23

Twins. That’s wonderful.” Aimee pulled out the plate of food she’d kept warm in the oven and placed it in front of Thea.

“It is, although you should have seen Travis’s face when I told him. I thought he might keel over.”

Thea took a bite of the savory roast chicken. She hadn’t eaten while she was helping Lydia through her labor, hadn’t even thought about being hungry, but now that the babies were safely delivered, she discovered that she was famished. Famished, almost limp with relief that Lydia’s lying-in had been successful, and filled with the inexplicable wish that Jackson were here to share the experience.

It made no sense. Thea shouldn’t consider discussing childbirth with a single man, particularly one who was not related to either her or the parents, but she wanted to tell him how fulfilling it had been to place Lydia’s babies in her arms. Though being a Ranger was very different from being a midwife—Jackson worked to protect life rather than bring it into the world—Thea’s instincts told her he would understand the satisfaction inherent in completing a difficult job.

But Jackson was not here, and Thea owed Aimee a better explanation. “I don’t think Travis was ready for two children, even though I’d told Lydia I thought it likely she was carrying twins.”

Aimee refilled her glass of tea and took a seat across from Thea, her expression making Thea believe she was thinking about something other than Lydia and her babies. “Men can be so silly, can’t they?”

“What makes you say that?” Silly was not a word Thea would ever associate with Travis or, for that matter, Jackson.

“It’s Nate.”

Of course. That explained why Aimee had seemed distracted. As a blush colored her cheeks, Aimee dipped her head.

Thea cut another piece of chicken, wondering what had happened between Nate and Aimee to make her believe he was silly. “Don’t tell me he’s back to being silent around you. I thought that ended at the square dance.”

Aimee and Nate had been partners for almost every set, and when they weren’t do-si-doing, they’d had their heads together, obviously engrossed in conversation. Ever since, Aimee had reminded Thea of the wildflowers that had invaded her childhood secret garden. Some years they barely stayed alive, but when there was a heavy rain at just the right time, they would burst into bloom, covering the ground with a riot of color. Aimee was in full bloom now, watered by Nate’s attention.

“Oh no.” Aimee shook her head so vigorously that a curl escaped from her chignon. “He comes into town every day so he can walk me home from the apothecary.”

“That’s less than two blocks.” Aimee hardly needed an escort for such a short walk, but if it made her happy, Thea would be the last person to criticize. After all, she looked forward to the conversations she and Jackson had when he came to pick up or drop off Stuart. They might be brief, but they were the highlights of Thea’s day.

Aimee gave her a mischievous grin. “It’s more than two blocks the way we go. Nate takes the longest route possible.”

“And that’s what you find silly?”

“No. That’s nice. It gives us time to talk.”

“Then what’s silly?”

“He called me a princess. Can you imagine that?”

A shiver made its way down Thea’s spine. “I can.” When he’d known her only a few days, Daniel had said she reminded him of a rose. And when she’d laughed and reminded him that roses had thorns, he’d nodded, claiming that she used them to guard her heart but that he would be the one who’d strip the stem of its thorns and capture the beauty.

Though another woman might have called that silly or at least fanciful, Daniel had been so earnest and Thea so entranced that she’d believed him. It hadn’t been the coup de foudre that Aimee claimed had struck her the day she’d met Nate, but it had been close.

“That’s the kind of thing a man says when he wants to woo a lady,” Thea told Aimee. “It looks to me as if you have a suitor.”

Aimee’s color deepened. “I hope you’re right, because you know how I feel about Nate. I’ve never met a man like him. He makes me feel beautiful, even though I know I’m not.” She paused to take a sip of tea. “I know it’s happening quickly, but my heart tells me Nate’s the one for me, and yet . . .”

Thea finished the last of the mashed potatoes and tried to tamp down her concerns while she waited for Aimee to continue. This was different, she reminded herself. Aimee wasn’t making the same mistake she had, rushing headlong into marriage with a virtual stranger. They weren’t even officially courting yet, and if Nate continued the way he’d begun, it would be a leisurely courtship. Furthermore, while he had been a stranger to Aimee, everyone in Cimarron Creek knew Nate. They could vouch for his integrity.

Nate wasn’t Daniel. He wasn’t hiding horrible secrets, and yet something worried Aimee.

“Yet what?” Thea prompted her friend.

“I worry that I’m not the right woman for him. What will he think when he learns the truth of my birth? He comes from a respected family.”

“So do you.” The Hendersons were one of Cimarron Creek’s two founding families, whereas the Kentons had come to town later.

“But it’s different.”

Aimee was right. The fact that she’d been born out of wedlock meant that some residents might condemn her. Thea couldn’t predict how Nate would react. All she could do was tell Aimee what she’d learned.

“If he loves you—really loves you—it won’t matter.” She hadn’t cared that Daniel knew nothing of his family, and he hadn’t been bothered by her parents’ tragic deaths. They’d both agreed that what their parents had done was of no importance, that what mattered were the present and the future they’d create together.

