WM02 - Texas Princess (39 page)

around. We’ve already had a long talk this morning.”

“What does my grandfather have to do with us?” Tobin decided coming here had been a mistake. She was safe, but away from him.

Libby wiggled her eyebrows. “He said he’s heard my father is a great chief and I should be treated with proper kindness, so he’s made arrangements for men to accompany us back to within sight of Whispering Mountain.”

“That’s not necessary.” She’d been away from his arms for one night and he already ached for her. The idea of having braves with them for the next three or four days didn’t work into his plan.

“I insist.” His grandfather stepped into the clearing. “You can’t keep up with her shoes, grandson. What if next time you lose the whole woman?”

Tobin swore he saw the old man smile a second before he drew himself up to his ful height and announced. “I wil send men.”

There was no argument. Before the sun was high enough to offer any warmth, they were riding out of the hunting camp with three braves. And worse, Tobin decided, Libby had been given her own horse for the journey.

He tried to tel himself his grandfather had only been thinking of her safety, but a tiny part of him decided the old man was simply meddling.

Tobin took a look at Libby. She looked rested and happy and more beautiful than ever, even though she did look thinner, which worried him. He, on the other hand, felt like he might very wel be turning into the bear the women accused him of looking like. Seeing her and not being able to be close enough to touch her was pure hel .

His mood didn’t lighten that night when he realized one of the guards planned to stay awake al night to watch over the camp. Tobin managed to sleep, but when he did he dreamed of making love to Libby and awoke feeling lonelier than ever.

On the fourth night, they camped within ve hours’ ride of his land. He wanted to push on through the night, but Libby looked tired and the food they’d eaten on the trail 307

hadn’t agreed with her. She never complained, but she wasn’t used to living off the land and it was starting to show in the paleness of her skin and the dark circles beneath her eyes. Every morning he insisted she eat something and before they’d gone a mile she had to stop to throw up.

Tobin decided to send one of the braves to Whispering Mountain to let his brothers and Sage know they were near. He also knew either Travis or Teagen would ride through the hidden pass and meet them at dawn. Once he had Libby home, he’d know she was safe and maybe she’d rest. She looked like she needed a warm bed and a few hot meals. With each day on the trail she’d grown quieter, showing less and less interest in her surroundings or in him for that matter. He’d tried to talk to her a few times and she’d simply told him she was tired.

He wasn’t surprised at dawn when both Teagen and Travis rode into their campsite.

“Is she al right?” Travis asked the minute he saw Libby.

Tobin resented his brother’s comment. “Of course she’s al right, but she’s a lady who’s been through a lot these past weeks. We need to get her home.”

“No,” Teagen interrupted. “We’re taking her straight to town. Her father’s there taking up every room nished in the hotel. He gured you’d be back with her.”

Libby smiled. “My father is safe.”

“Safe and wanting to see his daughter. He’s wearing the grass out to the bridge by sending a man every few hours to see if you’re back.”

“Is he stil in danger?”

Travis shook his head. “Right now I’d say whoever tried to ambush him that night between his place and town is the one who is in trouble. The senator never looked better and half the lawmen in Texas are trying to track down the band of outlaws.”

Travis turned to Tobin. “I got word from Wes. He said thanks to a marking he found near the road that looked a lot like something I would have left, they found where the outlaws camped.”

A bit of color came into her face as she smiled. “It’s over.” She combed her ngers through her hair and tied it back with a scrap of string. “I’m ready, gentlemen. We must not keep the senator waiting.”

Tobin helped her up on her horse, but her thank you was formal, not personal. The princess was back. For a moment he thought maybe it was hard on her to see him and not touch him. It was hel on him not to touch her. But if his distance bothered her, she was doing a great job of concealing the fact.

The Apache took their leave and the brothers surrounded her as they rode toward town. Tobin had a sickening feeling that his world was about to come to an end. Al he wanted to do was hold Libby, maybe spend one more night with her so he would have another memory to carry for the rest of his life. The closer they got to town, the more unlikely that possibility seemed.

The senator rushed out the hotel door before Tobin could help Libby down from her horse. He must have been watching from the window upstairs.

