"I don't like leaving with no man but Henri to protect you, but maybe I better look for them," Sam said.
"I think that's a good—"
The door opened to reveal Franco with a blood-drenched Garrick thrown over one shoulder.
"No!" Cady ran to him. "What happened?"
"I found him out back. Someone shot him."
"Lach!" Sam said. "I'd be willing to bet it was him."
"But he was busy fighting those drunk men," Mae pointed out.
"So was I. He had time to shoot Garrick before you ran to him for help. And once I returned, he vanished."
"If he did, he'll hear from me." Cady balled her hands in fists.
"Not now, Cady." Franco stopped her. "We need to tend to Garrick."
"I know."
"I think it'd be best if we don't mention this to Lach," Sam suggested. "Just say we don't know where he is. We'll put Garrick in a guest room. No one goes there."
"Good idea." Franco adjusted his grip on the man slung over his shoulder. "Think you could help me, Sam?"
"Sure." Sam, much larger than Franco, took the limp form from him and carried it up the stairs. Franco and Cady followed.
"I'll wait here," Mae said, stopping in the hallway. "But promise me you'll tell me what's going on, how he is."
Cady took her hands and found them trembling. "I know you're scared for him. I am too. Dr. Spense will save him."
Sam went for the doctor.
While they waited, Cady removed Garrick's bloody coat and shirt. The bullet was on his right side where it likely broke a rib or two. They could only hope it hadn't done more damage. She cleaned him up, glad he slept through it all.
Every few minutes she'd step out into the hall to bring Mae up to date.
"Do you think he'll be all right?" Mae asked.
"Yes. I think he'll do fine." Cady hoped that wasn't a lie.
"He has to live," Mae said. "I need to tell him I'm sorry and how much I love him."
"You can as soon as he's up to the shock."
Doctor Spense arrived in good time. "Bullet barely missed his stomach, I'm thinking. He's lucky to be alive."
With Cady assisting, nauseous and pale-faced, the doctor removed the bullet, cleaned the wound and sewed him up. Before the process was over, Garrick regained consciousness, groaning.
"I'd prescribe a good shot of whiskey for the patient, Franco," Spense said. "He's in pain, but he's a strong, healthy young man. I'm sure he'll come through this fine."
Sam kept Mae company in the hallway until the doctor came out and said they could go in. After hugging Cady for helping her through the ordeal, Mae went to her room and let her emotions soak her pillowcase.
With the doctor gone, Franco gave Garrick another dose of the golden firewater. "How do you feel?"
"I'm alive."
Cady finished rinsing out the bloody cloths used to clean the wound and sat on the edge of the mattress.
"Bad as you looked when I found you, I'd say that's a near miracle." Franco sipped his drink and waited until Garrick finished his. "You know who did this?"
"I never saw him until he walked over and kicked me to see if I was alive. I recognized those boots of his with the red heels. They're all Lach wears. Before leaving, he said, 'That should make Mortimer happy'."
"Lach!" Cady gasped. "That sewer rat. And he did it for Mortimer? That no good, lying, rotten weasel."
"I knew he was a bad one but not this bad," Sam said. "Do you think he meant to kill you, Garrick?"
"I suspect he believes he did, which is what I'm hoping for. It will let me surprise him."
"First you have to get well," Cady said, using scissors to cut off his shirt.
Garrick glanced around the masculine room. "Where am I?"
"One of the salon's guest rooms. You'll be safe here. Lach never comes here and we won't tell him you're alive, let alone where you are."
Cady placed a hand over her thudding heart. "My heart is still racing, you frightened me so badly, Garrick Brant. Don't ever do that again." She laid a hand on Garrick's where it lay on the bed coverings. "Are you sure you aren't in terrible pain?"
"Don't worry so much about me." A slight smile softened the terse words.
Franco went to look out the window. "It's still snowing, almost a blizzard. Should delay Mortimer's return."
Later, sitting against the headboard, with Rooster at his side, Garrick sipped coffee and memorized every nuance of Cady's face where she sat knitting. He'd fallen in love with her and hadn't seen it coming.
