Train From Marietta (26 page)

“I do feel better after talking to my father.” “Did you tell him about his business partner?” “I did. It was hard for him to believe that William would do such a thing, but he’ll think about what I told him and he’ll know what to do. Unfortunately he’s already paid the ransom, and the one thing that really bothers my father is to have someone take something from him. First William took me, and then he took my father’s money. You can bet one thing: He’ll see that William Jacobs gets what he deserves.”

“Did he say anything about calling Lyle?” “He said that he would. I told him to tell his Ranger friend that I would be with you, so that he would know where to find me.”

“You’re coming home with me. You’ll be safer with me than if you stay here in town waiting for Lyle.” At these words, Kate’s heart fluttered. She’d hoped that she wouldn’t be left behind in Muddy Creek when Tate went home. She tried to hide a smile as Tate continued. “We don’t know what the other two polecats are up to. I don’t think they’d just leave the area without finding out what had happened to you and Hayden.”

“They were afraid of Hayden.”

“They should’ve been. He was a dangerous man. If you had hesitated, he would have killed me and then you.” Tate squeezed her hand. “I’m thinking it was in the plan all along to get rid of you and the other two.”

“Really?”

“Your father’s partner wouldn’t have allowed you and his nephew to come back. He could be sent to the chair. Since what happened to the Lindbergh baby, kidnapping’s a federal offense and punishable by death. Hayden would have made sure that you never left Texas alive.”

Kate knew he was right. Even now that Hayden was dead, the vision of him drawing his knife frightened her. He would have killed them all. “It shocks me to think that William was behind all of this. He always insisted that my sister, Susan, and I call him ‘uncle. ’ He was so nice to us, bringing us presents and taking us to lunch when Daddy was away.”

“He sounds like a good con man.”

“I’ve not had much experience with con men.”

“I’ve dealt with a few,” he said with a frown. “You’d better get some sleep. I want to leave as early in the morning as I can. I’m hoping the doc can help me find a way to get to the ranch. If not, I’ll send Luke out to get Jorge. The two of them can come in with the truck to take me home.”

Kate placed her palm on his brow. It was warm, but not any more so than when they had taken his temperature. She did not want to leave him. This might be the last time that she would be alone with him. Tate seemed reluctant to let go of her hand.

“I’ll have to go so you can get your rest,” Kate murmured.

“Sit down here,” Tate said, and patted a spot on the bed next to him. “We couldn’t decide on a bedtime story, so why don’t you tell me about your life back in New York.”

“It all seems so ordinary and boring now. You’re the one that’s had the exciting life. Tell me something about you. Tell me when you first met Hayden.”

“You don’t want to hear about that.”

The last thing that she wanted was for him to stop talking, so she quickly said, “Then tell me about your daughter and your ranch. What about Jorge? Does he work for you?”

“Yes. He and Yelena, his wife, are a Mexican couple who live with us. They’re more like family than hired help. I don’t know what I would have done without them after Hazel left.”

“Hazel is your wife?” Kate asked tentatively.

“Was. Now she’s my ex-wife. We divorced a few months after she left.”

“Does she ever come back to see Emily?”

“No, she hasn’t been back once since the day she left. Emily wouldn’t know her if they met walking down the street. Hazel left when she was only a few months old. Ye-lena’s the only mother she’s ever known. There’s a part of me that will always hate Hazel for what she did.”

“You shouldn’t hate her too much. She gave you Emily.”

“I suppose you’re right. For that, I am grateful. Emily is the most important thing in my life. I only wish that I had the means to take her to a hospital where they could fix her leg.”

Kate picked up his hand in both of hers and held it in her lap. This was a difficult subject for Tate. She was reminded of the conversation that he had had with Dr. Duval and wondered if it was a topic that he could talk to her about. After a moment’s pause, she decided to ask, “What’s wrong with her?”

Tate’s eyes met hers, and she saw them soften. “One of her legs is shorter than the other.”

“How much shorter?”

“A little more than four inches. When she walks for too long, her hips hurt.”

“Have you tried a shoe with a built-up sole?”

“We had one, but it was too heavy.”

“That’s too bad. With the right shoe and practice, she’d be able to move around easily.”

