* * *
Three days later, Maggie entered Dunmore’s room, after being forced to her room for a night’s rest. Her mum had sat with Dunmore all night and was now upstairs sleeping. Although Maggie felt guilty for giving up her vigil, she knew the rest would aid her, as she continued to care for him.
“Where have you been, Maggie?” his deep, quiet voice asked, sending a pleasant shiver down her spine.
“You’re awake!” she gasped, racing to his bedside. “I feared you’d never awaken.”
He smiled at her, reaching forward to cup her face. He stilled his instinctive action, lowering his hand before he touched her. “Forgive me,” he whispered, grunting, as he squirmed around in the bed.
“For what?” she asked, leaning forward, as though chasing his soft caress. “Do you regret returning to me?” She flushed, as his astute gaze met hers, boring into her.
“Never,” he murmured. “I don’t know what is real and what is a dream.”
Maggie bit her lip, sitting on the edge of the chair, as her finger stroked his arm, evoking a shiver. “What do you remember?”
“Fragments,” he murmured. “Falling into your arms. Waking in pain, but then calming because you whispered into my ear. You singing to me, as I thought I’d die from the fever.” He paused, his gaze shining with a mixture of hope and fear. “You whispering that you loved me.”
She nodded, her eyes rounded as she met his gaze. “All you say is true.”
His brows furrowed. “All of it?” At her jerk of her head, his hand rose, cupping her cheek. “You love me?”
Maggie’s eyes filled, and she shrugged, although her head turned, so his palm caressed her cheek. Kissing his palm, she said in a small voice, “Of course I do. I thought you no longer cared for me.”
Dropping his hand, so he could push himself up in bed, Dunmore swore softly and blanched, as pain ripped through him. Sweat broke out on his forehead, and he hissed breaths in and out, as he attempted to calm the agony in his leg.
Finally he looked at Maggie again, unable to hide his deepest emotions. “I’ve adored you since the moment I met you. It wasn’t long after we met that I knew I’d love you forever.” He smiled, some of the tension seeping from him, as she stared at him in wonder. “I love you, Maggie. I’ll love you in this life and the next.”
“Hush,” Maggie admonished. “No talk of the next life. I want this one together to be long.” She raised a shaky hand to trace over his cheeks, frowning at his sunken cheekbones. “I hate how you’ve suffered.”
With a groan, Dunmore rested his weight against the pillows. “I can’t remember the whole time I was away. After I bound my leg, I must have blacked out for a time.”
“How did you make it back to us?” Maggie asked, her fingers now tangled with his.
“I awoke in a ravine, miles from the stagecoach accident.” He shook his head. “I don’t know how I got there. I crawled, for days, hopeful I’d find someone or a road. I finally did, although I looked like a wild man.” He sighed. “The men who first found me took turns beating me. Thought I would die anyway, and they might as well have a little bit of fun.” He motioned to his chest.
“That’s why you’re covered in bruises,” Maggie whispered.
He nodded. “Thankfully, just before I passed out, a man came along with a wagon and tossed me in the back. I don’t remember much, until I came to in a livery days later.”
“Where?” Maggie asked.
“Bannack,” he said. “A town I rarely traveled to. I’ve no need, as taking passengers to Helena or Virginia City keeps me busy enough.”
Maggie ran a hand over his head. “What’s important is you’ve returned.”
“The memory of you gave me the strength to not give in to the temptation to give up and die.” He kissed her fingers. “Dying would have been much easier than suffering through the trip here and the Madam’s attentions.”
Maggie giggled. “Forgive me, but that sounded like something indecent occurred.”
His gaze glowed. “Never apologize for sharing your joy with me. For sharing yourself with me. It’s what I most dream of. Moments with you.” His thumb stroked her cheek, and he gave her a gentle tug, urging her toward him. “Kiss me, darling. Ease my pain.”
She smiled, resting a palm carefully on his chest, before pressing her lips gently against his. With a sigh and a groan, the kiss deepened, and she soon found herself sprawled on the bed beside him. When she moved, she pressed even more closely against him, and he grunted in pain. “Oh, forgive me.”
“You’ll be forgiven if you kiss me again,” he breathed, as he kissed along her cheek to her ear, nibbling on the tender flesh of her lobe.
She giggled and sat back, so her forearms rested gently beside him. “No.” She pressed her fingers against his mouth. “I can’t abide hurting you. Don’t ask that of me.”
He stared at her in confusion. “You’d hurt me to heal me. This is no different.”
She laughed and shook her head. “Incorrigible.” With an exasperated look, filled with loving tenderness, she shook her head again. “No, Dunmore. I’ll only hurt you to save your life. You won’t die if I don’t kiss you.”
“I feel like I will,” he muttered, urging her forward, so she rested her head on his chest. “Heaven.” He breathed in deeply of her subtle scent, his arms wrapped tightly around her.
After long moments of contented silence, Maggie murmured, “How did Cormac find you?”
“Cormac searched for any word of me,” Dunmore said, as he kissed her head, his fingers playing in her soft hair. “When he heard of a ruffian picked up by a man on the road I