“I hope you’re right.”

So did Thea.

Jackson frowned when he saw lights on in the kitchen. He’d thought his late arrival in Cimarron Creek would mean that Warner would have gone to bed. Not only was it clear that he had not, but that looked like Nate’s horse tied up in front of the house. So much for Jackson’s hope that he could avoid a discussion of his trip and simply get some rest before seeing Thea in the morning. After what he’d learned in Leakey, he was not in the mood for casual conversation.

Biting back his frustration, he entered the house by the side door and found both Nate and Travis sitting at the table with Warner, glasses of sarsaparilla in front of them. Nate was no surprise, but why was Travis here? He didn’t normally frequent Warner’s house this late in the day.

“Glad you’re back,” Warner said as he registered Jackson’s arrival. The smile that accompanied his words told Jackson that whatever the reason the trio had gathered, it was a happy one. “You can celebrate with us. Grab yourself a glass.”

Though it was the last thing he wanted to do, Jackson pulled one from the cupboard and filled it with the fizzy beverage, then sank onto the empty chair. He’d drink the sarsaparilla as quickly as he could, then excuse himself.

“What are you celebrating?” He had nothing to celebrate.

“Fatherhood.” Travis’s face shone with a combination of pride, relief, and deep-seated happiness. “The babies came today.”

Jackson stared at the man. He shouldn’t have been surprised. After all, Thea had said that Lydia’s confinement was imminent, and he’d heard a rumor that she’d predicted twins, but he’d been so caught up in thoughts of death and danger since he’d left Leakey that Travis’s announcement startled him.

“Babies, as in plural?”

“Yep. I’ve got a son and a daughter.”

Jackson rose and clapped the sheriff on the back. This was good news, a happy ending to a difficult few days. “Congratulations, old man.”

“What do you mean ‘old man’? You’re older than I am.”

Though Travis’s grin took the sting from his words, Jackson simply nodded. On days like this, he felt more than old. He felt ancient, but he wasn’t going to say anything that would diminish the festive atmosphere in the kitchen. His friends—and he counted these men as such—deserved an evening free from worry.

Travis let his gaze roam from one man to the other before he spoke. “You fellows may not like my advice, but I’m going to give it anyway. Lydia’s the best thing that ever happened to me. She changed everything—made me happier than I thought possible, and now with Vernon and Virginia, my life is complete.”

It was the longest speech Jackson had heard the sheriff make. Was this what fatherhood did to a man?

“So, here’s my advice,” Travis continued. “If you find a woman like Lydia, don’t let her slip away. I want to see you all as happy as I am.”

Jackson stared at the wall as a picture snuck into his brain. He was riding up to what had been the Goddard ranch, knowing that it was now his home. And as he approached the house, a woman emerged, a toddler clutching her skirts, an infant in her arms.

He closed his eyes, taking in the details of the image. This was no faceless woman, no unknown toddler. It was Thea who greeted him, Stuart who clung to her, and the baby nestled in her arms was theirs, a tiny girl with Thea’s brown eyes and a shock of hair the same shade as Jackson’s.

The warmth that flooded him startled Jackson with its intensity. He might not deserve it, but this was what he wanted: a family of his own. Was this what God had in mind for him, or was it nothing more than a dream? There was only one way to find out, but first he needed to tell Thea what he’d learned.

“It’s bad news, isn’t it?”

Jackson hadn’t had to say a word. The wariness in his eyes when he’d climbed the front steps had signaled that something was wrong. He didn’t bother to deny her assumption, though he’d insisted it could wait until she returned from her appointments, but since Thea had finished checking on Lydia and the twins and had nothing else scheduled for this morning, she’d invited Jackson to stay.

For the sake of propriety, they remained on the front porch, a coffeepot on the table between them, a solemn expression on Jackson’s face. Thea had left the door open so that she could hear Stuart if he stirred, but the infant normally slept for an hour or so at this time of the day.

“I wish it were otherwise,” Jackson said, “but yes, it’s bad news. All the way back from Leakey, I tried to find a way to make this easier to bear, but there’s no way to sugarcoat it. I believe someone mistook Helen Bradford for you, and that’s why she was killed.”

It wasn’t a total surprise. Jackson was simply confirming what Thea had feared. She shouldn’t have been shocked, and yet she felt as if she’d been bludgeoned. As the blood drained from her head, she whispered the word that reverberated through her brain. “Why?”

“Why do I think that Helen was a victim of mistaken identity, or why was someone looking for you?” Jackson asked.

“Both.”

He leaned forward, the coffee cup clasped between his hands. “A couple came to Leakey, asking about the town’s midwife. When they didn’t like what they heard, they showed the owner of the mercantile a watch with a woman’s picture. The owner thought it was Helen.”

Thea closed her eyes, trying to subdue the sorrow that threatened to overwhelm her. Inquiries about a midwife, a watch with her portrait. This was no coincidence, and as a result an innocent woman was dead, a baby motherless.

“It was Daniel’s watch.”