“The biggest problem is that we’ve spoiled her. She knows that when she cries, Yelena will carry her. She’s getting too big for Yelena to carry, and at some point, it’ll have to stop. I want her to be as much like other children as possible.”

Tate had never talked so frankly with a woman before. The only person he had discussed Emily with, outside of the family and the doctors, was Lyle. He didn’t feel awkward or uncomfortable talking with Kate about his daughter.

“I’m eager to meet her,” Kate said softly.

“You like kids?”

“Of course, I do. Who doesn’t?”

“Hazel didn’t. She was angry from the day she found out she was pregnant, all the way until the day she left. Besides not wanting a child, when she had Emily and saw her deformity, Hazel couldn’t pack her bags fast enough.”

“It isn’t normal for a mother not to love her child.”

“Hazel wasn’t normal,” Tate said matter-of-factly.

“Then Emily is better off without her.”

“I know. But will Emily understand when she’s older?”

“All I had was my father when I was a small child. He had to be both my parents, but I don’t recall feeling deprived because I didn’t have a mother. I know that Daddy felt guilty about it. I’m sure that’s the reason he married Lila, my stepmother. While she and I have had our disagreements, she was good to me when I was little.”

The thought entered Tate’s mind before he could stop it.
You’d make a good stepmother, Katherine.
As soon as he considered it, he began to argue in his mind against the idea. He could not envision Kate Tyler, a woman from New York City, pulling water from a well, canning beans, or baking bread. He was sure she was eager to get on the train and be on her way to California. He would have only a couple more days, at the most, with her.

He looked away from her, then back. When he did, his eyes caught hers. He tugged on her hand and pulled her down toward him.

“I will always remember the time I’ve spent with you, Katherine.”

“It isn’t over yet, is it?”

“It will be as soon as Lyle gets here. He’ll put you on a train, take you back to Waco, or stay with you in Muddy Creek until your father arrives to get you or you continue your trip. Either way, you’ll have to go.”

“I—I don’t want to go yet. I want to get to know Emily.”

“And me?” The question hung heavy in the air. Staring into his eyes, Kate answered, “Yes, you too.”

“I wish we could have met under different circumstances. If I could go back to that platform in Simon, I would have walked over to you and introduced myself. I would have done something—hell, anything—to make sure you noticed me.”

“But I did notice you that night. You may not be aware of it, but, Tate Castle, you’re a very handsome man. When I spoke to you, your blue eyes looked right through me. I was scared to be on that dark platform, but I was thankful you were there.”

“I thought you were too pretty to be real. Untouchable.”

“And now?” Kate laughed reflexively “I can’t be very pretty after all we’ve been through. My nose is blistered, my hair hasn’t been washed in two weeks, and I’m sure I smell as bad as that longhorn steer.”

“You’re prettier now that I’ve gotten to know you; prettier than you were on the train.” He slid his hand up behind her neck and pulled her head down to his. It only took the slightest pressure. Their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss. He pulled her tighter to him, and the kiss became deeper and more passionate. It seemed to go on forever.

Kate floated in a sensuous haze. She didn’t want the kiss to end, but it did. She lifted her head and looked down at him. He was so handsome.

“I don’t want you to go yet,” he said huskily.

“I won’t be leaving for a few days.”

“That’s not what I mean. I don’t want you to go to that other room. I want you to stay here with me.”

A small excited laugh escaped her. “What would the doctor think? I’m supposed to be a professional. Nurses don’t sleep with their patients.”

“I doubt that we’d do much sleeping.” “Why, Tate Castle! Are you having lewd thoughts?” Tate grinned up at her and said, “What ‘lewd’ mean?” “ ‘Lewd’ means—ah—that you have something other than sleeping on your mind.”

“What man wouldn’t have lewd thoughts with a beautiful woman sitting on his bed in a nightshirt?” “Maybe I’d better go back to my own bed.” “I think you’d better stay. My fever may go up in the night.”

Kate laughed softly. “You would make a good con man.” “Just a little while longer?”

There was nothing she would rather do than spend the night with Tate. To feel his arms around her and his breath on her face would be heavenly. But she wasn’t ready to take that step and was fearful he could reopen his wounds. Instead, she tried to compromise. “I guess I can stay a minute or two more.”

