Chapter Ten
STILL DAZED BY the kiss interrupted by Marilee, Elizabeth hugged the child. As Elizabeth fought to bring sense back to her life, she looked into Seth’s blue eyes. It was a mistake. She found herself swirling in the currents there. Desire. Need. Reluctance.
She was warmed through to her toes. Every nerve ending tingled. She’d never known what the word desire meant before. Now she did.
An ache lodged in the core of her, a craving, a longing that was new to her. It was as if the world had caught fire and she’d been swept into its center.
She had never felt desired before. Had never considered herself desirable. He might desire her, but he didn’t want her. Or at best he didn’t want to want her. He did desire her. Need was in his eyes, in the tense set of his body, in the way he had touched her. Kissed her.
The sounds of a buggy rolling to a stop jerked her out of the daze.
She forced her legs to carry her to the window.
The doctor.
That snapped her out of the daze. How could she have stood here, kissing a man, while her father lay ill, possibly dying?
Because she had just realized how precious life was?
She looked toward her father. He was still. Thank God. When he woke he would be in immense pain.
“The doctor,” she told Seth, who was still standing there. Watching her. She brushed by him without another word.
She greeted the doctor and led him to her father. After taking off the bandages and examining the wound, Dr. Pearson looked up from the patient. “Couldn’t have done better myself,” he said. “Give him some of that laudanum I gave him a few months back. If there’s fever, call me.”
He turned and looked at Seth. “Damn glad to see you, boy. We all thought you were dead.”
“I almost was.”
“Sorry to hear about your brothers. Sorry about your pa.” He glanced at Elizabeth, then back at Seth. “Sorry about the land, too. Damn shame. Don’t mind telling you that.”
She felt the weight of his disapproval, just as she had felt it from so many other Texans. But then what he’d just said registered.
“What laudanum?”
He looked surprised. “He didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“He’s had some pain in his heart. I gave him some quinine and…” He suddenly closed his mouth.
Anxiety churned her stomach. No wonder he hadn’t been as active in the last few months.
Why hadn’t he told her?
She swayed for a moment, then steadied herself. Her father’s approval of the courtship of Major Delaney made sense now. At least to him. He wouldn’t have wanted to leave her alone, and Delaney was the only man to ever show interest in her.
“How long?” she whispered.
“I don’t know. The loss of blood didn’t help. Nor will the pain he’ll feel when he wakes up. Make sure he takes the laudanum.”
“I will.”
Seth’s eyes were on her. They were curtained now. Just as they had been on their first ride in the buggy after he had rescued her. She had no idea what he was thinking.
“Thank you,” she said to the doctor. “How much do I owe you?”
“A dollar.”
“I’ll get it for you,” she said and left the room for the kitchen where she kept money in a jar. She dug out a dollar, then hurried back, only to be stopped by voices from within the room. She stepped back and listened.
“I’m surprised to see you here,” Dr. Pearson said.
“It’s my home.”
“You are asking for trouble.”
“Maybe,” came Seth’s low drawl. “You get around. You’ve always known everything that goes on. What do you know about the rustling around here?”
“I know everyone is losing cows, especially those who refused to accept Delaney’s going price. His offers are so low no one can pay the taxes he imposes. Delaney says it’s all the army allows, but I have a friend at headquarters who tells me the general’s complaining at the cost of cattle. Apparently Delaney buys low and reports a higher price to his superiors.”
“How in the hell does he get away with it?”
“Fear,” the older man said. “People who cross him die. I’m ashamed to say that I haven’t said anything. But I’m the only doctor in twentyfive miles. If I die, other folks will, too.”
“And if people don’t sell?”
“Can’t prove it, but some of us believe he’s responsible for the rustling. We don’t think for a moment it’s your brother and young Mitchum.”
“Is there any federal official who is honest?”
“There’s a federal marshal in San Antonio. I hear he’s pretty honest. Hearsay is he’s had some runins with Delaney.”
“Who else is still here? What other families?”
“The Knoxes. They didn’t have any sons and are not tainted by Confederate service. Both daughters are back home. Widowed. One in the war, one by outlaws. Then there’s Old John Carey. Gary and Morgan Simmons.”
“They’re still bachelors?”
“Yep. No one in their right mind would marry them. They’re ornery as hell. Never did go off to war. Said it wasn’t their fight, but that doesn’t seem to matter to Delaney. Their horses keep disappearing as well as cattle. Then there’s John and Mary Andrews. They are barely holding on to their ranch. I hear tell Delaney just raised their taxes.”
“How many have lost cattle?”
“All of them, I’d say. And more.”
She walked in then, letting them hear her footsteps. The voices stilled and both men looked awkward.
She held out the dollar in her hand. “Thank you for coming.”
He nodded.
“I’ll walk you out, Doc,” Seth said with a familiarity that she had never had with the Texas doctor. He’d always been reserved, though he had come immediately when she’d called him.
She knew they weren’t just exchanging pleasantries. She felt suddenly very cold as they walked out.
Frustrated at her exclusion, she sat at the edge of her father’s bed. Laudanum. Quinine.
Why hadn’t her father told her?
Her heart beat faster again, but this time it had nothing to do with the hard, lean cowboy. This time it was pure fear. Her father was all she had in the world. Her father and Howie.
There was Marilee, but she would leave soon with Seth.
She would sit here until her father woke, then she would ask her questions.
SETHstopped next to the doctor’s buggy.
“Who is the marshal you mentioned?”
“Name’s Evans. Talk is he’s honest even if he is a Yankee. I’ve heard him talk about Delaney. I think he would love to arrest him.”
“I think I saw him when I first came into town. He was in the saloon.”
“Probably sniffing around. There’s been a lot of shootings in this area.”
“He would go against a senior army officer?”
“An arrogant army officer who doesn’t think much of
U.S. marshals and shows it? I think Evans would relish it.” “I would like to talk to him,” Seth said. “How bad is McGuire?” “His heart’s failing. I don’t think he will live much longer. How did you come to take that bullet out?”
“I was there when he came in.”
“And what were you doing there?”
“Miss McGuire was attacked yesterday. Whoever did it is obviously trying to frame my brother and his friends.”
The doctor raised an eyebrow. “That was yesterday. You aren’t sweet on her, are you?”
“She’s caring for my sister. I came to see Marilee.”
The doctor stared at him for a long moment. “I don’t like these carpetbaggers any more than you, but I don’t want to see that young lady hurt.”
“I don’t, either,” Seth said.
“You are playing a dangerous game, boy.”
“I’m hardly a boy now.”
“No, you take after your father. You think things through.
But be careful. Delaney doesn’t look it, but he’s clever.” “Thanks for your help.” “These are my people, Seth. I was here when they were born and I’ve mourned with them when they’ve buried their people. I sewed up your brother after your father was killed. Isn’t right what’s happening. Isn’t right at all.” He stepped into his buggy. “I’ll go see Marshal Evans. Set up a meeting. He might trust me more than a rebel captain. I suspect you have other things to do.”