Carson's Christmas Bride (Hero Hearts; Lawmen's Brides Book 3)

by Natalie Dean

  Sarah blushed. Last night, as she lay in Carson’s arms, she had felt a sense of peace that had eluded her for all of her life. She listened to his even breathing as he slept, and she felt the strong, steady beat of his heart.

  Piper pretended not to notice the blush. “Men need attention,” she said. “It’s time for you to be a wife.”

  “I’m still a nurse,” Sarah said. Being a wife did not mean that she had to abandon her calling. She knew that she had to find the right balance between her responsibilities in the home and her duty to the sick. It would take time to find that balance, but she would do it. She and Carson were a pair and they would work together as they learned together with the children, to be a family.

  “Of course you are. But some of the women will be able to help at the hospital. I know that Emma Tudor has been vaccinated. Her late husband was a doctor.”

  “Do I know her?”

  “No, I don’t believe so. She’s very strong-minded,” Piper explained, in a comment that seemed to have no bearing upon the original remark. “Not everyone takes to her,” she added. “She . . . will do well in tending the sick, I think. Yes, very well.” Piper sipped her tea as if she had confirmed something to herself.

  “Good. Because Dr. Darnley will need help. I want him to go to see to the people of East Knox Mills.”

  “Jack told me that smallpox has broken out there.”

  “Yes and it’s very bad. There’s only one man tending to all who are ill and I cannot persuade him to come to town to be vaccinated. So I am going to ask Dr. Darnley to go there to see to him.”

  “He will go,” Piper said with certainty. “He holds abolitionist views. That is not necessarily popular here in Texas, at least not with everyone, but I am sure that you are already aware of that fact.”

  “I’m learning. I never gave thought to slavery back home; it was just a part of everyday life. But when Preacher Shepherd refused to ride into town with me, I had no choice but to consider his reasoning. It ought not to be that way. We ought not to be separated by the color of our skin.”

  Piper smiled. “Or the blisters on our bodies from the smallpox,” she added.

  Dr. Darnley was willing to go to East Knox Mills when Sarah told him that she expected another woman to join them at the hospital in nursing the patients he was already looking after. She would also be nursing, she said, but first she had to tend to her home.

  “I expected that you’d have to leave,” he said. “You have family obligations to meet.”

  “I’m not leaving,” she disputed. “I am merely cutting back. The children have borne much of the responsibility of the household in my absence. That’s not fair to them. I want to take care of the house and of them as well. But I still intend to nurse.”

  “And your husband?”

  Carson was a very different matter. He was a loving and passionate man and she was confident that their marriage would be a strong bond, but he had been on his own for all of his adult life. He thought that marriage was defined by the roles of a husband and a wife and Sarah did not fit neatly into those roles. But he had made a convincing case for what the children needed and she was willing to do her part to keep the family strong.

  However, he was not yet healthy or strong enough to return to his work as a lawman. When she went back to the Boone cabin, she found that Carson was not inside.

  “He’s in the barn,” Lucy said. “He’s showing Erich how to clean a saddle. He barely ate any of his oatmeal.”

  “Never mind that,” Sarah told the girl. “He’ll eat when he’s hungry. Why don’t we start thinking about what we’ll be baking for Christmas?”

  Both Ruby and Lucy looked eager. “It’s early yet, isn’t it?” Lucy asked, her zeal vying with her sense that delicious treats made a month before the holiday were unlikely to remain uneaten by December 25.

  “It’s early, but I thought we might want to give some of our baking as presents. What do you think? I thought we might give the Wiessens at the general store some gingerbread men, and surely you’ll want to give your teacher something, won’t you?”

  “Can we bake something for Mrs. Graves?” Lucy asked excitedly. “For staying with us while you were nursing at the hospital?”

  “Now you’re thinking!” Sarah praised her. “Let’s think of everyone we’d like to give a present to. We’ll bake for everyone and we’ll wrap the baked goods in pretty fabric after we’re finished. We can tie it with ribbon to make it look especially nice.”

