Chapter Ten

Olivia woke to the sounds of someone moving about in the kitchen. Rising up on her elbows, she glanced over to the bed where Sam was still asleep. The room was freezing. She had purposely kept the fire low to cool down the space for Sam.

The sound came again, accompanied by a woman's voice. Thinking one of the boarders had brought a woman into the boardinghouse, she scrambled to her feet, wrapping the quilt around herself. She had to get rid of her fast. Aggie would pitch a hissy fit if she found out.

She yanked open the door to find a couple engaged in a very amorous embrace. "Now, see here. This a Christian—"

Instead of being embarrassed that they were caught kissing, the couple remained locked in a close embrace. "That's not quite the welcome we were expectin', Olivia." Aggie's grey eyes sparkled with laughter and something else…the love of a good man.

"You're home!" Tears welled up behind her eyelids as Olivia flew into Aggie's arms, needing the comfort of her friend. After all the worries, prayers, and nights of too little sleep, she wasn't surprised by the unexpected release of tension.

Ed moved past them and lit a kerosene lamp on the table. Its glow threw a shaft of light into Olivia's room. "This is not what we expected either." He pointed to Sam sleeping in her bed. Casting Olivia a disparaging look, Aggie went to stand by Ed.

Olivia hurried after Aggie, a feeling of dread falling from her stomach to her toes. "I can explain, Aggie,"

"Of all people, Olivia. I never would have thought—" Aggie set accusing eyes on her. "You know my rules."

Olivia brushed past her and closed the door. Any embarrassment she felt turned to raw fury. "An outlaw shot Sam on New Year's Eve. He has a wound as big as a baby's fist on his shoulder and a raging fever. Doc Adams has little hope for a recovery, so I got some medicine from a Pawnee medicine woman, Miriam Red Bird, and I've had little to no sleep. But if you don't believe me, there's a whole slew of witnesses who could back up my story." Tears burned her eyes as she clutched the quilt closer around her. "Now, if you'll excuse me, it's past time for his medicine."

Chastised, Aggie's eyes reflected her remorse. "Oh, child, we had no idea."

"Forgive us, Olivia," said Ed, "I'm sorry we jumped the gun. We're here now. You just tell us what we can do."

Olivia poured the horsemint concoction into a cup. "Auntie Dee always said that when forgiveness is offered and accepted, two people are healed. The best help you can give is your prayers."

After heartfelt hugs and murmured words of forgiveness, Aggie and Ed left, carrying their bundles, packages, and traveling bags up the stairs to Aggie's room.

Returning to her room, she quietly turned the doorknob and looked in Sam's direction and she found him smiling back at her. She blinked a few times, hoping it wasn't her sleep-deprived brain playing tricks on her. He was still smiling when she opened her eyes again. "Sam!" Olivia squealed, nearly dropping the medicine.

"So, I hear you want to marry the sheriff and have babies with him," Sam teased, giving her his customary one-sided smile.

"You're awake…for a moment, I thought…you heard my prayers?"

Sam's smile broadened. "At first I thought I was dreaming because I wanted the same thing." He shivered, pulling on the quilt. "It's as cold as a polar bear's picnic in here."

Olivia laughed. "Since you had an awful fever, I needed to do something to cool you down. Once I give you this medicine, I'll go build up the fire."

"I had a fever? How long?"

"Since late Sunday, and when you didn't get better I went to see Doc Adams. He said he couldn't do anything for you, so his wife suggested I go see Miriam. She gave me some horsemint for the fever and yarrow flowers for the wound." She looked at him, hoping he wasn't angry for giving him Miriam's herbs. "I met her brother."

"Grey Deer? Fearsome, isn't he?"

Olivia bobbed her head. "Oh, my yes. But he's quite protective of Miriam. And I think someplace in all that fierceness, he possesses a kind heart." She sat on the side of the bed, and laid a hand on his forehead, finding it cool to the touch. Though he still had the wound to contend with, his fever had broken sometime during the night. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I got tangled up with a herd of longhorns," he laughed, then sobered. "You look tired."

She shrugged. "Knowing you've turned the corner in getting better made it all worth it, Sam."

Sam threaded his fingers with hers and placed their hands on his heart. "Is it true you want to spend your life with me, Livvy?"

"I do, Sam. I'm so sorry I pushed you away that afternoon. I was set to marry Nate but when I realized it wasn't meant to be, I took it as a sign that perhaps I wasn't destined to be anyone's wife. When you began paying attention to me I thought you were feeling sorry for me. I let my fears get in the way of my dreams, thinking I wasn't worthy of a good man's love. But you proved me wrong. I do want to spend my life with you. After you were shot, you said something about asking me to marry you and start the year off right. Well, Sheriff Wright, I'm not waiting until you get around to asking again, so, I'm asking you. Will you marry me?"

Sam flinched as he struggled to sit up. He was far from recovered but the light she had seen in his eyes on that first day was back. And so was his smile. "Even though I wasn't plannin' on getting hitched any time soon, I'm thinkin' I might take you up on your offer, Livvy. I was happy being alone, being sheriff, and keeping folks safe in Cottonwood Falls. Then I met you and I realized I would rather share one lifetime with you than face the rest of my days alone."

"So, is that a yes, Sheriff?"

Sam tugged their joined hands to his lips and kissed her palm. "Most definitely, Miss Talbot. I love you."

"And I love you, Sam," she replied, astonished she'd just proposed to a man. She could imagine Auntie Dee retreating to her fainting couch with a case of the vapors. This is just not something that was done in Boston. But, as she had to remind herself several times since coming to Cottonwood Falls, this was the West.

Joy bubbled in her laugh and shone in her eyes. "It's past time for your medicine."

"But you said the fever's gone," he argued.

Olivia tried to free her hands but Sam would have none of it. "You'll take it. In my mind, I nearly lost you a dozen times, Sam. So until I know you are truly well and can get around on two feet, you'll finish this medicine."

"Less than five minutes ago I agreed to marry you and I'm henpecked already," he teased, capturing a curl near her cheek.

With no shadows across her heart, Olivia was blissfully happy. "Sam, you are the one I want to make plans with, to build dreams with. You'll always be the one whose smile fills my heart with joy. Happy New Year, my love."

"Happy New Year, Livvy. May we be blessed with many, many more happy new years together."