“Liberty,” he yel ed as he stormed down the steps and held out his arms to his little girl.

Libby screamed and jumped into his embrace, crying and laughing at the same time.

The senator held her close as he also laughed and cried, not caring that he stood in front of a dozen men.

Tobin felt like his heart was being pul ed out of his chest. She didn’t look at him as her father almost carried her into the hotel.

At the door he turned to the McMurrays. “Come in and have some dinner, boys. I’l get my little girl up to her room so she can rest and clean up, then I want to know everything that’s happened.” He looked directly at Tobin. “I’l want a report.”

Tobin wanted to yel that the senator’s little girl was a woman—his woman—but he didn’t have the right. He’d never told her she was his. He’d never told her how he felt.

And now. Now it was too late.

chapter 31

Y

Liberty allowed the hotel maid to help her

undress, then lay on the bed curled up in her own warm robe until the maid, a girl of about fteen, said her bath was ready. The room smel ed of fresh-cut wood and looked plain and newborn. Her father had brought her trunk l ed with al her things. Her soaps and silks and shoes. Al of which she realized she should have missed, but somehow hadn’t.

“You’ve got some mighty ne things,” the girl said as she poured bath oil into steaming water. “Those combs for your hair are the prettiest I’ve ever seen.”

“Thank you,” Liberty whispered, thinking she’d wear the ribbon Tobin gave her instead if she could, and none of the shoes were as comfortable as the moccasins.

She relaxed in the bath, washing every inch of her body several times. Her father had insisted on the best for her, even in this primitive town. She leaned back in the water and let the girl wash her hair. When the bath grew cold, Liberty slipped into fresh undergarments and wrapped back into her robe. She sat by the tiny re, letting her hair dry and thinking of her weeks with Tobin.

The maid was either too shy or too kind to talk. She moved around Liberty, making sure everything was just right. Without asking, she poured tea and left it next to a plate of biscuits and jam.

Liberty closed her eyes, and when she opened them she was alone. Truly alone for the

rst time in over a month. Drinking her tea, she thought of al she’d learned, about this part of the country and about herself. It seemed more a dream than real. She felt she’d lived an adventure like a heroine in a book and now it was time to go back to the real world.

Tobin had been her lover. He’d taught her to be a woman. And he’d demanded nothing of her. She thought of how little they’d talked and how completely they’d loved. In a few days she’d return to her world where everyone talked and talked yet it seemed no one loved.

A tap sounded at her door. Liberty made sure her robe was completely closed before saying, “Come in.”

She’d expected her father, but a pale old gentlemen with a square bag entered. He seemed to lead with his good leg and almost drag the other behind him, but he had a warm smile and kind eyes behind glasses that set low across his nose.

“I’m Dr. Nevad,” he said politely. “I’ve been taking care of your father’s injury.”

“My father was injured? When? How?” Liberty had been so anxious to get to a bath and clean clothes she’d missed the fact that her father may have been hurt.

“The night you were kidnapped, miss. He didn’t want anyone to know. Thought it might make him seem weak. He took a bul et in the muscle of his left arm. It bled a might, but I kept it clean and wrapped tight.” The doctor set his bag down on the table that held her tea. “He asked me to travel with him and I agreed.” The doctor laughed. “We’ve been on a merry chase, rst looking for outlaws and then riding to nd you.”

Liberty thought of tel ing the doctor her father only had two speeds, asleep and ful gal op. Even in Washington, when he was dealing with nothing but budget cuts, he stormed and raged through his days. “How is he now?” she asked, needing an answer.

The kind doctor seemed to understand and sobered immediately. “He real y hasn’t needed me for days, but when he said he was coming this way and would be bringing a carriage for you, I came along. I wanted to see how the place was growing. Haven’t been here for a few years. Used to make my rounds this far north.”

Liberty straightened, only hearing part of what he said. “How is the senator’s wound?”

“Good, miss. The bleeding stopped within twenty-four hours and I’ve seen no sign of infection. He’s right as rain now that you are safe. He was truly worried about you, miss, what with men out to kil him.”

“I wasn’t kidnapped.” Liberty swore she would stop this lie once and for al .

