Authors: Vanessa Devereaux
Chapter Four
Voices,
all Gracie
could hear were people talking.
Unfamiliar ones.
Not
her pa, not the people they’d been riding with in the carriage.
Two women.
She tried
to see who they were but her eyeballs ached and she didn’t have even enough
strength left in her to open them.
Just
where was she? She seemed to be floating around in nothingness. And she was hot
and then cold. Her head was riddled with pain and her face ached. Maybe she was
in heaven. How come heaven made you hurt so badly?
Gracie.
It
was her father. Now she could see him.
Now
she remembered the coach careening over the edge of the ravine.
Be brave. You
have your whole life ahead of you but you have to wake up.
Gracie
shook her head.
She
didn’t want to because she knew she’d be all alone in the world. No other
family, no money, no prospects. Not even the trunk with her pretty dresses and
her mother’s pillow.
Wake up, sweet
girl.
No.
Please for me.
For Pa.
Gracie
tried to get her eyes to open. They fluttered a few times but closing them shut
felt a whole lot better.
“Maybe
shut those drapes and it might be easier for the poor girl to focus on her
surroundings.” That hadn’t been her father’s voice.
Someone
touched her arm. She tried once more to open her eyes and this time the right
one cooperated. It hurt so she squinted.
“Hello,
welcome back to the world.”
It
was a woman’s voice. Someone touched her arm again.
Gracie
opened her eyes, trying to focus on her surroundings.
A
woman sat beside her. She didn’t know her. She had a red scar on her right cheek.
Maye she’d been in the carriage too. Maybe someone had brought all the injured
people here, wherever here was.
“
It’s
okay honey, you’re safe here. It’s so wonderful to see
you back in the world,” she said. Gracie tried to sit up but her head hurt.
“No,
don’t try and get up. We’re all going to take good care of you until you’re
strong again.”
A
bed, she was in a bed. Floral wall trimmings were all around the room. A girl
stood on the other side of the bed.
“Ruth,
you go along and get the doc and tell him that the young lady’s awake.”
“Can
you tell me your name?” asked the woman.
“
Grac
…”
Her
voice was hoarse and it hurt like never before.
“Gracie,”
she managed to get out.
“Hi Gracie.
I’m Maggie McGuire.”
“Miss
Maggie, the doc’s here. He was just across the way in the feed store.”
Gracie
saw an older man with a moustache enter the room.
“This
is Gracie. Gracie, this is Doc Singleton.”
“Well,
young lady, you finally decided to wake up. Must be all this pampering Maggie
and her girls have been giving you.”
“How
long have I been here?” asked
Gracie.
Wherever here was.
“Three
days,” said Maggie. “Sheriff Doyle brought you here.”
She
did vaguely remember a man talking to her and riding on a horse in the rain but
she thought she’d fallen asleep and was dreaming.
“I’m
guessing he’ll want to know that Gracie is awake,” said the doctor. “How are
you feeling?” he asked, taking her wrist and feeling her pulse.
“Tired and sleepy.”
“And
you will be, but Maggie here is going to continue to watch over you.”
“Is
it okay if I get her some bread and broth?” asked Maggie.
“I
think that will be fine, but not too much too soon.”
Maggie
stood. “I’m going to get that straight away and I’m going to send one of the
girls to tell the sheriff that you’re awake.”
“Please
let me thank him.”
“I’ll
let him know you’d like him to visit with you,” said Maggie.
****
The
doctor had told him it was touch and go with the young girl he’d found in the canyon.
He been back to Maggie’s every day to inquire as to her condition and been
informed she hadn’t woken up. Doc had told him that with each passing day she
didn’t come out of her sleep, the less chance that she ever would. She’d
probably gone without water for too long. She’d been exposed to the elements
and had sustained a nasty head injury caused by what they didn’t quite know.
They’d wondered if she’d been attacked and left for dead.
However,
he’d been in his office a few days later when Maggie had sent Annabeth, one of
her girls to come get him.
“Sheriff,
the girl you saved is finally awake. Her name’s Grace and she
wants
to see you. Maggie sent me to get you.”
It
has been the best news he’d heard in a long time. He stopped with the paperwork
he was working on, put on his cowboy hat and followed Annabeth across the
street to Maggie’s place. He went through the main saloon. Two of Maggie’s
girls winked at him. He nodded to them while passing through the curtains to
the hall that led upstairs. He headed up the stairs there hearing one of the
girls giggling and a man’s voice coming from a nearby room.
