The Rancher's Surprise Triplets, page 21
“Very sick.” He shuddered. “I fear the worst.”
Louisa pulled the comb from her hair and the earbobs from her ears. She’d return them at first opportunity. She clenched her fingers around them. Fripperies. Symbols of foolishness. The whole evening had been one of foolishness. She should have been home preparing the bedroom for her mother.
“What can I do to help?” Bo asked.
She told herself she’d forgotten he had followed her into the house. But the awful truth remained that she felt his presence keenly and an errant portion of her brain lingered on the pleasures of the outing with him.
Father spoke before she could sort her tangled thoughts. “I fear what they have is contagious. The babies won’t be able to stay here even if we had space and time to care for them. Can you see that arrangements are made for them?”
“I’ll call an emergency meeting of the Lone Star Cowboy League for tomorrow after church. Mrs. J. will keep them tonight.”
Louisa had never had a chance to kiss them goodbye. Hadn’t expected they wouldn’t be returning. Things were happening too fast. “I’ll check on Mother.” But she wore a borrowed gown. “I must change first.”
She took a step toward her room. Bo caught her arm. She faced him. Saw the concern in his eyes. Lowered her gaze to his mouth. Only a few minutes ago she’d enjoyed kissing him, had even allowed herself to forget her responsibilities. The time for dreaming and forgetting had come crashing to an end. “Thank you for a lovely evening. But now you must go. I have to take care of Mother and Amy.”
Father had disappeared into Mother’s room, so Louisa could speak from her heart. “Tonight was only pretend. We both know that.”
His eyes caught the golden glow of the nearby lamp and reflected it back like moonlight. His eyebrows went up and then settled into place again. “I haven’t forgotten. I’ll see to the babies. Is there anything I need to take?”
She gathered up the scattered bits of baby clothing, tossed them into the basket and handed it to him. She forced herself to release her hold on the basket.
Father called her name.
No more time for dreaming. No more time for pretending or wishing or wanting. Her responsibilities, her life, her future lay right here. “Coming,” she called. She took a step back from Bo. “Goodbye.” Not waiting for him to leave, she hurried to Mother’s room, her footsteps slowing fractionally when she heard his soft answer.
“Good night.”
She took one look at her mother and her heart smote her. Mother lay pale as the sheets, a bruised look around her mouth. The discoloration indicated how hard Mother’s heart worked under the strain of her illness. “Mother, I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you arrived.”
Mother’s struggle to breathe made talking almost impossible. She could only flutter her fingers from the bedcovers to indicate she heard. Her eyes were shadowed and wide with fear.
“Stay with her,” Father said, “while I get some of her medicine.” Years ago, Father had concocted a mixture that eased her breathing, and he hurried to his office to fetch it.
Louisa sang as she wet a cloth in the nearby basin of water and gently sponged Mother’s brow.
Father returned and gave Mother a spoonful of medicine. “I’ll stay with her. Would you check on Amy and Lawrence?”
She stopped in her own room long enough to exchange the fancy dress for a plain cotton one that she wouldn’t have to worry about soiling, then crossed to the other bedroom and sucked in a deep breath. Amy lay curled on her side, every bit as pale as their mother. Lawrence sat on the mattress that had been in Mother’s room, a basin in his hands. He looked slightly greenish.
It was he who spoke. “Sorry to show up in this condition. We thought everyone was well enough to travel, but both Amy and your mother took a turn for the worse yesterday. I could think of nothing but to get here as soon as possible.”
“You did the right thing.” She sat beside Amy and stroked her head. “Are your lungs tight?”
“No. But I’m weak as a kitten.” Even her voice was weak.
“You’ll be fine now. I’ll take good care of you.”
Amy squeezed her hand. “I know.”
Louisa hurried away to get warm water to sponge bath her sister and mother. She made a soothing honey-sweetened tea for the three invalids. A little later, Lawrence sprawled on the mattress asleep. Mother dozed with Father at her side. Amy closed her eyes and breathed deeply.
Not knowing how long they would stay that way, Louisa lay on her own bed, fully clothed, ready to jump up at any moment.
Her call came before dawn.
“Louisa.” Amy’s weak voice barely reached Louisa’s room yet she sprang to her feet, instantly alert. She hurried to tend her sister, taking her fresh water, holding her head to help her drink.
Father tiptoed out of Mother’s room. “She’s resting for now.” He shook his head.
Louisa understood he worried that Mother’s heart would not hold out. “I’ll keep watch. You go rest a bit.” They both knew it was only a matter of time before someone outside this house would need his attention. An hour later, the someone came. The doctor was needed at a nearby ranch.
“I’ll take care of them,” Louisa said, tipping her head to indicate the invalids.
“I know you will. They couldn’t be in better hands.” Father took his bag and went to the waiting buggy.
They couldn’t be in better hands. Her father knew he could trust her to make sure Mother and Amy got well. And Lawrence too, though he had a much stronger constitution than the other two.
She made a thin gruel for them and spoon-fed both her sister and mother. Lawrence took one look at the food and gagged.
