recklessness? “When did they leave? Where’d they go?”
“To the Orshlin farm. They left town about thirty minutes before the bounty hunter rode into the livery,” he said, and Dade heaved another relieved breath.
Maggie was gone before Carson arrived. She should be safe unless someone in town put two and two together like he had.
“The oldest Orshlin boy came to town to get Doc because his mother is near to birthing,” Duane went on.
Of course Maggie went with him. Dade wanted to be angry that she hadn’t consulted him. Wanted to be pissed that Doc hadn’t sent word over either.
But the fact was they were in a place where Carson would likely never look. She was safe.
“What about the bounty hunter?” Dade asked. “See him around lately?”
The usually stoic half-breed tensed, his anger so hot Dade felt the burn. “He rode west, taking the trail up to the mines.”
The opposite direction from the Orshlin farm. “He must have picked up somebody’s trail.”
Duane looked to the mountains. “God help them.”
Silently, Dade offered up another prayer for his sister, himself, and Maggie Sutten.
Maggie was sure she’d just seen a miracle as Doc Franklin brought the Orshlin twins into the world. There were several tense moments when the doctor had to guide one baby into the proper position, and that just awed Maggie. Even then, the afternoon had given way to dusk before both twins were delivered into Doc’s gnarled hands.
As Maggie cleaned up the tiny, squirming, crying bundles of joy, she felt as if she’d finally done something worthwhile in her life. The strong tug in her heart also confirmed that she wanted children of her own. At least three, though she’d take more or less, God willing.
If she could finish her nurse schooling and find a good man to love and marry, she’d be happy beyond belief. Dade Logan’s handsome face came to mind right off, and the ache in her heart shot straight to her womb.
She shook off that fanciful dream with a bone deep shiver. Until she was sure that Whit Ramsey wasn’t out for revenge, she couldn’t think about marrying any man. Considering how much he had lost financially by not marrying her, the “adopted” daughter of the Silver King, made her fear he wouldn’t forgive or forget her anytime soon.
But even if he did and there was a way she could havea romance with Daisy’s brother, he’d likely never forgive her when he found out what she’d done.
She didn’t kid herself into believing he’d remain ignorant of her deception for long. Doc Franklin knew her identity. All it would take would be one slip of the tongue for Dade to get suspicious.
No, she’d have to tell him the truth–at least that she wasn’t his sister. She didn’t dare reveal her true name to him or tell him she was on the run from a man.
“How are they?” Mrs. Orshlin asked after the doc had finished tending to her.
“They seem perfect,” Maggie said. And tiny and so vulnerable.
How could any woman not love her baby? Not want to keep it?
She caught Doc’s nod and pushed those questions that had tormented her all her life aside. Carefully she transferred both babies to their waiting mother. Tears filled the woman’s eyes, but her smile attested that they were happy tears.
“Thank you both for coming so quickly,” she said.
“That’s my job,” Doc said.
Maggie glanced past the curtain that separated the bedroom from the main part of the cabin. The other children were seated at the table, and the oldest boy–the one who’d ridden alone into town to get Doc Franklin–was feeding his siblings.
The boy was capable, but he never would’ve been able to deliver both babies alive.
“When’s your husband due back?” Doc asked.
“Five days from now, maybe more,” Mrs. Orshlin said on a yawn, confirming her exhaustion. “Please, help yourself to supper. You know you’re welcome to spend the night.”
“Considering the hour, we’ll take you up on that
“To the Orshlin farm. They left town about thirty minutes before the bounty hunter rode into the livery,” he said, and Dade heaved another relieved breath.
Maggie was gone before Carson arrived. She should be safe unless someone in town put two and two together like he had.
“The oldest Orshlin boy came to town to get Doc because his mother is near to birthing,” Duane went on.
Of course Maggie went with him. Dade wanted to be angry that she hadn’t consulted him. Wanted to be pissed that Doc hadn’t sent word over either.
But the fact was they were in a place where Carson would likely never look. She was safe.
“What about the bounty hunter?” Dade asked. “See him around lately?”
The usually stoic half-breed tensed, his anger so hot Dade felt the burn. “He rode west, taking the trail up to the mines.”
The opposite direction from the Orshlin farm. “He must have picked up somebody’s trail.”
Duane looked to the mountains. “God help them.”
Silently, Dade offered up another prayer for his sister, himself, and Maggie Sutten.
Maggie was sure she’d just seen a miracle as Doc Franklin brought the Orshlin twins into the world. There were several tense moments when the doctor had to guide one baby into the proper position, and that just awed Maggie. Even then, the afternoon had given way to dusk before both twins were delivered into Doc’s gnarled hands.
As Maggie cleaned up the tiny, squirming, crying bundles of joy, she felt as if she’d finally done something worthwhile in her life. The strong tug in her heart also confirmed that she wanted children of her own. At least three, though she’d take more or less, God willing.
If she could finish her nurse schooling and find a good man to love and marry, she’d be happy beyond belief. Dade Logan’s handsome face came to mind right off, and the ache in her heart shot straight to her womb.
She shook off that fanciful dream with a bone deep shiver. Until she was sure that Whit Ramsey wasn’t out for revenge, she couldn’t think about marrying any man. Considering how much he had lost financially by not marrying her, the “adopted” daughter of the Silver King, made her fear he wouldn’t forgive or forget her anytime soon.
But even if he did and there was a way she could havea romance with Daisy’s brother, he’d likely never forgive her when he found out what she’d done.
She didn’t kid herself into believing he’d remain ignorant of her deception for long. Doc Franklin knew her identity. All it would take would be one slip of the tongue for Dade to get suspicious.
No, she’d have to tell him the truth–at least that she wasn’t his sister. She didn’t dare reveal her true name to him or tell him she was on the run from a man.
“How are they?” Mrs. Orshlin asked after the doc had finished tending to her.
“They seem perfect,” Maggie said. And tiny and so vulnerable.
How could any woman not love her baby? Not want to keep it?
She caught Doc’s nod and pushed those questions that had tormented her all her life aside. Carefully she transferred both babies to their waiting mother. Tears filled the woman’s eyes, but her smile attested that they were happy tears.
“Thank you both for coming so quickly,” she said.
“That’s my job,” Doc said.
Maggie glanced past the curtain that separated the bedroom from the main part of the cabin. The other children were seated at the table, and the oldest boy–the one who’d ridden alone into town to get Doc Franklin–was feeding his siblings.
The boy was capable, but he never would’ve been able to deliver both babies alive.
“When’s your husband due back?” Doc asked.
“Five days from now, maybe more,” Mrs. Orshlin said on a yawn, confirming her exhaustion. “Please, help yourself to supper. You know you’re welcome to spend the night.”
“Considering the hour, we’ll take you up on that
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