“I do like it very much.” To his surprise, she hooked her hands around his neck and tilted her head. Then, before he realized it, she kissed him, fully, hungrily.
He should’ve gotten gussied up a long time ago. Desire dropped into his stomach like a boulder, sending ripples all the way to his fingertips and toes. He’d thought he’d have to work up for a kiss. His arms went around her, pulling her to him, and she clung to him almost desperately.
“I love you, Jake,” she murmured against his cheek, then trailed kisses on one side and another, until he captured her lips. Time fell away until she pulled back and, taking his hand, returned to the benches.
“It’s the season of the honeysuckle. Doesn’t it smell heavenly?”
Yes, the fragrance of cedar gave way to honeysuckle and old-fashioned tea roses here in the middle of this secluded spot. An ornate birdbath stood at one end, though no birds were present.
The facing benches were enclosed by a canopy of vines he couldn’t name. He was glad to sit down. The kiss had drained his strength. Now with the weight off his bad leg, all he wanted to do was repeat that kiss, drop to his knees, and set the wedding date within the week. Tomorrow being Sunday wouldn’t be too soon. The preacher would be handy.
He decided to wade into safer waters instead. She still held his hand, and he shifted to face her, very much aware of their knees touching. “I have good news. Our house—all that’s needed to build it anyway—will arrive in two weeks. There’s a crew of men already preparing the foundation.”
Her eyes widened, and he sensed an uneasiness that seemed out of place for an eager bride. “So soon.”
“Yeah, isn’t it great? The foundation will be finished by the time the house arrives and Deck is setting up a house-raising. If enough people come, they can have the house built in a day or two.”
Her lips tried to smile and failed. “Yes, that’s wonderful.”
Now was the time to propose. Jake moved his leg into position to go down on his knees. The sound of a horses’ hooves on the brick path stopped him.
Katherine appeared through the bushes, pulling her horse along, her hair in disarray. Tears streaked her cheeks, and a look of terror darkened her eyes. “Jake, where is Rhyan?”
He gained the ground, wobbling as he got his cane into position. “Just out at the cattle slip, talking to Max.”
Juliette got to Katherine’s side first. “What’s wrong?”
Katherine thrust the reins at Jake. “Go get Rhyan as fast as you can. Carianne collapsed.”
Jake backed the horse out to the open, and sprang into the saddle.
“Hurry,” Katherine screamed. “Go on into town and bring the doctor. She’s bleeding.”
Chapter 19
Juliette chased Katherine around the house. She wondered why Katherine didn’t take the side door instead of the long way to the front of the house, but maybe Katherine was too addled to think of it. “What happened?”
Katherine puffed, almost out of breath, but didn’t slow her wide strides. “We were only about half way to the river when Carianne said she felt faint. We turned around and headed back. When Carianne dismounted, I noticed blood on her saddle and skirt. It was then I got frightened. It hasn’t been long since she gave birth. I followed her inside, but she only got as far as the foyer and topped over.”
When they reached the portico, Katherine dragged in a breath. “I called for Maria and, thinking Jake would know where Rhyan was, I grabbed my horse and came to get him.”
Juliette got to the door first and opened it, letting Katherine enter ahead of her. Carianne lay on her back, perhaps three feet away from the stair landing, a smear of blood at her feet. Maria was down on the floor, putting a pillow under her head. Arabella stood a couple of feet away, wringing her hands.
Katherine hung back, her fist at her mouth to stifle a sob.
Carianne’s eyes were closed, her dark lashes in stark contrast to her pale cheeks. Praying she wasn’t unconscious, Juliette sank to knees and took her hand. She rubbed her arm. “Carianne, can you hear me?”
“I can.” Her lashes fluttered open, revealing eyes sunk back in their sockets. “I shouldn’t have tried to ride, but…so tired…of staying…indoors.”
“Don’t try to talk. Save your strength.” Juliette tried to find a pulse in her wrist, and failing that, slipped a couple of fingers to her neck. The beat was weak and far too fast.