  Lucy was dubious at the thought of buying fabric for such a frivolous purpose, but Ruby was won over immediately, having just mastered the art of tying a bow from Sarah’s instruction and eager to put her lessons to work. The girls and Sarah sat down at the table, Lucy with her slate and chalk in front of her, as they created their list of people who would receive presents from their kitchen.

  “Tonight, after supper, we’ll make out our shopping list,” Sarah told them. “For now, we’d best get to work on lunch.”

  “It’s good to have you back in the kitchen, Miss Sarah,” Lucy said.

  That was high praise from the little girl, Sarah knew; Lucy regarded the kitchen as her domain.

  “Thank you, Lucy,” Sarah answered, trying not to show that she was moved by Lucy’s declaration. “It’s good to be back. You’ll have to teach me how to make those mincemeat pies that Deputy Harlow said your mother baked to such distinction.”

  “Would Ma’s pies be a fitting gift for some of the folks?” Lucy asked.

  “I think they would, indeed. A very fitting gift.”

  “And it’ll be like Ma is giving it,” Lucy said with satisfaction. The thought of her mother didn’t make her tearful, Sarah noticed with relief. It gave her resolve. Hannah Boone had a significant influence on her eldest daughter and that strength would always be a part of Lucy. It was up to Sarah to make sure that the child’s strength was nurtured. She owed their mother that much.

  When Carson came into the kitchen later, Sarah noticed that he looked tired. But, remembering how irritated he had been because she treated him like a patient, she refrained from inquiring how he felt and asked if he was hungry.

  “A bit,” he said. “Lucy’s oatmeal is still holding me.”

  Lucy started to remonstrate with him for his failure to eat much of it, but she caught the warning in Sarah’s eye and fell silent.

  “I think I’ll get some shut-eye,” Carson said, making his way to the bedroom. His body was slumped as if standing tall was too much effort.

  “We’ll have lunch ready when you are ready for it,” Sarah said.

  “Miss Sarah, how come—"

  “Deputy Harlow doesn’t want to admit that he’s ill,” Sarah said quickly, forestalling Lucy’s observation. “So we must humor him.”

  “What if he stays sick?”

  “We shall do whatever we can to prevent that from happening.”

  But when she went into the bedroom to let Carson know that lunch was ready, he was sound asleep. Sarah tiptoed out of the room and closed the door gently behind her.

  “He needs sleep right now,” she explained to Lucy. “He’ll eat later. Why don’t you go fetch Erich and Isaiah and we’ll eat lunch.”

  Carson slept past suppertime but Sarah didn’t awaken him. The body needed rest if it was going to heal and even a strong young man like her husband found himself laid low by a disease as draining as smallpox. She was lucky, she knew, that he was doing as well as he had. And what would have happened if he hadn’t rescued her from marriage to Graham Boone? He’d gathered all the strength he had in order to stop that from happening, rising from his sickbed before he was physically strong enough to do so. She owed him more than she could repay.

  But saying yes to marriage in such a dramatic setting might not have been wise, she realized. Washing up after supper gave her time for thinking. She had set the children to the chore of making paper chains for the Christmas tree, even though the tree hadn’t been cut yet. There would be popcor
n to string, and her family had always hung bits of dried fruit on the boughs of their tree so that the fragrance would envelope the tree in scents of apple and orange. The children would be busy preparing for Christmas; she wanted them to be occupied so that they didn’t have to grieve at the loss of their mother and the uncertain future of their father.

  Tomorrow, she would go into town and speak to Marshal Walker about Dr. Boone’s fate after he was out of the hospital. She would also do some Christmas shopping; she wanted this Christmas to be a wonderful one for the children, a sign that they were safe and cared for. Perhaps Carson would like to ride into town with her. It would do him good to be around people again—

  She started in surprise as arms suddenly wrapped around her waist.

  “Carson!”

  “Who’d you think?” His lips nuzzled the back of her neck. “Where are the young ‘uns?”

  “In the bedroom,” she said firmly. “Awake. They’re getting ready for Christmas. I have a warm plate for you. Sit down and I’ll fetch it.”

