Caterina: A Sweet Western Historical Romance Pendleton Petyticoats Book 2 Page 24

  I took some effort on his part and a helping hand from Garrett, but he managed to lean on his friend and make it to the room where Doc would do the surgery.

  Garrett and Doc removed his clothes while Aundy left the room. She returned wearing a white apron covering her dress and her hands freshly scrubbed.

  Doc scrubbed his hands and instructed Garrett to do the same. “I may require assistance from both of you, depending on how deep the bullet is buried and how well Kade handles me poking around in there.”

  “We’ll do whatever you need us to,” Garrett said quietly, looking to Aundy for agreement. At the nod of her head, the doctor continued his preparations.

  Thankfully, the doctor quickly removed the bullet and Kade was soon bandaged and asleep.

  After cleaning up, Aundy and Garrett buttoned their coats and thanked Doc for his help.

  “We’ll be back in the morning to check on him.” Garrett placed his hand at the small of Aundy’s back as he opened the door. Dent stopped by the doc’s office after they had Bolton locked away in a jail cell. He took Garrett and Kade’s horses to the livery for the night before heading home to the ranch.

  “He’ll heal quickly and should have a full recovery. I’m most concerned about the amount of blood he lost, but I think he’ll be fine in no time. You two have a good night.” Doc waved to them as they walked outside then headed in the direction of Caterina’s restaurant.

  “I’m so glad Ike found you. The two of them might have frozen before morning or Kade might have died from his wound.” Aundy was grateful for the safety of their friends.

  “Oh, I don’t think they would have frozen. Kade had Caterina all cuddled up to him and looked mighty cozy,” Garrett said as they walked up the step and in the restaurant’s back door.

  “I’m sure they were just trying to keep warm.” Aundy grinned at her husband, letting him know she found his observation amusing.

  “Sure they were.” Garrett was thankful Nik kept the stove stoked and had a pot of coffee warm.

  He helped Aundy remove her outerwear then took down cups for coffee while she ran upstairs to check on Caterina. The girl was sound asleep in her bed and Nik struggled to keep his eyes open, sitting in a chair by the fire with a book.

  “Nik, we’re going to stay here tonight, so go ahead and stretch out on the sofa.” Aundy smiled when the boy kicked off his boots and sighed as he snuggled down into the soft cushions. She settled a quilt over him, ruffled his hair, and kissed his forehead. “Sleep well.”

  She turned down the wick in the lamp so it cast a soft glow around the room then made her way downstairs. After a hot drink and a few cookies, Aundy decided to sleep in Caterina’s room, in case the girl needed anything, and Garrett made a pallet on the floor near the sofa. He hoped Nik didn’t step on him if the boy got up in the night.

  The hard floor and the sound of Nik’s snores weren’t the cause of Garrett’s sleepless night, though. It was wondering what Kade planned to do about his feelings for Caterina. If Garrett knew him as well as he thought he did, his friend was about to make a huge mistake.

  Chapter Nineteen

  “You know I’m not gonna spend one more minute in that bed, so you might as well rig me up so I can get out of here.”

  Kade stood in the room at the doctor’s office where he’d spent the night, dressed only in his denim pants and boots. He had no idea what happened to his shirt and the blood covering his coat rendered it useless.

  “I’ve never met a man more bull-headed than you, Kade Rawlings. You need to rest. You need to let that wound heal. You need to build your strength back up. A man can’t lose as much blood as you did yesterday and just go about his business like nothing happened,” Doc said, exasperated with his impatient patient.

  “I’ll go home and rest. I just need to not be here.” Kade ran his good hand over his head. “No offense, sir.”

  “None taken, son.” Doc smiled. Finally admitting defeat, he released a sigh. “I’ll send someone over to the mercantile to get you a new shirt and coat. While they’re doing that, I’ll fix a sling to keep your arm immobile. If you’d agree to go out to Nash’s Folly and let Nora and Aundy fuss over you, I’d have no issue with you leaving. I’ll state for the record, that as long as you take it easy and are careful, you may go home. Not to work, mind you, but home.”

