Chapter 29

29

F ranklin went to the house to see if Lorinda and Mrs. Oleson needed his help taking care of Miriam. They assured him they didn't. He studied Lorinda while he was talking to them. He tried to see if she was upset with Miriam being in their house. He sure hoped not. Lorinda was his wife. The woman he loved more than anyone else. But he'd never told her that. She couldn't tell what he felt. She was concerned about Miriam's weakness and her condition, but was she concerned about anything else?

The rest of the day, he couldn't keep his thoughts from drifting toward the three women, wondering what was happening. When he finally finished making sure all the horses had plenty of hay, he left the rest of the chores to his cowhands. He made sure all those standing watch were fed in the chow hall, and a new set would take over for the night shift. The cattle rustlers could still be nearby, and he wanted his women protected from the scoundrels. At least he had been able to get the herd he wanted to sell all the way to Frisco without the drive being attacked. If only they knew who was stealing the cattle.

When he thought about the women in his house, he couldn't help being concerned with his ex-fiancée. What had happened to her? He was glad the Lord had removed her from his life before he made the mistake of marrying the wrong woman. But why had the Lord brought her back into his household at this time? Just when he was falling so deeply in love with the woman he felt God had planned for him all along. Miriam was helpless, and he had the means to help her, but he didn't want her presence in their house to affect the way Lorinda felt about him. Somehow, he had to make sure his wife knew he loved her...and only her.

When he went into the house after work, Lorinda was sitting at Miriam's bedside, and their patient slept peacefully.

"How is she doing?" His voice must have startled Lorinda, because she jumped a little, then looked at him, her eyes hiding her feelings from him.

"She's resting. That's good."

He hoped she'd say more to him, but she turned back toward her patient and ignored him. They had been having comfortable conversations when he came to the house after work. He wanted that to continue. Lord, please don't let Miriam come between Lorinda and me.

He heard Michael and Mrs. Oleson laughing in the kitchen, and he headed down the hallway toward them.

Mrs. Oleson had supper ready for Franklin. While he played with his son, he ate the delicious beef stew and hot biscuits, sneaking Michael pinches of the bread and bits of the soft potatoes from the rich broth. When he finished, he gave the baby back to Mrs. Oleson. He couldn't let things stand like they were this evening. He had to let Lorinda know he didn't want anyone but her for his wife, but he wasn't sure how to do that.

"I'm going to check on Lorinda." With a nod to Mrs. Oleson, he headed toward the baby's room.

His wife sat with her back to the door, reading a book by the light of the oil lamp on the table by the bed. He stared at her, his heart beating double-time as it often did when he saw her. Her blonde curls were caught up and pinned at the top of her head, looking like a golden crown. His gaze slid toward her exposed neck above the top edge of her dress.

He had the strongest urge to tiptoe over and kiss the tender milk-white skin. In his imagination, she turned and welcomed his caresses. Her arms went around his neck, she pressed her soft body against his, and every curve fit at just the right place. Desire rose in him, and his palms began to sweat. He brushed them against his shirt.

"Franklin?" Her soft word brought his eyes to her again. Lorinda must have heard him, and she studied him intensely. "Is something wrong?"

"No." Liar. Everything was wrong, and it was all his fault. "I wanted to check on Miriam...and you."

She put a ribbon in the book and placed it on the table.

As Lorinda arose, he tried to discipline his features so she wouldn't know what he had been thinking. She came over beside him and leaned close. Her feminine fragrance almost made him lose control. He wondered what she would do if he clasped her against his chest as he had imagined.

"Mrs. Oleson and I were able to clean up Miriam and dress her in one of Mrs. Oleson's warm flannel night shifts. After giving her broth and the medicines the doctor left, she settled down and went right to sleep. I think she's completely exhausted."

He could stare into her blue eyes for just one more minute. "How are you holding up?"

"We've taken turns caring for Michael and staying with Miriam, so I'm fine." She glanced toward the book on the table. "I've even started a new book that's quite interesting."

"I'm glad." Not that she was reading the book, but that she was fine.

Franklin could never have imagined something happening like the events of today. He hoped Miriam would get better quickly, so they could find out why she was riding Mike Sullivan's horse, where Marvin was, why he wasn't with her, and even if he was the father of the baby. If he wasn't, that could open another Pandora's box, and the ramifications could be far-reaching. He hoped Lorinda wouldn't get hurt by having Miriam in their household. He needed to treat his wife with great respect and special tenderness until they were out of this situation.

