Till My Last Breath

Raising his voice an octave, he looked directly at me. “Don’t Doc me. I don’t want ta sit down. I want ta know where me granddaughter is’t.” His brogue thickened, the angrier he became. Raising his hand, “By all that is Holy. I can’t leave tat girl alone fer five minutes with ye, and something happens.” Glaring at me, “I knew ya was trouble the minute I laid eyes on ya.”

Abruptly standing, my chair tipped over. “Now see here old man.” My blood was boiling. Fists clenched tightly at my side, I moved to stand toe to toe with the Doc.

Rebecca rushed forward, separating the two of us, one hand on each of our chests to keep us apart. I had no intention of becoming physical, but the Doc had gone too far.

I didn’t have the opportunity to finish before he yelled at me. Demanding and shaking a clenched fist in my face, the vein at his temple bulged and pulsed. “Well, say somet’ing boy before I kil’ ye with my bare hands.”

Doc’s face paled as we each took hold of Rebecca’s hand that lay across our chests, keeping us apart.

“I knew it,” he spat out. “Somet’ing bad has’t happened,” slumping weakly into a chair. “God, no. Not again. Please tell me she hasn’t been kilt.”

“Doc, I’m so sorry,” placing a hand on his shoulder, I quickly jerked it back as he began swearing in Gaelic. Whatever he was saying, he was probably cursing me to hell.

“Doc, listen, I think Emily is trying to go back, and I need to stop her.” For the first time, I noticed his faded violet eyes were the same color as his granddaughter’s. “You can hate me all you want. But I thought I made her happy, and she wanted to stay here with us.” Pausing, I added while looking at his clenched fists, “I must have been wrong.”

“No!” Doc cried out, slamming a fist on the table. “I tolt her she couldn’t go back. That the gift is’t irreversible. Why would she even try?” Running his frail hands through his silver hair, he added, “But no, she wouldn’t listen to reason. That stubborn woman!”

The pained look in Doc’s eyes was my undoing. Placing my hands on his shoulders, “I’m going to find her and bring her back. I’ll go back up into the hills by the cabin where we first met. Maybe she’s gone there.”

Placing a hand over mine that rested on his shoulder, he confessed, “Son, it’s me entire fault. I’m sorry fer yellin’ at ye.” Looking up at me, he added sadly, “I should have left her to lay with her parents.”

Towering over him, I said, “Don’t say that. Please, Doc. Emily has brought us both so much joy in the short time we’ve been together. We would have never been given this chance to find each other unless you had intervened.”

“Well, this is all fine and dandy gentlemen,” Rebecca chimed in. “But while you are reminiscing and feeling sorry for each other, Emily is out there, God knows where, and you’re doing nothing to bring her back.”

Stunned, Doc and I turned to look at Rebecca when she added, “Well, what are you going to do about it?” Hands on hips, she continued, “I don’t understand what either of you are talking about, but I wouldn’t be sitting here when the woman I profess to love is out in the cold waiting to be rescued.”

Coming to stand between us, she added, “You two get out there right now and start looking.” Facing me, “When you bring her back home Mr. Young you’d better settle your differences, or I’ll take my children and head to California on the next train.”

Looking like boys having been taken to the woodshed, we both replied at the same time, “Yes, ma’am!”

Grinning, Doc nudged me, “Aye, that sister of yers, ist a feisty one. Ye sure ye both aren’t a wee bit Irish?”

Slapping him lightly on the back, I turned and gave my sister a hug. “I love you sis. I don’t know why I was so stupid to keep you out of my life these past five years.”

“Neither do I, but that’s in the past. We’ll talk later.” Tearing up, she pushed us both towards the door, “Now get out there and find Emily.”

Opening the door, all three of us stared down at over twenty townsmen on horseback with lanterns and shotguns in hand. I recognized the sheriff and some of the riders. But, to the sheriff’s left, astride a beautiful black stallion, was a man I’d never seen before.

Sheriff Johansson looked up at the three of us standing in the open doorway, with looks of amazement etched across our faces. “Miss, Doc, Caleb,” he nodded to each of us, pointing to the man on the stallion, “Tis is Nathaniel Burns. He owns te Burnside Mine up in te hills outside of town. I tink ya already know ta rest of ta men.”

Eyeing the group, I was at a loss for words. “I don’t know how I can ever thank you, gentleman. Descending the stairs, I reached up and shook the sheriff’s then Mr. Burns’ hand. He obliged, but the direction of his attention was focused on the porch where my sister stood. Following his gaze, I grinned. “Mr. Burns, may I introduce my sister, Mrs. Rebecca Ackerman.”

I watched his smile fade as he tipped his Stetson, then said, “Pleased to make your acquaintance ma’am.” I noticed Nathaniel continued to stare. I had to admit, Rebecca was stunningly radiant. But, out of his reach being a married woman.

Feeling my face flush, I looked down at Nathaniel Burns astride his beautiful horse. How did I not know he was bound for Yuma when we first met on the train? Maybe it was because I had been so flustered at the time, eager to be free from Elliot’s snare. Mr. Burns had been the epitome of a proper gentleman. Something I’d missed being married to Elliot. With the boys and Pearl accompanying me at the time, we had kept our conversations light and on simple matters. He had attracted my attention then, but now, he held my eyes captive.

Thankfully, Mr. Burns didn’t let on that this wasn’t our first meeting. The heated stare of his emerald eyes made my heart flutter and breath quicken, now, as when we’d first met. I’d never felt this way before. Taking hold of the porch post with one hand, the other stroked the base of my throat as my eyes fixated on his muscular form. Feeling like a schoolgirl with her first crush, I pushed aside all thoughts of my husband, Elliot.

Nathaniel was the most handsome man I had ever laid eyes on. I shouldn’t be having such thoughts since I was a married woman, after all. But, that was a secret I’d kept to myself since arriving in Yuma. No one needs to know about my past. My brother was the only one who knew my husband Elliot from five years ago, not the man he’d recently become. For now, it was better this way.

I looked between my sister and Mr. Burns, seeing the immediate chemistry between them. I knew that feeling. Has my sister so quickly captured Mr. Burns’ heart like Emily did mine?

Clearing his throat, the sheriff got everyone’s attention. “OK everyone, mount up!” Looking up, the sheriff pointed to Doc Sweeney, informing him that he wasn’t coming with the posse, using the excuse that Abigail and the baby may need him. The Doc looked relieved as he nodded to the sheriff, knowing he wasn’t cut out for trudging up and down these hills on horseback.

“If ver done with all the introductions, times ‘a vastin,” he yelled. “Let’s ride.”

I caught Mr. Burns taking one last look over his shoulder at my sister as we rode away. I’d have questions for her when I returned. Glimpsing her radiant silhouette fading into the dim light, I only hoped she would provide me with honest answers. We had both kept secrets from each other for far too long.