  “Deal.” Kade reached out and shook the doctor’s hand. Doc changed his bandage and gave him detailed instructions on keeping it clean and caring for the wound, reiterating how important it was for Kade to get some rest.

  Doc’s assistant arrived, accompanied by Garrett carrying a new shirt and coat for Kade.

  “I heard you think you’re going home,” Garrett helped Kade put on his shirt.

  The doctor slipped a sling around his neck and slid his arm in it adjusting the strap so it hung more comfortably.

  “I’m going home, just as quickly as I can get Pete at the livery,” Kade said, trying to slip into his coat one-handed. Frustrated with his efforts, he allowed Garrett to help him put it on.

  “I don’t think so. Aundy and Ma would skin me alive if I let you go home alone. Come out to our place for a few days. At least until you build your strength up.” Garrett glanced at the doctor who nodded his head in agreement.

  “I’ve been enough of a bother as it is. Besides, Ike will need some attention for a few days after his mistreatment yesterday. I don’t want to leave him alone.” Kade grasped at any excuse to go home.

  The thought of staying with Garrett and Aundy, eating her good food and resting for a few days sounded appealing. However, he needed to spend some time alone and sort out his feelings, especially those concerning Caterina.

  “Kade, be reasonable.” Garrett handed his friend a warm scarf and a pair of gloves he picked up that morning the moment the men’s clothing store opened. “Stay with us. I’ll go get Ike and any stuff you need after we get you settled.”

  “No, Garrett. I think it would be best if I go home. I need some time to think things through.” Kade shuffled toward the door.

  “You can think all you want at our house.”

  Kade shook his head, thanked Doc, and opened the door. A blast of cold air made him suck in his breath. Appreciative of his friend’s concern and care, he wrapped the scarf Garrett gave him around his face.

  He started down the boardwalk but it didn’t take long before his legs felt weak and he sat down on a bench to rest a minute.

  “That’s it. You’re going home with me, no argument.” Garrett took off at a jog in the direction of the livery. He returned a short while later leading Pete and his own horse.

  Garrett knew better than to assist the deputy in mounting. Summoning the last of his strength, Kade swung into the saddle and plodded down the street behind Garrett.

  The two men didn’t talk as they rode. Although it usually took less than an hour to reach Nash’s Folly at a slow walk, today it seemed like they’d been riding for hours when they turned off the road onto the lane that led to Aundy and Garrett’s home.

  At the end of the front walk, Kade barely managed to swing his leg over Pete and dismount.

  When he swayed on his feet, he allowed Garrett to help him up the steps and inside the house.

  “You want to sit up or lie down?” Garrett asked as he removed Kade’s outerwear then built up a fire in the front room.

  “Sleep would be good.” Kade’s eyelids drooped as he walked into the spare bedroom.

  He sank onto the soft mattress. Garrett tugged off his boots and settled a blanket over him before sleep claimed him.

  The next time he opened his eyes, the house was warm and he heard voices outside his room.

  He lifted his head, but felt weak and tired. Noticing a glass of water on the table by the bed, he reached for it, draining it before returning the glass to the table.

  Cautiously rolling onto his right side, he pulled the blanket up under his chin and returned to his slumber.

  Shadows filled the
corners of the room when he next awoke.

  Aundy looked up from something she stitched when he moved and offered him a kind smile.

  “Look who’s back among the living,” she said, setting aside her sewing. She lifted his head and placed another pillow behind it so he was propped up a little. “Would you like some more water or hot tea or maybe some broth?”

  “I’m hungry enough to eat my own cooking, so broth would be good,” Kade said. Grateful to have such good friends, Kade was fortunate Garrett insisted he come to Nash’s Folly. He couldn’t have taken care of himself in his current condition. “If you want to add some meat and potatoes and bread to that broth, I wouldn’t mind.”

  Aundy laughed and shook a finger at him.

  “Let’s start with the broth and see how you do with it first. I’ll be right back.” Aundy placed her stitching on her chair and sailed out the door.

  A few minutes later, she returned with a mug of hot broth and a glass of water. As he sipped the broth, he worked up the courage to ask about Caterina.

