When they pulled into the ranch yard, they saw Nate walking from the corral. Deke’s dilemma would have to wait.
Deke met Nate and explained that he and Amalie had to go to St. Louis and why.
Nate’s face turned red with anger. “You’re not going without me. Faith is a sweet girl, and if I had known Horrison would go after her, I wouldn’t have left her there alone. I’m going with you. Faith needs a friend and someone to protect her.”
Deke and Amalie looked at each other. Deke raised his eyebrows. “All right. We’ll all go. The hands run the ranch while I’m hunting, so they can do it while we’re all in St. Louis.”
Nate gave a quick nod and strode back to the corral.
Amalie whispered, “Is it just my imagination, or does Nate’s limp look like it’s improving?”
“I thought the same thing the other day. I remember that when he broke his leg, the doc said he’d need a lot of exercise to strengthen the muscles, but he didn’t give it much time before he left. Maybe riding and working here on the ranch is better than whatever he did at the hotel,” Deke commented.
Amalie said, “I’m sure that helped, but it could be that coming home has its own way of healing.”
Chapter Sixteen
The train ride to St. Louis was more comfortable than many other trains Deke had traveled. The seats were padded in a blue, floral fabric and the view was better than the times he’d traveled in the horse car with his horse.
Amalie fell asleep on his shoulder, and he slipped his arm around her to keep her from falling as the train rocked back-and-forth on its way.
Nate had spent most of the trip in the lounge car playing cards or pacing up and down in their car, worried about what was happening to Faith.
When the train pulled into St. Louis, Amalie awoke. She seemed surprised to see Deke’s arm around her. She smiled as she straightened her hat and brushed out the wrinkles in her skirt.
Deke took her arm, guided her off the train with their luggage, and headed for a carriage to take them to their hotel.
Amalie said, “We don’t have to go to an expensive hotel.”
“Of course, we do,” Deke replied. “I’m not sure when we’ll get to go to a big city again, and I think we should enjoy it.”
When they entered the hotel, Deke said, “Why don’t you go into the dining room and order a cup of tea and relax? I’ll order a bath with your room and come to join you for coffee after I’ve checked us in.”
Amalie smiled when she saw Deke enter the dining room and said, “Thank you for arranging my room.”
“It was no trouble at all. I decided that with all of the worries and problems you’ve recently had that you deserved a nice trip away from home. Instead of a regular room, I got you a suite. There’s a bathing room right in your room, and when you’re done with your tea, you can go rest.”
Amalie looked surprised and said, “You didn’t need to get a suite. A simple room would have been all right. I don’t need anything fancy, but I’d love a bath and rest. It’s strange, but sitting on the train for the trip from Cheyenne was more tiring than I expected. It hadn’t seemed that long when I left St. Louis.”
“I think you’re feeling the stress of the upcoming trial. After lunch, we’ll go see the marshal.”
“You may be right,” Amalie admitted. “I do need to stop thinking about the trial. I admit I’m worried. Were you able to get an adjoining room? I’d feel safer if you were close.”
Deke reached over, took her hand, and said, “I didn’t get the suite for you alone. I got it for both of us…if you would allow me to share your room and the rest of your life as a proper husband.”
Amalie blushed. She couldn’t contain her happiness. “I would love nothing more than to share my life with you as your wife. Of course, we can share a room.”
Deke grinned at her and asked, “Are you ready to go upstairs, Missus Sperling?”
“Yes, I am, Mister Sperling.”
~ * ~
When Deke and Amalie entered the marshal’s office, Nate and Faith were waiting in the outer room. Faith flew from her chair to embrace Amalie. “I’m so happy to see you. I can’t believe what nearly happened to the two of us. When Nate came to the boarding house to tell me that you were in town, I cried. I’ve missed you. Is it true what Nate said?”
Amalie twisted her lip and said, “I don’t think Nate lies, but what exactly did he say?”
“That I can go home with you after the trial. That I won’t have to be alone any longer. That we can all be a family since you and I are already sisters—or as close as two orphan girls can be.”
Amalie laughed. “Yes, what Nate said is true. You may come home with us if you wish, and we’ll be a family.”
“I do want to go with you to get away from here and the memories,” Faith gushed as she hugged Amalie harder.
Faith stepped back to see Deke smile at her. She approached him and said, “You must be the famous bounty hunter, Deke Sperling. The one that married Amalie.”
Deke raised his hands as if surrendering and answered, “I’m Deke Sperling, but I’m retiring from bounty hunting, and I don’t believe I’m famous.”
“Oh, but you are,” Faith insisted. “I just read the newest