“That seems likely.”

More than likely; it was the only plausible explanation. Even if Helen Bradford’s husband had once carried a watch with her portrait in it, there was no reason strangers would have it. Daniel’s watch, on the other hand, had been missing since his death.

Thea forced herself to open her eyes, wishing there were another explanation, wishing she did not feel so guilty. “That poor woman was killed because someone wanted to find me.” It was almost unthinkable, and yet everything pointed to that conclusion.

The September morning that Thea had greeted with pleasure, basking in the satisfaction of her successful delivery, had lost its luster. Though the sky was still as clear, the breeze as soft, it might as well have been gray and foggy for all the joy the day gave Thea.

Jackson nodded slowly. “I’m afraid so. I can’t imagine any other reason, especially since the people were obviously looking for you. The first thing they asked about was the midwife.”

Thea took a sip of coffee, trying to settle her nerves as well as her stomach, and as she did, the memory of Sarah’s letter resurfaced.

“I should have told you about a letter my sister sent me.” It wouldn’t have changed anything. Helen Bradford had been killed before the letter was written, but it might have been some help to Jackson. “A couple came to Ladreville a few days after I left. Sarah didn’t say anything about them having Daniel’s watch, but they asked about me at the mercantile. One of the customers told them I’d come here, but the owner was suspicious of them, so she claimed I’d changed my mind and gone to Austin.”

As she’d expected, the news did not please Jackson. “The Gang is obviously not giving up.”

“The Gang?”

“It’s the only answer that explains why your husband was killed and someone’s searching for you. The Gang is looking for something, and they believe you have it. That’s why they ransacked Helen’s house.”

Thea shuddered. Another awful thing to happen, all because Helen had the misfortune to resemble her.

“What are they looking for? I don’t have anything.” The most valuable thing Thea owned was a pair of earrings that had been her mother’s, and those were safe in her jewelry box. She’d worn them to church just last week.

“There’ve been rumors that one of the Gang took off with all the gold from the last heist instead of splitting it with the others. Based on everything that’s happened, I’d say the rest of the Gang believes Daniel had the gold and refused to tell them where it was. That would explain why they killed him and started looking for you. They obviously believe you either have the gold or know where it is.”

Jackson placed his cup back on the table and waited for Thea to respond.

“I don’t have any gold, and Daniel didn’t either. He was always worried about having enough money to support us once the baby was born. He wouldn’t have been like that if he’d had a lot of gold, would he?”

Though she’d hoped that Jackson would reassure her, he did not. “That would depend on where he’d hidden it and how secure he thought it was.” He was silent for a moment. “It was two months between the last robbery and when he was killed. Did Daniel seem different during that time?”

Thea tried to remember something—anything—that might have changed, but she could not. At the time, she’d been caught up in the wonder of her pregnancy, becoming more inwardly focused. It was a stage she’d noticed in many of her patients, particularly as they awaited the birth of their first child.

If Daniel had done anything unusual, she hadn’t noticed it. But that was a time when she’d also been preoccupied with the perfume she’d detected on his shirts, despite his stubborn denial of any wrongdoing. Perhaps the fact that she had been questioning Daniel’s love and whether their marriage had been a mistake had blinded her to changes in her husband’s behavior.

“I don’t know. I don’t remember anything special.” Thea closed her eyes for a second, remembering the sight of Helen Bradford’s body. “I’m still reeling over the fact that I was responsible for Helen’s death.” While she had lost a few patients and had mourned their deaths, Thea had always known that they’d died despite her best efforts, that she’d done everything in her power to save them. Helen was different.

Jackson reached out and clasped both of her hands in his. “Look at me, Thea. It wasn’t your fault. You had nothing to do with it. You didn’t even know Helen, so how could you be responsible?”

He was trying to reassure her the way she’d tried to tell him that he had not been responsible for Micah’s death, but it wasn’t working. “Helen died because she looked like me. You said that yourself.”

“I did, and I’m going to be honest with you. That worries me. I don’t want to frighten you, but everything I’ve learned tells me you’re in danger until I catch the rest of the Gang.”

Thea knew he felt her fingers tremble as the implications of his words registered. “What should I do?”

He tightened his grip on her hands. “You’re probably safe here in town, but you shouldn’t leave Cimarron Creek alone.”

“I’ll take a shotgun with me. I’m a good shot.”

Jackson frowned. “I don’t care whether you can hit the bull’s-eye every time. You’d be one person against two or three of them. Those are not favorable odds, especially considering that the Gang are all crack shots.”

She knew he was trying to protect her, and Thea appreciated that, but Jackson didn’t understand the reality of her profession. “I can’t stop calling on my patients.” No one knew how long it would take him to find Daniel’s former partners, and babies were notorious for their poor timing. Thea had to be ready to travel to an expectant mother’s bedside on a moment’s notice.

For the first time since they’d begun the conversation, Jackson’s lips started to curve into a smile. “I didn’t ask you to stop. I’ll go with you.”