  “Is she doing okay?”

  “If you’re referring to Caterina, then yes, she’s fine. I stayed with her until her crew arrived this afternoon. She’s beside herself that she can’t cook in her own kitchen for a few days. Other than her side being tender, she’s fine. She had no problem barking orders to them as I was leaving,” Aundy smiled as she watched Kade drink the broth. “Come to think of it, she didn’t have any trouble ordering me around this morning when I did all the baking for the day.”

  “She’s something,” Kade said, hiding a grin behind the mug. “She seems to know what she wants and is determined to get it.”

  “That is a fact.” Aundy studied Kade. “You’d do well to remember that.”

  Kade lifted his gaze. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Just what I said.” Aundy gave him a pointed look then bustled out of the room.

  Kade pondered her statement, wondering if Aundy and Garrett assumed the direction his thoughts had taken or if they’d known all along he’d balk at the idea of settling down, regardless of his feelings for Caterina.

  “My wife says you need some company.” Garrett stepped into the room carrying a book and a box of checkers. “Want to read or play?”

  “Play.” Kade recalled the hundreds of checkers games he and Garrett had played as boys when they were stuck inside the house on nasty winter days. Uncle John raised him, but he’d spent nearly as much time with the Nash family as a boy and then as a young man.

  The year he turned nineteen, he used some of the money he inherited from his father to purchase his place of outside town and had lived there since. When time allowed, he went to visit Uncle John, although more often than not, he found himself on the road to Nash’s Folly.

  Nora and J.B. filled the role of parents to him every bit as much as his uncle, and Garrett was closer than a brother.

  Because of their solid relationship, he was certain Garrett knew more was bothering him than the wound to his shoulder.

  As they battled over the checkerboard, Kade appreciated Garrett keeping the conversation light. He talked about things happening on the ranch, plans for the winter, and the new steam-powered tractor he considered purchasing to see if it really would make spring farm work go faster.

  With the Thanksgiving holiday arriving soon, they discussed the good things Aundy and Nora would make to eat.

  Suddenly exhausted, Kade had a hard time focusing on the checkers or Garrett’s conversation.

  “I think we’ll finish this game tomorrow.” Garrett moved the checkerboard from the bed to the top of a chest of drawers. Without waiting for him to agree, Garrett helped Kade remove his shirt and pants then looked at his bandage, deciding it could wait for Aundy’s attention in the morning.

  Three days later, Kade sat at the kitchen table, eating breakfast and joking with Garrett like he always did.

  “Are you sure you won’t stay another day?” Aundy asked as Kade shrugged into his coat. She helped handed him his gloves and watched as he wrapped a scarf around his neck.

  After picking up the saddlebag containing the few belongings Garrett brought over from his place, he gave Aundy a one-armed hug and kissed her cheek.

  “I’m sure, but thank you for taking care of me the past few days. I really appreciate it.” Kade reached out and slapped Garrett on the back. “Ike appreciated the care, too.”

  Coaxing the big dog to follow him home took a considerable amount of effort, but Garrett knew Kade would rest more comfortably if Ike received the attention he needed.

  The day he left Doc’s office, Garrett rode with a couple of his hired hands to Kade’s place to get the dog and a few of the deputy’s belongings. They didn’t leave until the old well hole was filled, tamped down, and safe.

  “It was our pleasure,” Garrett said, walking outside with Kade. They sauntered out to the barn where Pete had enjoyed the company of other horses for a few days.

  “If you need something, just let us know.” It would be much simpler to communicate if Kade would give in to modern technology and get himself a telephone.

  Ike, who’d been off chasing birds or rabbits, loped around the corner of the bunkhouse and spied the men. He rushed at Kade and nearly bowled him over with his enthusiastic greeting. Kade thumped his sides, rubbed his head, and told him he was the best dog in the world.

  “You’re a champion, Ike,” Garrett said, patting the dog as they continued into the barn. Ike sat by Kade while Garrett led Pete out of a stall. Upon seeing his owner, the horse rubbed his head against Kade’s chest, ready to go for a ride.

