by Rosie Harper
Chapter Four
Albert had dithered for long enough. He was determined that Miss Macgregor should never know that he was more than taken with her. But they had to live in the same town, and Stephenville was not so large that it was possible to harbour a grudge against a neighbour. He did not want her to have to avoid him, and he was obliged to be highly visible because of his role. He had made the mistake of hoping that living next door to him would mean it would be easy for him to find premises to stop by and see her, but after her swift rebuffing of him as he returned her horse to her, he had decided to give her some space. He remembered how difficult it had been for him, settling in to a new town, he didn’t want to add to those concerns for her.
But now, she was to be up in the hills on her own little farm. He was pleased for her, of course he was. It was her dream to farm her own land. He remembered every word of their all too brief encounter so he was happy she had found a place where she could do just as she wanted. Yet he wanted to be by her side, encouraging her. But he could only assume, as he had seen her conversing more than happily with Caleb, Hardy and many of the other local cowboys around town that it was only him she struggled to talk to, and was in fact avoiding.
He knew he wasn’t big and strong, was certainly not enamoured of the great outdoors as she was – but differences did not need to make for separation. His Papa had been a butcher, his Mama a schoolteacher. They had fitted together perfectly, each complementing the other perfectly. But though she had been polite, thanked him profusely for his lending her Gamling and taking such care of Monty she had made it more than clear on that very first meeting that she simply didn’t want any man. He was sure that she had seen his passion for her in his eyes, so abruptly had she asked him to leave. She didn’t want to let him make a fool of himself, and so he wouldn’t.
He vowed to himself as he waited for Mariette and Caitlin to arrive that he would be her friend. Heaven knew he had enough experience at doing so. Women wanted tough men, men who would be able to care for them in a crisis, rescue them if need be. Albert knew that his only skills lay in perfect handwriting and an ability to research any subject. He was no match for a woman like Caitlin, but he could care for her and make sure she had at least one good friend who would always be there for her.
“Good day to you Albert, are you ready?” Mariette called from her perch on the dashboard. He grinned up at her.
“Indeed. Let the adventure commence,” he replied. “Good day Miss Macgregor. I hope you are well? ” he said to the excited face that was peering out at him from within the carriage itself.
“I am. You are looking well,” she said to him stiffly. “Thank you again for everything Mr Dalligan. I cannot thank you enough. You must come up to the farm and see my new home soon.” Albert knew the invite had been made from politeness, not any real desire to spend time in his company. Her voice was so clipped, not like he remembered her from that first meeting at all. Yet again he had lost out before he had even gotten to know a woman he found completely addictive.
She hopped out of the carriage and helped him to heave his suitcase up onto the roof. He felt a little ashamed that a woman was doing such a thing for him, but he had to admire the way she did it with such grace. She was still dressed in trousers and a worn pair of riding boots, but she had paired them today with a smart blue cotton blouse with roses embroidered on it. It was a much more feminine pairing than the heavy buckskin jacket he had first encountered her in. She wore her hair in a ponytail, and it swung merrily as she moved. Her cowboy hat hung on her back. She looked every inch the cowgirl and he wondered why other men simply didn’t see the attraction, why nobody had snapped her up despite her protests. He could see her tiny waist, the curve of her lush hips and the jut of her firm derriere - for such beauty to be hidden under voluminous skirts seemed to him to be a criminal waste. “Not driving us today?” he asked trying to keep the conversation light.
“No, I hope to be leading a number of horses home with us. Mariette insisted I take a little rest on the journey there at least,” she smiled and it lit up her face. She had a slightly long face, and her features weren’t delicate, but it was definitely sensual. Her happiness made her truly stunning, her full lips curving in a way that made Albert think of all kinds of things he had vowed to banish from his mind. Albert felt his breath catch, and began to think he should back out of this little trip. He wasn’t ready to just be her friend, and certainly wasn’t ready to ride in the carriage alone with her.
“Would you like me to drive so you girls can chatter together?” he asked, praying Mariette was in a sociable mood.
“We could certainly take it in turns,” she said nodding her acquiescence and passing him the reins as he climbed up beside her. She jumped down and hopped into the carriage with Caitlin. Albert sighed, glad to have at least gotten the dash board to himself for now.
The roads to Fort Worth were sometimes a little tricky, and due to the recent rainfall were boggy and rutted with mud. He was glad that neither Mariette nor Caitlin was missish, as on more than one occasion all three of them had to get out and push the carriage back onto the path. Mariette had no more luck on her stint in the driving seat, and so the three of them stayed on the dash board, ready to jump down and push at a moment’s notice when required, in a mixture of excited chatter and companionable silence as the miles rolled by.
As night began to fall Albert wondered if they would make it that day at all. “I think we should make camp,” he suggested.
“There is a little place about two miles along the road, I’ve camped there with Hardy,” Mariette agreed. Caitlin just sat there quietly. “Are you feeling quite well my dear?” Mariette asked her.
“Just a little tired,” she said and Albert noticed she was looking unusually pale.
