Chapter 3
Nick waited in Emily's room while she got into her night clothes in the wc. He took off his jacket and put it over the chair Emily had been sitting in. He pulled the shades on the windows so no one outside would be tempted to look in, though he doubted there would be anyone there. Their rooms both overlooked a small alley that ran perpendicular to the main street. If you were on the ground, you really couldn't see into the room anyway, but Nick was taking no chances.
He turned the bed down for her, all the while wondering if he should stay with her and watch over her all night. When she came out of the wc, in a gingham nightgown, he knew right away that he should stay. It hung on her like she was just a stick underneath. He remembered the 17-year-old, fit and curvy and everything a 17-year-old boy would find voluptuous. That girl was gone. There wasn't much to this woman at all.
Emily looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I should have insisted you go to your room before you saw me like this."
Nick shook his head. "You don't need to be trying to take care of yourself alone."
"I've done it in my home in San Jose."
"You're not there. You're here in a strange hotel room, and you've already told me you trust me more than anyone else. Let me stay a bit longer, just to make sure you're all right."
Emily made her way to the bed and carefully pulled herself into it. Nick lifted the covers over her. She noticed something. "You put water on the nighttable."
Nick nodded. "There was a pitcher and glasses here. They like to think of everything at the Stockton House."
Emily laughed a little, and then started coughing. Nick sat down on the edge of the bed beside her and poured a glass of water for her. He helped her lift up to take some of it. He eased her down and put the glass back on the nighttable when she finished.
"Thank you," she said. "But you should go."
"I'd rather not," Nick said. "Not yet anyway. Emily, tomorrow I should take you to the ranch with me."
"No," Emily said. "I can't – I know this sounds ridiculous, but I can't inflict myself on your whole family. Oh, God, now it sounds like I'm happy to inflict myself on just you."
"Stop," Nick said. "Don't beat yourself up over how you feel. You're sick and you're scared and I understand."
She looked at him with weary eyes and shook her head. "I shouldn't have come here."
"Too late, you're here," Nick said with a soft smile. "I'm just glad you felt like you could come to me."
"Ross signed the property over to me, the family ranch. I don't know who's been running it."
"My brothers and I have been looking in on it, but the court took all the livestock and sold it. Part of Ross's plea deal. The house is just sitting vacant but it hasn't run down. There's still plenty of firewood available. Things inside might be a little dusty, but otherwise it's in good shape. Ross has only been gone for a couple months."
"I want to go there."
"All right," Nick said. "I'll take you there tomorrow and we'll talk some more then about what we're going to do. I want you to consider a possibility. Do you remember Mrs. Haley – the midwife?"
Emily smiled. "Yes, I do, believe it or not. She's a memorable person."
Nick smiled too. "Well, she's still delivering babies and also helping out with people when they're sick. I want you to think about us asking her to help you, especially if you want to go to your house, because you're going to want someone. A woman, I mean."
"That's actually a good thought," Emily said. She suddenly moaned and seemed to cramp up.
Nick stood up quickly. "Do you have some medicine you should take?"
Emily shook her head. "Only laudanum and I don't want it yet."
"It might help you sleep."
She eased a little, and smiled. "There's a flask in my bag. A little brandy helps so far."
Nick fetched the flask and brought it over. There was another glass on the nighttable. He poured a little of the brandy into it, and again sat down beside her and helped her to drink it.
"Thank you," Emily said.
Nick put the glass back on the nighttable, and then suddenly they were just looking at each other. Nick found himself wondering whose heart was breaking more – his or hers. This was all so wrong. She was still a young woman. This shouldn't be happening to her.
"Don't take this the wrong way," Emily said softly. "I'm in no position to offer myself to you, but – you'd do me a kindness – "
Nick understood. He took his boots off and lay beside her, atop the covers but holding her in his arms. She felt like skin and bone. He never wanted to protect someone more in his life.
They didn't speak anymore. Nick felt her breathing even out and soften gradually, and soon she was asleep. He found himself drifting off too, and he let it happen.
XXXXXX
In the morning, Nick woke up before Emily did. He carefully got up to use the wc, planning to come back to bed to hold her until she was awake, but he found she already was awake and sitting on the edge of the bed when he came back.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want to wake you up," Nick said and sat down beside her.
Emily looked like she hadn't slept at all, even though she had slept for hours. "It's all right. I'm awake. I need to splash some water in my face anyway."
She got up, and Nick got up with her. He helped her to the wc and closed the door for her after she went in. Then he looked at himself in the mirror at the dresser. Of course he needed a shave, but that would have to wait. Jarrod's shaving kit was in the bag of Jarrod's things that Nick put in his own room. Nick really didn't want to leave Emily long enough to go get it, not right now.
She took quite a while. Nick knocked on the door at one point to ask if she was all right. "I'm getting dressed," she said. "I'll be done in a minute."
He had forgotten she had left her clothes in there the night before when she got ready for bed. It wasn't long before she came out, dressed in the same clothes that had hung loosely on her the night before. Her cape was lying across the dresser where she had left it.
"Would you like to get something to eat?" Nick asked.
"I don't eat much these days," she said. "My stomach can't take it."
"What can I do for you?" Nick asked. "Some broth maybe?"
"There isn't any food at my house, is there?"
Nick shook his head. "Only staples, like beans. I'm sure you don't want beans."
Emily laughed a little. "No, I don't think so."
"I'd like to take you to see Dr. Merar, just so he knows you're here. You remember him, don't you?"
Emily nodded. "Of course."
Suddenly there was a knock at the door, startling them both. Hotel management, Nick thought, not happy I stayed here all night. "Let me go out and see who that is."
Nick went out into the hall, not opening the door all the way – and there was the manager he expected to see. He didn't know the man well. They'd only met once or twice at social functions. He was a smaller man with a moustache and he did not look happy.
Nick closed the door behind him and said, "The lady is very sick. I watched over her during the night, and we'll be checking out in a few minutes."
The man still looked unhappy.
Nick said, "If you watch us check out, you'll understand what I mean. She's very, very sick. Real sickness, not hung over."
That seemed to make a difference in the man's expression. His face relaxed a bit.
"I'd appreciate you keeping it to yourself," Nick said. "I'm taking her to see Dr. Merar. We won't be back here."
The man finally said, "You should get your things out of your room. I do still have to charge you for it."
"I already paid for it," Nick said. "Thank you."
The manager nodded and left.
Nick gave a sigh, glad that the Stockton House Hotel at least seemed to be satisfied and behind them. He thought about what he needed to do now, and he started to get things in order in his mind.
He remembered that he needed to go to Jarrod's office and talk to him, but taking Emily to see Dr. Merar had to come first.
