Panicking, she reached out to her mother. Emmaline was still breathing. Thank God, Maddie whispered, relaxing. Her shoulders ached, and pain shot through her neck when she moved it. She stood up, groaning as the muscles stretched.

Jake looked up when he heard Maddie moving, the question in his eyes. "She's asleep," Maddie said.

"Good."

"Have you been there all night?" Maddie asked the question, but she already knew the answer. Why would he spend the night huddled in the corner of the room instead of sleeping? This wasn't his problem. He didn't care about them. All he cared about was catching Tyler. So why was he acting as if Emmaline's illness mattered to him? She was tempted to ask, but decided against it. Because, to be honest, it comforted her to have someone else here with her, just someone so she wouldn't have to face this alone.

"I'll put on some coffee," Jake offered.

"Thank you, Jake," Maddie said.

As if Emmaline was waiting to be alone with her daughter, her eyes opened when the door clicked shut behind Jake.

Maddie leaned closer to her mother. "Mama," she whispered softly. "How are you feeling?"

"Thirsty."

The two women were silent as Maddie lifted her mother's head and held a glass of water to her lips. Emmaline sipped at it, then dropped her head back on the pillow, as if the small movement had exhausted her. Yet, somehow, her cheeks were a little rosier than they'd been, and her voice held a hint of the strength she'd always possessed. Maybe her mother was right. Doc Myers was a quack. He was wrong. Anyone looking at her mother would know she was getting better.

"You're going to be fine, Mama," Maddie said. You just need to rest." Yes, she assured herself, that's all she needed. Just a few days' rest.

Emmaline shook her head. "No, child. Don't lie to yourself."

"I'm not--"

"Yes, you are." Emmaline reached out to take Maddie's hand in hers. "It's time."

Maddie felt the lump lodge in her throat, and tears spill down her cheeks. "No ..."

"Don't be sad, child. I've been waiting for this day for six years." Emmaline smiled softly.

"What ... what do you mean?"

Emmaline's eyes held a faraway gaze, and her voice took on a melancholy tone. "Ever since your papa died, I've been so lonely. Oh, I know you've done your best, but I've missed him so much. Now we'll be together again for all time."

"Mama--"

"Hush. I can go to my Maker with an easy heart now, knowing you have Jake to take care of you."

Jake? I don't--" She was about to say she didn't have Jake. Jake would be gone as soon as he'd captured Tyler. But her mother didn't know that. As far as she knew, Jake was just a ranch hand. Could she take away the peace her mother had for her last moments on this earth? Was it wrong to let her believe Jake would be with her always?

Emmaline patted Maddie's hand. "Don't kid yourself. Jake is no drifter. He may have problems of his own, but he'll settle down one day. Mark my words."

"Mama--"

"He's a good man, Maddie," Emmaline went on, although her voice was growing weaker. "He reminds me so much of your father. And he loves you."

"Don't be silly."

"Oh, I know I might be old, but I know when a man loves a woman." Emmaline paused, gasping, before she had the strength to continue. "I've seen the way he looks at you when he thinks nobody's looking. He looks at you like you're the most precious thing on this earth."

"Now you're talking foolish, Mama."

"No. Believe me. He loves you. And you love him."

"I do not."

"Hmmph."

"Besides, he'll be leaving soon."

"If you let him get away, you'll regret it for the rest of your days."

"I can't stop him."

"Yes you can. You forget about what happened with you and Caleb--"

"Caleb? What about Caleb?"

"I know what you suffered at Caleb's hands, and it broke my heart. But he was your husband, and I had no right to interfere. But," her voice lowered to a whisper, "I can tell you now, I was glad when he died. Lord forgive me for such sinful thoughts, but it's the truth."

Maddie was speechless. She'd thought she'd hidden her troubles so well, and all this time her mother had known everything. Oh, why hadn't she told her? It would have been so much easier to bear if she could have shared it.

"You forget about Caleb now. Give Jake a chance. Promise me you'll do that, so I can rest in peace."

Maddie didn't answer.

"Promise me," her mother said again, louder this time.

"I promise."

"I didn't say this much, but you know how much I love you, don't you?"

Tears flowed freely from Maddie's eyes. With the back of her hand, she brushed them away as she nodded. "And I love you."

"I know. Now hush and let me rest."

Emmaline's eyes closed, and a few minutes later, as the clock in the parlor chimed seven o'clock, she joined her husband.

Maddie was still sitting beside the bed with her mother's hand in hers when Jake came back into the room. Maddie looked up, her tear-stained face telling him the news.

In two short steps, Jake was beside her. His arms enfolded her, and she rested her head on his chest, feeling the solid muscle beneath his shirt, and the sound of his heart beating. He smelled of leather, and soap, and Maddie had never been so thankful for him as she was at this moment.

Jake felt tears blur his vision, too. While he'd been in the barn tending the cattle, it had struck him. Sure, he didn't like to see Maddie suffer, either physically or emotionally. But it was more than that. He cared about Emmaline. In only a few days, he'd come to love that old woman with the brusque tongue and the mischievous grin. She was the mother he'd lost, and the thought of losing her too had filled him with grief. A single tear spilled over.

Hell, what would his cohorts think of this - a grown man sobbing over an old woman dying?

Sniffing back the tears that threatened to overflow, and swallowing down the painful lump in his throat, he crouched down beside Maddie. Her eyes were blurred with tears, and she gazed back at him. "Maddie," he said softly, "do you have a Bible?"

Maddie nodded.

"I'll take care of things. You find the Bible. We'll say a few words over her."