Outlaw's Bride (30 page)

Anger blazed through Clint. “He's not going to die.”

“No, no, you misunderstand me. I'm not asking you to take over permanently, only until Walt is back on his feet.”

Clint's anger retreated. “I'm not interested.”

“But—”

Clint stood and the bank president scrambled to his feet.

“I gave up being a lawman over a year ago,” Clint said. “I'm not ready to pin on a badge again. I don't know if I ever will be.”

“I'm only asking you to do the job for a few weeks, while Walt heals.”

Clint recalled the conversation Mattie and Atwater had had the evening the sheriff came for supper. “Atwater's getting old. He may not want the badge back.”

“If that happens, we'll find someone else. But since you're here and we need somebody right now, I thought—”

“You thought wrong.” Clint turned and opened the door, then strode out.

Outside on the boardwalk, he heard his name called and turned to see Amelia peeking out from around the corner of the bank. He joined her in the shadows and gazed down into her wide eyes.

“You didn't tell him, did you?” she asked, desperation clearly etched in her face.

“No. Your secret's safe with me.”

She closed her eyes briefly. “Thank you.”

“I'm glad you got out of the business, Amelia. Most girls never do.”

She shivered. “I know. I saw a friend of mine die—beaten to death by a customer. That's when I decided I wasn't going to end up like her.” She paused. “What did my husband want?”

“He asked me if I would fill in as sheriff while Atwater is healing.”

“What'd you say?”

“No.”

Amelia's brow furrowed. “Why not? You were a good lawman.”

“My wife was killed because I was a ‘good lawman.'” He couldn't keep the bitterness from bleeding into his words.

“I understand,” Amelia said softly. She lent him a smile. “I'll bet Orville wasn't very happy you turned him down.”

Clint chuckled. “He wasn't too bad.”

“He's a good man, Clint. He may seem a little overbearing, but he's always been real good to me.” He could see a blush stain her cheeks. “In fact, we're going to have a baby next spring.”

Clint smiled and squeezed her hands gently. “Congratulations, Amelia. You'll make a fine mother.”

“And Orville will be a good father. I'll make certain of that.”

Clint laughed lightly. “I don't doubt that at all.” He glanced around, ensuring no one was around. “I'll be staying in Green Valley for a little while. Will that bother you?”

She shook her head. “You're more than welcome.” Amelia glanced around nervously. “I'd better get back to the house before someone sees us.”

Amelia gave him a quick wave and slipped away. Clint waited a minute before following her in case someone had seen her come out of the alley.

He glanced across the street at the doctor's office. Though he wanted to see Mattie and check on Atwater, Clint figured he'd better stop by and see the prisoner first. It wasn't his job, but he felt a certain obligation to Atwater.

After he did that, he would have a conversation with Mattie.

The one he should have had with her before he left.

Mattie stepped away from the window as a cold fist tightened around her heart. She suspected Clint and Amelia had known each other before, but she hadn't realized how well until she saw them both come out of the alley across the street.

When Clint had come riding out of nowhere to haul her to safety during the attempted robbery, shock, happiness, fear, disbelief, desire, helplessness—all of them whirled through her like a twister, leaving a carnage of doubts and suspicion in its wake. The reason he'd left still lay between them, so why had he returned?

Had it been Amelia he'd come back for?

“Mattie?”

Startled and a little dazed, she turned to face Kevin. “Yes?”

His expression turned to one of concern. “Are you all right? You look pale. Is it the baby?”

She smiled past the hurt that gripped her insides. “We're both fine.” Mattie bent her head toward Walt. “How is he?”

Kevin wiped his hands on a towel. “He'll be fit as a fiddle in no time. In fact, I think the most difficult task now will be to keep him in bed for a few days.”

“You're probably right,” she said faintly.

Her thoughts returned to Clint and Amelia. Together. Like she and Clint the night before he left. Amelia was a married woman, which in Mattie's mind made the deception even worse.

Mattie's fingernails dug into her damp palms. How had she been such a fool?

Kevin stared at her a long moment. “It's him, isn't it?”

Mattie folded her arms across her stomach to conceal their trembling. “I never expected to see him again, especially this soon.”

“It doesn't change anything, Mattie. He'll leave you again.”

She closed her eyes against the pain, knowing he was right. Even if she hadn't seen Clint with Amelia, she had pledged herself to Kevin. “I know that.”

Kevin cleaned his medical instruments and Mattie dried them, her motions mechanical and her mind numbed.

“Are you going to tell him about the baby?” Kevin asked, his thin features pinched.

“I promised I wouldn't,” Mattie said, sharper than she'd intended. She looked away guiltily—she
had
considered telling him. It didn't seem right not to tell Clint about his own child, especially since she knew he had wanted children. Her conscience had fought a battle, and her promise to Kevin had come out the victor.

Besides, Kevin would make a much better father than Clint. He was a doctor, a man to look up to and admire. Clint lived in a world where violence was the norm rather than the exception.

Mattie shivered—she didn't want her children growing up in that kind of world.

No, she wouldn't tell Clint about the baby. The future of her unborn child, as well as Andy's, depended on her remaining silent. She'd succumbed to temptation once with Clint—she couldn't afford to do it again.

The front door opened and a few moments later Clint stepped into the examination room. His presence sucked the air from Mattie's lungs and she lowered her gaze to the surgical tool she was drying.

“How is he?” Clint asked, gesturing toward the sheriff.

