The Cowboy Who Saved Christmas - Jodi Thomas Page 0,96
effort to sound cheerful.
“We’re going to miss you too,” Annie whispered with trembling lips.
“Mr. Mitchum says we will see you by Christmas,” Katie stated.
Amelia was quiet for a moment, then replied, “We shall celebrate together. Mind Mrs. Nelson and always stay within her sight.”
Clint heard Amelia’s voice cracking as she tried to hold her emotions in check.
“Yes, ma’am, we will. We already promised Mr. Mitchum.”
“Remember how much I love you,” Amelia told them.
“We love you, Ma.”
“And we’ll have your Christmas present waiting for you,” Katie remembered to say.
Tears started falling over their cheeks, and Clint knew Amelia was also crying. “Amelia, we will be leaving soon.”
“Thank you, Mr. Mitchum, I’ll be ready.”
* * *
Mrs. Nelson handed Clint a cup of coffee, along with a plate of biscuits and bacon. After he gulped his breakfast, Tom and Whitt helped him with the horses.
“This is a fine thing you’re doing. Come back as soon as you can,” Whitt told him.
Clint told Whitt about the gold he’d found. “It might be a good spot for you to try.”
“I’ll pan there today.” Whitt shook Clint’s hand. “I wish you well.”
“Keep a sharp eye out. Those men might come back.”
“I will.”
“We’ll sleep in shifts,” Tom Nelson told him.
Bo and Boone ran to Clint before he reached the wagon.
“You will come back, won’t you?” Boone asked.
“Yep, I’ll be back.” Clint bent down and added, “Will you boys look after the girls for me?”
“Yeah. Pa already told us that we have to take care of the ladies. We’ll look after them,” Bo promised.
“I knew I could count on you.”
Katie and Annie ran to him and hugged him goodbye one last time.
Clint drove the wagon slowly, not wanting to cause Amelia more discomfort than she was already feeling. He stopped once every two hours to check on her and to make sure she had plenty to drink. Each time, he tried to persuade her to eat, but she refused food, and that worried him.
“Mr. Mitchum, I’m sorry, but I don’t have an appetite. I’m afraid my headache is making me dizzy.”
“I think you need to call me Clint. Does riding in the wagon make your headache worse?” Clint noticed the dark circles under her eyes.
“I don’t think so. But Mr. Mitchum, I think you should stay outside the wagon instead of coming in here each time you stop.”
Clint smiled at her as he held the back of her head, urging her to take another sip of water. “Yeah, you told me that the last time we stopped.”
“I think you are a stubborn man, Mr. Mitchum.”
“So I’ve been told. And my name is Clint.”
Amelia closed her eyes. “Of course . . . Clint.”
“We can stop for the day.”
She shook her head from side to side. “No, let’s keep going.”
“Okay, but let me know if you need to stop. Do you need more blankets?”
“No, I’m fine. I know you are going slower for me, but I don’t mind if we go faster.”
Clint thought she might be saying she needed to get to La Grange as fast as possible to see the doc. “Yes, ma’am.”
* * *
When Clint stopped for the night, he had a nice fire going before he carried Amelia from the wagon to a pallet he’d arranged close to the fire. He tried to hide his concern about her deteriorating condition throughout the day. “I thought you might be tired of being in that wagon.”
“It’s nice to be outside, and the fire feels good.”
Clint warmed some biscuits, and he was pleased when she ate two small bites. After she drank some water, she leaned back against Clint’s saddle, which he’d placed behind her and closed her eyes.
Thinking she wanted to sleep, Clint poured himself another cup of coffee.
“I want to thank you for doing this for me.”
Glancing her way, Clint noticed her eyes were still closed. “My pleasure.” Again she was silent, and he sat quietly and drank his coffee. He was feeling a little more optimistic about her condition. Two cups of coffee later, he decided he’d check the animals one more time while she was resting.
* * *
He’d just placed his rifle down by his bedroll when Amelia mumbled something. He walked over and kneeled down beside her. The optimism he’d felt earlier about her condition quickly dissolved. She was shivering, and as soon as he touched her forehead, he knew her fever was much worse. After throwing another blanket over her, Clint added more logs to the fire and dampened a cloth to place on