“I don’t think I’m ready for food yet.”
Louisa rushed from one room to the next, afraid to leave either of her patients for more than a few minutes. Her steps took her to the kitchen between the bedrooms to make tea, get fresh water, prepare a basin to sponge one or the other.
She paused in front of the icebox. If she had a chicken she could make soup for them. But she had none. When Father returned, she would slip away to the store and order a chicken.
But wait. It was Sunday. The store wouldn’t be open.
She glanced out the window at the sound of a wagon. People were arriving for the worship service. Bo had mentioned a meeting of the Cowboy League after the service. This was the Sunday they held their after-church social hour. Would the league members meet at that time? Who would take the babies? Would anyone let her know? Would Bo come to see how she was?
Shaking her head to clear her senses, she turned back to the task at hand. There’d be no Sunday service for her this day.
And there’d be no more thinking that Bo had any reason to visit her.
She made a light broth of vegetables for the invalids. Mother was so weak she could not feed herself, so Louisa did it patiently and with a tinge of guilt as if she should blame herself for Mother’s condition. With part of her brain, she knew she carried no blame, but with another, she feared she would fail in providing good enough care.
Amy would have refused any nourishment if Louisa hadn’t fed her. Lawrence continued to turn green at the mention of food.
She glanced out the window after she’d taken care of the noon meal. Wagons, buggies and horses still waited for their owners. The yard behind the church held scattered groups of men, and children raced about after each other. The women must be inside or sitting out of the sun. Her gaze skimmed the gathered people. Neither Bo nor Brandon were among them. She refused to acknowledge an ache to see Bo and turned away from the window.
The hours sped past as she tended the ill. When Amy didn’t need something, she stayed at Mother’s bedside, afraid to leave her alone lest she was unable to catch her breath.
Busy as she was, she strained toward any sound to indicate a visitor. When the anticipated knock came, she ground to a halt halfway between Mother’s room and the kitchen. Her fingers clenched the basin of water in her hands. Her heart jumped, landing halfway up her throat. He had come.
She left the basin on the table and rushed to open the door and stared at the caller. Somehow she pulled herself together. “Mercy.” She glanced over her shoulder. Should she invite the woman in?
“I won’t stay. I understand you have your hands full with your family, but I wanted to let you know that the triplets have been taken care of.”
Louisa nodded. “Who?”
“David McKay has hired a nanny to help for the triplets.” She chuckled. “I think he’s hoping that helping with the babies will keep Maggie out of trouble.”
“I’m glad they’re at least staying together.” Though she wondered how safe they would be with the mischievous Maggie assisting with their care.
“Mr. McKay insisted on it.” Mercy patted Louisa’s arm. “I’ll leave you now.”
Louisa glanced up and down the street. Only a few stragglers lingered about and none of them was Bo. She closed the door. She’d made it clear to him that their time of pretending to be something neither of them wanted to be was over. But she could not deny the thin wedge of disappointment prying into her heart.
Dismissing the foolish futile yearnings, she turned back to her tasks.
* * *
Over the next few days, she worked feverishly to see that the ill were fed nourishing broths, to see that Mother—and to a much less extent, Amy—was comfortable. She changed the bedding as it got soiled and scrubbed it, hung it out to dry. It was important that the sheets were clean and dry on a daily basis. The work offered an added bonus. It almost kept her from having time to think of Bo and how much she missed the triplets.
* * *
Bo had plenty of things to occupy his time. Big Rock Ranch needed his attention. The Lone Star Cowboy League had decisions to make. There were cows to check on. A horse to work with. And Cash liked to get out and run. Bo took him out for a jaunt every day. It had been a week since he’d seen Louisa and her words still rang in his ears. We both know it’s only pretend.
He’d been telling himself that for days but to hear it spoken with such firm finality didn’t sit well.
He let Cash stretch out, his legs galloping up the miles.
But she was right. He couldn’t trust himself to develop a healthy, safe relationship and he’d grown perilously close to thinking it might be possible.
He and his horse crested the hill, the ranch buildings below them, and he slowed the animal to cool him. A horse was tied to the post in front of the house. He recognized it as the one Brandon usually rented from the livery barn and his heart immediately clenched. Had his brother come with bad news?
He let Cash lengthen his pace into a trot and rode directly to the barn. One of the cowhands was nearby and he called to him. “Rub Cash down and take care of him.” He crossed the yard in long strides.
Brandon sat on the veranda waiting for him.
“What brings you this way?”
Brandon pointed to the chair beside him. “Can’t a man come to visit?”
Bo perched on the chair. “Been missing me, have ya?”
Brandon gave a playful punch to Bo’s shoulder. “Thought you might be needing some comfort about now.”
“Huh? Me? Why?” He eyed his twin. “You got something you’re wanting to say?”
“Maybe.” Brandon leaned back, his boots on the nearest post. “I haven’t seen you at the doctor’s house since last Saturday.”
“I haven’t been there.” He leaned back too, imitating his brother’s pose.
“Then I guess you haven’t heard.”
