Tougher Than The Rest Read online

  “So, what’s your name, young lady?” The doctor continued his examination as he waited for her response.

  “I’m….my name is.…Um, I’m….” she stammered and tried to focus. Confusion and slight panic crossed her face as her eyes came to rest on Doc Minton.

  “Kate. I believe you introduced yourself as Katherine, but preferred Kate, when you boarded the stagecoach.” Caleb tried to recall a last name, but nothing came. She remained silent, but her eyes blinked as she gazed from one man to another, trying to reconcile what Caleb said with her own confused thoughts. She came up with nothing.

  After a few more minutes of speaking with Kate, the doctor motioned to Niall and Caleb to join him outside the room where Alicia waited with a sleeping Beth in her lap.

  “Well, she appears to have had a pretty good knock and doesn’t remember much at this point. This is common with a head injury. I’ve seen the loss of memory last a few hours, a few days, or weeks. Sometimes, months pass before a patient recovers what they lost. In a few rare cases the memory never does return.” Doc Minton’s words weren’t encouraging but needed to be said so they could decide how to proceed.

  “She’ll need a place to stay until her memory returns. Physically, she seems fine other than the head injury. But she can’t go to the hotel and be left alone.”

  “Of course she can come out to the ranch with us. We’ve plenty of room and someone is around all the time,” Alicia volunteered. She always seemed to be the first to offer help and the first to put the needs of others before her own. Doc Minton had counted on the woman’s gracious nature.

  “Wait a minute, Aunt Alicia. We can’t go bringing a stranger into the house, someone we don’t know. Think of Beth. Hell, we know nothing about this girl.” Niall wasn’t about to spend one more minute with someone who piqued his interest the way this stranger, Kate, seemed to. He’d felt it the day they met in Phoenix. The physical awareness of her now made him uncomfortable. The idea of dealing with these feelings every day just didn’t sit well with him.

  A girl her age shouldn’t be around a bunch of wild ranch hands who worked all week and spoke of not much else except how they planned to spend their Saturday nights—nights filled with whisky, cards, and bedding any willing female within their sight. He included his brothers, Drew and Will, in this group. Hell no. She was not coming back to the ranch.

  “Okay, it’s settled. We’ll spend the night at Maria’s and head back to the ranch early tomorrow,” Alicia said, paying no attention to her nephew.

  “Forget it, Aunt Alicia. Didn’t you hear a word I said?” Niall couldn’t contain his frustration.

  “Of course, Niall,” Alicia said, “but the last I checked, our agreement stated I handled anything concerning the house, and you handled anything concerning the cattle operations. Correct? Or did the rules change? Besides, where else will she go and have people around to check on her?”

  Damn, but Alicia could be stubborn. Why now? “Fine, if that’s what you want,” Niall growled, “Doc, can you handle the two bodies?”

  “Sure, Niall. I’ll take good care of them and notify the sheriff in the morning.” Doc smiled at the exchange between his long-time friends.

  Within an hour, everyone, including Caleb, had rooms in Maria Alvarez’s large home on the edge of town. A good night’s rest was what they all needed before starting for the ranch in the morning.

  Chapter Six

  “I appreciate the offer, but I’d be intruding. Sounds like you already have a full house with your family and Kate.” Alicia had offered Caleb a place at the ranch until he could make arrangements to travel on to California and the job he’d accepted. In his current state, the trip would be excruciating. Although not broken, he still had a hard time keeping his balance and supporting his weight.

  “How about this?” Doc Minton offered. “There’s a spare bedroom at my place you may use for a few weeks until your leg heals. Your being here will give me a chance to visit some out-of-the way ranches to check on things. You could tend to those who come to the clinic. What do you say?”

  “The invitation is very generous, Doctor, but won’t the townspeople get riled if they show up to find me and not you? I understand how small towns can be.” Actually, Caleb liked the idea, maybe too much, and for possibly the wrong reasons.