“Are you sure,” he asked, putting his hand to her forehead. She felt a little hot, and slightly clammy.
“I’m fine,” she snapped. “Now, shall we make camp?” She jumped onto the roof and threw a bundle of rugs at him. She threw it with such force it almost knocked him from the dash board, but he held his ground, and waited for her to pass the other ones.
He watched her carefully as they set up the tents, and she lit a fire. Clearly she had become very talented at taking care of herself on her travels. He had never seen anyone light a fire so swiftly. She disappeared for about an hour, came back with a brace of coneys. She skinned them and gutted them with deft skill, and soon had them bubbling in a stew over the fire. He went to speak with her, wanted to let her know he hadn’t been trying to make her feel bad but Mariette stopped him. “She’s never been around people who will let her be herself. She isn’t used to us. She’ll be a little prickly for a while Albert. Give her time.”
“I understand that Mariette, but what if she is sick and won’t ask us for help? She has a mild fever,” he said fervently.
“I know, but she is proud and we have to wait for her to make that move. I won’t lie to you Albert, it is why I wanted you here. You have more knowledge of medicine than anyone in town with Doctor Frazer away in New York. I noticed she seemed a little peaky yesterday.”
“You are a good friend Mariette, but wouldn’t cancelling the trip have been a better option?”
“No, because then she would have been up at that farm on her own, working herself into the ground and none of us would have known a thing until it was too late. This way I could keep my eye on her without her suspecting me of it.” Albert looked at her admiringly. He never failed to be impressed by how astutely she read others, and how warm hearted she was in making sure those she cared about were taken care of.
As they spoke Caitlin suddenly collapsed onto the ground, both rushed to her side. “Caitlin,” Mariette said loudly as she shook her shoulders. Albert felt her head again, it was burning up now. He checked her pulse, and listened to her breathing. It was rattling in her chest loudly, and though she tried to open her eyes and say something, both things clearly took too much effort for
her.
“Don’t say a thing,” he said to her gently. “I think you may have somehow contracted diphtheria my dear.” Mariette looked at him aghast.
“But surely she couldn’t have caught it from the house, she has only been there a day?”
“No Mariette, I think she may have contracted this before then. We’ve had such a rash of it this summer, so many folk dropping like flies. Now, my dear you need to stay as far away from us as you possibly can. I know it is improper – though something tells me that wouldn’t worry Caitlin one bit, she seems unfazed by others opinions of her. But I shall have to stay with her in one tent tonight. You take the other and then you must return to town. We cannot have you contracting this my dear.”
“But it is okay if you do?”
“I have no work until after the harvests are done. All of the children are helping their families. I can take the time. However, that baby that is growing in your belly may not be as resilient as you and I.”
“How did you know?” Mariette asked him in disbelief. Clearly it had been a secret. “Not that any of that matters right now. I will do as you ask, but you must let me know what I can do.”
“Boil me plenty of water. She will need lots of it to drink, and to bathe her with until the fever breaks. Now, if you are feeling truly brave, rather than heading home you could continue on to Fort Worth. There is a Doctor Allison, he has a practise there - he will give you an anti-toxin for the diphtheria. The sooner we can get it into her, the more likely she will be to recover.”
“I shall go now. There is just enough light for me to get there tonight, if I push Blythe enough.” Albert watched as she rushed to the horses and unhitched them both from the carriage. Without bothering to saddle Blythe she leapt on his back and raced into the gathering gloom. Albert looked down into Caitlin’s waxen features, and sighed sadly.
“Oh my poor girl, now let us get you into the warmth of the tent and a nice snug bed roll. You are going to get through this. You are a fighter Caitlin Macgregor. Don’t you dare give up on me.” He whispered to her as he picked her up and carried her inside.
Chapter Five
Albert stayed awake all night. Caitlin tossed and turned, the sweat beading her pasty grey skin. He wrapped her in blankets, encouraging her body to sweat out the fever. He bathed her every hour, being careful to avert his eyes as he sponged down areas that he had no permission to be anywhere near. But this was an exceptional situation, and he prayed she would forgive him for being so bold if she made it through the illness.
Dawn broke, and he waited anxiously for Mariette to return with the anti-toxin. He knew many doctors were still sceptical of its potential but he had seen some miraculous recoveries when he worked in Dallas. He had even begun to have designs on returning to school to study medicine, but had finally decided that he wouldn’t want to restrict his researches to just one area of enquiry for the rest of his days. He enjoyed being able to pick and choose his subjects, learning a little of everything rather than a lot about one.
“Stay with me Caitlin,” he begged. “Mariette will be here soon. You are strong. You are young. You have everything to live for. Just keep on breathing, keep willing your lovely heart to beat.”
Thundering hooves halted abruptly and an excited call announced his friend’s return. “Albert, I have it. I have it.” He left the tent and went to her.
“Thank you Mariette, now go home and please light the fires in the School Mistress’s house, make sure there is plenty of cooled boiled water, and plenty of clean blankets and sheets?”
