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  Emma sighed. “I suppose I am a little, but Mr. Cook had to get back to his life. He would never have been happy staying here. Sage Creek doesn’t have enough to offer him.”

  “It has us,” Jennie said with a pout. She folded her arms across her chest. “I wanted him to stay. I wanted the two of you to get married so he could be with us always.”

  “Why are you so eager to marry me off?” Emma asked with a smile. “Won’t you miss me when I don’t live here any longer?”

  “Yes,” Jennie said, “but you seemed happier when you were married to Joseph.”

  Emma stared at the sage little girl. Of course she had been happier when she was married to Joseph, but that had been about Joseph and not just about marriage, right? Suddenly, she was no longer sure.

  Chapter 20

  William made it to Dallas just as the sun was setting. At least he’d be able to sleep in a room tonight and ask some questions around town. If he was really lucky, maybe he’d even find his mark hanging around at the saloon though from his experience, bank robbers tended to be less social.

  The inn’s sign came into view and William dismounted, throwing the reins around the hitching post before sauntering into the three-story building.

  The smell of leather greeted him as he stepped into the lobby. Two brown leather couches complemented the cream and brown colors of the room. A woman sat behind a check-in desk to the right.

  She looked up as William approached and he paused. With her blond hair and hazel eyes, she reminded him very much of Emma. He shook his head to clear the image - how had she affected him so profoundly after only a few days - and continued toward the woman. She wasn’t Emma; he knew that. Emma was back in Sage Creek.

  “Can I help you?” she asked.

  “Yes, ma’am. I wanted to see if you have a room for a few nights.”

  She smiled at him as she opened a large book. “You might be in luck.” After a quick scanning, she turned around and grabbed a key off the hook. “I have room three available.”

  “Wonderful.” William plunked down the required bills and took the key. He would check the room out and stash his money before heading to the saloon to gather information. It was never smart to carry a lot of money into those places. You never knew when fights might break out or pickpockets would wander through.

  A quick investigation of the room satisfied him, and after stashing the money under the bed, William locked the door behind him and headed toward the saloon.

  The place was bustling when he arrived, not unusual as these types of establishments catered to a night crowd.

  He walked up to the bar and ordered his usual single shot of whiskey. The bartender had just slid the glass his direction when a heated argument broke out next to him.

  “I told you to stay away from my sister, Charles.” The words were slurred and angry.

  “Your sister is old enough to make up her own mind, Leroy,” the other man shot back, his voice much harder to understand. Both men had clearly had too much to drink.

  William, wanting to distance himself from any fight so as not to draw attention, grabbed his drink and stood, but the men were quicker than he had expected and before he had fully turned, a fist appeared out of nowhere and connected with his neck.

  The room grew grey as William grabbed his neck and sank to the floor. Hot, searing pain erupted in the wound and clawed up his neck. While the men brawled near him, he tried in vain to grab the attention of anyone close by, but everyone’s gaze remained fixated on the two men and William lost his fight with the darkness.

  Chapter 21

  “Thank you for finally coming out with me,” Carl said, grabbing Emma’s hand.

  She fought the urge to extricate her hand from his grip as they walked. What had she been thinking? Giving Carl hope wasn’t fair to either of them and she didn’t need to be married to be happy. Emma had accepted the invitation to the town picnic in a moment of weakness and now she was regretting it.

  “You’re welcome, but Carl, I hope you understand this doesn’t mean we are courting. This is just two friends attending a town social event together.”

  “Don’t be silly, Emma,” he said. “You know we belong together, and after this afternoon, I’m sure you’ll remember how much fun we used to have.”

  Emma swallowed her sigh. This was going to be a long few hours.

  The church grounds were already littered with blankets and townspeople when they arrived. Carl found an open patch and spread out a blanket for them. Emma set the picnic basket she had packed down and then folded her feet under her.

  “Would you like some punch?” Carl asked.

  “That would be nice,” Emma said.

  He returned a few minutes later with a cup of lemonade for them both. After handing her a cup, he sat as well, placing himself a little too close to Emma for her comfort.

  “Are you hungry?” she asked, shifting her position to discreetly put more space between them. She opened the picnic basket. “I have cheese, biscuits, and fruit.”

  “Do you remember the first barn dance we attended?” he asked, ignoring her question and scooting closer again.

  Emma knew he was referring to the dance where they had cuddled in the haystack before being found by Samuel. She had thought then she was going to marry Carl, not necessarily because she loved him, but because he was nice to her and they got along. The concept wasn’t romantic but practical marriages were the way of the west and in a practical concept, they had made sense.

  “Yes, Carl, I remember, but that was a long time ago.” Emma pulled out the cheese and fruit and placed it on a plate in front of them.

  “It doesn’t have to be,” he said, leaning toward her. “We could share those feelings again.”

  “I’m sorry, Carl. This was a mistake,” Emma said, dropping the piece of cheese she had picked up and standing. “I thought we could revisit being friends, but it appears we have two different views of our relationship.”

  “Emma, wait,” Carl said, pushing himself up and reaching out to her.