  But he stood where he was, resting his chin on the top of her head, his arms strong around her waist. “Food will wait,” he said. “I’m just fine like this.”

  And so, she realized, was she.

  Chapter 26

  Carson was content to be dropped off at the sheriff’s office while Sarah ran her errands. She told him that she had to do shopping for the children’s Christmas presents and Carson figured that was something she’d be better suited for than he. She didn’t mention that she intended to stop at the hospital as well and find out from Dr. Darnley how the folks in East Knox Mills were faring. But she’d given Carson a task.

  “Don’t forget to ask him what’s going to happen to Dr. Boone,” she reminded Carson just before he stepped into the office.

  “I won’t forget,” he said.

  However, when he saw Aurelius Jameson sitting at the desk, he forgot all about Boone.

  Aurelius looked up. “Carson,” he said, standing quickly. “Should you be up?”

  “What are you doing behind the desk? Jack didn’t take sick, did he?”

  “No, nothing like that. He’s just short-handed with you and Benjamin both down, so he asked me if I’d fill in until he has a full crew.”

  “What about Ward? Isn’t he pulling his weight?”

  “Pulling his weight and more, from what I see. Sit down, here. You’re sure it’s okay with the doctor for you to be out?”

  Carson grinned and sat down on the bench against the wall across the sheriff’s desk. “Don’t know about the doctor,” he said, “but the nurse gave me the okay. You fixing to stay on permanent?”

  Aurelius understood the question. Carson wanted to rise from deputy to marshal in time and that path would move slower if Aurelius were back in the roster.

  “Not me,” he said. “I’m filling in. I’ve got mines to run and miners to pay and a grandchild on the way and a house to build. I don’t have time for being a lawman anymore.”

  Carson relaxed. “Oh, well, I reckon Jack is glad to have you on hand. What’s going on?”

  Aurelius filled him in.

  “Fort Worth really thinks the Comanche are going to raid?” Carson asked, his expression serious. “Over the smallpox?”

  “They’ve lost a fair number. They think we caused it. The whites. From their point of view, we’re the cause of it. The army is watching closely, but I’ll be frank: I’ll be relieved when you and Benjamin are back in full. No sense in rushing it because you’re not in any shape now to handle a Comanche raid. But come spring, better be ready.”

  “Do folks know?”

  “There’s nothing to know. The Comanche haven’t done anything yet. And they aren’t likely to attack in winter. Come spring, we’ll need to be ready.”

  “You think you’ll be putting the star on again then?”

  Aurelius shook his head. “I don’t need a star to protect my family,” he replied. “I just need a gun and a straight shot.”

  Carson nodded. He had a family to protect now, too; Sarah was his wife and the Boone kids were his and Sarah’s by every aspect but birth. That reminded him of Sarah’s request.

  “Any word from Jack on what’s going to happen to Boone once he’s out of the hospital?”

  “Jack wants him out of town. Why?”

  “That’s what me and Sarah want too.”

  Aurelius had been made aware of the turn of events that had left four young children in the care of the deputy and the mail-order bride who had come to Texas to marry their father until circumstances changed at a breakneck pace. “I think Jack will do what he can to make sure that happens,” he said.

  “Good. They’re good kids.”

  “It’s a lot to take on for a young couple.”

  Whatever response Carson might have made was interrupted by the opening of the door as Aldous Babbage entered. The Philadelphian’s composure was clearly unsettled.

  “Are you going to do something about that woman?” he demanded.

  Aurelius sighed. “I can’t lock Mrs. Tudor up, Aldous. I already told you that.”

  “You can arrest her for disturbing the peace! She has been helping Dr. Darnley for less than two days and she is already disturbing my peace!”

  Carson was used to seeing Aldous Babbage in control of every situation. He was always dressed in a suit and an immaculate white shirt. He wore nice shiny shoes, not rugged boots, unlike most of the Texans, and his saloon and hotel were the most upscale real estate that Knox Mills boasted. But today, his sophisticated demeanor showed signs of being ruffled.

  “What’s she doing?”

