“I’ll arrange it.” Tucker reached down and stroked Lucas’s hair, and the child seemed to settle into a drowsy state.
He glanced into her eyes, and for a moment she thought she saw a trace of something that looked like longing shining from them. “You better get him home. I’ll talk to you tomorrow about when you should meet the banker.”
Her grandfather called to the horses, and the wagon slowly rolled away. Sarah looked down at her son.
Strawberries. Tucker and Lucas shared a reaction to strawberries. What other things did they share that Sarah had yet to discover? God, that had been a close call.
***
Several days later the bell on the office door jingled, alerting Sarah that someone had entered. After being caught off guard when Wo Chan had entered the first time, she had decided that it was safer to put a bell on the door to alert her when patients arrived.
She walked into the office area, and there stood the Chinese man and two young men. They were dressed in the eastern fashion with loose trousers and long shirts. Her first reaction was panic, but she took a deep breath, determined to act as though everything was normal. If she appeared frightened they would know she had information regarding Kira.
“Good morning, gentlemen. How can I help you?” she asked.
Wo Chan came forward and bowed “Good morning. I’m still looking for my bond servant, Mrs. James.”
“The one you came by and asked me about once before?” she questioned innocently.
“Yes. Kira was last seen around your office. I fear she was hurt when she fell down a flight of stairs and that her bruises were mistaken for something different.
Sarah frowned. “I don’t remember treating her, Mr. Chan.”
“Later she was seen at your grandfather’s hotel,” he informed her.
Sarah shrugged, trying to appear disinterested. “A lot of people visit my grandfather’s hotel. The dining room has excellent food.”
The little man stepped closer to Sarah, but she refused to back away. He stopped mere inches from her, his dark eyes hard, radiating with hatred. “I hope you’re not lying to me, Mrs. James. If I find out you are, there will be serious consequences. Give her back to me so that no one gets hurt.”
His English was somewhat broken, but spoken well enough to be understood. She swallowed, fear rising up until it almost consumed her. “I think it’s time you left, Mr. Chan. Don’t come back here again.”
He nodded and started backing toward the door. “I won’t return unless I find out you had something to do with Kira’s disappearance. I will find her.”
With that last parting shot, he and the trio of henchmen backed out the door. Sarah managed to walk over to a chair and sink down onto the soft fabric. Her hands were trembling, and her heart was beating so fast and loud, she feared anyone else who came in the door would know she was frightened.
What was she going to do? How could she live with herself if she gave the young woman back to a horrible man like Wo Chan? But what about the safety of her family?
Thank God, Tucker had convinced her to take Kira out to the ranch. But the girl couldn’t stay there forever.
And she could never tell Tucker about Wo Chan’s visit. If he found out that the man had threatened her, she was afraid he would call the man out or try to shut him down. She could not be the one to provoke him into an altercation with Chan’s henchmen. She would not be responsible for getting Tucker into a gunfight where he could possibly be killed.
No matter what direction she turned, someone was going to get hurt. She only hoped she could hold off long enough to get herself and Kira out of town before Wo Chan realized she was responsible for the whore’s disappearance.
When Doc Wilson recovered and Sarah went back to Tombstone, she would take Kira with her. Surely she would be safe in Tombstone away from the clutches of the opium dealer. But until that time, Sarah would keep this visit from Wo Chan to herself.
***
“By the time I’m forty, I plan to own a huge portion of this town. The bank will be expanding in the next year, and I’m going to have to hire two more tellers,” Clyde Waltham III, candidate number two, informed Sarah.
She sat across from the wealthy banker, eating dinner in the Merchant’s restaurant. They had been at the plush eating establishment for nearly an hour, and the entire time had been spent listening to the man brag about how much money he made, his position in the community, and the way he ran his bank.
“The way the economy is growing in Fort Worth, we could be one of the leading cities in the nation before long.”
She tried to appear as though she was listening to the man, but her mind kept drifting back, like a bad dream, to the visit this morning from Wo Chan. Even when she wasn’t thinking about the man, suddenly a vision of him would appear in her mind, and she would have a moment of pure terror.
She refused to let his fear tactics work. She was not going to let him affect her life, yet she worried about Lucas and had reminded the desk clerks at the hotel not to let anyone up to their suite of rooms.
Part of her wanted to hire a bodyguard for Lucas; but she knew that would raise limitless questions, and she had to believe that the man had no proof or he would have done more than just frighten her this morning.
And his threats had been very successful. She was terrified, but she refused to give in to her fears and let Wo Chan win.
Clyde cleared his throat, bringing her attention back to him.. “Your grandfather has built one of the nicest hotels in the city, and soon our opera house will be completed. Then we’ll have some culture in this cow town.”
The banker droned on about his business while Sarah smiled and nodded, pretending to be engrossed, when in actuality she only wanted the evening to end. Maybe he was a nice man, but she was not in the least attracted to him.
He was tall with a round stomach and, if his hair had been white, could have passed for Saint Nick. Though he hardly had the manners of a saint.
“I want to leave a better place for my children. Of course, I’ve got to find a wife before the children can come along.”