  “Tell you what,” Doc Minton tried again. “I’ll introduce you around over the next week and decide how folks take to you. May settle their minds to realize I believe you’ll do fine when I’m out of the clinic. Sure would help me out a great deal, Caleb.”

  Caleb thought about it a minute before answering. “If you’re positive, I’ll accept.” Caleb smiled. He didn’t try to hide his pleasure. He would heal, practice a little medicine, and be close enough to visit Kate. From the minute she’d climbed into the stage, the woman had intrigued him. He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of her. She was cordial, but spoke little on the short trip out of Phoenix, preferring to worry the ring on her left hand. Interesting, but she introduced herself as Katherine, not Mrs. Someone, which would have been proper for a married woman. He’d like another chance to figure some things out.

  “All right. With your living arrangements settled, Caleb, we’ll be on our way out.” Niall mounted Zeus for the ride home. “Someone will get word to one of you,” he nodded toward the doctors, “if anything happens with the girl. Either Aunt Alicia or I will stop in on our trips to town to give you an update. I appreciate all you’ve done.”

  “Niall, I’m the one who is thankful for your assistance in the desert. Our fate changed considerably when you and your family rescued us.” Caleb’s sincerity got to Niall. He shook the hand offered to him and nodded.

  This is going to be a long journey, Niall thought as they left the town limits. And he wasn’t just referring to the trip back to the ranch.

  ******

  “Hey, Niall, Aunt Alicia, Beth,” Will called out from the front porch as the wagon pulled in front of the house. “Who’s with you?”

  Kate had drifted in and out of sleep for most of the ride. She now tried to sit up to squint at the person who asked the question. Her eyes fell on a younger version of Niall. He had different hair but the same strong features and keen eyes. She did a double take as another vision appeared. Oh Lord, I must be in worse shape than I realized, Kate thought as two of the same young man started down the porch.

  “Hey, Aunt Alicia, what’s going on?” Drew arrived first, with Will close on his heels.

  “You can’t seem to stack them up any faster, Niall? Now you’re hauling them to the house in a wagon?” Will laughed as he offered his oldest brother a broad grin. He never missed a chance to taunt Niall. Fact is, he never missed a chance to tease most anyone, but, especially now, when most knew Niall was courting one woman while spending his Friday nights with another. Even though Niall controlled his temper most of the time, he wouldn’t dismiss this challenge.

  “Will and Drew, this is Kate. I don’t know her last name and neither does she at the moment. She got injured in a stagecoach accident near Watsonville. Doc checked her over and Aunt Alicia volunteered a room with us until she gets her memory back. That’s the entire story. Either of you have anything else to say?”

  “Uh, no, Niall, I’m good,” Drew ventured. Niall was riled and Drew wanted no part of a skirmish between Will and their oldest brother.

  “Fine with me, Niall.” Will offered his hand to Kate when she looked up at the twins. “Would you like some help to the house, ma’am?”

  They’re twins, she realized. “Yes, thank you. Will, is it?” Kate asked as she took his hand.

  “Yes, ma’am, and this is Drew. As you can see, we’re twins, but I’m the smarter one, braver and faster, too,” Will’s smile broadened. Kate couldn’t help but grin at Will’s attempt at positioning himself apart from his twin.

  “Yeah, but I’m older by at least two minutes, so when Niall’s gone, I’m in charge.” Drew smiled at his twin and helped Will lift Ka
te out of the wagon.

  “Kate will be in the office for a few days until she’s good to climb stairs. She’ll move up to Jamie’s old room when she’s ready.” Alicia guided Kate inside as the boys brought in a couple of trunks reclaimed from the accident. Thank goodness they had a big house.

  The first thing Kate noticed as they entered the office was the size––it was spacious with a large desk and leather chair, two guest chairs, a sofa, and a good-sized fireplace. One wall had a floor to ceiling bookcase. The last wall caught her eye, as it contained three large windows, positioned with an unobstructed view of the barn and stables.