“I’m guessing you’ll get around to telling me when you’re good and ready.”
Brandon lowered all four chair legs to the wooden floor with a crash. “You got any interest in Louisa?”
Bo stayed where he was, staring into the sky. He wouldn’t meet Brandon’s gaze, knowing Brandon would read Bo like a page in a book.
“I told her about our father and was clear that I had no intention of ever marrying.” Though she’d almost convinced him that he didn’t have to turn out to be like his father. “Did you ever stop to think that we inherited our musical ability from our father?”
Brandon didn’t respond for a moment. “I guess it’s of no interest to you, then, to know Louisa is ill.”
Bo’s chair crashed to all four feet and he stared at Brandon. “Sick? How sick?”
“Her father came and asked for prayer for her.”
Bo clattered to his feet. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I thought you didn’t have any interest in her.”
“Well, you thought wrong.” He saw the cowhand who had taken care of Cash saunter across the yard and called to him. “Saddle up my horse.”
Brandon rose to stand beside Bo. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“To see Louisa.”
“I doubt the doctor is going to let you into her room.”
“Then I’ll wait.”
The cowhand brought Cash to the house. Brandon followed Bo down the steps and swung into his saddle at the same time as Bo swung to Cash’s back. As one, they turned the horses toward town, Brandon staying at Bo’s side.
“Brother, it seems to me you aren’t being honest with yourself,” Brandon observed after a bit.
Bo grunted. He didn’t want to discuss it.
“Seems Louisa matters more to you than you care to admit.”
Another grunt would have to suffice. Bo was well aware that his actions were at odds with what he wanted to believe. He’d deal with that difference after he’d made sure Louisa was okay.
Brandon badgered him to talk until Bo said with some disgust, “Can’t you let me work this out on my own?”
Brandon laughed heartily. “Sure thing. But if you feel the need to talk...”
“Have I given you the impression I want to talk?”
His annoying twin brother laughed again. “I’ve hardly been able to get a word in edgewise.”
They reached town and Brandon turned off at the parsonage. “I’m here if you need me.”
Bo went on to the doctor’s residence and banged on the door.
Doc Clark opened the door, his eyes narrowing at the look on Bo’s face.
“Where is she?” He pushed into the room. A young woman he took to be Louisa’s sister, Amy, sat on the sofa holding a book in her lap. She seemed a little pale but other than that seemed well and healthy. A young man lounged beside her. No doubt her husband. In a wheelchair sat a frail, pale older woman.
Bo snatched off his hat. “Mrs. Clark, I presume.” He tipped his head toward the others. “I’ve come to see Louisa.”
The sister’s eyes, as brown as Louisa’s, sparkled.
Doc grabbed Bo’s arm and steered him toward the door. “Louisa is too sick for visitors.”
Bo dug in his heels. “How sick is she?”
Amy followed her father. “She’s worn herself out caring for us. I expect she’ll recover in a few days.”
“I’ll be next door. Will you let me know when she can receive visitors?” He looked at Amy, hoping for an ally.
“We’ll send a message.” She took her father’s elbow and he saw an instant softening in the doctor’s countenance. “Won’t we, Father.”
Doc nodded. “But not before she is much stronger.” He closed the door between Bo and those in the house.
Bo stared at the barrier, then ground about and crossed to the parsonage, where he strode in without knocking. “They won’t let me see her.”
Brandon glanced up from sewing a button on a shirt. “Warned you they wouldn’t.”
Bo crossed the floor in long strides, then turned and crossed it the other way. Back and forth he went until Brandon stuck out his leg to stop him. “You’re stomping holes in the floor.”
Bo threw himself into the nearest wooden kitchen chair. “I need to know she’ll be okay.”
“Brother, I think what you need to know is what your intentions toward her are.”
“I—” He swallowed. “You know—” He rubbed at his neck. “I can’t—”
“Seems to me you have. The question is, what are you going to do about it?”
“I’m going to—” He let his hands dangle between his knees. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“Then I suggest you figure it out before you see her.”
He grabbed his hat and strode from the house. In the yard, he looked around. Where was he to go? He looked down the trail to the fairground, now empty and dusty, and strode in that direction.
Every step brought a memory. Louisa with the babies. Louisa flushed and shy. Louisa dancing, her eyes full of stars. The two of them kissing after the dance.
He could no longer deny his feelings for her.
But it didn’t erase his fears that he wouldn’t make a good husband or a good father. He reached the fairgrounds and stopped beside the lone tree. Her words returned to him.
She thought he had a choice. She believed he practiced kindness, gentleness and self-control in his life.
Is the God who made this vast land too small to rule in your heart?
She had faith in him.
Could he find that same faith in himself?
He covered every inch of the fairgrounds as he wrangled with his thoughts. The sun began its evening descent and he realized how long he’d been away. What if a message had come from next door and he’d not been there to receive it? He raced back to town.
Brandon assured him there had been no message.
“I’m not leaving until I hear something.”
Brandon shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He pulled food out of the icebox. They shared a simple meal. “The triplets are doing well at the McKay ranch.”
