Chapter Eleven

Agatha Masters made it her official responsibility to introduce the newcomers to the established ladies in town. As the self-appointed head of every committee in the county, Agatha took great pleasure in her work. According to Aunt Gwen, Agatha was forever vowing to relinquish the responsibilities she held in her positions on the various committees, but never did. Agatha was a thriving gossip, her committees and functions feeding her need for new information.

Although Taryn and her mother were visitors to the county, they received an invitation as Agatha considered it good form.

Twenty women mingled in the parlor, their voices blending as one in excited chatter when Taryn, Madeline, and Gwen joined the group. Trays of delicate sandwiches and other assorted treats in which to indulge were throughout the room. A friendly assembly. Taryn enjoyed the chance to meet the women in attendance, giving her a sense of comfortable belonging.

“Taryn? Taryn, is it you?”

She turned at the sound of her name.

“Why this is delightful!” Etta embraced her, then pulled back. “You look wonderful!” “How is your handsome husband?”

Stunned by the woman’s presence, she could think of nothing more than to splutter her name. “Etta.” She had not even considered she might see Etta again or be reminded of the fact she and Jared had acted as husband and wife. She had to set the woman straight. Her mother stood off to her side, evaluating Etta’s words signifying she’d overheard the comment. Taryn provided quick introductions hoping to sidestep around her friend’s remark.

Another group called out to Etta. “Oh Taryn, you must meet these ladies,” she enthused, already taking her arm.

“Did I hear her correctly?” Madeline voiced, staring after the woman.

“No,” Taryn refuted over her shoulder as Etta led the way to the women. Her response proved the opposite, and her mother’s gaze promised questions on the subject later.

Every attempt she made during the afternoon to get Etta alone to tell her the truth about her relationship with Jared was thwarted. She had no opportunity to talk to her privately. The afternoon’s gathering came to a close. She could at least be grateful she’d been able to divert Etta from mentioning her ‘husband’ to the others.

“Etta, there’s something I need to tell you,” she whispered as the gathering dispersed. Her mother and aunt were saying good-bye to Agatha Masters.

“We haven’t had much of a chance to catch up, have we? What I need to do is have you and Jared over.”

“Yes, there is a matter I need to talk to you about,” she said, taking her friend’s arm, attempting to move to a corner of the room. “You see, Jared and I aren’t…”

“Taryn?” Madeline called from the hallway. “Brad is here.”

Taryn jerked her head around in horror with her mother’s cheery announcement. She’d forgotten Brad planned to pick her up. They had planned to spend the remainder of the afternoon together. If anything was said… “Etta.” She had to tell her right away.

Etta’s curious nature surfaced. “Who’s Brad?”

As if on cue, Brad walked into the room greeting the other ladies before reaching her side. “Are you ready to leave?”

“I suppose,” she said in resignation. Her explanation to Etta would have to wait. Without elaborating, she quickly introduced Brad to Etta. She wanted to leave before any conversation ensued.

Etta already informed Brad she had recently moved to Sacramento. “Have you recently moved to Sacramento as well?”

“We’re only visiting.” Brad said, including her in his response.

“Well, perhaps Taryn and Jared can persuade you to change your mind. Have you known the Kings long?”

Brad’s token smile froze on his face. “The Kings? Jared King?”

Taryn linked her arm with Brad’s. “Brad, we should be leaving.”

Brad threw her a disapproving stare.

“I myself met them on our train trip out here. Delightful time,” Etta continued rambling in recollection, “but I’m sure they’ve told you all about it.”

“Not yet,” Brad bit off.

Brad’s gaze demanded an explanation while Etta took a breath, oblivious to the friction her comment caused. Taryn choked on hers.

“Well, I imagine we’d all best be going.” Etta glanced around the room, realizing most of the other guests had departed.

“A pleasure meeting you, Mrs. Briggs,” Brad managed in a tight voice before taking Taryn by the elbow, leading her out of the house.

Once outside, Brad had difficulty containing his wrath. The veins in his neck were fairly popping from his throat. “What did she mean when she said ‘the Kings?’”

Taryn didn’t know where to begin. “Etta was confused.”