“He'll be fine,” Kevin replied formally. “He will have some stiffness in that arm, however, for an extended length of time.”

Mattie knew Kevin was barely holding his dislike for Clint in check, but she couldn't blame him.

“How long?”

“Weeks, maybe months, depending on how fast his body can adjust,” Kevin replied. “He's not a young man anymore.”

Mattie's gaze skipped over to Walt's grizzled face. The older man had been like a father to her ever since Jason's death. It was scary to see him so still, so pale. Why hadn't he retired when she asked him?

She inhaled a shaky breath. She was going to have a serious talk with Walt once he was feeling better. And this time he
would
listen to her.

A tingling at the base of her neck made her glance up to see Clint studying her. “Could I talk with you, Mattie?”

“About what?” Kevin demanded.

Clint scowled, clearly not appreciating Kevin's interference. “That's between Mattie and me.”

“Anything you want to tell her, you can tell me, too.” He wiped his hands on a cloth, then placed a proprietary arm around Mattie's shoulders.

For a moment, she wanted to push him away, but realized Kevin was perfectly within his rights. Besides, Clint had to understand she was no longer available. He would have to make do with Amelia.

“She's going to be my wife,” Kevin announced.

Clint shifted his gaze to her, his eyes narrowed and his lips thinned. “Is that true?”

Mattie lifted her chin and met Clint's eyes. “Yes.”

She forced herself to hold his gaze. Why couldn't she stop caring? Why did her belly still flutter with anticipation at his presence?

Clint took a step toward her. “Are you certain about this, Mattie?” he asked, his voice low and intense.

Damn him for coming back and filling her with indecision, after she'd spent hours convincing herself to marry Kevin. She shifted her gaze to her fiancé, to the hesitancy and concern in his eyes. There was no doubt Kevin cared for her, and she owed him her loyalty, if not her love.

Swallowing hard, she reached for Kevin's hand and grasped it firmly. “I'm sure, Clint. Kevin and I will be getting married in two weeks. You're welcome to attend the wedding, if you're still in town.”

Clint flinched at her last words. She hadn't meant to say them, but at least she'd made her point crystal clear. She couldn't count on him to stay around.

His gaze darted to their joined hands and resignation stole across his handsome features. “All right,” he said softly. “If that's your decision, I have to respect that.” He fingered the brim of his hat. “And I think I will stay around for the wedding. I haven't been to one in years.” Clint offered Kevin his hand. “Congratulations, Dr. Murphy.”

After a moment's hesitation, Kevin shook his outstretched hand. “Thank you, Beaudry.”

Mattie's heart climbed into her throat. She hadn't expected Clint to take the news so well, but then what
had
she expected? That Clint would declare his undying love for her?

That wasn't his way. That much, she knew.

“Are you going to check on the prisoner?” Clint asked. “He's got a bullet wound in the leg. It looks like it went clear through and bled a lot. He's going to need some stitches.”

Kevin nodded. “We'll go over there.”

“What about Walt?” Mattie asked. “We can't leave him alone.”

“I'll sit with him,” Clint volunteered.

Kevin blinked in surprise. “Are you sure?”

“I've sat with wounded men before.” He smiled crookedly, endearingly. “I've even done my share of patching up bullet holes.”

Mattie's heart tripped. His boyish smile still turned her bones to jelly and her brain to mush. How was she to endure knowing he was in town these next two weeks, without throwing herself into his arms again?

She would hide in her home and not come out until the day of the wedding. Yes, that was the only solution.

“If he wakes up, make sure he doesn't try to move around. He needs to lie still for at least a day so the wound can begin healing. If he's in pain, you can give him some laudanum.” Kevin handed Clint a brown bottle. “But only a teaspoon or two.”

Clint set the bottle aside. “I can handle it.”

Mattie watched him draw up a chair beside Walt's bed. Moisture clouded her vision, and she recognized the maudlin tears as a symptom of her condition. While she'd been carrying Andy, even a butterfly's flight could make her cry. However, knowing the reason for her tears didn't give her any more control over them.

“Let's go, Mattie,” Kevin said softly.

She moved as if her body were someone else's, allowing Kevin to guide her out the door. Once on the boardwalk, she felt her control returning.

The worst was over. She'd done the right thing. She'd spoken the words to Clint that dismissed him and tied her to Kevin.

So why did she feel so bereft?

Clint listened until Mattie's and the doctor's footsteps faded away. He took a deep breath and clasped his shaking hands, then dragged them across his forehead and over his head, resting them at the base of his neck.

He'd arrived too late. She had told him that Dr. Murphy was seeing her, but he hadn't expected the man to move in so quickly after he'd left. He admired the doctor, though he'd be hard-pressed to say he liked him. How could he, knowing Mattie would be in Murphy's arms every night after they were married?

And why had he told them he'd stay for the wedding?

“You're a glutton for punishment, Beaudry,” Clint muttered.

He sat back in his chair, his shoulders slumped. Now what? He doubted he could sit around for two weeks without going crazy, especially knowing Mattie's place was just up the road. He wouldn't—couldn't—stay there. The physical temptation would be too great, and she'd end up hating him.

Maybe she did already.

Atwater's hand moved and Clint straightened. The sheriff opened his eyes, closed them, then blinked in the subdued light.

“Just relax, Sheriff,” Clint said softly, laying a hand on his arm.

Atwater turned his head and focused on Clint. “Wh-what the hell … happened?”

“The bank was robbed,” Clint replied. “Do you remember?”