by Bess McBride
“They did not harm you otherwise?” he asked.
She knew what he meant. “No.”
“You must come to my ranch. I will send one of my men for the doctor in Benson. He can tend to Jeremiah at the ranch. You must stay as long as is necessary.”
“Can’t we take him back to the hotel? I can look after him there.”
“Forgive me for saying so, Sarah, but you do not look as if you can take care of yourself. You appear to be swaying on your feet.” For emphasis, he reached out to support her. “The doctor must see to you as well.”
“But the hotel,” she murmured. “It can’t run itself.”
“I’ll double up with Mr. Treadwell’s man and have him drop me off at the hotel,” Elias said. “I’ll let them know what happened. Eric and Nancy can take care of things.”
Sarah thought fast. Weren’t the tracks supposed to be fixed by the following day? When did she have to buy her ticket? When would the train come again? Two days? From when? Did it matter? She didn’t have any money. She looked at Jeremiah’s limp body. How could she be so selfish? Thinking about bumming money off a poor unconscious man to get back home. Still, if the night proved one thing, it was that she really didn’t belong in the Wild West.
Another look at Jeremiah told her something else. She really didn’t know if she could leave him injured like that, never to know how he did. He had been unconscious so long that she worried he had a concussion. Words like coma and swelling of the brain flitted in and out of her mind. She had very little medical knowledge, just enough to scare her.
“Okay,” Sarah said. “If your man could hurry to get the doctor, I would be most appreciative. I’m worried about him. He’s been out for a long time.”
Samuel issued instructions to his man.
“Take care of Sadie and Fester,” Elias said to Sarah. “I’ll be back to get them later tonight.”
“It can wait till morning,” Samuel said. “I’ll stable them.”
“All respect, Mr. Treadwell, but I’ll ride back with the doctor and pick them up tonight.”
“Up to you,” Samuel said. “Are you ready?” he asked Sarah.
Elias handed Fester’s reins to Samuel’s other ranch hand and then cupped his hands for Sarah to get on Sadie. Sarah’s legs shook so much that she wondered if she could make it, but she managed.
“She doesn’t know how to ride,” Elias explained to Samuel. “You’d better take the reins.” To Sarah’s embarrassment, Elias handed Sadie’s reins to Samuel.
“I’ve got her,” Samuel said. He urged his horse forward and pulled Sadie’s reins. Sarah clutched the mule’s mane and looked over her shoulder to see Elias and the other hand riding double and heading back to the north. To her left, the other ranch hand led Fester, with Jeremiah on his back.
“Are you all right back there?” Samuel called out.
“Yes,” Sarah said. “Thank you.” As her adrenaline drained, she grew cold again and started to shiver. She lay down on Sadie’s back again and hugged the mule’s neck.
“Thank you, Sadie,” she said. She tilted her head to see Jeremiah’s head bobbing on Fester’s flank, and the motion worried her. Fester seemed to have a smooth gait though, and the bouncing was gentle.
Sarah herself grew sleepy, but fearful of falling off Sadie, she forced herself to stay awake.
“We’re almost there,” Samuel said some time later. “We will get Jeremiah into a bed and get you something to eat. After all, I did invite you for dinner.”
Sarah sat up and saw lights in the distance. They seemed very far away, and she was so tired. She couldn’t even think about food or sitting up at a table.
“I’m so tired,” she said, hoping Samuel would understand all that implied.
“You need to eat,” he said firmly.
Sarah lay back down on Sadie’s neck and hugged her.
“Tell him I don’t want to eat,” she whispered. She turned to look at Jeremiah, still unconscious. She willed him to wake up, but he didn’t. He certainly would have been surprised at his position if he had.
Sometime later, she heard voices, and she pushed herself upright to see a sprawling ranch home, every window brilliantly lit and shedding warmth on a wraparound porch. Samuel barked out orders as he dismounted, and men came running from the direction of another building, probably a bunkhouse of some sort.
“Come, let me help you down,” Samuel said at her side. She lifted her leg with effort and slid off Sadie’s back. On rubbery legs, she huddled against Sadie’s flank, suddenly unwilling to be parted from her security blanket.
