Chapter Thirty-Five

While Shiloh and Adam were having breakfast in the bedroom, Hop Sing rushed from the kitchen to answer the door. He scowled when he recognized Seth Asher.

"Are Adam and Shiloh available? I'd like to speak to both of them," said Asher.

Hop Sing walked away spouting Cantonese, and as he passed the table, he barked, "Horse man want to see Mista Adam and Missy Shiloh," as he continued into the kitchen.

Ben looked around the table at those present and glowered before he put both hands on the table and pushed himself up. When he arrived at the door, his expression was the same. "Asher."

"Mr. Cartwright…I, ah…came to apologize to Shiloh…and Adam. It was never my intention for either of them to be injured, especially Shiloh…because she's a woman…of course."

"Come in," Ben said, indicating the sitting room. "I'll ask." Asher watched Ben climb the stairs, then turned and looked at those seated at the table. There wasn't a smile among them. He folded his lips into somewhat of a smile, gave them a quick nod and observed his hat in his hand.

In another moment, Ben came down shortly followed by Adam. Ben continued on to the dining table while Adam stopped at the foot of the stairs. "You've got a lot of nerve coming out here when Shiloh told you to send someone."

"Adam…" Asher started before he bowed his head again. "If I hadn't thought, considering how many times Slater had slipped through your fingers…and I mean no slight by that. You have a reputation for being a difficult man to deceive. If I thought there was another choice, I would have taken it. But we both know Slater was out to bring you to your knees, and we all know exactly what would have done that. He'd already made a deal with Miss Larue to cause trouble, and when I appeared in San Francisco asking questions, he took no time contacting me."

Adam crossed his arms and leaned back against the gun cabinet. "Asking what questions?"

"Look, I need to explain this to both of you."

Regarding Asher for a long moment, Adam said, "I'll ask. Wait here." In another moment, Adam reappeared at the top of the stairs, and made a motion down the hall toward the bedrooms. He stopped Asher at the bedroom door. "You say anything to upset her, and you'll be flying down those stairs."

"What I have to say might upset her, but she needs to hear it. I think it will all make sense once she does."

Twisting his mouth, Adam took a deep breath.

Shiloh had already heard. "Adam, please bring him in. He's here. We might as well listen."

Adam pushed the door open as he stared into Asher's eyes, sending him a warning.

"Mrs. Cartwright, how are you feeling?"

She snorted. "I've never had a hole in my back. I've been better."

Shaking his head, Asher said, "I don't even know how to begin to apologize for that. I didn't see Miss Larue behind you. I thought her only purpose was to spread the rumors."

"Well," said Shiloh, "she certainly did a good job of that. But why didn't you know Slater hired her to kill me?"

"I never directly spoke to Slater. I wasn't assigned to Slater until he contacted me, and I didn't meet her until just before I came to Virginia City looking for you. She was the one who told me the plan. She left out the part about killing you. "

"Why did Slater contact you?" asked Adam with his arms crossed again.

"Because I was asking questions about…" Asher hesitated, seemingly finding it hard to say what he had to say. "I was asking questions about Will Stewart."

Shiloh's eyes opened wide at the same time Adam's hands dropped to his sides.

Asher held up a hand. "Do you remember why I told you about my family…that my mother had been married before and had a son?" As Shiloh's eyes closed and her head turned away, he finished, "That son was Will Stewart. He was my half-brother. And the reason I was asking questions is because he and Slater were acquainted while Will was in San Francisco. We know Will visited Slater in jail. We have reason to believe Slater helped him with the plan to kill Natalie Peterson and take you abroad in her place."

A chill ran through Shiloh's body as she said quietly, "Sounds like Daniel has been planning my demise…or absence for a long time. And using Will? When will I finally be rid of that man?" She hadn't noticed Adam now at her side.

"Sweetheart, are you all right? You don't look well."

After rubbing her forehead, she reached for Adam's hand and replied quietly, "Please continue, Mr. Asher."

"When Slater found out who I was, he gave me his version of Will's demise, which made you both look guilty of conspiracy and murder. I spoke to several people who knew of you…and knew what happened to you, Shiloh…the beating…so it was easy to find the truth. I had tried to find Slater after his escape, but every time I got close he slipped away. So I felt I had no choice but to go along with his plan. I waited for the right time to meet you."

"You could have told us," said Adam with no emotion whatsoever.

"If I had told you that story before all this happened, I ran the risk of you thinking it was part of Slater's plan to win your trust…well, because it was."

Shiloh scowled. "Are the horses even yours?"

"No, Ma'am, they are not. But I needed horses that would catch your eye, so I asked for help from someone I knew would have the kind of horses you'd be interested in, and he was more than willing. I had the authority to sign the contract on behalf of this man, and I have a letter modifying the original contract. It gives you more time and a bonus as well as your percentage of their winnings." Asher passed the papers to Adam who quickly read through them before he handed them to Shiloh.

"Haggin's horses?" said Shiloh. "Why would Haggin need me to train his horses? He has trainers."

"For the same reason I discussed with you. He thinks his horses will be better racers with their spirit intact, and he's willing to pay you generously for your talent in training them." Taking a step forward, he added, "It was never my intention for you to be hurt. If I had known that was the plan, I would have told you everything."