A child’s shout came from the top of the stairs. “Mama!”
Juliette glanced up to find Davy and Annie descending. She shook her head to stop Annie, but when Annie tried to tug Davy back up the stairs, he started screaming. “My mama’s hurted. I want my mama.” His screams reverberated around the room.
Reacting to him as any mother would to her child’s cries, Carianne’s pulse sped and she tried to lift her head.
Juliette glanced over her shoulder. “Arabella, would you take Davy and Annie back to the nursery and calm him.”
Like she was glad to finally have something to do, Arabella sped up the steps and lifted her grandson in her arms.
Thankfully, when Davy’s screams faded, Carianne stopped straining and her pulse slowed, though not nearly enough.
Juliette caught the housekeeper’s worried stare. “Maria, get some wet cloths, please, and find Mrs. Darlington. She has some medical training.” Juliette said.
Maria scrambled to her feet. “Mrs. Darlington went to town earlier to do some shopping, but I’ll get the wet cloths. Should have thought of it myself.”
That meant Juliette was on her own, trying to keep Carianne alive until the doctor arrived.
“Katherine, wait outside for Rhyan and explain to him before he comes in.”
The sobbing woman left, and quiet bathed the room. Good. Juliette firmly believed that other people unwittingly transmitted their tension to the sick. And she had to get Carianne’s heart rate down to normal. The puddle of blood was spreading across the marble floor, and each beat of the heart would release more.
She had no medical training except keen observation, but she knew Carianne was hemorrhaging. She’d watched Grace bleed to death after she’d delivered her still-born child. And a doctor had been in attendance then.
Slamming the door shut to all negative thoughts, she rubbed the inside of Carianne’s arm, in light, calming strokes.
Maria returned with the wet face cloths and placed one on Carianne’s forehead. Juliette took one and pressed it to her neck, then continued stroking her arm, checking the pulse occasionally. She sent up prayers of gratitude that it was slowing, and Carianne’s breathing seemed less labored.
“The doctor who will be coming, was he in attendance when Airy was born?” she asked Maria.
“Yes, Dr. Ulrich. He’s the only doctor in town.”
That was good. He’d know if there were any complications during delivery. Juliette shook her head. She was probably imagining Carianne’s condition was worse than it was. Most women who died in childbirth did so within hours or days. If she remembered correctly, Airy was a month old.
But Carianne had been complaining that she was tired. Was it possible she’d been bleeding more heavily than normal all this time? She wouldn’t ask Carianne at the moment, but she’d make sure the doctor would consider that possibility.
She knew far too much for an unmarried woman—more than Maria, who was married but had no children. Juliette had helped with all four of Grace’s births, though she’d been very young herself when her siblings were born. But she’d had to. Grace had no one but Pa, and he’d turned to Juliette for help. That last time she finally convinced Harp to fetch the doctor, but it was too late, even if a doctor could do anything more than she did.
The door slamming open cut off any further thought. Rhyan Cason rushed inside but stood stock still as he stared at his prostrate wife. Carianne stirred, holding her hand out. He dropped to his knees in the space Maria had vacated and took her hand.
His eyes searched Juliette’s. She knew
that look. He was no longer the powerful cattle baron, but rather a man who sought hope for his beloved, assurance that he wouldn’t lose her.
Juliette had felt the same for Jake. The desperation in his eyes pleaded with her until she felt compelled to give him something to hold on to. “You will give her comfort and your strength.” It was more an order than a statement, and he understood.
Managing a smile he couldn’t be feeling, he removed the cloth from her eyes. “You’re going to be fine, sweetheart. Doc Ulrich will be here in a little while. I’ll carry you up to your bed.”
Juliette thrust her arm out across Carianne. “No.”
They both looked at her. “It’s better that she not be moved until the doctor gets here. Any movement might make the bleeding worse.” She didn’t know if that applied to internal bleeding or not, but even if carried, Carianne might use up some of her dwindling strength.
“Lie down beside her, Rhyan, and put your arm around her. She’ll be able to draw from your strength.” This she was sure of. She remembered how Jake had calmed when she lay on top on him as death hovered perilously close.