As he dressed for bed, he heard Lorinda and Mrs. Oleson as they awakened Miriam and gave her more medicine. The two women left the bedroom before he was ready to lie down. He heard the housekeeper start up the stairs before Lorinda quietly entered her bedroom. She didn't notice him standing in the doorway to the dressing room, so he cleared his throat.

She glanced toward him, then over at the sleeping baby. "You startled me, Franklin."

Her soft whisper warmed his heart. He loved the way she pronounced his name. "I wanted to see if you were all right before I went to bed."

"Yes, I am." She crossed her arms over her chest.

"You look tired."

She nodded. "I am, a little. But Mrs. Oleson and I agreed that since Miriam was sleeping normally now, we could spend the night in our own beds."

"I'm glad." Reluctantly, he turned away before he made her more uncomfortable.

As he closed the door, her whispered, "Thank you," followed him.

Three different times during the night, he heard Lorinda tiptoe into the hallway to check on Miriam. After a few minutes, she would return to her room. His wife shouldn't have to be taking care of his former fiancée, but if he tried to take her place, she might misunderstand.

He hoped Miriam would quickly recover, so she could be on her way.

Lorinda took care of Miriam for the next full day and night. By then, the woman had been asleep for almost two days and nights. Because she was sleeping so much, Lorinda had plenty of time to take care of Michael and clean the house. Mrs. Oleson cooked the meals.

When Lorinda went into the bedroom with the morning medicine on the third day, Miriam's eyes were open, and she was much more alert.

"Good morning, Mrs. Vine." Even the woman's voice sounded cheery.

"And a good morning to you, Miriam." Lorinda set the tray on the bedside table and sat in the chair. "Are you hungry?"

"Yes, for the first time in days." She flashed a sweet smile toward Lorinda. "Thank you so much for taking care of me."

"I've had plenty of help. I'm just glad you're better." Lorinda picked up one of the medicine bottles. "Let's get this all taken care of, then I'll go get you something to eat."

Miriam sniffed at the air. "Something smells really good."

While she measured and administered the medicines, Lorinda continued to question her patient. "We have biscuits and scrambled eggs. Do you think you can eat them now?"

"I know I'm hungry enough, and I've been taking broth and lots of water. Surely the biscuits and eggs are mild enough for my stomach." A loud rumbling sound from her direction confirmed just how hungry she was.

Before Lorinda left the room, she helped Miriam sit up in bed and added a couple of pillows behind her patient. Even though she was still very thin, Miriam didn't look as weak as when she arrived.

When Lorinda carried in the food tray, Miriam smiled at her. "I hope I haven't been too much of a bother for you."

"Not at all." Lorinda set the tray on the table and went to get another pillow to help balance it. "I'm sure you're tired of people feeding you." She moved the tray to the pillow she had laid across the patient's lap.

"That's right." After Miriam took a bite of the egg, she put the fork down and took her time chewing. Her eyes closed as if she wanted to remember every sensation. "This is so delicious. It seems like forever since I've had enough to eat."

Questions bounced around in Lorinda's head, but she didn't ask them out loud. Why was it so long since she'd had enough food? Surely, there was someone near her who could've helped. But probably not, since she rode to the ranch to get help from the man she had treated so badly. She must have been desperate.

Lorinda knew what it was like to be in an impossible situation. Much of her growing up years were like that. There hadn't been anyone to help her either. She'd been bothered by the arrival of Miriam, but now she felt sympathy for her.

After a few bites of both the egg and the biscuit with butter and honey, Miriam leaned her head back on the pillows. "I really need to talk to Franklin. Do you think that would be possible today?"

"I'm sure it would." Maybe now they could find out just what happened to this woman. "I'll tell him when he comes in for dinner."

"Thank you." Miriam raised her head again and went back to taking small bites of the food and slowly chewing them. She seemed to relish every single morsel.

Lorinda met Franklin at the front door when he came to the house for the noon meal. His smile melted her heart even more than before. She was as addicted to him as her father and uncle were to liquor, but this addiction didn't hurt anyone...except herself.

"I have something to ask you." She smiled up at him.

He took off his Stetson and coat and hung them up in the front hallway. "What do you need?"

His gentle tone felt almost like a caress. He would probably think she was silly if he knew what she was thinking.

"It's not so much what I need, but Miriam wants. She asked if she could talk to you as soon as possible."

"I think that can be arranged. Tell her I'll talk with her as soon as we finish our meal. I want you to be with me if that's all right with you." His dark eyes bored into hers, filling her with a deep longing.