Looking away sadly, Shiloh said, "I guess I should be thanking my lucky stars that Will's brother is a Federal Marshal. But tell me. How did he get away with so much with a brother who's a Federal Marshal?"

"Up until San Francisco, he never broke the law. He certainly raised some eyebrows, but he never quite crossed the line. And I was completely disinterested in him. After all, when you were in Boston with him, I was in Dakota Territory."

"Thank you for telling us, Marshal Asher," she said quietly. "If you'll excuse me, I'm tired."

Asher bowed graciously and left the room. He knew she wasn't just dismissing him. The color had been slowly draining from her face.

In another moment, Adam came out of the room and escorted Asher down the hall, down the stairs and to the front door. When Asher offered his hand, Adam shook it. "You said she hadn't done anything wrong."

"Pardon?" said Asher.

"When we were fighting, you said she'd done nothing to deserve the way I was treating her. You were defending her," said Adam.

"I had no idea it was an act. She's a performer, but you…I had no idea you were as well. And I am the one who drew her into the ruse."

"How long will you be in town?" asked Adam.

"For a while. There's the trial, and after that, I'll be escorting them all to San Quentin." Asher scratched his neck. "I should probably tell you I was going to ask Mark Harris and his men to ride with me."

"We should be able to handle things while he's gone," said Adam still without a smile. "Just remind him he's expected back."

"And what about his partner in San Francisco?" asked Asher.

"Keith Belcher. I sent him to guard Daniel's brother and his family. I sent a wire yesterday that Slater was in custody, but I told Keith to stay for a few weeks more to make sure there was no trouble." Adam smiled. "Mark can bring him home."

"I'm sure Mr. Harris will want to hear that from you," said Asher, moving his hat to his head. "I'm staying at the International. Send him my way when you're ready to let him go."

"I will." Adam stood at the door until Asher had ridden out of the yard, then closed it quietly and strode to the table. Reaching across, he took a piece of bacon.

"Is there something you wanted to say, Adam?" asked Ben.

Raising his brows, Adam munched his bacon, thinking about how to say it. Everyone stopped eating and waited.

"Is it Shiloh?" asked Annie.

"Did you know she's been ill…and dizzy?" Adam asked.

Annie had just taken a drink of milk and sat the glass down on the table. "She mentioned it, but wasn't worried about it. I never saw it. I dismissed it as nerves, considering how long you'd been gone."

Adam smiled. "It wasn't." His smile widened as he turned for the stairs and trotted up.

Moving her napkin from the top of her belly to the table, she pushed herself up. "Excuse me, please." She didn't wait for the men to stand, hurrying toward the stairs.

"Slow down," Hoss yelled across the room.

"Holding the stair rail with one hand and her skirt up with the other, she slowly waddled up the stairs. Adam and Shiloh's bedroom door was cracked, so she entered without knocking, going directly to the side of the bed and sitting…or rather dropping…down.

"Ow!" Shiloh yipped, her hand swiftly moving to the arm wrapped firmly to her side.

"Oh, sorry. I don't seem to sit much like a lady anymore," said Annie. "How long have you been getting sick?"

Adam laughed so loud, he startled Abel who was just getting past waking in Adam's arms. When the baby pouted and puffed, Adam soothed him.

"It's mostly in the morning," answered Shiloh, pretending she had nothing new to tell.

Annie appeared to be on a mission, questioning her like a cross-examining attorney. "And the dizziness? When was the last time you were dizzy?"

"Oh, just a few moments after I was shot. Everything sort of started spinning, so I fell down on the boardwalk."

Rolling her eyes, Annie asked impatiently, "And before that?"

"Well, let's see," said Shiloh, tapping her finger on her chin, her eyes twinkling, though Annie hadn't noticed. "When I was singing at Maguire's, though it wasn't bad enough to stop."

Annie turned to Adam, who teasingly arched an eyebrow. She turned back to Shiloh whose eyes were wide as she bit her lip. "Oh, you," she said to Adam as she threw a pillow towards him, then leaned over to hug Shiloh, who howled.

"Not…now!

Next, there was a flurry of questions. "Did you know? Why would you have done that if you'd known? Do you know what could've happened?"

In the midst of the barrage, Shiloh tried to stop her. "An… Annie…" Finally just as the last question was asked, Shiloh yelled, "ANNIE!" When Annie stopped, staring intently at her, Shiloh answered, "No, I didn't know. I just thought I had a cold or something. And I wouldn't have gone into town like that had I known."

"How…"

"Paul. I told him about being ill and dizzy. I guess he did some poking and prodding while I was there. I don't remember. But he evidently told Adam."

"He didn't tell you?" asked Annie.

"Well, I wasn't very coherent at the time. He'd given me laudanum."

"Laudanum!"

"Relax," said Shiloh, taking Annie's hand. "He gave me enough to get me home. I'm not taking anymore."

"Oh, you poor thing. You must be hurting all the time," lamented Annie.

Closing her eyes, Shiloh said, "Only when you shake the bed. Or when I have to get up. I suppose I'll be in this bed for a few days. I don't remember hurting quite like this…except when Abel was born, but I can't really compare the two."