“That isn’t long enough for even one kiss.” “Then we’d better get started.” She leaned over and kissed him gently and sweetly on the forehead. When she leaned back and looked at him, a frown creased his face. “I like the other kind better,” Tate grumbled. “Complaints, complaints. I can tell you’re on the mend.” He lifted his head from the cot and moved toward her. Hungrily his eyes slid over her face. Their breaths mingled for an instant before she lowered her face and covered his mouth with hers. When their passionate kiss ended, he pressed his cheek to hers.

“Sweetheart,” he murmured, his hand stroking the nape of her neck. “I’ll never get enough of kissing you now that I’ve had a taste. I hate to say it, but I’m almost glad you were kidnapped. Otherwise I never would have met you.”

She lifted his knuckles to her lips. There had been no words of love spoken, but something wonderful throbbed between them. Her lips touched his, and she was filled by feelings of sweet intimacy.

A stirring in the room beyond jarred her out of her contentment. “I must go,” she whispered.

“See you in the morning, honey.”

After she had returned to her room, she lay in the tiny bed and replayed their conversation in her head. It was as if her heart would burst from her chest!
Honey. Sweetheart.
Kate closed her eyes and prayed that what had happened was real. She prayed that he really meant the endearments.

Chapter 25

T
HE CONVERTED SEDAN THAT DR. DUVAL
used to transfer patients to the Alpine hospital was parked outside the back door. Tate lay on a canvas sling that had been rigged in the back of the vehicle. Kate sat beside him as the car was started and began to glide slowly down Muddy Creek’s main street.

The small town was quiet in the early morning hours; few cars and even fewer people moved along the boardwalks. At the end of the block, Tate called out for the driver to stop and then asked Kate to go into the mercantile and get a present to take to Emily.

“What shall I get?”

“She likes good-smelling things. Get my wallet out of my pocket.”

“I have a few dollars in my bag.”

Kate knew she was a spectacle in her split skirt and dirty blouse, but she held her head high and entered the store. When she returned, she carried a small bottle of Blue Waltz perfume. She climbed into the back of the car and handed it to Tate “Do you think she’ll like this?”

“I’m sure she will. It smells good.”

Kate noticed that people on the sidewalk were stopping to watch as Dr. Duval’s car went past. The car must be well known, and they would be wondering who was going to the hospital. A small girl, her stark white dress bright in the morning sun, stood in the drive of the Phillips 66 filling station and waved. Reflexively Kate waved back, and the little girl smiled before disappearing from view.

In the light of day, Kate noticed things about the town that she hadn’t seen in her nighttime trip to the telephone office. Muddy Creek must have been a wild and woolly place in its heyday. A few unpainted buildings on the main street still showed signs of dull lettering. One said “SALOON” and another said “TONSORIAL.” Smaller letters underneath the latter sign read “HAIRCUT AND BATH.” A group of men were constructing a building at the end of the street. They stopped to watch the doctor’s car pass, wiping their brows with the backs of their hands.

“What did Luke say about being left behind?” Kate asked.

“Nothing. He’ll be fine.”

Tate had assured Luke that Jorge would come back to town to bring him and the other Indian boys out to the ranch. They were going to help get the horses ready for their delivery to the patrol.

Kate looked down the flat road that stretched to the horizon. The Texas sun sent shimmering heat waves over the grassy plain. Dried grass rolled back on each side of the road. No trees grew along this stretch. Kate thought they might as well be traveling across a space as empty and limitless as the sky. They were alone except for a small herd of cattle and a windmill that was silhouetted against the blue sky. It was a harsh but fascinating country.

When she noticed Tate straining to look out the window, she lifted his head. “We’re almost there,” he said. The car turned down a narrow lane at the end of which was a weathered plank house with a porch that spanned the two front doors. At the side of the house was a pole-fence corral. A number of horses were eating from large piles of hay.

Tate lay back in the sling. The car came to a stop between a shed and the house. A Mexican man came hurrying toward the car as the driver got out and opened the back doors. A woman carrying a little girl in her arms stood on the porch.