Chapter Thirteen
If she'd have him, he'd make a home for her and Regina. Garrick hoped the little girl would like him and vice versa. For them to get along well would be crucial to the success of a marriage between Cady and him.
The more he thought about it, the surer he was that he'd photographed the child, except the one he saw in his mind had said her name was Poppet. He suspected it was a nickname, but until he was sure of her identity, he hesitated to mention it to Cady for fear of disappointing her.
He wanted to jump up right then and ride to the ramshackle house where Poppet lived, but doubted he'd be allowed to go, as banged up as he was.
Tomorrow. Maybe he could go then. Poppet might remember him and be less afraid than if strangers came for her.
The ride to Cranesville would be long and hard, taking a couple of days, depending on the weather. But the thought gave him hope. The first buds of a happiness long denied blossomed in his heart.
All he needed to make the world complete was July.
And Cady as his wife. They could raise Regina together.
She raised her gaze to meet his. "Why are you staring at me?"
"I can't get enough of your beautiful face."
"Oh, Garrick. Such nonsense."
"Not nonsense. Cady, have you thought what you'll do after you're reunited with Regina and free of Mortimer?"
"A little, but I'm afraid to look too far ahead for fear my dreams won't materialize and I'll be unable to deal with the pain."
"I know what you mean. Come and sit next to me." He patted the bed beside him, the side opposite Rooster.
She did as he asked. "Now what?"
"Well, I could do this." He slipped an arm around her shoulders. "Then we could talk a while."
"What do you want to talk about?" She folded her hands in her lap, her legs stretched out on the bed beside his except atop the covers instead of underneath.
"Do you plan to marry someday?" he asked, taking hold of her wrist.
"Marry? I don't know. I always expected to wed someday, but now… My reputation is ruined. Maybe if I went somewhere far away from here, I could start over." Cady's gaze kept straying to the door. What was keeping Mae from coming to her brother? She was tempted to go get her and drag her here.
Her pulse in her wrist raced, a good sign. "What about marrying and starting over right here?"
She glanced at him. "Are you crazy? What man in Wildcat Ridge would marry a woman who worked in the Gentlemen Only Salon?" Her heartbeat slowed.
"You're only the maid."
"As if that matters." She flicked a bit of lint from her skirt.
"I suspect some man would be willing to marry you despite that. Someone would likely do anything just for a kiss."
"Now you're being ridiculous, Garrick." She moved to get off the bed, but he tightened his arm around her.
"You're wrong, Cady. I know a man who would love to kiss you." He lowered his head toward hers. "Like this."
His lips were warm on hers and tasted of fresh air and man, with a hint of coffee. The kiss lasted only a moment, ending far too soon.
"That was as nice as I thought it would be," he said.
"I-I enjoyed it too."
Humor glinted in his eyes. "Enough to give me one more?"
"Yes."
This one lingered longer. She moaned a little. He encircled her with his arms, their bodies pressed together, hungry for more.
A
knock on the door interrupted the romantic interlude.
Cady went to answer it and gasped. "It's about time," she whispered, taking Mae's hand.
Pale and trembling, the girl stepped inside. "Is this a good time?"
"Of course." Cady took the girl's hand and tugged. "Garrick, you have some special company."
He looked up from reaching for his coffee cup on the bedside table and froze.
"July?"
"Yes, Garrick. It's me. Only I'm called Mae now. Will you talk to me?"
"Oh, yes." He threw the covers back, uncaring that he wore only his long underwear, and started to stand but fell back against the pillows.
Cady rushed to his side. "You fool. You're hurt, remember? Stay in bed."
"Yes, brother." Mae came to his other side. "There's no need for you to get up."
He stared at her, disbelief in his eyes.
Cady went to the door. "I'll come back in a few minutes."
"No," Garrick said. "Stay."
"Yes, Cady. Stay."
Mae sat on the edge of the bed. Cady took the chair at the other side.