  “No, Carl, I need time to think. I’ll see you later.” Before he could protest any further, Emma spun around and hurried home.

  Chapter 22

  When William awoke, his throat felt funny. Stiff and sore but also cold. The cot he was on was stiff, though covered in a sheet, and the room felt sterile. A hospital? The memory of the bar fight flooded back. He was beginning to have very bad luck in saloons.

  William raised his hand to touch his neck but before his hand reached the skin, a woman entered the room.

  “Don’t touch,” she scolded. “It hasn’t had time to heal yet.”

  William opened his mouth to speak but his vocal chords did not seem to be working.

  “You can’t speak,” the woman said, coming closer. “Due to some bullet fragments shifting in your neck, your windpipe closed. The doctor was forced to perform a tracheotomy.”

  William’s eyes grew round. Though not sure exactly what that meant, it didn’t sound good.

  “He was able to retrieve all the fragments, and your neck should heal soon so we can remove the tube. The procedure heals quickly after that, but you’ll have to be careful to avoid injuring your neck in the future.”

  The door opened again, and a man entered. “Oh, good, you’re awake. Has Nurse Johnson informed you of your condition?”

  William nodded, knowing trying to speak would be useless.

  “Good, let me check the tube to see if we can take it out yet.”

  As the doctor came closer, William wondered how long he had been out. Would his mark even still be in town or would he be long gone by now? Did he even still care? If his neck wound did require him to stop bounty hunting, it would be the perfect excuse to retire and he couldn’t think of any place he’d rather do that than Sage Creek.

  “Alright, the wound is healing nicely. I’m going to remove the tube and we’ll let the wound close. You’ll probably need to stay while it’s healing but once it�
�s closed over, you should be free to go.”

  William nodded and closed his eyes as the doctor prepared for the procedure.

  Chapter 23

  “How long are you going to hide from him?” Carrie asked Emma as they rolled out dough to make cookies. It was Saturday afternoon, a time when the girls tried to bake and talk, though usually Jennie was scurrying around their feet as they did. Today, she had gone with Pa and the boys into town to pick up a few things.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Emma said, averting her gaze and pretending to focus on the rolling pin.

  “Yes, you do. It’s been nearly a week since you went to the picnic with Carl and you’ve barely left the house since.”

  Emma sighed. “He was a great friend once, but now he’s obsessed with marrying me, and I just can’t do it.”

  “Because of William?” Carrie teased with a knowing smile.

  “It’s stupid, right?” Emma asked. “I ran him off by not listening to him and now I can’t stop thinking about him. I tell myself it would never work, but I can’t deny the attraction was there. Maybe not quite the same as Joseph, but close, and I never thought I would find that again.”

  A look of sympathy covered Carrie’s face. “Maybe he’ll come back,” she offered half-heartedly. “I know he cared about you.”

  Emma shook her head and rolled her eyes. “No, my impetuousness has finally caught up to me. I need to get used to the fact that he’s really gone and move on, but I can’t marry Carl just to marry someone. I’ll just have to hope that God forgives my wasting this opportunity and grants me another.”

  Before Carrie could reply, a knock sounded at the front door. The girls shared a look of confusion and trepidation. With the rest of the family in town, it was only the two of them in the house. While patients did come to the house on occasion, it didn’t happen often.

  “I’ll get the rifle,” Emma said. “Why don’t you go hide in our room?”

  Though fear shone in Carrie’s green eyes, she shook her head resolutely. “No, if you’re going to answer the door then I’m coming too.”

  “Alright,” Emma nodded, leading the way to the front door where the rifle was kept. The rapping came again as she grabbed the gun and checked to make sure it was loaded.

  “Carrie, on my count, open the door,” Emma said, bracing the gun against her shoulder as Samuel had taught her. “Now.”

  Carrie swung the door open and towards her, using it almost like a shield between her and the person on the other side.

  “William?” Emma’s voice was breathless with disbelief and she blinked her eyes a few times to make sure she wasn’t dreaming.

  “Hi, Emma,” he said as a crooked smile graced his lips. “Thanks for not shooting me, but are you going to make me stand out here all day or are you going to invite me in?” His voice sounded different, a little scratchier and the bandage around his neck didn’t look like the ones her father used, but it was William all the same.

  Still not trusting her eyes, Emma eased the hammer back down and nodded. “Of course, come in.” She lowered the gun and leaned it against the wall.

  “Hi, Carrie,” William said as he stepped over the threshold and closed the door behind him. A moment of awkward silence fell as the girls looked at William and waited for an explanation. He cleared his throat and shoved his hands in his pockets.

  If Emma hadn’t known better, she would have sworn William was nervous, but she had never seen him nervous. Did bounty hunters even feel nervous?

  Chapter 24

  William stared at his boots as he gathered his courage. Emma hadn’t kicked him out already so that was a good sign. Maybe Carrie or one of the other family members had told her his side of the story. Still, just because she was being civil didn’t mean she felt as he did and that was the scary part.

  What if he had ridden all the way out here to confess his feelings only to find out she was no longer interested? What would he do then?