Brad didn’t accept her answer. “What would confuse her, Taryn? Weren’t you and Jared King only acquaintances? You’ve been insisting on it all this time.”

“Brad, it became necessary,” she said in her own defense. Brad might have a right to be upset with her for not sharing the information with him, but she didn’t care for his demanding tone.

“What became necessary?”

“Since I traveled alone, when I met him, Etta drew her own conclusions.” She couldn’t tell Brad the ploy became necessary because it would have appeared odd sleeping by Jared’s side without marriage.

“It was your own fault you were traveling alone.” Brad clamped his hand around her upper arm, his eyes flaring with anger. “You might have considered what others were going to think before you decided to head out here on some…”

“Some what? Some childish dream?” She pulled her arm from his grasp. “No one asked you to follow me.”

Brad struggled to restrain his ire, the muscles in his face pulsating. He took a calming breath. He took her hand in his. “I’m sorry, darling. It hurts me to know you lied to me. I believed our relationship free of such deceit.”

She released a heavy sigh, her own anger subsiding. “It wasn’t my intention to lie to you or anyone else. Things happened and then got out of control. I’m sorry.”

Brad took her by her shoulders. “All right. It’s out in the open; we’ll put it behind us. Perhaps it would be best if you put your relationship with Jared King behind you as well.”

“He’s a friend, Brad.”

“I don’t want to share you with anyone,” Brad stated, linking his arms around her waist. “You don’t need friends like him.” Brad tilted his head downward, pressing a soft kiss on her mouth.

****

Taryn had difficulty sleeping. She paced her bedroom floor knowing exactly who kept her from sleep—Jared. Brad expressed justifiable anger over her lying about Jared. Brad didn’t like her around Jared. Since she had not been honest with Jared about Brad, Jared must have questioned her loyalty to her fiancé. For both their sakes, and her own, she had to clarify for Jared she intended to marry Brad. Things were beginning to unravel. Before they came irrevocably undone, she had to inform him their contact would have to change. He patrolled the border of the property at this hour. It was a necessary prevention against the sheepherders from cutting the barbed wire so their herd could graze on her uncle’s land. It wasn’t wise to be out roaming the outer regions of the property alone, but she wanted the matter resolved. Dressing without thought to her appearance, she snuck out of her bedroom.

****

“Rider approaching,” one of the ranch hands called out from his post along the fence. He raised his weapon in precaution.

Jared had his hand on his own weapon at his hip, waiting. The rider approached at a fast gallop, the horse’s hooves pounding into the dirt sounding even louder in the stillness of night.

“Jared?” Taryn called out in the darkness, slowing her mare to a canter.

“It’s all right,” Jared called over to the other ranch hands. He got off his horse, walked over to her as she reined in her mare. The moment she dismounted, he grabbed her arm, walking her a few feet away. “You little fool; don’t you know you could have been shot the way you rode up? What are you doing out here?”

She pulled her arm from his grasp. “I can do without the unnecessary scolding, thank you. I needed to talk to you.”

Sighing in exasperation, Jared calmed the fear of what could have happened by her reckless behavior. He softened his voice. “What is so important you found it necessary to come looking for me at this hour?”

She hesitated. She had his attention, yet she didn’t want to say what she’d intended. “I wanted to tell you we have to remain the acquaintances everyone believes us to be.”

He heard Thompson’s words from the casino being repeated. “Are those your words, Taryn, or Thompson’s?”

She jutted her chin out in stubborn defiance. “They’re mine.”

“You believe by pretending to be acquaintances, you will be able to deny what you feel for me?” He moved closer.

“I don’t feel anything for you,” she insisted, taking a step back. “I’m Brad’s fiancée. I’m going to marry him. I’ll admit I’ve been infatuated with you,” she said, recalling the conversation she’d had with her mother, “but nothing more,” she contended. “I think you and I should recognize it’s best we remain no more than friends. Finished with her reason for speaking with him, she turned to leave.

“I suppose this quest for honesty is why you found it necessary to slither away from the house at this hour to inform me of your decision?”