He didn’t argue. Lying on his side with his head pillowed by the crook of his right elbow, he stretched his left arm across her shoulders. A little smile tugged at Carianne’s mouth.
Juliette checked her pulse and was willing to believe it grew stronger.
Rhyan shifted his face closer to Carianne, whispering into her ear, words meant only for her.
Not that Juliette tried to listen. She kept her gaze riveted on the grandfather clock, and never had the time moved so slowly. Finally, voices sounded outside the door that Rhyan had left ajar.
A silver-haired man carrying a black leather bag entered. Both Juliette and Rhyan got up. He to speak to the doctor, and she to step backward toward the door. A sudden desire for fresh air pulled her outside. Besides, she could do nothing more for Carianne, and she must find Jake.
***
Cowhands spilled out of the nearby bunkhouse and others galloped across the pastures, headed toward the house. Like soldier bees stirred up when their queen is attacked, Jake thought.
Deck met him at the stables, worry wrinkling his brow. “What did Rhyan say?”
“He didn’t say anything, just tore back to the house faster than I could’ve kept up if I’d tried. I could tell he was scared.” Carianne’s collapse had him scared too, and he didn’t scare easily.
“Yeah, we’re all worried, I guess. Sit down over there and rest your leg. I’ll rub down the horses. They’re in a lather.”
Jake lowered himself on a hay bale. “Better bring out some fresh horses and the buckboard. They might have to take Carianne into town.”
He’d hardly gotten his leg stretched out when the commotion at the house shot him back up.
Carlos, Maria, and Juliette came onto the portico. When Juliette spotted him, she dashed down the steps. He forgot about his leg and tore off toward her. Despite the yard full of cowboys, she wrapped her arms around his middle right there in front of everyone. She was always so careful of decorum around people, but now she ignored everybody.
“Jake, I’m so worried. I’ve never heard of this type of thing ending well.”
His arm went around her. “Is it that bad?”
“She’s losing blood—more than you did, and there’s no way to stop it.”
That got his attention. “Maybe the doctor knows how. Doc Ulrich is good.”
She shook her head. “He says the only thing that will save her is an operation, and he isn’t a surgeon. The closest hospital where they can do this type of operation is in Chicago.”
“I can’t believe God would take Carianne from us.” He didn’t know whether he tried to reassure her or himself.
Jake looked over her head, willing Carianne to come out that door, defying them all. Maria and Carlos had gone back in, but Rhyan burst forth, running. Deck came from behind them. All the men stood at attention, waiting for orders.
“The east-bound train is due in shortly.” Rhyan took a second to drag in a breath. “Deck, take out that open buggy, the one with the back seat that folds down. Harness a fast team. We’re going to put Carianne on a mattress and lay it in back. Doc and I will be in back with Carianne. Deck you’ll drive.”
He sucked in another breath and thrust a scrap of paper with something scribbled on it to Jake. “Go on to town right now. Send a telegram to this hospital in Chicago. Tell them to be waiting at the station for this train. They’ll know when it’ll arrive.”
Sam, one of the stable hands, already had Dauntless saddled and brought it up. Jake mounted and took the reins. Sam hooked his cane on the saddlebag strap.
“Wait,” Rhyan said, turning to the nearest cowboy. “Andy, give him your gun belt.”
Jake had completely forgotten he’d not worn his gun belt to meet Juliette, and that he was still dressed in his best suit. He took Andy’s belt and cinched it around his waist.
He was ready to take off when Rhyan laid a hand on the horse’s neck. “Jake, do whatever you have to do to hold that train.”
“I will.” With one swift glance at Juliette’s stricken face, he hunched over Dauntless and slapped the reins.
The train hadn’t arrived when he rode into town in a cloud of dust. Praying nothing unusual had delayed it, he unhooked his cane and dropped to the ground. This train’s conductor prided himself on being on time. Before going to the post office to send the telegram, Jake stopped at the depot. After being assured the train would arrive any moment, he made his way to the post office.
