“One of the Buchanan boys came for him before dawn. Willow's time is coming a month early.”
Daniel tried not to react. Willow would do fine. Women had babies all the time without dying. But the girl was a part of his family. “Is everything all right?”
Allie didn't answer for a moment too long. “I think so,” she finally said as she hurried from the room. “I'll let you know if I hear anything.”
Wolf's assurance a few minutes later was no more convincing. Daniel didn't have to ask for details. Something was wrong. Birthing at the Buchanan house was a normal occurrence, not something they'd send to town for a doctor to help with.
He tried to listen to Wolf's account of all the trouble brewing over who might be responsible for the fire, but all Daniel could think about was poor little Willow. He'd been through a night of labor with his wife and watched her die in his arms. He didn't want to think about that happening to another woman.
He spent the morning worrying and listening for Karlee's return. Finally, he heard her voice in the kitchen, but she didn't bother to come into the parlor and check on him.
Just before noon another Buchanan boy showed up at the kitchen door asking Karlee if she could come directly. Without a word to Daniel, she loaded the twins in the wagon and left. He could hear her asking Allie to take care of him like he was a pet left behind on the porch.
Daniel acted like a wounded bear for the rest of the day. Willow must be having problems or Adam wouldn't have sent for Karlee, and then she'd left without saying good-bye. Which pretty much told him, Daniel decided, how she felt about last night.
He shouldn't have touched her. But she practically asked him to, talking about how big her breasts were when she knew he couldn't see them. How else could he judge?
Forcing himself to stand, Daniel welcomed the pain. Anything to straighten out his mind. He'd always known right from wrong. He had never done anything he didn't consider right and fair. He was an honorable man.
But he'd touched Karlee boldly… Daniel made himself take a step.
She probably thought him a mad man or worse… he forced another step.
After all, how many men go around touching their wives so openly? Daniel almost tumbled with the third step as he realized… all of them.
Grabbing hold of the chair, he smiled through the pain. He'd touched his wife, not committed a crime. He'd simply touched his wife. There was no doubt in his mind, he was twenty-three and getting dumber everyday.
Wolf's heavy-footed stomp came down the hall. “You're walking!” he yelled from the open doorway.
Daniel smiled. “I may be blind, but I am still aware of what I'm doing.”
Wolf moved nearer. “Are you all right?”
“I'm fine. Is there any blood on the bandage?”
“Not a drop.” Wolf rested his hand on Daniel's arm. “You want me to help you make it back to the bed?”
“No. I'll stand for a while.” Daniel gripped the chair tightly and tried to appear relaxed. “Have you heard from Willow?”
“Not a word, and it's good'n dark outside.” Wolf's voice moved across the room. “Karlee told me she'd be there as long as she's needed. There's plenty of women to help with the twins. One of the Buchanan women could have probably helped Adam, but he wanted someone he could trust not to overreact if problems came aplenty.”
Daniel shook his head. He wouldn't exactly put Karlee in that category.
Wolf must have seen Daniel's doubt. “You don't know what a rock that woman of yours is. Behind that blindfold, in this room, the world must look pretty calm to you, but the town's in chaos. You wouldn't believe the folks knocking on your kitchen door. Some hurt, some needing food. She don't talk about it none, but she does what she can for them all. Adam's seen her, and so have I.”
“I'm glad she can help.” Daniel would have been disappointed if she'd done less.
Wolf cleared his throat. “I might as well tell you before you find out. You know that little room you keep out in the barn?”
Daniel wasn't aware anyone knew of his room framed into the corners of the barn. When Willow had been in the house, he slept there. It wasn't much more than a cot and desk, but it was his private hideaway from the world.
“Of course I know about the room.” Daniel waited.
“Well, Karlee found it last week and cleaned it out. She stored all your books in a box and gave the room to an old woman who had nowhere to go with her kids.”
Daniel didn't comment. He would have done the same thing.
Wolf paced. “Well, it seems the woman claims to have a brother, and he had a wife and three kids.”
“Don't tell me they are all in that room.”
“No.” Wolf hesitated. “They moved into the barn. I put your horses in the corral. There's enough of an over- hang from the barn roof that they'll stay dry if it rains.”
“Good.” Daniel knew Wolf had more to say. “ Anything else?”
“Well, yeah. The brother's wife had parents who arrived from Germany three days ago along with her two brothers and their families.”
“How many people are living in my barn?” Daniel interrupted.
“You don't want to know,” Wolf answered. “But I'm telling you all this, because one of the reasons Karlee went to town this morning was to find a few of them jobs.” Wolf laughed. “She talked two folks into hiring men they couldn't even communicate with. Then, after they gave the men jobs, Karlee argued for a higher wage.” Wolf shrugged. “Which she got by the way.”
Wolf sounded like he stood near the windows. “I don't know if you are aware of it or not, Danny boy, but you've got a woman who can handle crisis. In this part of the world, that's no small talent. No matter what Adam's facing out at the Buchanan farm, you can bet Karlee's there to help.”
Daniel forced himself to walk back to the edge of the bed. When he was seated once more, he asked, “Will you cut off the blindfold? I'd like to sleep without it tonight.”
Wolf grumbled. “All right. But I'll be in to put it back on before first light.”
He cut the bandages around Daniel's eyes and took the lamp with him as he left the room.
Daniel leaned back against the covers, pretending the night was the only reason he couldn't see. He knew Karlee wouldn't return this late, so he wouldn't have a chance to apologize. Not that he would anyway. After all, a man didn't say he was sorry for touching his wife. He opened his eyes and stared out at the cloudy grayness beyond the windows.
He told himself he could touch her anytime he wanted. After all, they were married. He could just say it was his right in the eyes of God and man. He could even make love to her.
Daniel swore at himself in the darkness. He couldn't take her, or force her. He couldn't demand anything of her. He wasn't that kind of man. He couldn't make love to her if he didn't love her, even if she said she didn't mind. It not only would make her less than she was, it would make him less of a man.
Karlee stood on the Buchanans' porch and watched rain wash night into charcoal gray. She studied the shadows as if she expected an answer to materialize before her eyes.
Willow had been in labor twelve hours, and there was no sign of it ending. Karlee felt like she'd explained everything to the woman a hundred times. Adam had assured her all was fine, but Willow still cried and worried and gripped Karlee's hand with each contraction.
“You holding up?” Adam moved behind Karlee and placed his arm on her shoulder. “We may have a long night ahead.”
“I'm fine,” Karlee answered, liking the way he accepted her as family. “The twins are tucked in between the other children. I can help as long as needed.”
“Thanks.” Adam patted her shoulder. “I'll try to get this baby born and you back to your husband as soon as possible.”
Yelling Karlee's name, Willow drew them back into the house. Hours later, just after sunrise, the newest Buchanan entered the world. Samuel Adam. Exhausted, Mother Willow slept comfortably.
Granny offered Karlee a bed, but she refused, wanting to get back home. The old woman next offered to allow the twins to stay the day and play. Karlee knew she'd have to have at least a few hours sleep, so she agreed. She could easily come back out before dark and pick them up.
Driving home was the first time she'd had a minute to think of Daniel. If she hadn't been called away, she