She stifled a yawn and forked a bite of steak. At least the food was good this time, even if the company was rather boring.
“So how long have you known Tucker?” Clyde asked.
“Since I was ten and came to live with my grandfather,” she replied.
“Why haven’t the two of you ever gotten hitched?” he asked, the question taking her by surprise.
“We’re friends,” she said. “Nothing more.” Her insides clenched. It was a lie. They had a son together, they had shared a wonderful night of passion, and there could be so much more between them if only she could trust him again, and if only he wanted forever. But he didn’t want forever, and she was unwilling to settle for anything less.
“I don’t think men and women can be friends,” the banker responded. “Men want only two things from a woman, and they’ll do just about anything to get what they want ”
Of all the asinine things to say. “What two things are you referring to, Clyde?”
He grinned. “I don’t need to explain that to you. You’re a woman. You know.”
“I’m also a doctor, but I’d like a clarification from you because I think there are many things a man needs from a woman. So, I’d like to hear what you consider the most important two,” she said, her anger simmering just beneath the cool look she bestowed upon him.
He leaned back and crossed his arms above his stomach. “Okay. Sex and children are the only two things a man needs from a woman. The rest he can get just about anywhere else.”
“But you can get sex from a soiled dove and children from an orphanage. What other two things are you talking about, Clyde?” She let his name slide off her tongue and wished she could rinse out her mouth.
Clyde sat up and leaned closer to her and whispered, “But I don’t want a whore for sex, and I want my own children not someone else’s.”
Sarah took a si
p of water from the glass sitting on the table and then picked up her napkin and wiped her mouth. Anything to give her time to cool her response.
“I have a son from a previous marriage.”
“Oh. Tucker failed to mention him. Sorry, but I don’t want to raise another man’s son. I’m sure that there are boarding schools he’d be very happy in,” Clyde replied. “No offense.”
“None taken,” she said, knowing that her son would never be put in a boarding school.
“And I know you’re a doctor, but no wife of mine would ever hold a job where she looked at people’s privates. It’s just not seemly,” he said, his eyes wide with outrage.
“I heal people.”
He shook his head. “Men are doctors.”
If the man didn’t shut up soon, she was going to come unleashed on him. “My son will not be raised by strangers. And I enjoy my work. I find it very satisfying, and I’m doing a service to the community.”
“As my wife, you’d be doing even more service to the community by hosting parties and catering luncheons. I need someone to run my household, bear my children and be my hostess.”
“Is this an interview for the job?” she asked.
His face suddenly brightened. “You know, that’s not a bad idea. I could ask for references.”
Sarah stared in disbelief. She threw down her napkin, unable to finish her dinner. “I think it’s time I called it a night. My son has been sick, and I need to get back to him.”
He ignored her. “So what do you think? Wouldn’t you like to be the leading lady of Fort Worth? I’m giving you the opportunity to be my wife.”
It was all she could do to keep from busting out laughing. They had dinner together, and he was asking her to marry him? This was crazy! How many other women had turned him down?
No more! She refused to do this again. She had originally agreed to Tucker’s idea just to deter his mother’s interference. In the process she had hoped that she could prove to herself and to him that she no longer cared about him—that it would show Tucker that other men did find her attractive. But instead it had backfired. She was not going to do this to herself anymore. She was through with Tucker’s own matchmaking skills. They were lacking to say the least.
“Clyde, I just don’t think that would be a good idea. I like my work, I love my son, and I’m not willing to part with either. We’ve barely met, and I just don’t think I’m what you’re looking for.”
She watched as his chest puffed out. “I’m sorry to hear that, Sarah. I was hoping that we could join forces, get married and have several kids.”
She forced a smile. “I’m honored that you asked; but my son is the most important person in my life, and we need each other. Plus I wouldn’t be happy not being a doctor. I studied way too hard to get my medical degree.”
“Oh,” he said, stunned by her forwardness. “I understand. Let me take you home, then.”
She was finding there were a lot of things Tucker failed to mention to the men he arranged for her to meet.
***
Several days later, Sarah was filling her medical bag with supplies, concentrating on getting ready to ride out to the Melboumes’. According to Doc Wilson’s notes, Mrs. Melbourne suffered from consumption and had been doing poorly all winter. After Sarah checked on the woman, she wanted to examine her children to make sure the disease had not spread.
Lucas was back to normal, and she was counting the days until Doc Wilson returned and she went back to Tombstone, taking her son and Kira with her. The bell above the door tinkled, and Sarah spun around, fear exploding through her. Tucker strolled in, and she exhaled in relief. “I saw the buggy tied out front. You going somewhere?”
She glanced at him irritably and closed her bag. “Hello, and in case you’re interested, I’m fine.” Tucker grinned. “Good. Where are you going?”
She shook her head at him. “I’m driving the doctor’s buggy out to the Melboumes’ place to check on Mrs. Melbourne and her children.”
His face darkened into a frown. “You shouldn’t be driving out there by yourself. It’s not safe for a woman to be traveling alone.”
She shrugged. “I drive myself in Tombstone all the time. I refuse to live in fear. I’ll be fine.”
