Page 19

T hirteen

The sun was dropping low in the sky by the time they reached home. And oh was there ever a fuss.

Gretel nearly collapsed with relief when they returned with Tilda.

They’d known Tilda had been found, thanks to Zane wiring the house, but everyone was almost frantic to see her.

Well, frantic in a very sensible, tough western way.

Michelle led her away to the shower bath in the back room, and an hour later, Tilda emerged in a dress Josh didn’t recall seeing before.

It wasn’t a perfect fit but good enough.

Bright red with ruffles and lace. While Josh suspected it might be an old one of Michelle’s, who was taller than Tilda, someone had shortened the hem to the right length.

Tilda’s damp hair was pulled back and was held only with a ribbon.

Josh went to her side and guided her to the kitchen table, holding her arm as she sat down to a piping hot meal.

While he could tell Tilda was on the brink of collapse, not having eaten since breakfast, she did full justice to the chicken noodle soup.

He hadn’t eaten since then either, but he hadn’t been drugged and then later thrown himself out of a moving train.

All the while they ate, the family surrounding them, Zane and Josh talked about the rescue and how Tilda had saved herself, and what a relief it had been when Zane had come before the train’s kidnappers got out to fight to get her back.

Finally, Josh escaped with his wife, determined to see that she got plenty of rest. They strolled along in the moonlight. They were being given their own home for the night. The deserted doctor’s office.

Gretel had gathered a few people to clean and dust and put new sheets on the bed, even though it was already perfectly clean. She’d whispered to Josh that she’d included a bit of food in the larder in case they wanted to make their own breakfast in the morning.

Michelle had told Tilda she wouldn’t be expected to get to school on time. Which Josh took to mean she’d be expected to get to school at some point.

Josh was tempted to kidnap his wife himself and run for the train. They should get a honeymoon. They ought to spend a week in San Francisco.

But that would have to wait. At least for now, he wanted to keep Tilda on the ranch until word reached them that her brother had been arrested.

For a moment, Josh wondered if Tilda’s father might show up. Apparently, Ben had suggested such a thing could happen.

“Getting married to you was the best idea I’ve ever had.” Josh smiled down at her. The summer days were long, but they’d worn this one all the way out. “I’m worried, though, that we haven’t heard yet about Ben’s arrest.”

Tilda’s hand tightened on Josh’s elbow. “C-can we talk about something else? I want to think of being married, not of having a criminal brother somewhere on the loose, or a mysterious father who wants to meet me.” She looked sideways at him.

“Do you think he really is my brother? Do you think I have a father and a twin sister? Was it all lies? And if it was, then what was Ben here for?”

Josh kissed her under the stars. “I’d like to think about being married, too.

” Josh opened the door to the doctor’s office and guided Tilda through the waiting room, through the examination room, and upstairs.

Oh yes. He wanted badly to think about being married to Tilda.

But not tonight. Not when she’d had such a hard day.

They reached the sitting room with Brody’s kitchen table and cookstove, and he guided her straight though that to the bedroom. His knees were so wobbly, he was afraid that if he stopped, he might not get started again. Two satchels sat on the bed.

Zane had told Josh he’d send over whatever they might need.

Zane had packed for Josh, and Michelle had packed for Tilda—which couldn’t have been hard, he thought, since Tilda only owned one dress besides the one she’d tore up on her escape from the train, and now this one that Michelle must’ve given her.

Josh went to the nearest satchel, opened it, and pulled out a long, white nightgown. This one had to be for Tilda.

Tilda snatched it out of his hand. He smiled and picked up the other satchel.

“I’ll let you get ready for bed. I’ll do the same in the next room.

And, Tilda, we’re just going to sleep tonight.

You’ve had a terrible day. You took a beating when you jumped out of that train.

It was so brave. I’m honored that you agreed to marry me, but tonight we’re going to rest. I want you to be pain-free before we turn our minds to more . .. married things.”

Tilda, with a nightgown that had felt to Josh like silk, came to him and reached up to kiss him.

“Thank you, Josh. I’m exhausted and feeling battered.

But I do want to sleep beside you tonight.

I’d prefer a few minutes alone to change, thank you.

” She looked perfect in the moonlight shining through the window.

He kissed her back and found a fire alive and burning inside him—one he battled down, even though the embers remained. He said, “I won’t be long.”

He left the room and went across the narrow hallway to the second bedroom, where Thayne and Lock had lived since Brody had found them. They were staying in the ranch house while he was traveling, but this was the MacKenzies’ home.

Josh opened his own satchel and froze when he found a nightshirt inside.

He usually wore his longhandles, so this seemed wrong to him, but maybe it was what married men wore?

He had no idea. He changed into it so fast he hesitated to go back to the other room.

Surely Tilda needed more time than he’d given her.

He stood still, though it was quite a fight to make himself do that. He pictured himself being roped and hog-tied to keep from running back to her.

At last he left the second bedroom and knocked gently on the door to where he’d left his wife.

“Come in.”

He cracked the door open and saw her standing there, her hair down, the long, dark curls reaching nearly to her waist. She was looking him in the eyes.

His heart, pounding like mad, slowed a bit as he realized she’d changed fast, too. Whether in eagerness to have him return, or terror that he’d come before she was modestly covered, he wasn’t sure.

She reached to swing the door wide and smiled, and he decided then it was the former.

* * * *

Tilda woke up with a husband. So strange that her whole life had changed in the course of a few days.