  “You really are welcome to stay longer.” Garrett saddled Pete since Kade couldn’t do it one-handed.

  “No. Aundy’s nearly worn herself out trying to take care of me and run into town to help Caterina. Besides, I know for a fact you like having your bride and your house all to yourself.” Kade smirked at Garrett. “Don’t try to tell me otherwise. You better enjoy it while you can because once you start having babies, you’ll never have a peaceful moment again.”

  Garrett paled at the mention of babies and hurried to slip on Pete’s bridle.

  “Let’s not get carried away. We’ve been married less than six months. There’s plenty of time to think about starting a family.” Garrett gave Pete a friendly pat and led him out of the barn with Ike following close behind. “With Nik around, it’s like having a part-time boy to raise anyway.”

  “He’s practically a man and you know it. A few more years and he’ll be off on his own.”

  “Don’t mention that to Aundy. She gets teary-eyed just thinking about him leaving even though it’s her idea for him to go to college.”

  Kade mounted Pete, smiling at his friend. “You really are a true friend, Garrett. Thank you for everything.”

  “Anytime.” Garrett waved as Kade turned Pete down the lane and Ike trotted along beside him. “Tell Caterina hello for us.”

  With a departing glare at his teasing friend, Kade shook his head and headed to town. Thoroughly chilled by the time he reached Caterina’s restaurant, he knew he should go straight home but he needed to see for himself she was fine. He also needed to have a serious discussion with her, but today wasn’t the day for that.

  He left Pete tied to the hitching post out front but Ike followed him around to the back door. Perfunctorily knocking, he turned the knob and cautioned the dog to stay on the back step.

  Caterina looked up from a mixing bowl as she stirred cake batter and smiled at Kade.

  “I’m so glad to see you.” Hastily wiping her hands on a dishtowel, she rushed to him. When he didn’t open his arms to her, she felt slighted, but tried not to let her disappointment show.

  “You’re doing okay?” he asked, rubbing his hand over her arm, along her back and then across her jaw.

  Cupping her chin in his hand, he lifted it and looked into her eyes. He needed to see the fire spark in their depths one more time. The golden embers flickered
and he almost let the magnetic pull draw his lips to hers.

  Stubbornly resisting, he took a step back and studied her. Full of energy and passion, wonder and excitement, she looked beautiful. Why had he ever let himself fall in love with her when he knew it wouldn’t work?

  “I’m fine. You?” She motioned for him to sit down at the table. He did, removing the glove from his right hand and accepting the cup of coffee she handed him.

  “I’ll be good as new in no time,” he said, sipping the coffee then dunking one of the cookies she handed him into the hot brew.

  Kade watched as she poured batter into cake pans. “Should you be in here baking?”

  “I don’t consider this heavy lifting,” she said, scraping the last of the batter into a pan before tapping out the bubbles and popping it into the oven. “Besides, I can’t sit upstairs doing nothing. I need to be here, in my kitchen.”

  “I understand,” he said, and he did. Slowly finishing his coffee, he set the cup in the sink and pulled his glove back on. “I just wanted to make sure you were fine. I’m heading home for a few days, but I’ll see you soon. If you need something, just let me know.”

  I need your kisses.

  Caterina wanted to stamp her foot in frustration. Kade acted so impersonal and distant. She waited days to see him, to make sure he really would recover from his injury. Now, he acted as if they were mere acquaintances instead of two people who lost their hearts to each other.

  Whether he liked it or not, he loved her every bit as much as she loved him.

  He had to.

  Otherwise, he would never have shared the story about his parents. He wouldn’t have cared for her so tenderly before help arrived. He wouldn’t be here right now, acting so pazzo, if he didn’t have deep feelings for her.

  “Wait.” Caterina filled a basket with bread, cookies, some leftover roasted pork, and a bone she’d saved for Ike. “Take this. You’ll be hungry later.”

  “I appreciate it, Cat.” Kade wanted so badly to tell her how much she meant to him, how terrified he’d been of Bolton harming her, how afraid he was someone else would do something to hurt her because of him. “You’re sure you’ll be fine?”