind, and I fell asleep.”

  Chewing on her lip, she worked through the sudden mirage of visions in her head to make sense of what happened next. “I woke up to a man yelling. He said...”

  The words ran together in her memory, and she had trouble distinguishing their meaning. “I can’t remember exactly, but he was unhappy with Tobias. Then the man fired his gun and rode off.”

  She fidgeted in her chair and shifted away from Nathaniel. The image of Tobias’ red stained shirt and the sticky warmth of his blood seeping through her dress awoke the terrors of the moment. “Tobias fell off the driver’s bench on top of me. I, uh, panicked, but tried to stop the bleeding.”

  She stared into space, trying her best to cast aside the graphic memories of the event. “It was too much. So I told him to hold the compress in place and drove into town.”

  Unable to bear the burden of failing him, she dropped her head into her hands, and her elbows hit the table. Words continued to flow from her mouth. “He shouldn’t have died. He was a nice man and deserved better.”

  Nathaniel sank to his knees beside her chair and drew her into his arms. “This is not your fault. You did everything you could to save him.”

  His assurances didn’t ease her guilt, but his warm embrace helped sooth her pain. For months now, she’d been alone with no one on which to depend.

  She wrapped her arms around him and allowed herself the release of a few tears. With her head buried against his neck, she drew in his unique scent. Strangely, it wasn’t the usual medicine odor she associated with her father.

  No, his masculine fragrance and the hard wall of his chest inspired thoughts of surrender. What would it be like to trust a man enough to give herself completely to him?

  The haze of exhaustion and other conflicting emotions dulled her ability to resist temptation. She snuggled closer and his arms around her tightened.

  “Dixy.” Deputy Kildare’s voice drew her out of the sensual fog in which she’d fallen. “Dixy?”

  Determine to take responsibility for her actions, she lifted her head from Nathaniel’s shoulder and blinked several times to clear her vision. “I know if I hadn’t paused to stop the bleeding, Tobias would still be alive.”

  “Honey, what happened to him was not your fault.” Nathaniel stood, drawing her from her chair and into his embrace.

  Deputy Kildare nodded and rose with a grace that surprised her for such a muscular man. “He’s right. But unfortunately, I still have to check out your story, which also means, you can’t leave town.”

  “You can find her here with me,” Nathaniel responded, taking away her chance to ask for another place to stay.

  “Good. Then I best be going. I have to talk to Gab and tell him what happen.” He glanced out the window as if checking the position of the sun. “Probably tomorrow, right now, I still have to examine the stuff in the wagon and drop by Tobias’ house. It may take me several days to do a full investigation. I’ll stop by when I return from Centerville.”

  With an air of authority, he swung his chair around and shoved it under the table. Moving to the kitchen door, he hesitated before leaving. “Nathaniel, here, is a good man, he’ll keep you safe. Just be patient until I return.”

  He left with only a slight wave of his hand.

  Dixy stared after him, her mind demanding he not go. Suddenly, she straightened and rushed forward. “Wait, I need my clothes.”

  Nathaniel’s hand landed on her shoulder and drew her to a stop. “Hold up. Let me go talk to him. I’ll see if he'll arrange to have your things returned to you.””

  He dashed outside before she could work up an argument. The slamming of the door and the thump of his boots on the porch emphasized her exhaustion. Generally, she didn’t count on anyone to handle her affairs.

  Disgusted with herself for not beating him to the mark, she swiveled around. The coffee on the stove almost tempted her to pour a cup, but she had no desire to deal with Nathaniel again. Instead, she surveyed the neatly organized kitchen, decided he didn’t need her help with anything and dragged herself upstairs. If he chose to take on the chore of seeing to it that her things were returned, she wouldn’t argue.

  Not now, leastwise, but after she had rested for a spell, she and one Nathaniel Murphy were going to get a few things straight.

  ****

  The dim, early-morning light peeking through the curtains told Nathaniel all the talk yesterday concerning rain had developed into a reality. He hoped, after his sleepless night that meant he wouldn’t have a busy day.

  Glancing at the files in front of him, he tried to concentrate on the tasks he needed to finish.

  The floorboards
above his head squeaked. He shifted uneasily in his chair. Dixy would show up any minute now, and he had to be ready.

