Bella lay beside Mark. She rested a hand on his rising and falling chest. His face color had returned to normal. She thanked the Lord above.
Caleb slept beside his little brother.
Philip rocked in the chair by the fire. He held the Bible in his lap and read.
Exhaustion weighed on her. She closed her eyes and listened to the little boys sleeping. Both of them snored softly. Thankfully Mark hadn’t developed a rattling in his chest.
Philip had told her that Mark had thrown up quite a bit of water while he was running home with him. She guessed that the jarring had forced the water from his lungs. Forcing herself to sit up, Bella walked to the kitchen.
She heard the rocking chair creak and Philip’s stocking feet following her. In a low voice, she asked him, “Are you hungry?”
“No, but you must be.”
Bella dug inside the flour sack and pulled out the wrapped sandwiches she’d placed in there earlier. “A little,” she admitted.
He walked to the coffeepot and poured them both a cup. Philip motioned for her to sit and then handed her the coffee. “Why don’t you get some sleep after you eat? I’ll keep an eye on the boys.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think I could sleep downstairs away from him.”
“I understand. I think that boy took ten years off my life today.” He sat down and watched her bite into the sandwich.
Bella had to agree with him. Until she’d met Caleb and Mark she’d had no idea how much care they took. She swallowed. “Philip, I’m not sure if this is the time, but I need to tell you something.”
He leaned forward. “Sounds serious.”
“It is.”
She pushed the hair out of her face. “Well, first off you have to know that those two little boys mean the world to me.”
“I know that. They do to me, too.”
After today Bella was sure that Philip loved her nephews. He’d worried and fretted over Mark as if he was his own child. “I know and I’m grateful.” She really was.
He reached out and took her hand. “What has you so scared, Bella? You’ve been on edge for days.”
Bella took a deep breath and released it. “Marlow Brooks hasn’t left town. He was here a few nights ago.”
Confusion laced Philip’s face. “When?”
“When you took Hazel home. We had already gone to bed and I thought you came home early. Only it wasn’t you in the house, it was him. He threatened me and scared Caleb.”
His eyes flared with anger. “How did he threaten you?”
She looked to the boys. “It’s kind of a long story.” They were still sleeping.
“We have all night.”
Bella had to ask the question that was burning in her mind. “Why are you so angry?”
“Because a man has threatened you and scared Caleb. Why wouldn’t I be angry?” he snapped.
“I need to know if it’s because we are your property or do you care about us?” she persisted.
Philip raked his hand through his hair. “Of course I care about you and I have never thought of you as property.”
Bella sighed. “I’m sorry, property is the wrong word. Let me rephrase my question. Do you love the boys?” She had to know that if she was hanged for murder that Philip would love and care for Caleb and Mark.
His blue eyes searched hers. “I do love the boys. They are my family now.” Philip looked to where the boys slept.
There was no longer any doubt in her mind that he loved Mark and Caleb. His love for them shone in his eyes. He hadn’t included her, but that was all right. They’d agreed this was a friendship within a marriage, but it still hurt a little.
When he faced her once more, Bella continued. “Promise that no matter what happens, you will take care of the boys until they are at least eighteen years old. Promise me.”
Confusion furrowed his brow. “I promise. Now, what is this all about?”
She inhaled deeply once more and began. “When Marlow first arrived here, he said he still wanted to marry me.” Bella paused to get her thoughts in order.
“You told me that.”
“Yes, but what I didn’t tell you was that he had business to discuss with me. But when Thomas and Josephine arrived, he left. It seemed odd to me, but not in a threatening way. I had already told him to go home and had hoped that he had done as I’d asked.”
Philip leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. “But instead you met him in town.”
A harshness had entered his voice. Bella hurried to reassure him. “Yes, but not on purpose. When I was walking to the dress shop, he stopped me. He claims that the day I left, my old boss, Sam, was struck with my rolling pin. The sheriff says he was murdered, and since the rolling pin is mine, they are looking for me.”
His arms dropped and he reached for her hand. “What else did he say, Bella?” Concern filled his voice, making it easier to continue.
“He says that if I will go back with him, he’ll make sure that I don’t hang for murder.” The words caught in her throat. The fear of hanging ripped through her once more.
“How does he intend to do that?”
Bella met his gaze. “Marlow Brooks is a well-respected attorney. He plans on marrying me to prove to them that there is no way I’d kill anyone.”
Philip shook his head. “You’re already married to me.”
“Yes, but he wants me to divorce you.” Tears rolled down her cheeks unbidden. Her heart broke every time she thought of life without Philip.
His hand tightened around hers and his jaw worked. “Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?”
“I was trying to buy time. Think of a way to prove he is lying about Sam and the law.” She didn’t want to tell him that Marlow had said Philip would think she was capable of murder and take the boys away from her. “Marlow wouldn’t help me if there wasn’t something he would gain. He claims to love me, but it’s not true.”
Philip released her hand. “How do you know it’s not true?”
“On the day I told him that we would be raising Caleb and Mark, he told me to put them in an orphanage or to get out of his life. He said he didn’t love me, but with his stature in the community he needed a pretty wife. I fit the bill. To him I was pretty and could cook. The perfect little wife.” Her voice cracked. “I saw him for the monster that he is then and I saw it again the other night.”
* * *
Philip wanted to pull her into his arms and protect her from the man who could put such fear in her eyes. Instead he continued to hold her hand and ask questions. “Were you just going to take the boys and leave?”