While he washed his hands, Lorinda went into the room where Miriam was. "Franklin said he would come and talk to you as soon as he's finished eating."

Miriam heaved a sigh. "I'm so relieved. I really need to get everything out in the open. I won't be able to rest easy until I do." Her fingers fidgeted with the colorful patchwork quilt covering her.

When Franklin put his napkin on the table beside his plate, he leaned over and placed a soft kiss on Michael's head. Then he took Lorinda's hand and led her to where Miriam was.

"I brought my wife with me."

"Okay."

Lorinda moved to stand out of the way, hoping she could be unobtrusive. She just wanted to know what was going on, not get into the middle of the conversation.

Miriam scooted up in the bed and rearranged the pillows behind her shoulders. She kept her head down, almost as if she were praying. Lorinda wondered if that was what she was doing. She assumed Miriam had gone to the same church as Franklin.

"So much has happened...it's hard to say it out loud."

Franklin sat in the bedside chair and leaned back, crossing one booted foot over the other knee. He didn't push her...he just waited. Lorinda held her breath until Miriam finally spoke.

"I'm so sorry for the way Marvin and I treated you, Franklin." She stopped and took a deep breath, keeping her eyes averted.

"That's water under the bridge." He didn't move from his relaxed position.

"I don't think Marvin ever loved me as he said he did. He was just so jealous of you. He wanted everything you had, even me." She paused and blinked her eyes, a lone tear making its way down each cheek. "I was in love with the idea of marriage and starting my own family. His lies led me astray, because I wasn't really committed to you."

Franklin nodded. Lorinda couldn't see the expression on his face, but she didn't want to move and call attention to herself.

"If I had been, his words wouldn't have enticed me."

Maybe her words were meant to ease Franklin, but Lorinda didn't think they did. She saw the way the muscles in his lean jaw compressed and released, over and over. That was no surprise. She had often wondered if he was still in love with his first fiancée.

"Go on." He gave Miriam a nod.

"He promised we would be married as soon as we reached a place he had picked out for the wedding. He never told me where it was. We must not have ever reached it, because he never said we had arrived." She turned her face away and stared off into the distance. "He convinced me we were as good as married, and I held him off for a long time. But eventually, I succumbed to his expressed desires. After that, he never mentioned marriage again."

Lorinda realized that must have really hurt the woman. But she did make the wrong choices herself. Lorinda was pulled between feeling sorry for her and thinking she got what she deserved.

Miriam turned her eyes back toward them, the pain in her glance making them glacial. "We stayed together until after I told him I was...with child. Soon after, he left me with the horse and a small bag of gold coins. I haven't seen him since."

Lorinda couldn't keep quiet any longer. "How did he get Mike's horse?"

Miriam turned toward her. "He knew Mike had quite a bit of gold on him when he left for Denver."

"How could he know that?" Lorinda realized her question sounded harsh, but she didn't care.

"I don't know how he found out things. He just did." Miriam twisted her fingers together and held them close to her chest. "I'm so sorry." Tears poured down her cheeks now. "He came home very angry. I had to stay out of his way for a few days. He ranted about Mike not having the gold he planned to steal. In his anger, he killed the man. He took the horse, so he would at least get something for all his trouble."

Her shoulders shook with sobs, and she seemed to wilt with what little strength she'd gained melting right out of her.

Lorinda stepped forward. "I think we've done enough talking for today."

She helped Miriam scoot back down in the bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. Miriam's eyes slid shut. Lorinda took a hanky and wiped the tears from her cheeks.

Franklin stood and waited for her to finish. Then he ushered her from the room with his hand on her lower back. She leaned into that touch. She needed it right now. In the foyer, he pulled her into his arms. She rested her head against his chest, and he pressed a kiss atop her curls. Had she imagined that? Surely not. The gentle touch reminded her of what she was missing in their marriage.

"I'm so sorry, Lorinda. I know that was hard to hear."

Yes, it was . Very hard, but she couldn't stop herself from feeling sorry for Miriam. The woman made her own decisions, but she had been influenced by a very bad man...like the two Lorinda had grown up with. Raising her head from his chest, Lorinda gazed at his handsome face.

"It was hard for you, too, Franklin, wasn't it?"

Miriam's words had to add to the pain and betrayal he already felt.

"But we're far better off than she is. We can thank the Lord for that." His comforting words reached her heart.

Was the Lord still listening to them since they were living the lie? She hoped He was.