At
least this place kept the men happy. Happy men who enjoyed a good fuck tended
not to get into fights, which made an easier job for a sheriff. It was one of
the reasons he turned a blind eye to what went on behind closed doors in Maggie’s
saloon. Yeah, he liked Maggie a lot too. She was one tough lady with a heart of
gold, which was the reason he’d brought Gracie to her. And yes, he did
sometimes rely on one of the girls to take care of
his
needs. No man, even the sheriff, could go without scratching
that sort of itch.
He
knocked on the door. Maggie opened it and stood there. Ryan nodded and touched
the brim of his hat to her.
“Annabeth
tells me that the young lady, Gracie is awake and wishes to see me.”
“She
sure does. Come in, won’t you?”
She
stepped aside and let him into the room. Gracie was sitting up in bed with a
shawl around her. The gash on her forehead still looked fierce but now her once
tattered and wet locks were dry and hung around her shoulders, framing her oval
face. She was the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen. He’d been too busy
trying to save her that night to notice it before. His heart beat against his ribcage
and he put his hand on his chest, convinced it would beat out of his body.
Gracie
had a tray set across her lap with a bowl of broth and a piece of broken bread
at the side of it.
“Miss,”
he said, suddenly lost for words. Words and knowing what to say were his
forte.
And he’d never once been tongue
tied in female company.
“I’m
told you’re the man who saved me and brought me into town.”
He
took off his hat, thinking how impolite he’d been stepping into this room and
continuing to wear it. He fingered its brim, thinking her beauty had even made
him forget his manners.
“Yes,
miss I did.”
“Then
thank you. Thank you so much.”
“No
need to thank me because anyone else would have done the same thing,” said Ryan.
“Ryan,
have a seat and visit with Gracie,” said Maggie, dragging a chair close to the
bed. “I have to work on accounts so I’ll leave you to talk.”
Maggie
left the room and there was suddenly an uncomfortable silence for a few
seconds.
“It’s
wonderful to see you looking so well after what you’d obviously been through.
May I ask what happened to you? What you were doing in the canyon all by yourself?”
A
tear began to run down Gracie’s face. He hadn’t meant to upset her.
“My
father and I were on a coach on our way to Grantsville with some other
passengers when a wheel broke and we careened down over the edge of the ravine.”
Ryan
gripped the brim of his hat.
“I
found my father but he was already dead. I covered him with a shawl, and one
other lady died shortly after I stumbled upon her. I’m not sure what happened
to the rest of the passengers. I climbed up to the dirt road and walked.”
“You
walked for how long?”
“Almost a day and a half.
I sat down to
rest but I must have fallen asleep and that’s when you found me.”
“You
weren’t just asleep. You were almost dead.”
Gracie
bit her lip and more tears fell. “I have to go back for my father’s body. He
has to be given a decent burial.”
Ryan
nodded. “You’re in no fit state to be doing anything of the sort so I’ll round
up some of the men and we’ll go look for your father and the other passengers.”
Judging
by the state she’d been in and how long she’d been unconscious, he was guessing
that the accident had most likely occurred five days ago so he was sure wild
animals had probably been around the area, but he didn’t say anything to
Gracie.
“You’re
too kind,” she said.
“Just doing my job as the sheriff.”
“I
would be very grateful if you could look for a trunk with an A upon it,
Atkinson is our name and inside will be money for burying my father. And also a
pillow made by my mother.”
“I
will do my best. I take it your mother wasn’t on the journey.”
“She
passed away last year. My father and I decided to come out West to start a new
life.”
“I’m
so sorry Gracie, for all your hardship. I have a feeling things are about to
get better for you. Fortune will look down kindly upon you.”
She
took a deep breath and her eyelids fluttered. He could tell she was getting
tired so he stood.
“I
will let you rest some more and I for one will be more than happy to see you up
and about very soon. I’ll head out with the men later today. I’ll stop by and
tell you what I found. That is, if you’ll allow me to visit again?”
“Sheriff
Doyle, you saved my life so you’ll always be a welcome visitor.”
He
nodded and smiled. “And would you please call me Ryan?”
“I
will. Thank you once again for bringing me here. I know my father would thank
you over and over again.”
“I’ll
be back soon with good news about your belongings I’m sure.”
Ryan
left the room and went back downstairs to find Maggie bent over her account
books. The floorboard creaked by the entrance to the room, causing Maggie to
look his way.
He
stepped inside. “Gracie tells me the coach she and her father were riding on
lost a wheel, causing it to tumble into a ravine. Her father’s dead and
probably so are the other passengers. She walked for almost two days trying to
get help.”
Maggie
shook her head.
“The poor sweet girl.”
