She feigned disinterest. “Not anymore.”
He frowned as he surveyed the row of businesses on either side of Main Street. “Are you really going to get a whatever-it’s-called?”
“An annulment? Yes. That’s why I’m driving you to town to today.”
That put a damper on the conversation until the children jumped off the wagon and called goodbye as they headed to the schoolhouse. Kate pulled the horses to a stop across the street from the town’s small courthouse. She stared at the gray wooden building and frowned. Exactly how does one get an annulment?
She didn’t know but she was certainly going to find out. Filled with resolve, she discreetly swung her legs over the side of the wagon and hopped down. Her forward momentum suddenly stopped when her dress caught on the wagon wheel and caused her to stumble. She managed to catch her balance just as she heard shouts sound farther down Main Street. Curious to step over and see what the commotion was about, she worked to release her skirt from the splintery clutches of the wagon’s axle. She pulled at the dark green fabric until she heard the sound of pounding hooves and a wild neigh behind her.
She glanced up to find a startled horse and struggling rider almost upon her. The man on the horse looked down. She took in the detail of his eyes widening before he yelled, “Get out the way!”
She gasped, then suddenly a strong arm snaked around her waist and she was slammed against the wood of the wagon. The force of a hard body pressing against her own knocked the wind out of her. Her breath came in ragged gasps. She heard the horse scream and a loud thump, then found herself struggling to hold up a limp and heavy body. Losing the battle, she sank to the ground along with the man.
She glanced up in time to see the terrified horse give one last turn and a swift kick in the air before galloping away, its rider also thrown to the ground. Her gaze flew back to the man whose body pinned her arm to the ground beneath him. Her sharp gasp rent the air as she looked into the handsome features of Nathan Rutledge.
She was close enough to see the golden flecks lighting his mahogany eyes when they fluttered open. He murmured her name, then his eyes drifted shut. His face went pale. She stared at him in disbelief. Surely he wasn’t dead!
She cradled his head in her hand, then pulled her arm from beneath him to place her other hand over his heart. Though she couldn’t feel its beat, she detected the slight rise and fall of his chest. Kate heard someone calling for help and realized it was her own strangled voice. Then arms were pulling her away and setting her aside as Doc Williams attended to Nathan.
She stared at the pale face and large form of the man sprawled in the middle of the street. A comforting arm came around her. She clasped her hands beneath her chin. Feeling something wet on them, she looked at her hands to see one mottled with blood. She stared at the traces, realizing it was Nathan’s. Her body went cold and she began to tremble. Everything flashed black for a moment.
A voice she absently identified as Mrs. Greene’s chided, “Now, don’t you swoon, child. We already have one out let’s not have another.”
Gathering her courage Kate locked her knees, forcing the darkness away by the sheer power of her will. Then she fainted.
Chapter Three
Kate pulled in a cleansing breath as she stood at the window in Doc’s waiting room. Her nose twitched as she remembered awakening to the acrid scent of smelling salts ten minutes ago. She heard gasps sound behind her. She whirled to find the sheriff and Mrs. Greene staring at her in astonishment. She looked from their faces to Ms. Lettie’s pleased one and groaned. She never should have whispered the truth about Nathan’s identity to the woman after waking up. “Oh, Ms. Lettie, you told them, didn’t you?”
Ms. Lettie’s eyes widened. “Don’t tell me you wanted to keep the marriage a secret.”
Mrs. Greene frowned. “You mean to tell me Kate is really married to that man?”
“I suppose I shouldn’t have told you anything, but yes, she is.”
“Goodness,” the other woman breathed, placing a dainty hand over her heart.
Sheriff Hawkins frowned. “Wait just a minute. He acted like he was just passing through. Why didn’t he tell me you two were married?”
“He is just passing through,” Kate said, smoothing her green dress calmly. “And we’re not staying married for long. Mr. Rutledge and I are getting an annulment.”
Ms. Lettie gasped. “You’re getting an annulment? Kate, whatever for?”
“Surely you didn’t expect me to agree to this crazy scheme?”
“Why not? The man is nice, he’s a Christian and he’s half in love with you already,” Ms. Lettie stated.
“He’s a stranger! Even if he was completely in love with me, it wouldn’t change anything. I don’t need a husband. We are getting an annulment,” she said with determination as she leaned her shoulder against the window sill.
“No. She’s right, Lettie,” Mrs. Greene said. “She’s trying protect herself from getting hurt, as well she should. We all know what happened with that Stolvins fellow down at the saloon.”
Kate glanced out the window hoping to hide the flush spreading across her cheeks. “That was before he sold the hotel to open the saloon.”
“To think, he tried to convince you to marry him even after you found out he was only after the pittance your parents left. I’m sure he broke your heart straight to pieces.”
“Hardly,” she breathed in disdain. Perhaps it was a little true, but she’d never let on; especially not to Mrs. Greene. She lifted her chin and met the woman’s prying gaze. “That was a long time ago.”
The woman arched her brow. “Andrew Stolvins doesn’t seem to think so.”
“I’m sure I don’t care what he thinks, but that has nothing to do with me getting an annulment.”
“I was only complimenting you on keeping a level head in the matter.” Mrs. Greene lifted a hand as though to ward off Kate’s anger. “Really, you’re a nice enough girl, I suppose, but your siblings are a handful. Especially Ellie. Why, every time I’m around that girl, she causes trouble. Sometimes I wonder if she does it specifically to annoy me. You can’t really believe the man would stay once he’s met them.” She shook her head. “Why frankly, I don’t think you’ll ever be able to marry.”
Kate’s breath caught at the woman’s rudeness. Her temper rose with the color in her cheeks but Ms. Lettie came to her defense. “Amelia, that’s a horrible thing to say!”
“We’ve all thought it, haven’t we?”
“No, we haven’t,” Sheriff Hawkins said.
“Certainly, we have. The girl is no great beauty and has a temper hotter than the Fourth of July. To make matters worse, she’s saddled with two young children who aren’t even her own. Why, her chances are slim to say the least. Now that she is married, it’s really no great surprise to me that her husband is eager to leave.”
Kate lifted her chin defiantly. “I’m the one who wanted the annulment. Not him. He wanted to stay.”
“But he wouldn’t stay long.”
She shook her head incredulously. “How can you know that?”
“I know you and your family,” Mrs. Greene said with a nod.
Kate felt her temper soar. “Please, don’t talk about my family.”
“Don’t get angry, child. I’m agreeing with you. You’re doing the wise thing and it’s better now than when an annulment isn’t possible.”
“Mrs. Greene, I could keep that man as long as I want,” she said with more confidence than she felt. “The problem is I don’t want him.”
Mrs. Greene stood. “I saw that man and he’s too much for you. Now, my Emily would be a right fine match for him in looks and temperament.”
“Good. She can have him. Though there might be a small problem in the fact that he’s still married to me.”
“As you’ve said, that will soon be rectified.”
“Kate, give the man a chance,” Ms. Lettie insisted.
“I am not going to discuss this.”
Doc Williams appeared at the door and cleared his throat loudly. “Kate, I need you to come with me.”
Grateful for the interruption, she immediately stood to follow him but glanced back at the others with a beseeching look. “Please, don’t tell anyone else about the marriage. He’ll be gone soon and I’d rather not have everyone know.”