She turned sharply to face him. “I didn’t slither away! I…I… Oh, why must you continue to confuse me? Ever since I met you, things have gone wrong, culminating today! It should please you to know Brad knows of our husband and wife act! I should feel fortunate he still wants to marry me.” Once again, she turned to leave, but he grasped her arm, pulling her back around to face him.

“Thompson wants to marry you all right. He pulled her hard against him when she attempted to yank free. “He wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize the fact he’ll be the son-in-law of your father who has the power to promote him all the way to a partnership.”

“What a horrible thing to say! How dare you say such things when I’m trying to be honest with you.”

“You want honesty, Taryn? By all means, let’s be honest. You did not come out here for the simple purpose of telling me you only want to be friends. You had other unanswered questions in mind, didn’t you? Questions we both want answered.”

She shook her head in denial, her heart hammering as she noticed the hard determination in his eyes. He maneuvered her so their bodies pressed against each other. The power of his gaze stirred the strange yearning she felt as she stood inches from him paralyzing any movement on her part.

Her palms rested on his forearms, his corded muscles making her fingers tingle. The heat of his body seared through her clothing. Torso to torso, hip to hip, thigh to thigh. As intimately as they stood, she had the urge to be closer still. She relaxed against him.

He held her securely against him, his mouth seizing hers in a crushing kiss demanding her response. She melted against him, her arms clasping around his shoulders. His fingers sank into her hair, pulling it free of the combs she wore. Once more the forbidden aspect of their relationship heightened her mood as his passionate kiss continued.

“Tell me the way you feel now is infatuation. Tell me now your hope is for us to be nothing more than friends.”

She hesitated, attempting to control the beat of her heart. “It’s what I want.” Her conscience forced the words from her lips. Betrothed to Brad, it was the proper thing to say. Jared’s expression made her want to recant her words. She couldn’t. It wasn’t fair to either Brad or Jared. “It has to be this way.”

Jared abruptly released her, a hard edge to his voice. “Then that’s the way it will be. I’ll take you back to the house.” Without a word, he assisted her in mounting her horse.

They rode back to the main house in silence. Stabling her horse, he walked back to the house with her. At the back stairs, she turned to face him. “Jared, please say something.” She couldn’t stand the silence any more.

“What is it you want me to say, Taryn?”

“Tell me you don’t hate me.” She didn’t want animosity between the two of them.

“Therein lies the problem, Taryn. I don’t hate you at all. At least now you’ve saved me from considering how I do feel about you.”

Even more confused by his statement, she took a step toward him.

“Don’t! You come any closer to me, I’ll shake the life right out of you.”

She swallowed, stepping back. His anger was palpable. He didn’t want a friendship, but what did he want? What did she want from him? She went into the house without another word. Her calm demeanor remained steadfast as she walked up the stairs to the privacy of her bedroom. Closing the door, she proceeded to burst into a torrent of unexplainable tears.

****

Three days later, Jared worked in the largest of the Dalton stables with the groom checking the shoe of one of the horses. Taryn and Brad walked in. Thompson once again tried to deter her from riding.

“I don’t know why you find it necessary to take these rides every single day. There are other things in life than horses, Taryn.”

“Brad you act as though I’m in danger of growing two more legs. I ride for an hour every day for the exercise and fresh air. If you ever joined me, you’d have a better understanding of why I love it so much.”

“I don’t need to get up on some barn animal to know I don’t like it.” He caressed her arm. “Let’s take a carriage ride instead.”

She smiled. “All right. I’ll go riding later.”

Jared greeted them, his focus on Taryn. “Good morning.”

“Good morning.” They hadn’t spoken to each other since their argument. His greeting gave her hope they could build on the changed relationship between them.

Brad reached into his pocket. “Here’s the money you loaned Taryn the other night.” Brad held out the money.

Jared glanced at the money without taking it. “My pleasure. There’s no need to repay me.”

“I think there is.” Brad shoved the money in the pocket of King’s waistcoat. “Whatever Taryn’s needs, I will see to them.”

She felt a rush of embarrassment at Brad’s response to Jared. Jared had given the money to her out of his generosity, not because he expected it back. He said nothing, but his expression indicated he didn’t appreciate Brad’s condescending manner.

“We’ll be taking the carriage,” Brad instructed the stable boy. He then pointed out the horses they would use to lead the carriage.

