Chapter 8

On Tuesday afternoon, Dena stood at their regular meeting place and looked up at Cora Sue as she fumbled with the slip of paper. “This was in her reticule. It was the only thing I could find.”

“What do you mean, this was all you could find?” Cora Sue snapped at Dena. She continued to turn the paper from side to side.

“I didn’t have a lot of time to search, Cora Sue. They came into the house and I had to get out of her room.”

“Well, you’ll have to go back. I don’t see how this piece of paper will help me. I have to have something to get that woman out of Wyatt’s house. Daddy will never rest until I marry him. He’s getting anxious for me be Mrs. Singleton.”

Dena swallowed. She didn’t know how to tell Cora Sue there was nothing else to find. The woman brought very little with her and there was nowhere else to search. “I’ll try,” she muttered.

“She has to get out of the house sometime. I’m sure she’ll go to town or something.” Cora Sue frowned. “Where were they when you managed to find this?”

“They were on the porch watching Mr. Singleton ride his son around on his horse.”

“What?”

“He took the little boy up in his arms, climbed on his horse and rode the baby around the grounds.”

“Why would he want to do that?” Cora Sue didn’t sound happy.

“He likes the little boy.”

“I don’t see why. He’s too manly to make over a child. He’s more the woman-loving type. Daddy tells me, he won’t think twice about the little boy once he and I are married.”

Dena nodded. “I don’t think Mrs. Singleton liked him having little Adam on the horse. She seemed nervous about it.”

“Don’t call her Mrs. Singleton. I guess I’m going to be Mrs. Singleton and I don’t want to be reminded there was another woman before me. I don’t like being second to anybody.”

“I’m sorry.”

Cora Sue pursed her lips. “You should be.”

“I’ll try to remember not to do it again.”

She flung back her hair. “See that you do. By the way, is he sleeping with her? I know my job will be harder if he is. When a woman gets a man in bed, she has a good hold on him.”

“I’m not sure if they’re sleeping together or not.”

“How can you not be sure?”

“I saw her help him to his room when he came in drunk the other night. She was in there a long time.”

“Humph! If he was drunk, he probably didn’t know who she was.” She shuddered and eyed Dena. “If he’s a drunk, I’m going to have to tell Daddy I can’t marry him. I don’t like drunks. They’re not gentlemen around a lady.” She shuttered again. “Does he get drunk often?”

“It was the first time I ever saw him drunk.”

“Good. Rich as he is, I don’t want to be married to somebody who gets drunk often.” She paused then asked, “Has she been back to his room?”

“Not that I know of, but he went into her room the other night.”

“For a long time?”

“For an hour or a little more.”

Cora Sue frowned again. “We’ve got to work fast. I can’t let her get her claws into him. I want you to get back in that room as fast as you can.”

“I’ll try.”

“No! You’ll do it. Do you understand me?” She tossed the paper at Dena. “Put this back in case it has some meaning to her.”

Dena picked up the scrap and looked at it. For a minute she didn’t say anything, then she said slowly, “There’s something here about a bank in Virginia. Maybe that’s where she came from.”

“So what? Everybody knows Wyatt went to school in Virginia.”

“I thought maybe you could check out this bank and see if they know the woman,” Dena said shyly.

Cora Sue’s eyes widened. “Give me that back. I’ll check it out, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need to search further.”

Dena said aloud, “I understand.” Under her breath she muttered, “She could’ve at least thanked me for thinking of checking with the bank.”

Without another word, Cora Sue turned her carriage and headed back to her ranch.

Dena had mixed emotions. She knew Cora Sue wanted to please her daddy, but she wasn’t sure the woman wanted to marry Wyatt Singleton, then she decided it didn’t matter to her. The only thing she wanted to do was make sure her family was taken care of.

* * * *

Wyatt went to his study to work on the accounts and to try to deal with his feelings. At supper, his father had been almost like the man he knew as he grew up. He had to admit Edwina and Adam had given the old man a new lease on life.

Hell. She and Adam have made a difference in my life, too. That boy’s a wonder and he knows me the minute I walk into a room. There’s no doubting he loves me and I might as well admit I love him, too. Never thought I was the daddy type, but he’s changed my mind.

Wyatt fumbled in the desk for the books he needed to go over and his gaze fell on the false marriage certificate. He picked it up and stared at it.