“I’m
going to round up some of the men and we’ll go take a look. She wishes to bury
her father.”
“And
so she will. I think she’s a survivor. I can see it in her eyes.”
Ryan
nodded. “I think she’s a lot like you.”
“Even
down to the scar on the face, only Doc says hers will disappear in a month or
even less.”
“Have
you told her what type of business you run?” asked Ryan.
“No,
but I’m making sure the girls entertain in the rooms on the other end of that
floor. We have Matt Brown visiting tonight and that’s just to say that man
isn’t quiet when he finds his sweet release.”
Ryan
burst out laughing.
“It’s
just she seems so innocent and I don’t want her thinking badly of me because I
brought her here. No offense to you, Maggie.”
“None
taken,” said Maggie.
“I
knew you’d take good care of her,” said Ryan
“That
I will,” said Maggie.
“Well,
I’d better get these men rounded up and head out to see what we can find.”
“Tell
them that drinks are on the house after they’re done looking, and yes, so are
the girls,” said Maggie
“I’m
sure they’ll be pleased to hear that,” And I said I’d come back and let Gracie
know what I’ find.
“Very
well then,” said
Maggie.Ryan
turned, hearing Maggie
talk to him again.
“She’s
very pretty isn’t she?” asked Maggie.
“Yes,
she sure is.”
Chapter Five
Gracie
had never seen such a fine looking man as Ryan Doyle ever before. She thought
that maybe it was something to do with her being close to death and then
recovering, because when he’d walked into the room her heartbeat had increased
so much she could hear it pounding in her ears and head.
She’d also felt flushed and was sure she’d
been blushing as he’d sat there talking to her.
She
had every faith in him that he’d find her father and their trunk. He had kind
eyes, like those of her father. You could always tell a man’s true character by
the look in his eyes. Ryan’s were blue and gorgeous.
Someone
knocked on the door and then opened it.
“Hi
I’m Annabeth and Maggie sent me to see if you need anything.”
“Thank
you, but I’m fine.”
“Would
you like some company?”
One
thing that Gracie had felt since the accident was alone. The girl didn’t look
much older than she was, so someone young to visit with was maybe just what she
needed.
“Sure,
I’d like that.”
Annabeth
walked into the room and sat on the end of the bed.
“You’re
looking a lot better than when the sheriff brought you in. None of us thought
you’d live more than a few hours.”
Gracie
took a deep breath, suddenly realizing that maybe she’d been a fool to try and
walk to get help. Maybe she should have stayed on the side of the road.
“At
least the sheriff found me,” said Gracie.
“And such a handsome one at that.”
So
Gracie wasn’t the only one who thought so. Well, that was foolish. With his
looks she was sure every girl had their heart set upon him romancing him.
“I
saw him setting out with four men a few hours ago. He said the coach you were
traveling in lost a wheel and your pa died. I’m so sorry, Gracie,” said
Annabeth reaching out and squeezing Gracie’s hand.
“I’ve
lost everything.” She bit her lip, telling herself she wouldn’t cry again.
“Not
everything. You have new friends: Maggie, the sheriff, me and the rest of us
here.”
“Maggie’s
been very kind.”
“Yeah,
she has a heart of gold.”
“I
don’t suppose there are any books to read. The doctor said I’m to be staying in
bed for a few more days and I feel like I have to do something.”
“You
can read? Only wish I could.”
“Didn’t
you go to school?”
“Was
an orphan, then I got in with a family who traveled around and then Miss Maggie
took me in.”
“Would
you like me to read to you and then teach you?”
“Would
you, Gracie?” Annabeth stood. “I’ll go see if I can find us a book and would
you like your hair brushed? I mean so you can look all nice for when the
sheriff returns.”
She
winked at Gracie before heading out of the door.
Her
hair brushed for the sheriff. She hadn’t thought romantically about a man ever
before. Maybe she felt something for the sheriff because he was her hero, her
knight in shining armor, and it would soon pass.
****
Ryan
whistled to the other men when he came across part of what looked like a wagon
wheel. It was close to the area that Gracie said she
recalled,
when they were sliding down into the ravine.
Mike
brought his horse up beside Ryan’s.
“Get
the men to spread out and look through this area. I’m guessing it’s where most
of the coach broke apart. I’m going over this way,” said Ryan
“Will
do,” said
Mike.Ryan
pulled on the reins, riding to
the left where a man’s legs were jutting out from behind a tree.
He
got down from his horse and walked it over to it. Ryan looked away. The man’s
face was bloodied and his skull smashed.