He picked up her doctor’s bag. “Are you ready now? You’re not going by yourself.”
Sarah stared at him as he stood at the door waiting for her, his hat in one hand, her medical bag in another. His hair was the color of the prairies in winter that lay at the edge of town, golden brown. His eyes twinkled with gold flecks that seemed to call to her and tempt her just as they had three years ago in Tombstone.
What was she doing? She couldn’t think of him this way, couldn’t remember the way his hands had felt on her body that night, the way his voice touched some deep inner chord in her. She couldn’t remember the feeling of safety and security that seemed to envelop her each time he had held her in his arms.
Quickly she pushed the thoughts away. Unable to acknowledge that she was grateful for his company, she replied, “If you insist on going, you can’t complain about what we find when we get there.”
“I’ve been to the Melboumes’ before. It’s no big deal,” he said, and opened the door for her. “Let’s go.”
“Okay, but you’ve been warned.”
They walked out the door, and he helped her into the small vehicle, his hands warm and firm through her clothes. She watched as he walked around the buggy and climbed in, picking up the reins. “You know, you drive me places almost more than I do.”
He smiled. “I like to do it.”
As they rode out of town heading south, she relaxed, sat back and watched the scenery roll by, the warmth of the sun making her drowsy on tins spring day. Because Tucker was with her, she wasn’t nearly as worried about Wo Chan and his threats. But she could not tell Tucker about the man and his intimidation. She didn’t need Tucker getting into any gun battles because of her, and soon she would be returning home.
“So how did you like Clyde?”
She looked at him and shook her head, a smile gracing her face. “You have the most incredibly bad taste when it comes to men. If you were a woman, I’d worry about you marrying poorly.”
His hands flicked the reins, and the conveyance bounced over a chuckhole. “Does this mean you aren’t interested in candidate number two?”
“Clyde will make some woman very unhappy, but not me,” she said, suddenly realizing that she would probably find fault with any man except Tucker.
The thought shocked her. Did she still love him? Quickly she pushed the idea out of her head. He had broken her heart once, and she would be damned if she would let him have a second go at her fragile organ.
Their first encounter had left her shaken and with a son that she loved dearly. The second time around would be even more devastating when he chose wandering over staying with her.
“So who should I go to next,” he asked, a frown wrinkling his forehead.
“Oh, Tucker, I just don’t think this is a good idea. I’m not interested in finding a husband.”
“Why not? Your son needs a father,” he said.
“He has a mother and a grandfather. The boy is well taken care of,” she replied, a hint of irritation in her voice.
“Yes, but he needs to be taken fishing, and when he’s older, he’ll need to be taught how to hunt, how to take care of a horse. There are just so many things that the boy will need to know.”
“I think I can handle most of them, Tucker,” she said, defensiveness edging her voice.
“If you were going to stay around here, I could teach him.”
Her heart lurched into her throat at the thought of Tucker unknowingly teaching his son all the things a man needed to know.
“I can’t. I’m going home to Tombstone just as soon as Doc Wilson is well. I’m going to take Kira with me.”
“Yes, well, it’s time I was moving on anyway. I hope to be leaving soon myself.”
This was why he would always be a man on the move, never staying long in one place, with no permanent ties or commitments. She couldn’t help but feel angry that once again he couldn’t see that there was so much right here in Fort Worth for him. Right in front of his eyes, if only he would open them.
“What is it about wandering you enjoy so much, Tucker?” she asked, irritated. “Why do you want to leave people you care about?”
He nodded. “I’ve always wanted to see other parts of the country. I’ve told you before how I want to be different from my brothers. I want to be me.” “But didn’t you get that when you were younger? Back in your gunslinging days? You have a good job. Why not stay in Fort Worth?”
He glanced at her, frowning as he shrugged. “It just doesn’t seem very exciting to stay in one place the rest of my life. Everyone gets married, has children and settles down. I want to be different I want to do unusual things. See new places.”
“Why couldn’t you do that with a wife and children?” she asked.
“Because then you’re tied down. You have to work. You have to take care of the children and support your wife.” He pulled on the reins and slowed the horse as they rounded a curve.
“So you think being a family man would become a chore, a duty?” she asked.
He turned toward her and said, “Yes, I do.”
Sarah gazed out as the countryside sped by, her heart in her throat. He didn’t want the accountability of taking care of a family. Even now his avoidance of responsibility seemed to drive his decisions, just as it had in Tombstone. Only this time he wasn’t a wounded gunslinger, but rather a grown man with a penchant for danger and an aversion to dependability.
Once they reached the Melboumes’, Sarah sighed and climbed out of the buggy. It was time to go to work and do the job she loved, but she had wanted just a few more moments alone with Tucker. Just a few more moments to point out to him his avoidance of responsibility, to point out the value of family, to share with him a cute story about his son.
Chapter Nine
Tucker watched as Sarah spoke with Mrs. Melbourne, amazed at Sarah’s gentle nature, the way she listened to her patients, making them feel special. She had always had a way with people, since they were children.
The Marshal Takes A Bride Page 12