It wasn’t long until the bright blue eyes of the young girl he was duping came into his thoughts. He knew she didn’t want to get married any more than he did, but she’d done it. Not like him with deceit, but she’d done it in good faith, intending to be his wife from that time on. He’d had that wonderful night with her, then he’d walked out without a backward glance and left her, not only alone, but with a child growing inside her. A child she’d loved and cherished and raised not to hate him, but to love him.

Damn, I was a cad. How could I have done it?

A knock on the study door pulled him from his thoughts. He crammed the certificate back into the desk and said, “Come in.”

He was surprised when Asia Walker stepped into the room because he half-way expected it to be Edwina. “Is my Dad…”

“Your father’s fine, Mr. Singleton. I have him in bed and with your permission, I would like to speak with you.”

“Of course, Mr. Walker. Have a seat.”

“Thank you.” Mr. Walker sat down.

“What did you need to speak to me about?”

“It’s about my duties, sir.”

“Oh?’

“Yes, sir.” Asia took a deep breath. “When you explained to me what I was to do, you said I’d be taking your father’s meals to his room and we’d seldom be in the lower part of the house because Mr. Ben didn’t want to be downstairs or to be with the rest of the family.”

“I remember.”

“Well, sir, it seems things have changed since your wife and child showed up. I’m now required to bring your father down the stairs for three meals a day and often at other times when he wants to play with the child on the veranda or when he wants to sit on the front porch with Mrs. Singleton.”

“And you’re objecting to making those trips up and the down stairs with my dad?”

“Oh, no. I’m not complaining at all, Mr. Singleton.” When Wyatt frowned, he went on, saying, “Please don’t misunderstand. You know with my medical background, I thought maybe I could help your father begin to want to live again.”

“I hired you because you said you weren’t ready to go back to practicing medicine again. I think you’ve been great with my father.”

“I’ve enjoyed Mr. Ben, but I haven’t helped him. That strange woman and child have been the medicine he needed. Not me.”

Wyatt’s eyebrows worked upward and there was anger in his eyes. “Walker, that strange woman and child happen to be my wife and child. I don’t appreciate you referring to them as otherwise.”

“I’m confused. I thought you were in love with Miss Reeson, sir, then this wo… I mean…your wife shows up and things start to change.”

“Things may change further.”

“That’s good, Mr. Singleton. The changes that have happened here have made me realize I could be more help around sick people. Mr. Ben sure isn’t sick any longer and any man can bring him downstairs. I’ve heard the rumor that Doctor Donavan could use a partner.”

“Are you saying you don’t want to work here any longer?”

“Yes, I think I am. Of course, I’ll give you plenty of time to find someone to take my place.”

Wyatt thought a minute. “I’m not sure we will replace you, Mr. Walker. Juan is capable of getting Dad downstairs. I may look for someone to help him with his baths and to keep him company at times, but I don’t think he’ll need anyone who has medical training.”

“I appreciate that, Mr. Singleton. Then if you have no objection, I’ll leave as soon as possible.”

Wyatt reached for his bank book. “I’ll write you a bank draft and you can discontinue your employment tonight if you wish.”

Wyatt wrote the draft. “I’ve included a bonus, Mr. Walker. I know you don’t need the money, but you’ve done a good job and I want you to know I appreciate it.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“I suppose you want to leave in the morning?”

Mr. Walker said, “Yes, in the morning will be fine. I do want to have time to say goodbye to your father.”

Wyatt nodded and stood. He handed Walker the money receipt. “If you need him, Juan will be available to help you pack and give you a ride into town in the morning.”

“I have my horse, but I guess it’ll take a wagon to get my belongings to town.” Asia took the draft. “I’ll be happy to bring your father down for breakfast before I leave. I know the family will expect him to be there.”

Again, Wyatt nodded. He watched Mr. Walker head up the stairs and went to the kitchen to let Juan know what was taking place. On the way, it hit Wyatt maybe he shouldn’t put off finding someone to service his dad when he needed it. In the meantime, he’d work it out with the staff. Maybe there was a cowhand he could put on the job until he was able to find someone permanently. Of course, he’d ask Juan if he’d help. He knew how close his father and Juan were so he knew Juan wouldn’t refuse to help. It wouldn’t be long until they had a new routine in place.