Serena and Tabitha materialized, both wrapped in shawls.
“What has happened?” Serena said. “Jeremiah!” she cried out, the most emotion Sarah had heard from her. She raced to his side as two men carried him toward the house. Tabitha waited by her father’s side.
“Come inside, Sarah,” Samuel said. “I would say welcome to my home, but that doesn’t seem appropriate.”
“Father, what happened?” Tabitha asked.
“Robbers,” he said shortly. “Go inside, dear. We will follow.”
She obeyed, and Samuel reached out a hand to Sarah, who still couldn’t drag herself from Sadie’s side to want to go inside a big, warm, well-lit house. If she had her choice, she would have slept with the mule.
Sadie twisted her head to look at Sarah, and Sarah touched her muzzle. “Thank you, Sadie girl,” Sarah whispered. Sadie bobbed her head, as if in response.
“Clever mule,” Samuel said, still holding out his hand.
“Yes, she’s great.” Sarah took a deep breath and pushed off from Sadie’s flank. No sooner did Sarah move than one of the ranch hands led Sadie away with Fester. Sarah reached for Samuel’s hand, and her shaking legs gave way. The lights of the ranch swirled upside down, and she fainted.
Chapter Thirteen
Jeremiah heard voices nearby, and he opened his eyes. An immediate sensation of pain shot through his head and continued to throb as he looked around. Samuel Treadwell, Serena and Dr. Barker stood in conversation in a corner of what appeared to be a bedroom. He himself lay on top of a four-poster bed with blue velvet hangings. An oil lamp glowed on a nightstand by the bed, and several others provided light for the room.
“Where am I?” Jeremiah asked, though he suspected he knew. His thoughts were foggy at first, then cleared. He bolted upright, sending searing pain shooting through his head.
“Sarah!” he ground out. “Where is Sarah?”
Dr. Barker jumped forward and pressed on Jeremiah’s shoulder to lay him down, but he brushed the doctor’s hand away. Jeremiah looked at Samuel.
“Where is Sarah? Is she—” No, he could not say the words.
“She is fine,” Samuel said. “She is sleeping right now in another room.”
“She fainted but revived,” Dr. Barker said. “She is scratched and weak from dehydration, but she’ll be fine, Jeremiah.”
Jeremiah tried to focus on the gray-haired bespectacled doctor’s words. “Was she harmed? How was she scratched?”
“Bushes and brambles, I suspect,” Dr. Barker said, “mostly on her hands. She said she ran from your assailants.”
“They were my ranch hands, Jeremiah,” Samuel said. “I am sorry. I take full responsibility. I didn’t know them very well—they had only worked for a short while. I believe the sheriff has them now.”
“Did they harm Sarah?”
“No, I don’t believe so,” Dr. Barker replied. “Sarah said they didn’t catch her. She escaped into the desert. I think she said she got lost though.”
“The poor girl,” Samuel said.
“I want to see her,” Jeremiah said, pushing himself upright again.
“No, not right now,” Dr. Barker said. “She needs to rest, and so do you.”
“I want to see her,” Jeremiah said stubbornly. “If you want me to rest, you will at least let me look in on her.”
Samuel sighed impatiently, but Jeremiah was largely un
concerned with his host’s sentiments.
“Very well,” Dr. Barker said. “Come along.” He stood back and allowed Jeremiah to rise from the bed.
His head ached, and he grabbed the bedpost as a wave of dizziness hit him.
“You are concussed,” Dr. Barker said. “You really should not be up and about.”
“I will rest again after I see Sarah,” he said, catching sight of a nightshirt someone must have put him in. He looked up at Samuel. “Thank you for the loan of your clothing.”
“Not at all,” Samuel said. “This way.” He indicated the doorway.
Jeremiah took a step away from the bed and swayed. Dr. Barker tsked and put an arm around him.
“No, this will not do. Lean on me.”
Jeremiah leaned on the shorter man. “Thank you.” He allowed himself to be led out the door and down a hall to the room next door. Dr. Barker tapped and then entered the room.