The boy hesitated, his gaze going to Mr. King in question.

Jared addressed Brad. “Mr. Thompson, two of the horses you’ve chosen might prove unpredictable. They’re not fully broken in. If I might suggest…”

“I’ll handle them.”

“Brad,” she said, attempting to intervene, knowing Jared spoke the truth. Brad had chosen two of the newest steeds.

Brad’s words were terse. “Taryn, do you want me to go with you or not?”

“Of course, but…”

“Then let’s go.”

The stable boy led the horses outside to hitch them to the carriage.

Jared watched the two follow the stable boy out, shaking his head in disgust before taking one of the horses out of its stall.

Brad stood by waiting for the stable boy to hurry with his business. “Can’t you move any faster?” He moved over to the boy, grabbing the straps from him. “Move aside, I’ll do this,” he shoved the boy aside. “Taryn, get in the carriage.”

She stepped in the carriage, gathering the reins in her hands. “Brad, are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Brad’s treatment of the stable boy was uncalled for. The boy did his job properly without delay.

Brad snapped his head around. “Taryn, are you questioning my abilities now?”

“No, but there’s no rush.”

Brad yanked the rigging in irritation. The horses pawed the earth, throwing their heads back. As Brad continued to move around the horses, the animals became even more skittish.

She wrapped the reins around her wrists as the steeds moved forward when Brad attempted to connect their harnesses to the carriage.

“Stupid beasts, move back!” Brad pulled hard on the rigging to make the connection.

The lead horses reared up in anger. She controlled them with the reins, while Brad yanked once more on the rigging. “Brad, don’t!” Brad’s actions caused more difficulty in controlling the steeds.

Jared walked out of the stable at the sound of Taryn’s raised voice.

Brad reached for the whip on the side of the carriage, cracking it against the hind quarters of the two lead horses.

“Brad, no!” When the horses bolted forward in reaction to the whip, she remembered too late the reins were wrapped around her wrists. Brad had not been able to connect the carriage to the team. Hauled forward over the front of the carriage, she plunged to the ground, screaming as the four horses thundered forward into a panicked run. The length of the reins stretched out, dragging her behind them. She attempted to untangle her wrists from the reins. The horses ran too fast causing the reins to tighten around her wrists. She screamed as she twisted and turned. The hard impact of her body striking the ground repeatedly was unbearable as the four horses continued their flight. She did all she could to protect her face, screaming again as she felt her entire body being scraped across the ground. Please stop, please stop!

Horrified by what he saw before him, Jared swiftly retrieved a horse from the stable. He pulled himself up into the saddle prodding the steed into a gallop while Thompson stood in stunned confusion. Taryn’s screams urged him forward. The dire consequences for someone dragged by horses oftentimes led to death.

She could taste dirt in her mouth. She strived to hold her head up in an effort to prevent it from hitting the ground. A burst of agonizing pain surged through her neck. Twisted and spun around, her body pounded against the dirt as the horses ran in a frenzied state. Her wrists were burning from the straps of the reins tightening around them. She felt herself losing consciousness, praying it would happen soon. The ground battered her body repeatedly with excruciating force.

Coming abreast of the team of horses, Jared moved his horse close enough so he could jump onto one of the group of four. Using his legs for control, he grabbed the bridle of the second lead horse, forcing the animals to stop. Halting them, he dismounted rushing over to Taryn.

She lay on her back with her gown twisted around her. He knelt down, fearing her dead. The sound of her moan sent waves of relief through him. She lived. She lifted her head. He brushed her hair away from her face. “Don’t try to get up, Taryn.”

She lay still, not having the energy to attempt bravery. Her whole body throbbed. “Jared…”

“I’m here, Taryn.” Careful of the serious cuts on her wrists, he unwound the straps, grimacing at the sight of her torn flesh. “You’ll be all right.” He hoped his voice didn’t betray his alarm. Her face and arms held deep cuts, and blood spattered her gown promising injuries beneath. Dirt covered her from head to foot. All he could detect were the superficial wounds. He couldn’t be sure she hadn’t broken any bones or had other internal injuries.