“I know.” The doctor winked. “Al of us with the senator knew just from the way he talked about Tobin. He never said much. We knew you were in danger but not from a Mc-Murray. Some even think you might have eloped that night you ran. From what I’ve heard he’s a ne man.”

She ignored his prying remark, having learned years ago to make no comment where gossip was concerned. “I’m glad my father is better. Thank you for taking such good care of him.” She looked at the man guessing there was more or he would have picked up his bag. “What else, Dr. Nevad?”

“The senator wishes me to check with you, miss, to see that you have no injuries.” He opened his bag. “I brought an examining gown.”

Liberty smiled. She’d always thought the boxy gowns were ridiculous. It wasn’t considered proper for a lady to reveal too much of her skin even to a doctor, so she was expected to put on a gown that covered her from head to toe and only al ow him to open a tiny spot at a time.

“How long have you been a doctor?”

“Thirty years, miss. Until my wife died ve years ago, I had a practice in New Orleans.

After she was gone, I took mostly traveling jobs, not wanting anyplace to go home alone to.”

He has such kind eyes, she thought. The kind of eyes that see both too much joy and sadness.

“Wil you please have a seat, Doctor?” She poured him a cup as he pul ed up a chair.

“I’d like it very much if you’d have tea with me before we begin.”

His knowing eyes agreed even before he spoke.

For a few minutes they drank their tea in silence. Final y, he leaned forward. “Miss Liberty, what you say to me wil go no further than this room. If you were hurt in any way and do not want your father to know, I wil respect your privacy.” He frowned. “Do you understand?”

Liberty nodded. The doctor probably thought she’d been mistreated and guessed quite rightly that her father would go into a rage if he knew anyone had laid a hand on her.

“Now, Miss Liberty, did you suffer any injury during your ordeal?”

She shook her head. “The night Tobin McMurray rescued me, Captain Buchanan slapped me almost senseless, then he claimed I grew clumsy and fel . Though I can’t prove it, he shoved me twice. Once into a chair and once almost knocking me down the stairs.”

The doctor nodded. “Were you hurt or bruised in the attack?”

She undid her robe and lifted her camisole a few inches so he could see her ribs. The dark blue bruise had faded to brown and almost disappeared.

“May I?” he asked as he leaned closer.

Liberty’s cheeks heated, but she nodded.

“Tobin wrapped my ribs for me the rst few days and slowly the ache went away.” She laughed suddenly. “We were riding so hard the pain may have just blended with al the other aches.”

The doctor nodded and leaned back in his chair. “Any other injuries?”

She shook her head.

“Now, dear, tel me how you feel over al .” It seemed it was his turn to grow red. “Is everything timely with you? Sometimes when a woman is under great fear or stress, her body suffers. I can give you something to ease your nerves if you feel you need it.”

Liberty understood. “I hadn’t thought about it, but my monthly time hasn’t come and I’m usual y quite regular.” She decided to add her other complaint of late. “I’ve had trouble keeping food down.”

The doctor raised an eyebrow. “Is there another attack you wish to tel me about, my dear?”

“No,” she said, confused that he’d think her trouble with food would have anything to do with an attack.

He looked even more uncomfortable. “Are you tender here?” He touched his chest.

Liberty couldn’t believe he’d asked, or guessed, but she didn’t lie. “Yes, I am.”

He looked at his hands. “May I be frank, Miss Liberty?”

“Please,” she encouraged.

“Have you been with a man? If not through an attack, then of your own wil .”

Liberty straightened. For a moment she almost lied. After al it was no one’s business but hers and Tobin’s. But she couldn’t bring herself to be ashamed of what they’d done. She couldn’t lie. “Yes. But it was not an attack.”

The doctor nodded as if he nal y understood. “I’l not tel your father,” he promised,

“but you must sometime in the near future. Young lady, unless I’m very wrong, you are with child. It’s very early yet so you have time to think of what you wish to do.”

Liberty stared at him. She’d known, in the back of her mind, that it might be possible, but it had taken her mother four years to conceive. She didn’t think pregnancy could come so quickly. Growing up, she’d had no one to ask such questions, so she’d just assumed.