wanted me to tame a horse for Cait.”
“That black devil?”
Win nodded.
“He killed Brice. The murderin’ sonofabitch oughta be shot.”
“What do you want, Frank?” Cait interrupted, her tone sharp.
Duffy swung his attention back to Cait. “Beulah Grisman’s at Doc’s place. It don’t look good.”
Cait’s face paled. “What happened?”
“Doc didn’t say. Just asked me to let you know on my way back to the ranch. He said the old lady’s askin’ for you.”
“How long has she been there?”
“Guess she come into town yesterday and went straight to Doc’s.” Duffy shrugged his meaty shoulders. “That’s all
I know.”
Cait’s frightened eyes met Win’s. “I’ve got to go.”
“I’ll go with you,” Win offered immediately.
“No. Someone has to stay around in case the cat comes back.”
“Cat?” Duffy interjected. “You got problems with a mountain lion?”
“There was one hanging around the mares last night,” Win answered. “One of the mares foaled overnight so there’s a good chance the lion will come back.”
“I’d best let my boss know. He’ll want to put out some extra guards.” Duffy eyed Win. “You plannin’ on stickin’ around?”
“I’m only staying until I break the stallion.”
“Glad to hear it.”
What Duffy didn’t say was just as loud as his words. Frank Duffy was one of those men who didn’t like Indians, and always made a point to badger Win when they were alone.
“I’d best get back to work. Spring’s a busy time,” Duffy said.
“Thank you for letting me know,” Cait said.
“Yes, ma’am. I hope everything works out. Beulah ain’t the most likable, but she’s been around these parts for longer’n most of us.” Duffy backed out of the cabin. “Bye, Miz Brice.” He glanced at Win and said with less warmth, “Taylor.”
Cait closed the door behind him and leaned against it. She looked like she was on the verge of collapsing.
“Are you all right?” Win asked, concerned by her pallor.
She nodded, then grabbed her hat from the rack and opened the door, but paused before running out. “I don’t know when I’ll be back.”
Win squeezed her shoulder gently. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of the chores around here.”
Cait closed her eyes and swallowed. When her eyelids ?ickered open, her blue eyes glistened with unshed tears.
“She means a lot to me, Win. I owe her my life.”
“Your life?”
She shook her head. “I’ll be back when I can.” She turned and ?ed.
Win clapped his hat on his dark head and stepped onto the porch. He braced his right shoulder against the post and watched Cait saddle her pinto mare. What was she hiding? What secret did she and the old lady share?
Cait mounted her mare and trotted down the road. She looked back and waved. Win lifted a hand in return, but she’d already turned away.
Win tipped his hat back and rubbed his pounding forehead. He hadn’t expected to see Duffy again. It was men like Duffy who had convinced Win his pa was right. Folks didn’t take kindly to an Indian carrying on with a white woman, and oftentimes it was the woman who suffered the shame. It didn’t matter that Win was only onefourth Indian. He’d protected Cait the best way he knew how.
CAITrecognized most of the people on the boardwalk and absently greeted them. She only wanted to see Beulah and ?nd out what had happened.
She stepped into the doctor’s of?ce and blinked at the relative darkness after the bright sunlight. After slipping her hat off to let it hang down her back, she rang the little bell on the desk.
Ann Mercer, dressed in a black dress with a starched white apron and hat came out from the back room. “Cait. I’m so glad you’re here.” The nurse clasped Cait’s hands. “Beulah’s been asking for you.”
Cait’s heart was pounding so loudly she was surprised Ann couldn’t hear it. “What happened? Is she all right?”
Ann’s expression grew somber. “I’ll let the doctor talk to you.”
The room spun and Cait gasped. “What’s wrong with her?”
But Ann only led Cait up the stairs to the rooms Doc used for seriously ill or injured patients. Cait’s memories of this place were anything but good. Her father’s broken and bloody body. The bitter smell of medicine and alcohol. The cloying scent of death.
Cait forced herself to breathe steadily, to shut out the horri?c images that returned to haunt her.
“Wait here. I’ll get the doctor,” Ann said. She left Cait standing in the hallway while she entered the same room where Tremayne Brice had died.
Cait tilted her head back against the wall and stared at a crack in the white ceiling. A tear trickled down her cheek and she brushed it away impatiently. She’d had a bad feeling about Beulah the day they went into town. Why hadn’t Cait checked on her the next day? Beulah wasn’t a spring chicken anymore and she lived all alone. She could’ve died there and nobody would’ve found her for days.
Another tear escaped. If she hadn’t been so caught up in Win and the past, she would’ve noticed Beulah hadn’t shown up when she said she would.
The door opened and Ann emerged, followed by Dr. McKay. Four inches over six feet and weighing over two hundred pounds, Dr. McKay looked more like a logger than a doctor.
“What happened? How is she?” Cait asked immediately.
Dr. McKay’s brown eyes ?lled with compassion. “Beulah doesn’t have much time left. I’m sorry.”
Cait’s vision faded in and out and she felt someone steady her.
“Cait? Can you hear me?” the doctor asked.
She blinked and found Dr. McKay’s concerned face directly in front of her. “What-”
“She’s known about it for some time, but didn’t want to tell anyone, especially you. She wanted to spare you.”
Cait’s heart tightened with fear. “What’s wrong with her?”
“She was having pains in her chest and stomach, but didn’t come see me until she started coughing up blood.” Dr. McKay licked his dry lips. “She knew it was only a matter of time then.”
“She should’ve told me!” Anger sharpened Cait’s voice and she glared at the doctor. “Why didn’t she tell me?”
Ann rubbed Cait’s arm. “You know Beulah better than any of us. Would she have wanted someone fussing around her?”
Riddled with guilt and pain, Cait could only shake her head. “I didn’t even notice,” she whispered hoarsely.
“Beulah was a master at hiding her pain.” Dr. McKay smiled slightly. “She’s also a stubborn old woman.”
Cait released a watery laugh. “That she is.” She took a deep breath and locked her gaze on the door hiding Beulah from her. “Can I see her?”
“Of course.” Dr. McKay opened the door for her. “Try not to tire her.”
Her mouth suddenly bone dry, Cait nodded. She forced herself to walk into the dim room, her knees trembling. At ?rst she couldn’t even see Beulah buried within the bedclothes. Then she spotted her withered face, which was the same color as the milky white pillow. Cait curled her ?ngers into her sweating palms and the ball of dread that had dropped into her stomach grew.
“Beulah?” she called out softly.
The wizened woman, who appeared years older than she had four days earlier, opened her eyes. She seemed to have trouble focusing and Cait moved closer, leaning down to clasp her cool, bony hand.
“I’m right here, Beulah,” Cait said, sinking into a chair close to the bed.