The stable boy and Brad Thompson reached them.

“Get to the house and inform them what happened.” Ignoring Thompson, Jared instructed the stable boy. “Tell them to get a doctor here as fast as they can.”

The stable boy mounted Jared’s horse, racing toward the main house.

“I’m going to see to it those horses are shot!”

Jared glared at Thompson. “There’s nothing wrong with the team of horses. If anyone should be shot, it should be you for your stupid arrogance.”

Brad flushed livid red. “Who are you to speak to me in such a manner? I’ll see to it you are discharged.”

“Before or after you explain how you caused this accident?” Jared ground out, silencing Thompson.

Taryn’s father returned in a buckboard with the stable boy.

“Taryn!” Dennis Ashford dropped to his knees by her side. “How did this happen?”

Brad spoke up. “Those beasts went wild. It’s a wonder we weren’t both killed.”

Jared clenched his teeth together. Thompson was an idiot!

Dennis ran his hand through his hair in a nervous gesture. “We should get her to the house. Jonathan’s gone for the doctor. Gwen and Maddie are still in town.” Dennis lifted her in his arms. She cried out at the movement. Dennis blanched at the sound of his daughter’s pained moan, his balance thrown with the knowledge she was in agony.

Jared stepped forward, taking her from her father’s arms, and headed to the buckboard.

Brad strode forward. “Take your hands from her! If anyone’s going to carry her, it will be me.”

Holding her lightly in his arms, Jared turned to Thompson, his gaze spewing shards of steel. “You touch her and they’ll be calling the undertaker for you.”

Brad dropped his arms to his side, making no attempt to take her from King.

Dennis stood still in a moment’s confusion. He glanced from Jared King to Brad. Collecting himself, Dennis went to the buckboard climbing into the driver’s position, anxious to get her to the house. “Get in, Brad.”

In seething fury, Brad took a place beside Dennis, while Jared sat in the back with Taryn.

When they arrived home, Gwen and Maddie were alighting from their carriage. Dennis explained what happened.

“I’ll get some salve.” Gwen went inside without delay.

“Is Taryn going to be all right?” Madeline grabbed Dennis’ arm. “Has the doctor been sent for?”

Dennis put an arm around his wife’s shoulders as they followed Jared up the stairs. “Jonathan should be back with the doctor soon.”

“How did this happen?”

Despite the fear in her voice, Jared found himself impressed with Madeline’s ability to remain calm with the state of her daughter’s present condition.

Taryn’s father didn’t evade the hard truth. “She was dragged by a team of horses.”

Thompson caught up to the group ascending the steps. “There was nothing I could do. I couldn’t even believe it was happening.”

“Which room is Taryn’s?” Jared longed to kick Thompson back down the stairs. The man’s insipid words of justification grated on Jared’s nerves. Even now, the dolt made every effort to retain his standing with her parents.

Madeline sidled around him and led the way toward the end of the hall.

Entering the room, he walked to the large four-poster mahogany bed, waiting while Madeline Ashford smoothed back the white comforter. As he laid her down on the bed, he realized she had lost consciousness. With a shaking hand, he felt for her pulse to assure himself she was still alive. It was faint, but detectable. He stood back, powerless to do anything but remain frozen in place. The battered picture she presented made his heart lurch in apprehension. Where was Jonathan with the doctor? His thoughts were wild, regardless that logic dared to tell him Jonathan could not have made it to the doctor’s residence and returned so soon.

Gwen came into the room stepping around Brad, who stood in the doorway. She went to the bed, setting the tray down with a pitcher of water and assorted ointments on the nightstand. “You men leave Maddie and I to attend to her now until Dr. Hennessey arrives.”

Reluctant, Dennis turned from the foot of the bed, walked to the door, and followed Brad downstairs. Jared hesitated.

Gwen noted the worry etched across Jared’s face. “You may return once we’ve cleaned off the dirt and changed her clothing.”

He backed away to the door, joining the others in the small drawing room to await the doctor’s arrival.

Twenty minutes later, Jonathan rushed into the house with Doctor Samuel Hennessey at his heels.