“Done,” she said determinedly. “I’ll hitch up Baron and break camp too before I leave. How is she?”
“The fever is raging, but I hope with this we shall break it soon enough. I shall bring her home in the carriage immediately it has.” Mariette nodded, seeing in his eyes that the medicine may well be a miracle, but if it failed to act he may not ever bring her back to Stephenville alive. She reached out as if to embrace him, he stepped back. She turned, not wanting him to see the tears in her eyes.
“I think it just as well you aren’t awake to see this my darling,” he said to Caitlin as he pulled out the large medical syringe. “But, I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t think it would save you.” He administered it expertly, wiping the tiny drop of blood from her skin as he withdrew the needle. “And now we wait.”
It took three days and four nights for the fever to finally break. But Albert had never been so happy to hear any sound as he was to hear her croaking voice calling out to him. “Hello, Albert? Mariette?” He rushed back from the fire outside to take her hand and shush her.
“Don’t speak. Your throat must be red raw. Just stay quiet and peaceful.” He felt her skin, it was cooler, no longer clammy. He stroked her cheek. “You gave us quite a scare,” he said with a wry smile. “Mariette had to hare off into the night to get you medicine, and I stayed here and bathed you. I am sorry. I promise I didn’t peek.” She smiled at him wanly, and nodded.
“Thank you. I can’t believe you stayed with me.”
Albert held her hand until she slept once more, then quickly began to make his preparations to get her back to Stephenville. He made the seat of the carriage as comfortable and warm as he could, and packed up everything carefully. He put out the fire and finally moved to lift her into her temporary bed. Once she was settled he dismantled the tent and with a final check that she was sleeping still he jumped onto the dash board and began the journey home, praying that the past few days of dry sunshine would have been enough to dry out the roads so they could enjoy a smooth ride.
Mariette raced from her home, clearly she had been watching for the carriage. She looked at him anxiously. “She’s sleeping,” he said wearily. Her shoulders dropped visibly, her sigh audible even from the distance she had left between them.
“Everything is as you asked Albert. Take care of her and yourself, dear man.”
Albert carried her inside and up into the clean, bright little bedroom that had been hers so very recently. “Thank you,” she muttered as she rolled over and snuggled into the soft comforter. He went down into the warm kitchen and found cupboards stocked with everything they could possibly need, containers full of boiled and cooled water, and piles of fresh linens. Mariette had, as always, outdone herself.
He set about making them a nourishing chicken broth. He chopped the vegetables, and put the freshly plucked bird Mariette had left for them into a large pot with some of the water. He checked on Caitlin occasionally, but as he had expected at this stage she seemed to just want to sleep. He was happy to encourage it as he knew it was just what she needed. After a few hours he carefully drained the bird out of the pot, and began to carefully pick the flesh from the bones. He dropped the moist meat back into the broth and then ladled a bowlful for Caitlin. He placed it on a tray with a jug of water and took it upstairs.
“Hello,” she said as he entered the room.
“You are awake? How are you feeling?”
“Like somebody ran me over and then poured hot coals down my throat,” she said with a rueful smile.
“That sounds pretty close. You have diphtheria Caitlin.”
“Diptheria?” she looked utterly petrified. He longed to take her in his arms, to let her know he cared, that she wasn’t alone and didn’t have to be brave. “But isn’t that deadly, and contagious?”
“Both,” he admitted.
“You stayed with me?” She looked at him incredulously. “I am virtually a complete stranger to you, and you stayed with someone who was so sick that you could have died from what I had?”
“I had diphtheria myself as a boy Caitlin. I recovered and when I lived in Fort Worth I worked with those that had it. Since I was sick I have seemed to be impervious to it. I used to help at the hospital with the doctors as they started to use the anti toxin we used on you. It was nothing short of miraculous seeing so many more people recover.”
“You have hidden depths Mr Dalligan,” Caitlin said, sounding imp
ressed. “Thank you for everything. I will never be able to repay you.”
“Just breed me a wonderful horse once you are up and well,” he said with a smile. “Now eat the broth, it will do you good. You are going to need to regain your strength. You will feel more than a little weak for a while. We will go and get you some brood mares soon enough, so you can breed me my horse. I want one just like Monty.” He grinned at her, and spooned the broth into her mouth slowly, mopping the spills with a clean napkin. She ate eagerly enough, but he could see she was already trying to work out how she could get home to be alone again. Well, this time she had met her match. He wouldn’t let here leave this house until she was fully well – he could be just as stubborn as she was. It was time she learnt that it was good to let others help.
Chapter Six
Caitlin was touched by how tender and gentle with her Albert was. He seemed to bear no grudge at being forced to remain closeted in the tiny cottage with her, taking care of her. He was right, she felt weak as a kitten for weeks. But he was always there, to help her with everything. As her health improved she began to feel a little embarrassed at how needy she had been, and what a burden she must have seemed to him. But he seemed to remain sunny and always had a warm smile for her.
“Good morning, and don’t you look much better today!” he exclaimed as he entered her room and pulled back the drapes.