  Yesterday, he’d come inside from talking to Bo and found she’d disappeared upstairs. He’d given her time to adjust to what had happened and had helped Mr. Snead, the town’s undertaker, with Tobias’ body. Nathaniel’s thoughts had strayed to her, insistently wondering how she’d taste on his lips.

  Still, he hadn’t intruded and had kept himself busy until bedtime. Once he was ready to retire for the night, he’d checked on her. Only to discover, she’d fallen asleep on the bed in his guest bedroom. She hadn’t even bothered to take off her clothes.

  An overpowering desire to strip her naked and crawl into bed with her had consumed him. Using every ounce of his self-control, he’d resisted, covered her with a few warm quilts, and headed off to his bedroom. Granted, the image of her lying nude across the blankets had followed him, plaguing him for hours until he had to take himself in hand to relieve the pressure in his cock.

  Even this morning, his thoughts harassed him with pictures of her voluptuous body, ready and eager for him to join her. Shifting restlessly in his seat, he adjusted the snug hold of his pants on his unsatisfied loins. His body ached with the desire to claim her, make her his, and drive home the point she needed him too.

  Afraid, he’d spook her with his lustful desire, he drew in a deep breath and reminded himself she simply needed a day or so to become accustomed to the terms of their arrangement.

  Still with her sleeping down the hall from him, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to stand by his good intentions for long.

  Moving a stack of files, he perused the list of patients to see today. It shouldn’t entail more than a few hours before he’d be free to spend time with Dixy. Maybe, even take a trip to church and have the minister marry them.

  “What time does your first patient arrive?”

  The pleasure of hearing a woman’s voice in his home drew his attention to the doorway. His gaze fell on the tempting swell of her breasts and the gentle curve of her waistline. The short length of the pink borrowed dress exposed her high-ankle shoes and revealed a small glimpse of her white stockings. His thoughts immediately jumped to having her legs encased around his waist. His cock swelled. He shoved back his chair to control the intense hunger, expanding exponentially inside him.

  With his gaze locked on her, he walked to her and drew her into his arms. Before she could resist, he pinned her against the doorframe. “You’re lucky I’m willing to wait until we’re married before I take you to bed. Otherwise, I’d have joined you last night.”

  “Nathaniel.” Her hands hit his chest, and a dumbstruck expression flashed across her face.

  Pleased by her reaction, he dipped his head and nibbled at her inviting lips. The sweet flavor of her mouth enticed, and she teased him with her heated breath. One taste led to two until the ability to step away fled.

  Needing more, he ate at her lips, seeking entrance into the moist haven. His tongue played against the seam until her mouth parted. Diving deeper, he didn’t give her a chance to retreat.

  A low moan rang from her throat. She slid her arms around his neck. With her body flush against his, his mouth covering hers, he pressed the fly of his pant against the tantalizing space between her thighs.

  Everything inside him demanded he strip away the barriers between them and take her right here, right now. She belonged to him. He knew it the moment he saw her in the back of the wagon. He needed to show her how truly good they could be together.

  A loud whack on the front door interrupted his pleasure.

  Dixy shifted her head, tugging her mouth free.

  “Come on, Nathan, open up. It’s cold out here.” A deep male voice yelled from the porch.

  “Damn.” Nathaniel lightened his grip on Dixy and gave her a little room without releasing her. “That has to be Chase Kildare, Bo’s brother. He probably stopped by to bring you, your things.”

  A hard banging noise sounded through the house again.

  “Just a minute. I’ll be right there.” Nathaniel whipped around Dixy and hurried to the front door.

  Grabbing the knob, he swung open the solid, wooden partition and eyed the couple on his porch. “Damn, Chase, why didn’t you say you had Sarah with you? Come in, come in.”

  After ushering them inside, he shut the door and turned. Sarah and Chase, both stood facing him while Dixy was nowhere in sight. “Sorry, I took so long. I was talking to my fiancée.”

  Sarah held out a carpetbag. “Yes, that’s why I tagged along so I—”

  Chase coughed as if to clear his throat.

  “Well, it was one of the reasons,” Sarah added to her brother-in-law and offered Nathaniel Dixy’s things.

  He set the bag on the bottom step of the staircase and waved them into his sitting room. “What was the other matter?”

  “I, uh...” Sarah paused and rubbed a hand over her stomach.

  Narrowing his focus, he noticed the ashen color of her skin and made a quick, professional assessment of her condition. “How long have you been sick?”