Blue, tear-filled eyes looked at him. “I don’t know. Marlow says the sheriff is looking for me and I need to make a decision fast. If the sheriff finds me before I marry him, Marlow says he won’t help me.”
“Why didn’t you ask me to help you? I don’t understand. Do you not trust me?” It hurt to think that she wouldn’t come to him. It hurt even more to think she might have just left and never said goodbye. Could she do that if they were married?
Bella’s tears flowed freely down her face now. “Philip, aren’t you worried that the law thinks I murdered someone?”
“No. I don’t believe you murdered anyone. You are one of the kindest women I’ve ever met. I don’t believe you are capable of murder.”
Her shoulders slumped at his words and sobs tore from her throat. “Why did I believe him? He said you would turn me over to the sheriff here. That you’d take the boys away from me.”
Philip could stand it no longer. He stood and pulled her to her feet. Wrapping her in his arms, he held her. Her tears wet the front of his shirt and still he held her.
How could a man break a woman so badly? And why had Brooks done it? What did he have to gain by hurting her like this? Philip rubbed Bella’s back until the sobs subsided.
She stepped out of his embrace. “I’m so sorry. I should have trusted you.” Bella pulled a handkerchief from inside her sleeve. She sat back down.
Philip also sat down. “Bella, I agree with you. Brooks wants something you have. Any idea what it could be?”
“No. I’ve been trying to figure out what it could be, but I have nothing other than my nephews and you. And he wants to take you away from me.”
When she looked at him, Philip saw the pain in her eyes at the thought of losing him. He also saw a deep love there. Yet she was willing to give him up if it meant saving her own life and keeping the boys.
“Bella, how did Marlow know where to find you?”
“I suppose he went to Denver, where my sister lived, and asked her lawyers if I’d left a forwarding address.”
“Did you?”
She frowned. “Kind of. I told them I was heading to Dove Creek and would send an address once I was settled.”
The more she talked, the more confused he became. “I thought you said your brother-in-law and sister had left debts and didn’t have any money or property left.”
“I did.” She picked up her coffee and took a drink.
Philip sighed. “So why did you tell them where you were going?”
This time Bella sighed. “Mr. Jenkins said that the boys’ toys were tied up with the rest of the estate, but as soon as everything was settled, he was sure he could send the boys their personal belongings and possibly a keepsake from their parents.”
He grinned. “That’s it. If we write to your Mr. Jenkins, he’ll probably tell us that the estates have been settled.”
At her quizzical expression Philip pressed on. “When Josephine came here, she was running from her greedy uncle and his gambling partner. To make a long story short, the reason they were looking for her was because her father had discovered gold and they wanted it. See?”
“So you think my sister and her husband left something for the boys? Why else would Marlow come searching for us? But what about saying Sam was murdered and the law thinks I killed him?”
Philip stood up and began pacing the room. “It’s probably a lie. A means to get you away from me. If you had married him, he’d just tell you it was all a mistake or that he’d taken care of it. As your new husband and the boys’ guardian, he’d have access to whatever resources have been left to you.”
“What you are saying makes sense, but is it true?”
He grinned at her. “Bella, your husband isn’t without his own resources.”
Bella wanted to smile back at him but felt too drained to do so. “What kind of resources?”
“The Pony Express. With my network of friends, we can find out how much of what Brooks is telling us is true.” He kneeled down beside her. “How much time did you tell Brooks you needed?”
“A month.”
“And how much of that time has passed?”
“A little more than a week.”
Impulsively he kissed her quickly on the lips and then stood. “That gives us plenty of time. In the morning I’m having Brooks arrested for breaking into my house and scaring my wife and kids almost to death.”
“He’s staying in someone’s house who is gone for the winter. But I don’t know the name. Will he be able to get out of jail fast?” Worry lined her voice.
Philip shook his head. “No. If he’s staying in someone’s home, the sheriff might have to hold him until the owner comes back.” He grinned at her. “Trust me, the sheriff will help us detain him for a long time.”
Her eyes lit. He assumed it was because with Marlow in jail, he couldn’t threaten or hurt the boys anymore. “But what about poor Sam?”
“The sheriff can look into that, too. But I have a feeling that’s all a lie just to get you to go with Marlow.” Philip picked up his coffee.
Bella yawned. Her eyes drooped and her shoulders slumped.
Now he understood why she hadn’t been sleeping. Anger burned deeply in Philip, but he was trying hard not to show it. He walked over and took Bella’s hand in his. She looked up at him, the shadows under her eyes even more prominent. Philip pulled her to her feet. “Go lie down by the boys. You need rest. I’ll stay up and keep an eye on Mark.”
She didn’t argue and simply turned away, but then Bella wheeled back to face him. “Thank you, Philip.”
He nodded. “You’re welcome, honey.”
Bella grinned. “That’s the second time you’ve called me that.”
Philip chuckled. He wasn’t deeply in love with this woman, but he did love her. It was a realization that had hit him earlier when he’d learned that she’d been threatened. Philip became aware he was staring and answered her. “It won’t be the last, either. Go get some sleep.”
Loving a little bit was all right. He just had to guard his heart and not fall deeply in love. Was that possible? Now that he’d admitted that he loved her, could he keep himself from falling so deeply in love that should something happen to her he’d survive? Or had his father passed on that weakness to him?