"July. July." He took her hands in his. "I can't believe you're here. You don't know how happy I am to find you. I've worried so much."
"I know. I'm sorry." She squeezed his long, capable fingers. "Cady told me you would love me despite how I earn my living, but I've been so afraid. I felt ashamed and couldn't face you, so I made her promise not to tell you I was here."
His gaze cut to Cady. "You knew? How long have you known my sister was right here and you never said a word?"
"Garrick," Mae said, putting her hands on his shoulders as if to restrain him. "It's not her fault. What kind of friend would she have been if she'd broken her promise to me?"
"What kind of friend has she been to keep this from me?" Anger filled his eyes, along with hurt.
Cady stood, appearing pale and shocked. Garrick didn't care. She'd betrayed him.
"I think it would be best if you left, Cady," He said in a hard, cold voice.
"You're not serious, Garrick," Mae said. "Why are you doing this?"
"She deceived me. She knew how desperate I was to find you and never said a word."
"What about me?" Mae put her hand to her chest. "I've known all this time that you were here, and it's taken me this long to work up the courage to face you."
"That's different. Go on, Cady. Leave, please."
"In that case, I'll go too," Mae said and stood.
His face blanched. "Mae, I can't let you go. I just found you." Emotion made his voice sound like he'd swallowed gravel.
"You're being unfair. She loves you, Garrick. Don't you know that?"
"I've never said that, Mae," Cady cried out. "Don't put words in my mouth you haven't heard me say."
Garrick stared first at Cady, then Mae. "Perhaps neither of you loves me if you could keep such a secret after all I've done to find you."
With a strangled cry, Cady ran out of the room.
Mae gazed at him a long moment. "I love you, Garrick. But right now, I'm very disappointed in you."
"What do you expect from me, July?"
"I'm Mae."
Silence stretched out between them. Then Mae turned and walked from the room.
Stunned, all he could do was stare at the door. With a choked cry, he ground his fists against his eyes and called himself the biggest idiot ever. He wanted to bawl. He wanted to go find Mae and beg for forgiveness.
Scooting himself to the edge of the bed, he tried to stand up. Fierce pain shot through his midriff from one side to the other. He collapsed back onto the bed, unconscious.
Garrick awoke later, feeling more alone than ever in his life. A short time ago, the two women he loved had been right here in the room with him. Only Rooster had come back.
He had ruined everything. Cady had been right to remain loyal to Mae. They'd been friends long before he came around. As much as it hurt to think she could have ended his emotional pain and reunited him with July faster, he had to admit he'd have made the same choice she had. She'd likely counted on Mae coming clean with him sooner.
Now she had.
And he'd lost both her and Cady.
"What do you think, Rooster?" He sat on the side of the bed and carefully worked his upper body to test his ability to move. The bullet had gone through his midsection. "Should I apologize and see if I can salvage my relationship with my sister and Cady?"
A faint growl interrupted Rooster's purring.
"Yes, that's what I thought you'd say."
Franco brought him a tray with coffee, porridge and toast. His eyes held accusation.
"I know," Garrick said. "I was a louse. I ran off the sister for whom I've searched for three years, and the woman I…"
"Love?"
"It shows?"
"Yes. Especially to a man who's in a similar place as you."
Garrick lifted his brows and peered at the man.
"I'm in love with your sister," Franco said.
Garrick smiled. "Well, I don't blame you. I haven't had a chance to get to know her as an adult, but if Mae's anything like before, she's a fine catch."
"So is Cady."
Was she? Did she feel as much pain as he did? Cady had bawled Mae out for "putting words in her mouth," but hadn't denied loving him.
"Let me check your wound." Franco removed the bandage around Garrick's middle and studied the bullet hole. "Looks clean. No infection. How do you feel?"
"Not bad. Some discomfort. Pain if I move too fast. Franco, somehow I have to make this right."
"I know how you can fix it with Cady. Go get Regina."
"You think?"
"It would be damned hard, with that bullet hole in you, but it could be done."