Ryan
headed over to another area after seeing some steamer trunks sitting near a
rock. One had broken open and what looked like a woman’s dress had caught on a
shrub. Another trunk sat on its side, its contents spilling down the hill.
He
spotted a pillow.
Well I’ll be
damned.
He’d found Gracie’s pillow. He hoped it was hers because the poor girl needed
something to cheer her up.
He
tethered the horse to a tree, walked over to where the pillow sat and picked it
up. The edge had ripped and it was covered in mud from the heavy rain but with
a little cleaning it would be as good as new.
Ryan
looked around the area, scanning it to see if he could see anything else that
had spilled from the trunk.
A shoe, a pair of glasses, and a
small bag that was opened.
He lifted it up and saw a few coins inside.
Whether it was Gracie’s or not he was going to take it for her.
He
walked farther to the left and saw a photo half buried in the mud. He pulled it
out and wiped it off. Gracie, it was Gracie sitting with a woman. It had to be
her mother because she clearly looked like her. Ryan put it into his pocket,
looked up and then saw a man lying by a rock.
Gracie
had told him she’d found her father by a rock and covered him with a lady’s
shawl. A green one sat close to the man’s corpse. He ventured over to it but
then grimaced because the amount of time the poor man had been exposed to the
elements had not been kind to him.
Ryan
whistled, hoping the others would hear him. They would take every item, and the
bodies back to Grantsville and make sure everyone got a decent burial. At least
he could return to tell Gracie that he’d found her father. He looked at the
pillow again. He was looking forward to seeing her again.
****
It
was nightfall by the time the men got back to Grantsville and unloaded the
bodies.
Five in all, three men and two women and bits and
pieces of belongings.
When Gracie felt better he’d have her look through
it to see if anything else belonged to her.
He’d
cleaned the pillow up as best he could and put it under his arm as he headed
into Maggie’s place that was now buzzing with activity.
Men
drinking, playing cards, and the girls milling around.
Maggie
waved to him.
“You
found her pillow?”
“I
sure hope it’s hers. Is she still awake?”
“She
was the last time I looked in on her. She was reading.”
“I’ll
just go up and give her this, and I found a photo.”
“Did
you find her pa?”
Ryan
nodded.
Maggie
put her hands together. “I’m so happy. The poor girl’s been thinking he was
going to spend all eternity out there in the wilderness.”
“Stop
by my office for a drink on your way down.”
Ryan
headed up the stairs and along to the left. He heard a few of the girls and men
down at the other end of the hallway and hoped they didn’t get louder and
disturb Gracie.
He
knocked on the door.
“Come
in,’ said Gracie.
He
opened the door. The room was lit by one lamp and the light it cast made her
look so angelic and beautiful. Her hair was now brushed and cascaded down her
shoulders.
He
wanted to reach out and touch it.
Ryan
held the pillow up. “Hope this is it?”
Gracie
put her hands to her mouth. “It is, and how can I ever thank you?”
Ryan
thought of one thing but scolded himself for making it the first thought that
came into his head.
She was young and
innocent and he was an older man who’d seen lots of bad things. He’d done a bad
thing.
“It’s
probably not as pristine as it once was.”
He
handed it to her and she took it and pressed it into her body before kissing
it.
“I
also found a photo that I know is of you and I assume it’s your mother.”
He
handed that to her as well. “Your mother was a beautiful woman. You’re a
beautiful woman.”
“Thank
you.”
“I
also found a purse.”
“That’s
mine. You are such an angel.”
“I’m
afraid there were only two coins in it.”
“Two?
I’ll need more money to bury my father. Did you…”
Ryan
nodded.
“I’d
like to see him one last time.”
“No
honey, I don’t think you want to do that. And I can take care of all the
arrangements for his funeral and burial. I know people who will do it all for
free so you’re not to worry about anything else but getting well.”
“Thank
you and please let me know who else I need to thank.”
“I
will do that and as soon as Doc says you’re able to get up and around we’ll
plan a service for him. I know a nice plot of land just outside of town.”
“If there’s anything I can ever do for you, just
name it.”
That
comment went straight to his cock and he felt totally ashamed of himself.
But there was just something about Gracie that
stirred his libido like never before. He had to get out of here and away from
her. Well, at least for the time being. She needed to get well.
“I’ll
leave you to get a good night’s rest and I’ll stop back again tomorrow to fill
you in on all the details for your father’s burial.”
He
put on his hat and headed outside. As he got to the stairs he heard a very
vocal man screaming out with sheer pleasure. Ryan needed that sort of release
too but not with one of Maggie’s girls. His woman of choice was now Gracie.