Dennis collided with Jonathan in the foyer when he dashed out of the drawing room at the sound of their arrival. “Gwen and Maddie are upstairs with Taryn.” He turned to the doctor. “It’s the third door on your right.”

“She’s unconscious,” Dennis said to Jonathan as they returned to the drawing room.

Jonathan patted Dennis on the back in reassurance. “Sam’s a good doctor. He’ll see she gets well.” Entering the drawing room, the men waited in unmasked concern.

After a long silence, Dennis spoke his thoughts aloud. “How could this have happened?” He searched Brad’s face. “What caused the team to drag her?”

Brad walked up to his future father-in-law. “I was connecting the rigging to the carriage, and the horses went wild.”

Jared pushed away from the mantel. “Excuse me.” If he remained in the room, he’d go over to Thompson to rip his lying tongue out of his mouth.

Jared headed for the upper floor. Reaching Taryn’s bedroom door, he tapped on it.

Gwen answered the knock opening the door wide. “The doctor’s finished examining her.”

Madeline Ashford stood clasping her hands together waiting for the doctor’s diagnosis. Overwrought by her daughter’s condition, she didn’t even question why Jared stood in the room instead of Brad.

Doctor Samuel Hennessey faced the three. “I don’t think I need to tell you she’s suffered a severe beating from the accident. The worst is she has a concussion and a broken rib. With the exception of a few deep cuts on her body, the rest of the scrapes you see appear worse than they are. On a whole, I’d say she was enormously fortunate. Over the next few days, she’ll be in a deal of pain. I’ve given her something to take the edge off the pain, but a mild dose. With the concussion, I don’t want to risk the possibility of her slipping into too deep a sleep. For the next full day, it’s important she’s monitored. I want her awakened every two hours.”

Gwen grasped the bedpost. “Why?”

“Some concussions can cause a person to slip into a sleep from which they can’t be awakened. By waking her every few hours, it will prevent her from succumbing.”

Madeline dropped into a chair at the side of the bed. Her voice shook when she spoke. “What if we can’t wake her?”

Samuel patted her hand. “I didn’t mean to cause undue alarm by what I’ve said. When someone has a concussion, it is a precautionary measure. Any time there is injury to the head, it is always best to take special safeguards.”

Madeline sighed, eased by his words.

Throughout the remainder of the day, each of them took turns by Taryn’s bedside, waking her as required, sighing in relief when she opened glazed and unknowing eyes for a fraction of a second before closing them again. Jared had refused to leave her side.

It was near supper. Jonathan sat with Jared by Taryn’s bedside. It was time to wake her. Jonathan leaned over her. “Taryn, honey, wake up.” No response. “Taryn, come on now, wake up.” Nothing.

“Taryn?” Jared bolted to his feet from the chair. He traded places with Jonathan leaning over her. “Taryn, wake up!” Still no response. Terror crawled up his spine. Had she gone into the deep sleep the doctor had spoken of where she would not awaken? His voice hard, he tried again. “Taryn, open your eyes. Look at me now!”

Her eyes fluttered open. She started closing them again.

“No, Taryn. Keep your eyes open. Look at me.”

“Tired…”

He sat on the edge of the bed, brushing a wisp of hair back from her face. “I know you are, sweetheart, but I need you to stay awake for a minute.” He wanted to make sure she was completely awake before he allowed her to drift back to sleep. She struggled to keep her eyes open. She wasn’t aware of what was happening. Satisfied, he caressed her cheek. “You can go back to sleep now.” She was asleep a moment later.

Jonathan rubbed the back of his neck to relieve the tension of the past few minutes. “This is awful.”

Jared nodded in emphatic agreement, dropping into the chair.

Jonathan stood. “Supper should be ready. Come down and join us.”

“I’m not hungry. I’d like to stay here if you don’t mind.”

Jonathan pressed his hand to Jared’s shoulder in empathy. “Of course.”

She woke on the fifth morning following her accident still aching with every movement, but the pain was bearable instead of the piercing sharpness ripping through her for the past days. The bedroom door opened. She saw her father enter.

Dennis Ashford walked in carrying a tray, a bright smile of relief on his face when he noticed she was awake. He set the tray down on the nightstand, kissing her cheek. “It’s good to see you back with us. How are you feeling this morning?”