  Chapter Four

  Giving a final glance at the list of patients Nathaniel needed to see today, Dixy walked to the doorway of his office. She’d darted inside to give herself a few minutes to recover from his kisses before having to meet someone new.

  He stood at the bottom of the stairs, facing the couple who had just arrived. His broad shoulders encased in a dark coat. His thick, auburn hair danced along the collar teasing her with the idea of running her fingers through the silky strands.

  This morning, he’d surprised her with a kiss before she’d acclimated to his charm and built up her resistance. Then once, he had her in his arms, she’d fallen under his tempestuous spell.

  Now, staring at him, she noted the soft smile on his lips and stepped forward enough to see his visitors. The woman wore a deep-red coat, made from a lush, expensive fabric. Tentacles of blonde hair framed her beautiful face and her emerald green eyes glistened with tears, igniting an unreasonable disgust. Dixy hated to jump to conclusions, but she had to protect herself. Through the years, she’d met too many spoiled, rich women not to be on alert for trouble.

  “I’m not sure. It seems to happen every morning, and again when I catch a whiff of any strong odor.” The woman rubbed a slender hand over her mouth. “There doesn’t seem to be any real cause behind it.”

  “Most days she can barely keep anything down.” The man beside her draped his arms around her shoulders bringing him into Dixy’s line of vision.

  Chase.

  Dixy recalled the man’s name. Nathaniel had claimed he was Bo Kildare’s brother. Both tall, Chase shared the same dark hair and eyes as the Deputy, but that’s where the similarity ended. Unlike Bo, Chase had the rough features of a savage Indian, which was captured with clarity in his square face, strong jaw, and tan skin. The only thing that kept Dixy from running far away from the man was the caring way in which he held the woman. As if—

  “When was the last time you had your female flow?” Nathaniel’s question appeared to shock the couple.

  “Well, I’ve never been real regular but, uh...” The woman stuttered to a stop, and then blurted out, “I can’t be pregnant.”

  “Why not?” Nathaniel pressed as if he had the answer to her health concerns.

  “She was married before she wed Bo,” Chase answered for his sister-in-law and pulled her tighter against his chest. “Micah LaFever didn’t want her to have any children.”

  Holy shit. Dixy whispered silently. She’d heard tales in relationship to the man and knew his reputation of throwing the wildest parties in Texas. No wonder the woman gave the impression of being a highfalutin bitch. Her deceased husband had been one of the richest men in the state.

  “Is that because Sarah’s barren, or because he could not give her children?” Nathaniel fired back.

  “I, uh, always assumed it was me.” Sarah peeked up at the man beside her with a s
mall grin. “Do you think?”

  “It’s certainly a possibility.” Chase squeezed her close and stared at Nathaniel. “Is there any way to know for sure?”

  “Well, I can do an exam, but she seems to have the classic symptoms, sick at her stomach, no recent blood flow, sensitive breasts.” He paused to confirm and probed further “Tired and sleeping more than usual?”

  “Gosh, I simply thought the change in weather had me dragging.” Sarah peered up at her brother-in-law with a stunned look on her face. “What do you think Bo will say? I told him I couldn’t give him children.”

  A big smile spread over Chase’s lips. “He’ll be happier than a pig in a pile of slop.” He hugged her close and beamed at Dixy. “Well, doc, it looks like you’ve got you a right pretty, young lady too.”

  “I was wondering where you disappear to,” Nathaniel said, taking away Dixy's chance to respond.

  Stepping to her, he drew her to his side. “Sarah, Chase, I want you to meet my fiancée, Dixy Hawthorne.”

  Uncomfortable with his introduction, Dixy powered forward and escaped from his arms. “It’s nice to meet you both, but don’t pay any attention to Nathaniel’s comment. I might be helping him out for a few days with his practice, but I’m not the kind of woman any man would choose to marry.”

  Nathaniel slid an arm around her waist and held her firmly against his body. “And why don’t you tell us, why that is?”

  The hard wall of his chest caressed her spine, tempting her with the alluring heat radiating from him. She grabbed his wrist with both of her hands, hoping to break his hold.

  Unable to loosen his grip, she smiled at the couple and stiffened her spine. “Well, according to my father, I’m too direct, have the disposition of a mule, and way too smart for my own good. All qualities he assured me that no man in his right mind requires in a woman.

  “And Nathaniel, being the intelligent man that he is, will not be interested in you for long?” Sarah smiled and cast a glance at her brother-in-law.