sink. “Ma, thanks for the meal. Sorry to rush off, but I’ve got things to take care of.”
Grabbing his jacket off the hook near the back door, he tugged on his hat and slipped out into the night. The door clicked softly behind him.
He was no doubt going to Tyler’s homestead to check on Josh. Clenching her hands beneath the table, it took every ounce of self-control not to rush outside and demand that he take her along.
Mary slid a plate with a fat slice of chocolate cake her way. “Dessert, Kate?”
He was fast losing patience. Not only did the run-down cabin reek, but the rapidly cooling wind gusting outside whistled through the missing chink in the walls, making him regret not grabbing his jacket. So far Matthews was a no-show.
Rising from the lone chair in the room, he resumed his pacing. If Matthews didn’t return within the next half hour, Josh would have to try again tomorrow. Nathan was probably already on his way.
His gaze settled once again on the amber-hued bottles scattered across the table, and he grabbed the oil lamp he’d lit earlier to get a better look. At first glance, they appeared to be empty bottles of alcohol, but the labels said otherwise. Dr. J. Collis Browne’s Chlorodyne claimed to heal asthma, bronchitis and catarrh. Hostetter’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters warded off rheumatism.
In the wagon accident that had claimed Lily’s life a year earlier, Matthews had suffered severe injuries. He’d spent a month at the home of Dr. Owens, teetering between life and death. The townsfolk had called it a miracle when he’d finally pulled through.
Somehow Josh had the feeling the man didn’t share their sentiments.
He sniffed one of the bottles and reared his head back. Disgusting. Setting it down, he wondered why Tyler would need medicine after all this time.
A muffled sound outside drew his attention. Muscles tensing, he snuffed out the lamp, crept to the window and, rubbing a spot clean with the threadbare curtain, peered out at the front yard. In the shadows stood a horse, its owner sliding to the ground and stumbling toward the cabin. Matthews.
One hand on his holster, Josh walked out of the cabin. “Had a bit too much to drink tonight?”
“What?” He brought his head up fast, squinting in the darkness. Then he moaned, his hands gripping the sides of his head. “What’d ya want, O’Malley?”
“What I want is for you to stay off my property. Leave Kate Morgan alone.”
His hands dropped to his sides. “Kate,” he mumbled, staring down at the dirt. “I dunno any Kate. Do I?” He started for the stairs. “Need sleep.”
Watchful, Josh stood motionless. When Matthews’s foot caught on the bottom step and he went sprawling, Josh rushed forward to haul him upright. And when the man didn’t struggle, he decided it wouldn’t do a bit of good warning him off Kate. At least not tonight. He was just about passed out.
Resigned, Josh helped him inside and guided him toward the bed in the corner. He landed facedown and was snoring before his head hit the pillow.
He shook his head. What a wasted life.
“Josh?”
Nathan. He strode for the doorway and jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “He’s out for the night.”
“Let me guess,” he said from the saddle, he thumbed his hat up. “You didn’t get to have that discussion, did you?”
“Nope. Sure didn’t.” Josh rounded the cabin to where he’d left Chestnut. Nathan’s horse, Chance, followed. “But he hasn’t seen the last of me.”
They rode at a brisk pace through the darkness, Josh eager to get inside and get warm. As soon as they reached the yard, he looked toward Kate’s cabin. Light in the window told him she was still up, and for a moment he thought about going to her.
Nope. Too risky.
That kiss was still fresh in his mind. He’d be a fool to go anywhere near her.
Chapter Eight
K ate couldn’t breathe. Darkness pressed in on her. Panic rose up to claw at her throat. She must not scream, must
Grabbing his jacket off the hook near the back door, he tugged on his hat and slipped out into the night. The door clicked softly behind him.
He was no doubt going to Tyler’s homestead to check on Josh. Clenching her hands beneath the table, it took every ounce of self-control not to rush outside and demand that he take her along.
Mary slid a plate with a fat slice of chocolate cake her way. “Dessert, Kate?”
He was fast losing patience. Not only did the run-down cabin reek, but the rapidly cooling wind gusting outside whistled through the missing chink in the walls, making him regret not grabbing his jacket. So far Matthews was a no-show.
Rising from the lone chair in the room, he resumed his pacing. If Matthews didn’t return within the next half hour, Josh would have to try again tomorrow. Nathan was probably already on his way.
His gaze settled once again on the amber-hued bottles scattered across the table, and he grabbed the oil lamp he’d lit earlier to get a better look. At first glance, they appeared to be empty bottles of alcohol, but the labels said otherwise. Dr. J. Collis Browne’s Chlorodyne claimed to heal asthma, bronchitis and catarrh. Hostetter’s Celebrated Stomach Bitters warded off rheumatism.
In the wagon accident that had claimed Lily’s life a year earlier, Matthews had suffered severe injuries. He’d spent a month at the home of Dr. Owens, teetering between life and death. The townsfolk had called it a miracle when he’d finally pulled through.
Somehow Josh had the feeling the man didn’t share their sentiments.
He sniffed one of the bottles and reared his head back. Disgusting. Setting it down, he wondered why Tyler would need medicine after all this time.
A muffled sound outside drew his attention. Muscles tensing, he snuffed out the lamp, crept to the window and, rubbing a spot clean with the threadbare curtain, peered out at the front yard. In the shadows stood a horse, its owner sliding to the ground and stumbling toward the cabin. Matthews.
One hand on his holster, Josh walked out of the cabin. “Had a bit too much to drink tonight?”
“What?” He brought his head up fast, squinting in the darkness. Then he moaned, his hands gripping the sides of his head. “What’d ya want, O’Malley?”
“What I want is for you to stay off my property. Leave Kate Morgan alone.”
His hands dropped to his sides. “Kate,” he mumbled, staring down at the dirt. “I dunno any Kate. Do I?” He started for the stairs. “Need sleep.”
Watchful, Josh stood motionless. When Matthews’s foot caught on the bottom step and he went sprawling, Josh rushed forward to haul him upright. And when the man didn’t struggle, he decided it wouldn’t do a bit of good warning him off Kate. At least not tonight. He was just about passed out.
Resigned, Josh helped him inside and guided him toward the bed in the corner. He landed facedown and was snoring before his head hit the pillow.
He shook his head. What a wasted life.
“Josh?”
Nathan. He strode for the doorway and jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “He’s out for the night.”
“Let me guess,” he said from the saddle, he thumbed his hat up. “You didn’t get to have that discussion, did you?”
“Nope. Sure didn’t.” Josh rounded the cabin to where he’d left Chestnut. Nathan’s horse, Chance, followed. “But he hasn’t seen the last of me.”
They rode at a brisk pace through the darkness, Josh eager to get inside and get warm. As soon as they reached the yard, he looked toward Kate’s cabin. Light in the window told him she was still up, and for a moment he thought about going to her.
Nope. Too risky.
That kiss was still fresh in his mind. He’d be a fool to go anywhere near her.
Chapter Eight
K ate couldn’t breathe. Darkness pressed in on her. Panic rose up to claw at her throat. She must not scream, must
Similar Books