  “Yesterday, you recall that she intruded into the saloon, which is hardly appropriate behavior for a lady, and insisted that everyone present must be vaccinated. Today, she is standing outside the saloon, praying at the top of her voice that God will spare the sinners inside from the smallpox. I don’t need to tell you what that does for business.”

  “Business everywhere is down, Aldous, since the outbreak. I doubt if Mrs. Stone’s antics are what’s causing people to shy away.”

  “Marshal, men do not come to a saloon to be told about their sins.”

  Carson saw that Aurelius was trying to hide a smile. “I’ll talk to her again, Aldous, and I’ll try to convince her that if she really wants to help with the smallpox, she should get herself back to the hospital. Dr. Darnley needs nurses.”

  “Oh, there’s no lack of nurses. Mrs. Tudor has recruited her ladies’ prayer group to take turns.”

  “Well, Aldous . . . a little bit of prayer won’t do any of us any harm, now, will it?”

  Aldous was not amused. “Are you going to talk to her or am I going to press charges?”

  “Aldous, you can’t press charges against Mrs. Tudor. She’s an upstanding member of the community! She’s—she was Doc Tudor’s wife before he died and there are folks in town who think she’s got more of the Holy Spirit in her than Reverend Howell will ever have.”

  “She can keep her Holy Spirit away from my saloon!”

  “I’ll talk to her,” Aurelius said. “I’ll do my best. Carson, you feel up to sitting here and covering for me while I’m out?”

  “I’ll be glad to.”

  While Carson was enjoying his return to the lawman’s working environment, Sarah had checked in at the hospital. Dr. Darnley didn’t have much time to talk but he told her that he had gone to East Knox Mills and he’d persuaded Preacher Shepherd to get vaccinated. He’d taken a look at the patients as well.

  “He won’t bring anyone into town, and to tell you the truth, I don’t know that it would be a good idea if he did.”

  “It’s a lot of work for him and that other man.”

  “What other man?” Dr. Darnley asked. “There was only the preacher.”

  “Oh . . . well, someone was helping him when I was there. Perhaps he . . . I hope he hasn’t fallen ill,” Sarah answered evasively. She wasn’t sure why she had avoided answering with the truth
, but her instincts told her to limit the details of what she knew about the community of East Knox Mills.

  However uncertain matters were in the freed slave community, they were bustling along efficiently in the hospital, Sarah could tell, with the ladies of the prayer group helping with the nursing. The patients were in good hands. Dr. Darnley assured her that Boone was coming along. Jack Walker, he told her, came by every other day or so to make sure that he wasn’t able to escape. When he was fit, Marshal Walker planned to have him escorted to Fort Worth.

  Sarah wasn’t sure if this would be the best solution or not, but she resolved not to think about it just now. She wanted to enjoy her shopping excursion without having to think about Graham Boone. She went into the general store with alacrity, and when Frau Wiessen learned of Sarah’s intentions, she entered eagerly into the spirit, bringing out new items that had not yet made it to the shelves. Ready-made shirts and britches and dresses; a toy gun and holster; a doll house; books . . . by the time she was finished shopping, Sarah was convinced that she had bought enough to give the Boone children a Christmas unlike any they had ever had before.

  When Carson emerged from the sheriff’s office and saw the back of the wagon filled with her purchases, he stopped abruptly. “What’s all this?”

  “Presents for the children,” Sarah said defensively.

  “I’ll drive the wagon,” Carson said as Sarah moved toward the seat.

  “But you’re—"

  “I’m fine,” he said shortly.

  She didn’t wish to quarrel in view of the townspeople, so she allowed him to lift her onto the seat and she moved to the side so that he could take the reins.

  “Did you speak to Marshal Walker?”

  “He wasn’t in; he’s had to take on a deputy because of me and Benjamin being useless and sick.”

  That wasn’t exactly how Aurelius had explained the situation but Carson was angry. That wagonload of presents troubled him. Sarah’s wealth troubled him. Insisting on driving the wagon when he hadn’t handled a horse since his illness wasn’t the smartest thing a man could do, but Carson felt the need to be doing what a man was used to doing.