Chapter Twenty-Eight

Walker strode through the back door, carrying an unconscious Sarah. Flo followed, shock registering on her face. “What happened?”

“She fainted. Send one of the men for the doctor.”

“Doc’s over in Dexter County vistin’ kinfolk. Effie mentioned Sunday that he’d be there all week.”

Walker took the stairs two at a time. Kicking their bedroom door open, he carried Sarah to the bed and gently put her down. Momentarily stirring, her eyes fluttered. Smiling, she lightly touched his cheek before sinking back into unconsciousness.

Flo hurried in with a pan of cold water and cloths. By the time she wet the compress, Sarah was coming around.

“Walker…”

He gently pressed the cloth to her forehead. “Hold still, sweetheart. You fainted.”

She gazed up at him, eyes melting into his. “Swooned?” she murmured.

“You were looking over the stall one minute and out cold the next.” He grinned, smoothing a lock of hair off her face. She tried to sit up, pushing his hands aside.

“Diamond?”

“She’s quiet now.”

Sarah wilted back to the pillow, her eyes drifting shut. “I’m glad.”

“I’ll get her something cool to drink,” Flo offered, turning to leave.

When the door closed, Sarah looked at her husband. “I’m fine, Walker. Really.”

“You don’t look fine.”

Reaching out, she traced the outline of his cheek. “Apparently breakfast didn’t set well with me.”

“Doc Linder’s away visiting family, but if you think you need him—”

“I’m fine, really.” After sitting up, she swung her legs off the bed and slowly stood. Moving to the washstand, she groaned when she encountered her image in the mirror.

“Potster said you felt faint earlier. What’s going on?”

“It was too hot. The bunkhouse kitchen is always sweltering.”

Flo returned with two glasses of lemonade. Placing the tray on the bedside table, she clucked. “What are you doing up? You should lie flat for a while.”

“I feel better, Flo. There’s no need to fuss.”

“Well, young lady, you’re not going anywhere until you’ve had something cold to drink and have been off your feet for at least an hour.”

Sarah glanced at Walker, grinning. “Yes, ma’am.”

“I have to check on Diamond,” he said, backing out of the room. His eyes still locked with Sarah’s. “I’ll be back shortly.”

“Walker…I need to talk to you,” Sarah murmured.

“We’ll talk later, sweetheart. Don’t let her up, Flo.”

“I won’t.”

When the door closed, Sarah lay on the bed and closed her eyes. She’d promised Flo an hour of rest, but she was having difficulty keeping still. Through the open window, she could hear the ranch going about its daily business. Walker was close to the house this afternoon. She had to tell him. She’d promised Potster and she’d promised herself. It was one promise she intended to keep.

She savored the last few blissful moments of Walker’s innocence. After today, nothing would ever be the same between them, regardless of how he took the news.

Blinking back tears, she recalled the feel of his arms at the dance, the warmth of his hand on the small of her back as he helped her into the buggy, and the concern in his eyes this morning.

She kept her eyes closed against a swell of dizziness. Her stomach rolled, and she wondered if she needed to empty it. The breakfast muffin—she shuddered at the thought.

An hour passed, and she slid off the bed and washed her face and straightened the pins in her hair. The dizziness was gone, and her head cleared. She couldn’t put it off any longer. Walker would probably be in the barn. They would have a few moments of privacy—enough for Sarah to tell him the truth about her identity and their marriage.

Flo was bent over the sink, scrubbing pots, when Sarah crept down the stairs. Unlatching the front door, she glanced over her shoulder as she slipped out, letting the door softly close behind her. She wondered if this was how men felt facing the guillotine. It couldn’t be much worse than the mission she was about to embark upon.

When she turned around, she jumped as she came face-to-face with Lucy Mallory. Sarah stared at her but couldn’t find her voice.

Lucy broke the strained silence. “Hi.” She grinned. “Guess you shore didn’t think you’d ever see me again.”