"I don't care how hard or painful it might be, I'd do it for her."
For Cady, the next two days lasted forever. She scrubbed, swept, straightened up, dusted and yet, the time seemed to stand still. She avoided the guest rooms, not even giving them their usual cleaning.
Too upset to talk, she evaded her fellow employees too. All she could think about was Garrick feeling she had betrayed him. And she couldn't deny it.
Mae pestered her, trying to cheer her up.
"How can you stand there telling me I should forgive Garrick?" Cady asked. "He hurt you too."
"Yes, but he didn't reject me the way he did you."
"One thing is sure, this proves he doesn't love me."
Mae made a scoffing noise. "You don't know that. If he doesn't love you, why is he so hurt thinking you betrayed him? If he didn't care about you, all his attention would have been on me not coming to him sooner."
Cady considered that but was afraid to put any stock into Mae's theory. She didn't think she could stand being disappointed again.
That evening, she skipped supper and went straight to bed, feeling exhausted and yet too tense to sleep. Her only comfort came in the form of Rooster who curled up beside her on the bed.
For a long time, Cady petted the cat and let her thoughts ramble. Nothing was going right. Would she ever see Regina again? The thought was a sword in her side, like Garrick's bullet wound.
Would he recover fully? Would he forgive her?
Thoughts whirled through her mind like a dervish keeping her from achieving a deep sleep.
As she dozed, she heard the door open.Her breath caught. "Garrick?"
Rooster stirred beside her and growled. She swallowed. Maybe it wasn't Garrick. He should be in bed. He wasn't well enough yet to be up wandering around.
"Please answer me, Garrick. Is that you?"
Nothing.
Maybe she was wrong, but who else could it be and why wouldn't they answer?
She sat up and fumbled for matches to light the lamp. "Whoever you are, I heard the door open. Don't play games with me, plea—"
A sudden weight knocked her back onto the bed, crushing her into the feather mattress.
Cady laughed. "Goodness, you don't need to
be so rough."
The only answer she received was strong hands encircling her neck.
"What are you doing? That hurts."
All doubts fled. This wasn't Garrick. No matter how angry he might be with her, he wouldn't hurt her.
The hands squeezed harder, and she gasped for air. The scents of body odor, dirt and whiskey filled her nostrils. Whoever lay atop her was shorter than Garrick but weighed more.
Mortimer?
No, he wasn't this thick around the waist.
She shoved at him fruitlessly. Her screams came out as muffled groans.
He meant to kill her.
Air. She needed air.
Cady clawed at the hands choking her. Clawed at his face.
Rooster's snarling and hissing came to her, sounding close.
With an exclamation of pain, the man jerked, cussed, released Cady and swung backward. Rooster cried out.
Cady attempted to roll away, but the man's weight returned to pin her in place. She tried to buck him off, tried to jab him in the eyes. He cursed and squeezed harder.
The room swirled around her. Her fingers went numb and lost the ability to grip, while her own will to fight faded.
Her lungs screamed for air but could find none.
"Die, you damned she-dog," a rough voice growled in her ear. "Die."
Chapter Fourteen
Garrick paced his floor, one hand over his bandaged midriff, trying to regain his strength. The knowledge that Cady lay in her bed no more than a hundred feet away hurt by his rejection ate at him like ticks on a sheep. He couldn't bear to think of having wounded her.
He loved her. Desperately. Permanently. Hungrily.
Would she ever forgive him?
Maybe if he could reunite her with Regina like Franco suggested. Would she marry him then and let him spend his life making up to her for having doubted her?
Not until this moment had he realized how much he wanted that. He wanted to help raise Regina. To see Cady bear his babies, to wake up with her every morning, fall asleep with her in his arms every night. His traveling days were over.
And he wanted Mae close by. She could share their home until she married. Some good man would want her, despite her past. Franco did.
Could he earn enough from his photography to support them all in the manner they deserved? He had some money put away in a Denver bank. More in Salt Lake City. How long would it last?
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