  “What a wonderful room, Alicia. So large and, well, beautiful,” Kate commented.

  “Why, thank you, Kate. This was my late husband’s office. It’s Niall’s now,” Alicia held up her hand when she noticed Kate start to object. “And don’t worry about being in his way. I expect you’ll be out of this room in a day or two and in the bedroom upstairs,” Alicia said as she helped Kate get settled on the daybed.

  “Is your husband in this picture, Alicia?” Kate indicated a framed photograph next to the daybed.

  “Yes, Stuart is in the center. Niall is on his left, Jamie next to him, and the twins next to me on the other side. Everyone looks so happy, don’t you think? How did we know so much would change over the next several years?” Alicia spoke almost to herself rather than Kate.

  “Jamie?”

  “Oh, yes. Jamie is three years younger than Niall. He’s a U.S. Marshal now. Followed in the steps of a good friend of all of ours. We don’t see much of him, but I sure do miss him.” Her voice had grown quiet and Alicia turned away, as if to inspect the room again. “Anyway, my bedroom is right next door if you need me.”

  “Alicia, thank you for taking me into your home. I’m not sure what I’d do without your help.” Kate felt overwhelmed, sore, and was nursing a raging headache. She was also surprised this woman would take her in without questions and over the objections of Niall. It appeared he ran the ranch operations and Alicia the house. She wondered about many things concerning this family including Beth’s mother. Where was she? But it was too much to think about now, she decided. First, she needed sleep. She also required time to regain her memory, and figure out why her travels brought her to Arizona.

  “Honey, we’re glad you’re here. You just need to rest. I’m sure your memory will return soon. Don’t you worry, someone is in the house most all the time, and if not, they’re a short distance away. We’ll get you settled and I’ll start dinner.” Alicia was efficient, with an abundance of energy, which made Kate feel even more tired. All Kate could think about now was sleep.

  ******

  “What are we going to do with her, Niall? Has anyone thought to go through her things to learn anything about her? I don’t like having strange people around with access to the house, the barn, and your family.” Gus Dixon had been on the ranch since just after Niall’s Uncle Stuart took it over.

  Tall and lean, his skin was cracked like well-used leather, his disposition equally as tough. He had married twice and buried both wives without ever having children. Niall, Jamie, Drew, and Will were like his own and Gus was fiercely protective of them, as well as Alicia and Beth. As the ranch foreman, he partnered with Pete Cantlin, the chief wrangler, to hire and fire the men. Gus had trained many of them. He’d signed up with Stuart soon after resigning his position with the U.S. Marshals Service. Niall trusted both men with his life and those of his family.

  “Hell, Gus, I understand how you feel, but there’s just no reasoning with Alicia about this. She’s made up her mind, and the girl is staying here until she’s regained her memory. Alicia went through her trunks and found nothing but a bible inscribed to Katherine. No other family information. One trunk had opened when it crashed to the ground during the accident. Some clothing and papers scattered in the wind. Perhaps there was more in her companion’s trunk, but the wagon was full and we had to leave it behind. Besides, we were set on getting the passengers to Fire Mountain for medical help. I plan to contact the stage office in Phoenix, in case they know anything else about her. From what I know, they don’t get much information on passengers. They sell seats and get people on their way.” Niall wasn’t pleased with the situation and had been in a foul mood since their return. Something about Kate set him on edge. He had plans in place for his and Beth’s future. His instincts, which rarely failed him, told him this stranger posed a threat to everything.

  Chapter Seven

  Only a few days had passed since Kate arrived at the MacLaren ranch. Days with little progress as far as regaining her memory, but significant progress with her physical health. By the end of her second day, she was bored and begging Alicia to let her help with chores. At first, Alicia refused, but then decided it best to have Kate help out with the hope it would trigger memories.

  Kate found she loved to cook and prepared many dishes by heart. She didn’t remember when or where she’d learned them, but it gave her satisfaction to know she had useful skills tucked away in her head.