Sarah, lying in bed, and not at all asleep, looked up as they entered. She pushed herself upright. It seemed as if someone—Serena or Tabitha—had lent her a modest high-necked nightgown.
“Jeremiah!” she called out. “What are you doing up?”
Jeremiah, conscious of witnesses, replied stiffly.
“I had to see that you are well. I am so sorry that I failed to protect you.”
Dr. Barker brought him to Sarah’s bedside. Jeremiah noted that Samuel did not enter the room but waited at the doorway.
“He would not rest until he could see you, but he needs to return to bed. I believe he is concussed.”
“I was worried about that,” Sarah said. “Doesn’t he have to be watched with a concussion?”
“Nonsense. I am fine. I just have a headache. Are you well?” He searched her face. Her cheeks were pink. Her hands, though, bore numerous scratches. He reached out to trace a finger along her left hand.
“I am so sorry,” he said.
“I’m okay.”
“Yes. I will ask Samuel to have someone watch over him tonight, perhaps one of his daughters.”
“No!” Sarah said sharply. “I mean...I will. I’m fine. Let me just get dressed, and I’ll be there in a jiff.”
“No!” Jeremiah said. “Dr. Barker said you must rest.”
“I will watch over you,” she said firmly. “Where are my clothes? Well, Faith’s and Agnes’s clothes?” She directed her question to Dr. Barker.
Samuel responded from the doorway.
“I will have one of the girls bring you something to wear. Your clothing was ripped and no longer wearable.”
“Thank you, Samuel,” Sarah said. “I’m so grateful.”
“Not at all.” He turned and left the room.
“Okay, I’ll be there in a minute. Did he eat?” she asked Dr. Barker, as if Jeremiah did not stand there.
“No, I do not recommend that right now. Perhaps a bit of tea, but that is all.”
“Okay,” she said. “I’ll be there in a minute. You’re right next door, right?”
Jeremiah nodded. He wasn’t at all unhappy that Sarah would sit with him. He hoped that she would sleep though.
“Thank you, Dr. Barker. It wasn’t my intent to drag Sarah from her bed, but she seems particularly determined at the moment.”
“Indeed,” he said. “Let me take you back to your room.”
“Thank you.”
He allowed the doctor to lead him back to his bed. The doctor did several examinations, waving fingers and asking him various questions such as the date, and he seemed satisfied with the results.
“I will come back in the morning to see how you are.”
A knock brought Sarah, dressed in a simple ivory muslin gown, followed by a maid with a tray of tea. The young girl placed the tray on a table by a window and left the room. Sarah poured out a cup and brought it to the doctor, who handed it to Jeremiah.
“You must have some too,” Jeremiah said to Sarah.
“I will. Let me pull a chair up.” Sarah pulled a chair from the table and brought it to the bedside. She then retrieved a cup and took up a position much like a sentinel.
“Do you want some tea, Dr. Barker?” Sarah asked.
“No, thank you. I must go. Wake Jeremiah every hour and see if he answers clearly. If you cannot awaken him, send for me. If he slurs his words or makes no sense, let me know in the morning.”
“I will, Doctor,” Sarah said. “Thank you.”
“Did you eat?” Dr. Barker asked her.
“Yes, I had a bowl of soup.”
“Good, good. Very well then. Good night to you both.”
“Good night,” they replied in unison.
Dr. Barker left, closing the door behind him.
Sarah lowered her cup and looked at Jeremiah. He struggled suddenly for words.
“What a night,” she said with a twist of her lips.
He sighed in relief. She wasn’t angry. “Indeed.”
“I thought you were dead.”
“I should have done more to protect you.”
“I don’t know what you could have done,” she said with a shake of her head.
“If they had harmed you—” Again, he could not say the words.
“They didn’t. I mean...I thought they were going to. They definitely had something on their minds, but I made a run for it. I got lost, as it happens.”
“How did Samuel find you?”
To Jeremiah’s surprise, Sarah chuckled.
“He didn’t, not at first. Elias found me.”