She’d gone from orphan to sister, daughter, and wife. She was also a sister-in-law, and an aunt now to Caroline. She was such a sweet, quiet little girl, Tilda sometimes forgot she was even there while trying to keep up with the MacKenzie boys and their antics.

Though she’d married quickly, deep in her heart she thanked God for Josh’s idea. She couldn’t help but be delighted that, after a whole life without much connection to anyone, including her adoptive parents, she finally belonged.

Her head was resting on Josh’s strong shoulder, her hand flat on his chest. She felt the steadiness of his heartbeat and lay still, not wanting to wake him up.

It was light in the bedroom, but it felt early.

While the school didn’t get going so early, the ranch did.

She heard the faint jingle of a bridle and the quiet clopping of hooves below just outside their window.

Then, with her hand spread wide on Josh’s broad chest, she felt the beats speed up, along with his rate of breathing. Fighting a smile, she realized her husband was awake.

She lifted her head and looked at him. Every move hurt.

“Good morning, Mrs. Hart.” Then his smile turned gentle. “How bad is it?”

“I’m sore, bruised, and scraped up, but nothing more serious than that.”

He ran one of his big, callused hands over her hair. She felt the tangles and wished she’d taken a moment to tidy up. But she saw nothing but admiration in his eyes.

She stretched up to kiss him. “I do like the sound of ‘Mrs. Hart.’ Thank you for marrying me, Josh. I’m going to be the best wife you’ve ever imagined.”

“Thank you for marrying me, Tilda. You’re doing a terrific job of being a wife so far.

I have no doubt you’ll be excellent.” The teasing smile faded, replaced by a look of sincerity.

“I will try to make sure you never regret agreeing to marry me. I’m going to treat you like .

.. well, like I’ve found my very own treasure.

This is a better treasure than any gold that’s been lost in those mountains. ”

This time he kissed her, and she kissed him right back.

“I looked at the basket that was sent over from the house. Eggs and coffee. Biscuits, butter, and jelly. We’ll have a feast.”

“That sounds like a wonderful way to start our marriage. I can cook too, you know. We’ll make the breakfast together.”

Then he kissed her one more time, and she didn’t cover a wince.

He pulled away and said, “Let me start the meal. You can lie here a bit longer or at least take your time getting dressed.”

“No, I want to be with you. No extra rest is better than working beside you making breakfast.”

“Are you really all right?”

“Honestly, that private car was so beautiful. It had to be the most luxurious kidnapping in the history of the world.”

Josh managed a smile, but his eyes studied her closely. He ran a finger down her cheek. “You’re scraped here. What else hurts?”

“I’ve stiffened up overnight. Most everything hurts, but it’s just bumps and bruises.” She pressed both hands on his chest, and he nodded, then rolled aside and stood. He gave his feet a strange look.

“What is it?”

“I’m wearing a nightshirt. Never before in my life have I worn such a garment.”

Tilda chuckled and had to admit that hurt a little.

“Are you going to be all right? I can stay and help you dress.”

Tilda felt her face heat up at the very idea. “I’ll be fine.”

“I’ll change in the other bedroom, then.”

As soon as he left the room, she threw off the covers and leapt out of the bed. Well, leapt in her mind. In her body, it was more of an aching lurch. But she kept moving because she didn’t want to be apart from her new husband.

* * * *

Josh hated every moment he was separated from his new wife.

He knew there was more to being married than what had passed between him and Tilda ... a lot more. But it had still been the best night of his life.

He dressed with lightning speed, which was stupid because she was no doubt hurting and moving really slow. But all he could think of was to get her back by his side.

He emerged from the second bedroom and saw her door was still closed. He went to it and knocked.

“Just a few more minutes, please.” Her voice squeaked a bit, like she was afraid he’d come barging in.

“I’m going to start breakfast. If you need anything ... I could help tie your shoes or button up the back of your dress or brush your hair. Just call out.”

While he stood there, trying to think of anything else she might need, the door opened so just one eye showed.

“My dress buttoned up the front, so I managed that. But the rest, my shoes and my hair, I would appreciate help with that. The whole left side of my body hurts. I must have landed on it. My shoulder, my hip, my head and feet and everything in between.”

“Come out and sit down. I’ll get your shoes and a comb.”

She swung the door wide and held up shoes, stockings, a comb, and a ribbon. It appeared she was going to ask before he offered. For some reason, as a man who prided himself on never admitting he needed much help, that warmed his heart.

He had her all tidied up before much time had passed. “I don’t know how to put up your hair, so I just pulled it back and tied a sailor’s half-hitch knot.”

“A what?”

“I considered a bowline, then decided this would be better.”

She turned and smiled. “I’ve had my hair done by a man who tied knots for a living. Thank you.”

“I’ve got the coffee brewing, and the pan’s heating up for eggs. We’ll add biscuits and jelly, and that’ll be breakfast. So it’s as good as done—you may as well sit still while I finish the meal.”

As Josh walked back toward the cookstove, he stopped and bent over.

“What’s this?” He held up a piece of paper, then chuckled.

“It’s a note from Michelle. She says arrangements have been made so that you can have the day off.

She invited us for the noon meal and supper, but said they’d send food over if we wanted to be alone here. ”

“I’d be hard-pressed to teach class today. But we could join them for meals later.”

Nodding, Josh went to the stove and got to cooking.