  Alicia discovered that their guest was well educated. The books found in her trunks, plus the way she spoke and acted, indicated she’d been well schooled, and was, perhaps, from a more refined home. She stayed calm and gracious, even when it was apparent to everyone she was frustrated with her lack of ability to remember her last name, her family, her birthplace––anything. The wedding ring Kate wore seemed to be the one indication there might be people searching for her. It was a simple gold band with a small inscription, nothing spectacular to indicate she came from wealth.

  Kate struggled, trying to regain her memory while the same questions pounded in her head day after day. Who was her husband? Did she have children? Why was she traveling with a companion instead of her husband? Where was she headed? If she and her companion had spoken more of themselves to the other passengers, someone might have remembered something that would help her, but, according to Caleb, both had sat silent after boarding the stage and making brief introductions.

  ******

  “Miss Kate, read me another story,” Beth pleaded after dinner on Friday night. Her father hadn’t stayed long after finishing the meal. He had saddled Zeus and ridden into town with a couple of the other ranch hands. Alicia said he’d had the same routine for the last few weeks. Work the ranch during the week, relax in town on Friday night, take care of business on Saturday, and return home before supper. Sunday everyone attended church. Niall and Beth stayed in town for dinner with Mrs. van Deelin on recent Sundays, leaving Alicia to ride back to the ranch with Gus or another ranch hand. The schedule appeared to be the same for this weekend.

  “Of course, Beth, I’d be happy to read you a story. What would you like to hear?” Kate loved kids and wondered if she might have been a teacher or a governess before the accident. It was apparent to everyone she had the skills to run a household, as well as the temperament to handle most situations. Losing her memory and living with a household of total strangers hadn’t changed her basic nature.

  “Read the one about the knight and princess. You remember? He is kind of mean but she is beautiful and nice. I like that one the best.” Beth’s enthusiasm for everything made life at the ranch so much more bearable. Like all children, she wasn’t perfect, but she was always excited about something, and laughed a good deal of the time. Could I have a daughter like her waiting for me to return? The not-knowing was driving Kate crazy. And Niall, he was also driving her crazy. He seldom spoke to her. When he did his tone was one of tolerance, not one of welcome. Regardless, she was drawn to him. She hadn’t known him until he stopped for the accident, but something about Niall made her feel they had met before. He seemed familiar, but she couldn’t place why.

  She was always struck by his height and strong build. He wore his black hair somewhat longer than most men. Kate had noticed that, in the light, it had streaks of dark purple, almost the color of blackberries. But his bright green eyes, the greenest eyes she’d ever
seen, seemed to draw her in. When he glanced in her direction she felt odd, as if she’d been in this same situation with him before––staring at him and feeling nervous, a little excited or scared––she wasn’t sure which. But even if she couldn’t remember, she knew these were not good feelings to have, especially if, like her gold band implied, she was married.

  ******

  “Another, Gloria.”

  “Sure thing, Niall.” Gloria Chalmette had known Niall since he was old enough to come into the Desert Dove Saloon with his uncle. Stuart was never one to avail himself of anything but the liquor and occasional card game, but Niall had no ties. At twenty, he had experienced one night with Gloria, and had never requested anyone else. Gloria found Niall to be a meticulous lover. He never left until she’d experienced as much pleasure as she’d given him. Except during his brief marriage, it was well known that Gloria made herself available to him whenever he came to the Dove, as locals called it. She’d owned the saloon since she was twenty-three, and was a year younger than Niall. They were good friends as well as casual lovers.

  “Leave the bottle, Gloria.”

  She winced at the last statement. Niall was never one to use alcohol as a way to ponder his troubles, or even celebrate successes. He drank to wash down the dust and be social, not to numb his senses.

  “If that’s what you want, Niall. But I can think of other ways to kill time, if that’s what you’re doing.”

  “Maybe later. For now, just leave me and the bottle to ourselves.” Niall knew he was being rude to someone who was only looking out for him, but right now he didn’t care.