“Elias?”
“The two bandits—Larry and Del, by the way—made it to Benson, and sometime while they were drinking, boasted about what they had done. Elias overheard, and he said he went to the sheriff before he headed out with Fester and Sadie to find us. He found me in the desert. Then Samuel came to find us because the carriage was late. I rode Sadie back, you dangled off Fester, and one of Samuel’s men brought the driver back.”
Jeremiah, his mind foggy, understood only half of what Sarah explained. “The driver is alive,” he stated.
Sarah nodded. “Yes, thank goodness.”
Jeremiah said the next thing on his mind. “You look beautiful.”
Sarah blinked, and her cheeks reddened. “Thank you. It’s the dress. Tabitha lent it to me.”
“No, I think it is you. The dress only enhances your beauty.”
“Jeremiah! Thank you.”
“When I woke up and you were not there, I was terrified that I had lost you.”
“You didn’t lose me,” she said softly.
“Please don’t leave,” he said, unable to edit his words.
“Oh, Jeremiah,” she said quietly, setting her cup down on the nightstand.
“Please,” he said again. His own cup wavered in shaky hands.
She stood and took it from him, then pressed her hand against his forehead, as checking for fever. “I wonder if you’re delirious.”
“No, I am not delirious. I am in love.”
She snatched her hand back, and he reached for it and pressed his lips to her palm. When she tried to pull back, he held it firmly against his mouth.
“Jeremiah, you’re not yourself. Just relax,” she said.
“I am relaxed. I am relaxed with you. I want you to stay here...in 1890 with me.”
She breathed in slowly but said nothing. She did not reassure him.
“I mean that with the greatest respect. Please marry me.” He kissed her palm again. “I love you.”
Tears filled her eyes. He didn’t know if that was a good sign or a bad sign.
“You have a concussion. You don’t even know me.”
“I know you well enough to know that I love you. That will never change. We will come to know each other better in time.”
“I can’t stay here, Jeremiah.”
“You can. You can stay with me. You came here to be with me.”
“That’s silly, Jeremiah.”
“No, no, it’s not. I didn’t believe either, but now I do. T
here is a reason you were sent back in time, and I am that reason. We are that reason. I needed you. You needed me, and here we are.”
Sarah said nothing, and Jeremiah filled the void. “We were meant to be together. Perhaps my hotel called out to you. Perhaps my soul, locked inside the abandoned hotel, called out to you.”
She opened her mouth as if to speak, then closed it.
“Say yes. Say only yes.”
She shook her head, not decisively but slowly, almost sadly.
“I will not let you go,” he said more firmly, more desperately.
“You have to.”
“I won’t loan you the money for a train ticket.” That was it. He had to take a stand.
Her lips curved, as if she wanted to smile. She seemed not at all offended. “I’ll just borrow it from Faith or Agnes or Eric or Nancy or Samuel, for that matter. I’ll bet he’s got boatloads of money.”
That was true.
“No, don’t do that! You will have to explain why you want to travel through time.”
“Not really,” she said. “I’ll just say I have to take an emergency trip somewhere.”
He kissed her hand again, to imprint himself on her. “I love you. You must stay with me.”
“I don’t know what to say, Jeremiah.” She gently extricated her hand and sat down heavily, as if her legs wouldn’t hold her up anymore.
“Say yes. Say only yes, that you will marry me.”
The room swam in front of his eyes, and he put a hand to his forehead.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“I am dizzy,” he said. He focused on her face. “Dizzy with love.”
Chapter Fourteen
Sarah jumped up to stop Jeremiah from slumping over as he fell asleep...or fainted, she wasn’t sure which. She leaned over him to adjust his pillows so that he would be more comfortable.
The onslaught of romantic talk had left her weak and vulnerable. No one had ever talked to her that way, and she doubted that Jeremiah had ever spoken that way either. She believed it was probably his concussion that made him speak in such outlandishly starry-eyed terms.
But to hear such effusive words of love directed at her was stunning, heart wrenching, and totally nuts. So unlike the conservative and reticent Jeremiah she had come to know.