A glimmer of a smile formed on her face. “I’m all right.”

Dennis sat on the edge of the bed, holding her hand. “Now tell me how you truly feel.”

Her smile widened though it caused her to wince from the bruise on her cheek. Her fingers reached up to tentatively touch the sensitive area. “I’ve felt better.”

Dennis sighed feeling the weight of the past few days of anxiety lifting somewhat. “You’ve been in and out of consciousness all week.” He helped her to a sitting position, fluffing the pillows behind her for support. “The doctor says you were very lucky. Once the cuts and bruises heal, you’ll be fine. There is no permanent injury. I hate to think of what might have been if it hadn’t been for Jared’s quick thinking.”

“Then I didn’t dream Jared stopped the team of horses.” She leaned back against the pillows.

“Taryn, what’s between you and Jared King?” Dennis studied his daughter’s face, waiting to assess her reaction.

A shrug accompanied her hesitant response. “Nothing.”

Dennis was not convinced. “The man wouldn’t leave your side from the moment the accident occurred. He’d be here now if Luke hadn’t forced him from the room to get some sleep late last night. It doesn’t sound like nothing to me.”

She couldn’t meet her father’s gaze. She wasn’t sure what she felt. Jared’s tender concern confused her even more. “I don’t know what’s between us.”

A tap at the door prevented Dennis from pursuing the conversation. Her attention shifted past his shoulder to the doorway. Dennis excused himself, nodding to Jared as he exited the room.

Jared’s smile caused her to forget the discomfort she felt from the accident. He sat on the bed, taking her hands in his. “Taryn, I…” A strangled lump in his throat prevented him from saying more. The sight of her sitting up, alert for the first time in days overwhelmed him.

She placed her hands on his shoulders, expressing her feelings with an embrace.

Careful not to hurt her, he held her close. He never wanted to know a day in his life without her in it. She had become a necessity to his peace of mind, to his very existence. He pulled back, brushing his thumb against her lower lip, his face still close. “Have you eaten something yet?”

“I’m not hungry.”

He reached for the tray, placing it between them. “You’ve already lost weight,” he said, noting the pronounced contours.

“If I’ve lost weight, then so have you.” She touched the palm of her hand to his cheek. “When was the last time you ate?”

He shrugged. Nothing had mattered except her well-being since the moment of her accident. Food had not been a priority.

She glanced down at the tray, a hand brushing aside the glisten of tears on her cheeks. “My father put enough food on this tray for the whole family. Will you share it with me?”

He nodded with a grin. He picked up a slice of buttered toast, handed it to her, then took a slice for himself. Taking a bite, he found himself ravenous. “Does this remind you of anything?”

She smiled in recollection. “The train. If Etta interrupted us, the memory would be complete.”

Brad Thompson entered the room. He cleared his throat in reproach.

“And someone else not interrupting us,” Jared whispered, popping the last bit of toast into his mouth. “I should get back to work.”

“Yes, you should,” Brad insisted. “You…

Jared passed Brad on his way out, a piercing glare daring Thompson to say another word.

Brad remained silent until King left the room. He walked over to the bed. “My darling, I’ve been desperate over your fate.” He sat in the same spot Jared had vacated. “I know I’ve aged ten years over the last few days.”

Taryn reacted with an obligatory smile. Brad had on fresh attire, the picture of health and vigor. “It would seem I’ve caused everyone to worry.”

“I should never have insisted on a carriage ride.”

“It was an accident, Brad.” She touched his arm.

Brad took her hand in his. “Next time, we’ll go horseback riding as you wanted.” Brad removed the tray from her lap. “Why don’t I set up a chair for you out in the garden? You can sit in the sun for a little while. I’ll even let you beat me at a chess game.”

“I always beat you at chess.”

“Yes, but in light of your condition,” Brad continued, “I’ll see to it your victory occurs sooner.”

Taryn laughed, wincing at the strain it caused her injured rib. “Maybe we’ll even play two games?”

“Maybe I’ll win the second game,” Brad challenged.

“Maybe.” This side of Brad she liked. When he allowed the relaxed part of his personality to come out, he was so much more endearing.