Her Hesitant Heart - By Carla Kelly Page 0,101

save him!” he sobbed.

God bless his wife. She dried her son’s tears with her apron, and put her hands on each side of his head, capturing his attention in her gentle way. “Tommy, I have learned something you need to know. It’s very important, so heed me. Sometimes the only person you can save is yourself. This was one of those times.”

She hugged him, soothed him, sang him to sleep and tucked the covers around him as Joe marveled at the strength of women and the resiliency of children.

When Tommy was asleep, Joe took his wife by the hand and led her to bed. He stretched out and pulled her close, as he always did. It took him an hour, but he told her everything Tommy had told him. “Do you think we will ever see Aaron Belknap again?” she asked, her voice drowsy.

“Nothing would surprise me.” Joe kissed the top of her head.

“We should look for him,” she insisted, then seemed to reconsider. “If Pinkerton couldn’t find him …”

“Nothing would make me happier than to see Nick—Aaron—again. I’d happily employ him in any hospital where the army sends me.” He chuckled. “I have this discretionary fund.”

His sweet wife thumped him where it hurt. “You do not!” She softened the blow by kissing his shoulder. “I think you’re telling me that we’ll only see Aaron again if it suits him.”

“I think I am, dear heart. I do know we’ll never be out of his debt.”

Their talk turned to mundane matters then as she assured him she could find someone else to take her batch of rolls to the picnic tomorrow. He said he was on duty at the hospital, but would come home as soon as he could.

“Go to sleep, Suzie,” he whispered in her ear finally. “You’re starting to mumble.”

“No, I’m not! There is something you should know. There’s a letter for you from France.”

“My God. What does it say?”

“You know I don’t read your mail! Something else—there’s a funny feeling around here. Major Townsend thinks there’s been another battle.”

“Wouldn’t surprise me. I wonder if Custer or Gibbon got hit. We know Crook is fly-fishing in the Big Horns. Custer’s tough, though. He’ll pull through.”

“One more thing. I’ve been feeling off this past week. We need to discuss the matter.”

He smiled in the dark; he’d had his suspicions. “It’ll keep, wife. Go to sleep.”

She did, breathing so softly against his chest that he felt himself relax all over and close his eyes, too.

When he woke, he knew Suzie wouldn’t be lying beside him. He walked into the parlor to see her curled up in his armchair, just watching Tommy sleep. He gestured and she stood up, then sat on his lap when he settled in the chair, their arms around each other. They both watched their son until the inexpert bugler played his version of reveille, which woke the boy.

Tommy rubbed his eyes, sat up, then joined them in the chair, which was big enough for them all. Joe thought about the letter from Paris. If it was non, it was just as well. He knew he was too busy to leave Fort Laramie, especially if more trouble was coming. If it was oui, he knew he didn’t want Suzie traveling this year. Pasteur could wait. Besides, Joe had already promised Tommy a horse, and he needed the West to ride it in.

All the characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author, and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all the incidents are pure invention.

All Rights Reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises II BV/S.à.r.l. The text of this publication or any part thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, storage in an information retrieval system, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the prior consent of the publisher in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

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First published in Great Britain 2013 by Mills & Boon, an imprint of Harlequin (UK) Limited. Harlequin (UK) Limited, Eton House, 18-24 Paradise Road, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1SR

eISBN: 978-1-472-00382-9

Table of Contents

Praise

Excerpt

About the Author

Title Page

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two