Dorcas Wagner met him in the doorway. She must have seen him approaching. “What happened to Carianne? Colt Holliman just tore into town, asking everyone to pray. Did she fall off her horse?”
Jake blew out a puff of air and pushed his Stetson back to cool his sweating head. “I don’t think so, but she’s bleeding internally. They’re bringing her in to catch the train to Chicago. I need to send a telegram to the hospital to have an ambulance waiting when it arrives. Sure hope the train’s not late getting in here. Every second counts.”
Normally Dorcas would have bent his ear for half an hour before getting to her job, to pass on any tidbit of gossip she’d heard for the past few days. But she recognized the urgency and scuttled to the counter, waiting in uncharacteristic silence as he wrote out the telegram.
She snatched the telegram form from his hand and disappeared behind a curtain. Within seconds, he heard the tapping of the machine. Dorcas might be a busybody, but she was a good telegraph operator.
He walked around the counter and, pulling the curtain aside, raised his voice to be heard. “I’m going back to the depot. I’ve asked for an acknowledgement. Send it over to me as soon as it comes in.”
A backward glance and nod of the head let him know she understood.
The train whistle sounded, still a piece away, but it would arrive soon. Relief stopped him in his tracks, and he swept his hat off, bowed his head, and sent up prayers of gratitude.
Every time the train pulled in, the street came alive with shouts and voices talking over each other. This was a favorite rest stop for the passengers, the first one in hours, plus it being near noon, they could get a real meal at the boardinghouse without rushing since the train wouldn’t depart for over an hour.
Did Carianne have an hour to spare?
After all the passengers had cleared the depot, Jake rode up, tied Dauntless to the hitching rail, and climbed the steps, passed the porter right into the first car.
Mr. Houser knew Jake well. He looked up from the clipboard he held and smiled. “Going on another trip, Jake?”
Houser knew the Casons well, and Jake explained the situation as detailed as he thought necessary. “They’re bringing her on a mattress. Could you clear out the place in back of this car so they could lay it on the floor?”
The conductor scratched his head and his brows drew together as Jake spoke, and for a moment Jake was afraid the man would refuse. Then
Houser turned and motioned for him to follow. They moved the table and chairs where the men played poker out of the way. There’d be plenty of room for the mattress with space for Rhyan and the doctor.
On their way back to the front, Jake glimpsed the buggy bringing Carianne and the men. He hadn’t expected them this soon. Deck must have driven those matching roan geldings hard to have made such good time. Did that mean they thought risking the hard drive was worth getting Carianne to the depot?
Houser stuck his head out the train’s entrance and gestured. Within a couple of minutes, Rhyan backed into the car, holding the head of the mattress, with Doc and Deck holding the back. They lifted their burden over the seats to the cleared space.
Jake caught a glimpse of Carianne, not moving, her eyes closed. He didn’t know whether she was saving her energy or unconscious.
The boiler operator came from the back, stepping around the mattress, a questioning glance to Houser, and when the conductor didn’t explain, said, “We’re ready to go. You want to go grab a bite now?”
Rhyan spoke for Houser. “Neither one of you can leave. If this train is ready, we’re leaving now.”
Houser let out a bark of displeasure. “Sorry, we can’t leave without the passengers. They’re given an hour and twenty minutes. I can send Marvin to round them up, but there scattered all over town, as you know. A lot of them mosey down to the Western Gates, and—”
“They’ll have to catch the next train. We’re leaving right now.” Rhyan looked over his shoulder. “Jake, did you notify the hospital?”
“Yeah, and left word for Dorcas to get confirmation, but she hadn’t showed up yet.”
“Deck, you go send another telegram and make sure they have an ambulance waiting. Give them the time we’re leaving.” He jerked his head back around to stare down Houser. “And that’s right now.”
Houser features were sympathetic, but his laugh sounded a bit derisive and fearful. “Rhyan, we can’t do that. It’s against rules and the law.”
Escaped (Intrigue Under Western Skies Book 4) Page 17