  “I suppose you’re wondering why I’m here,” he said slowly as he raised his eyes to meet Emma’s.

  “The thought had crossed my mind,” she said with a smile.

  That smile bolstered his courage and William took a step her direction. “I came back for you, Emma. I know we didn’t leave on good terms, and I thought I could forget you, but the whole time I was bringing Monroe in, you were all I could think of. I don’t know how you got in my head, Emma Stewart, but I can’t seem to get you out.”

  “Oh,” Carrie sighed, grabbing both Emma’s and William’s attention. “That’s so romantic.”

  “Out,” Emma said to Carrie, pointing to the kitchen before grabbing William’s arm and leading him into the living room. She sat on the couch and motioned for him to sit beside her which William did willingly. He longed to reach out and take her hand, but he restrained himself.

  “I can’t believe you came back.” Her eyes were focused on her lap, and her voice was barely more than a whisper. “I thought I was justified in my anger at you, but even before Carrie told me the whole story, I began to regret pushing you away. Of course by the time I swallowed my pride, you were already gone.” Her eyes flicked up to his. “I honestly never thought I’d see you again.”

  It was the invitation he needed. He could see her heart in her jade eyes and he reached for her hand, enjoying the delicate feel of her skin against his.

  “I wasn’t sure I would ever see you again either,” he said, “but as I lay in the hospital bed healing this week, I found that I didn’t care about the money or the adrenaline any longer. I only cared about you.”

  Emma’s eyes widened, and her gaze shifted to the bandage around his neck. “Did you re-injure it?”

  His lips pulled into a tight smile. He had to tell her, but he hoped the truth wouldn’t scare her away. “I didn’t get out of the way fast enough when a fight broke out in a saloon. The punch shifted some bullet fragments and cut off my air supply. They were forced to do a tracheotomy until I could breathe again, but they think they got all the pieces this time. I’ll always have a scar, Emma, and I don’t know that there won’t be complications later. I know I’m not offering you much, but I’m offering you all I have.”

  Tears shimmered in Emma’s eyes as she shook her head. “You stupid man. I don’t care about a scar or complications. My father is a doctor, remember? I’m just glad you’re okay.”

  William wiped a tear from her eye and left his hand on her cheek. She sighed and leaned against it for a moment before jerking up.

  “I can’t leave Sage Creek though, William. I’m not the kind of woman who would enjoy the life of a bounty hunter.”

  “I guess it’s a good thing I gave it up then,” he said with a smile and then, even though he knew he probably shouldn’t, William leaned forward and touched Emma’s lips with his own. It was only a moment, but it was enough to solidify any lingering doubts he had. This woman was his future.

  Chapter 25

  Emma ran the brush through her long blond hair one last time as she regarded her image in the mirror.

  “If you don’t stop brushing it, it may all fall out,” Carrie teased from across the room.

  “Can that happen?” Jennie asked with wide eyes.

  “No, of course not,” Emma answered with a laugh. “Carrie is just teasing me.”

  “I wouldn’t have to if you would stop preening in front of that mirror. You look lovely.”

  Emma glanced down at her dark green velvet dress. The neckline was wide and showed off her slender shoulders and the color complemented her eyes. It wasn’t a new dress, but it was one William hadn’t seen yet, and she hoped he would enjoy it.

  “I just want it to be perfect,” Emma said, running her hand down the dress to smooth out any wrinkles. “It’s our first dance together.”

  “And it won’t be the last,” Carrie said crossing to the mirror and checking her own reflection. “I bet William proposes to you any day now.”

  Emma couldn’t help but
smile at the thought. The signs were all pointing that direction. He had begun building a homestead near her father’s house as she had told him this side of town was her favorite. At this point, he didn’t have to work as he had saved most of his money from his bounties and had plenty to finish the house and live comfortably until he decided what he wanted to do next.

  “I hope so,” Emma said. “I’m so glad Pa and everyone appears to have accepted him into the fold again.”

  “Well, everyone except Carl,” Carrie joked.

  Emma’s face fell as she thought of Carl. He was the one hitch in her happiness. Ever since William had returned, and they had begun attending town functions together, Carl had become stoic and reclusive. Emma hadn’t wanted to hurt him, and she truly hoped he would find a woman who could truly appreciate him soon, but she also had to do what was right for her.

  “Can we go now?” Jennie asked, breaking the somber mood that had fallen on Emma.

  “Yes, Jennie Bean, let’s get out of here,” Emma said, taking the little girl’s hand and pulling her out of the room.

  Chapter 26

  William sucked in his breath as Emma entered the living room. Her eyes sparkled as she smiled at Jennie beside her, and the green of her dress was breathtaking. He couldn’t believe she was actually his.

  “You look beautiful,” he said as he took a step toward her.

  “Why thank you, William,” she said and flashed him her special flirtatious smile.

  The rest of the family filed into the room, and after checking to make sure all needed items were accounted for, they exited the house and began the short walk to the barn.

  Lighted lanterns hung from the open doors creating a soft romantic glow. William couldn’t have been happier. This would be the perfect setting for the question he wanted to ask Emma.