Grace shuddered and worried about what Wade might do next.
Chapter Ten
Grace’s eyes snapped open, and she wondered what woke her. The wind had picked up since she went to bed, but it wasn’t the sound that woke her. It was the lack of sound. She didn’t hear Elizabeth’s breathing coming from the bed across the room. Grace realized she was alone, but why? Slipping out of bed and pulling her robe on, Grace padded toward the bedroom door and opened it. The hall was dark, but she saw a faint light coming from the parlor.
As Grace approached the end of the hall, she could see Elizabeth sitting in the parlor alone. Staring out the window at the dark front yard, Elizabeth didn’t hear Grace approach. When she did she let out a squeal.
“It’s only me,” Grace whispered. “Are you all right?”
Elizabeth quickly wiped the tears from her eyes. “Yes, I was watching for Wade to come home. The woman he sees in town is a saloon girl, isn’t she? He’d rather be there than here, or maybe he's dead. Why didn’t he come home? What’s wrong with me?”
Grace dropped into the chair beside Elizabeth. “There’s nothing wrong with you. Clay said Wade is angry because he didn’t marry you before Clay married me.”
“But that isn’t my fault. He sent for me, and I came fully expecting a loving husband, not one that runs off to spend the night with a… umm, with someone else.” Elizabeth burst into tears.
Before Grace could answer Elizabeth, Grandpa Hutchison stormed into the parlor dressed in his nightshirt and carrying a rifle. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Nothing, Grandpa,” Grace explained. “Elizabeth and I were just talking.”
“It’s nearly three in the morning. Something has both of you awake. Out with it. I’m sure I can help.”
The noise Grandpa made woke both Cora and Clay and they made their way to the parlor to see if there was an intruder.
“Grandpa?” Clay questioned. “What are you doing with that rifle?”
Grandpa started to explain, Elizabeth’s sobs increased, and Grace hurried to Clay's side to try and explain.
Cora mumbled something about making tea to calm everyone’s nerves and retreated to the kitchen.
The mantle clock chimed three, the front door burst open, and a staggering Wade walked into the house. “You shouldn’t have waited up for me,” Wade slurred as he stumbled across the parlor floor and fell to his knees.
Clay stepped forward to offer his brother a hand, but Wade slapped it away. “I don’t need your help,” Wade spat as he hauled himself up with the aid of the settee.
Elizabeth looked at Wade and asked, “Where have you been? I was worried about you.”
“What do you care? You’re supposed to be my wife, but you share a room with Clay’s wife, and I have to go to town for company.” Wade began to laugh and then his face turned red with anger.
“You belong in my room,” Wade insisted and reached for Elizabeth. She took three steps back until she hit the wall. “You certainly aren’t what I pictured when I ordered you,” Wade screamed at her.
Wade staggered closer to Grace and growled, “This is your fault. If you weren’t here, then I’d have the ranch and Elizabeth, or maybe I could’ve married Lucinda and been happy. This idea of having to marry a woman grandpa believes is a decent woman is madness. A man should have a choice.”
Grace stepped backward away from Wade and Clay pulled her closer. He held out his hand to stop his brother. “Stay away from my wife.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’ll stay away from your wife. I have to stay away from my wife, too and your wife shares a room with my wife and not you,” Wade continued to babble. “This house is full of lunatics. I’m going to bed.” Wade pushed past Clay and staggered down the hall to his room slamming the door loudly behind him.
Grace held onto Clay feeling his strength and protection. He whispered, “You’re shaking. You can spend the night in my room. I promise we’ll just sleep. I don’t want you to worry that Wade will come into your room and hurt you. I love you.”
Grace looked up into her husband’s eyes and smiled, “I love you, too and I know you would be a gentleman, but I can’t leave Elizabeth alone. She looked heartbroken and terrified. Besides, I might not want you to be gentlemanly.” Grace winked at Clay, and he pulled her closer.
Grace whispered to Clay, “I need to see to Elizabeth.” Clay nodded and reluctantly released his arms from around his wife.
Grace took Elizabeth’s hand and led the crying young woman to their room where she hoped Elizabeth could rest and Wade would leave them alone. Grateful for the lock on the door, Grace locked it behind them and urged Elizabeth to lie down and try to sleep. Grace doubted either of them would get much sleep but resting, and relaxing was better than sitting and worrying about Wade.
Clay turned to his grandfather and said, “I’m going to bed. We need to talk about Wade in the morning. He can’t spend his nights in the saloon and not work during the day. We need his help around the ranch.”
Cora had stood in the hall just outside the parlor listening to the chaos between the family. She stepped out and spoke to Grandpa Hutchison, “I made a pot of tea. You should have a cup before trying to sleep before you get sick again.” Grandpa nodded and
