“Can You Nurse Him Just for Once”? the Cowboy Pleaded — And the Obese Girl Held the Baby Close

Chapter 6

Three weeks had passed since Norah came to the ranch. Grace was thriving — pink cheeks, strong lungs, grabbing at everything with tiny, determined fists. The ranch had transformed under Norah’s care. The garden was producing vegetables. The chickens were laying daily. The fences stood strong. The house was warm and clean.

Everything looked better.

But the town was talking.

One afternoon, three women from town rode up in a carriage. Thomas was out checking the north fence line. Norah was in the garden, pulling weeds, when they arrived.

Mrs. Henderson from the boarding house. The preacher’s wife. And another woman Norah didn’t recognize.

“Miss Norah,” Mrs. Henderson called out, her voice sweet in a way that made Norah’s skin crawl.

Norah stood slowly, brushing dirt from her dress.

“We’ve come to speak with Mr. Hayes. Is he here?”

“He’s working the north pasture.”

“Pity.” The preacher’s wife stepped forward. “We came to warn him, actually. About you.”

Norah’s stomach tightened.

“The whole town is talking,” the woman continued. “An unmarried woman living alone with a man. It’s sinful. Shameful.”

“I have my own room,” Norah said quietly.

“That doesn’t matter. Appearances matter. And this appears very wrong.”

Mrs. Henderson circled closer, like a predator. “We’re here to take you back to the boarding house. For everyone’s sake. Before you ruin what’s left of his reputation.”

“I’m not going back.”

“You don’t have a choice. You still owe—”

“Thomas paid my debt. You know that.”

“Then you’re living here as his mistress,” the preacher’s wife said sharply. “Which makes you a whore.”

The word hit Norah like a slap.

Before she could respond, hoofbeats thundered up the road. The two ranch hands Thomas had fired three weeks ago. Both drunk. Both angry. They reined their horses near the garden, swaying in their saddles.

“Well, well,” one of them slurred. “The fat girl’s got company.”

The town women gasped and stepped back toward their carriage. Norah’s heart pounded.

“You need to leave. Thomas fired you.”

“Thomas ain’t here though, is he?” The man dismounted, stumbling slightly. “Just you. All alone.”

The second man climbed down too. “We came for what we’re owed. Boss fired us over you. Cost us wages.”

“I’ll pay you to leave,” Norah said, backing toward the house.

“We don’t want money.” The first man grinned, showing yellow teeth. “We want compensation.”

He lunged for her.

Norah screamed. The man grabbed her arm, his grip brutal. His breath reeked of whiskey. She struggled, but he was stronger, his fingers digging into her flesh.

“Let go of me!”

“Not until we get what’s owed—”

A gunshot cracked through the air.

Everyone froze.

Thomas stood twenty feet away, rifle raised, his eyes wild with a rage so pure it was almost inhuman. “Get your hands off her.”

The ranch hand released Norah immediately, his hands shooting up. “We were just talking, boss.”

“You touched her.” Thomas’s voice was deadly calm. Terrifying. “You put your filthy hands on her.”

He advanced slowly, the rifle still aimed. “I told you never to come back here. I told you what would happen.”

“Thomas, we were just—”

“Get on your horses. Now. If I ever see either of you on my land again, I won’t fire a warning shot.” His finger moved to the trigger. “I’ll aim for your hearts.”

The men scrambled onto their horses and rode off, their horses kicking up dust as they fled. Thomas lowered the rifle slowly, his hands shaking. The town women stood frozen by their carriage, their faces pale.

Thomas turned to them, his face a mask of cold fury. “You brought them here.”

Mrs. Henderson’s eyes went wide. “We didn’t know they’d—”

“You came here to take her away. To humiliate her. And while you were calling her names, those men came to hurt her.” His voice rose. “Get off my land. All of you. Now.”

“Mr. Hayes, we only wanted—”

“Now.”

The women scrambled into their carriage and fled. Silence fell over the ranch, broken only by the sound of Thomas’s ragged breathing.

He dropped the rifle and crossed to Norah in three long strides. “Are you hurt? Did they—”

“I’m fine. You came in time.”

His hands cupped her face, checking for injuries. “I shouldn’t have left you alone. I should have—”

“Thomas.” She grabbed his wrists. “I’m all right.”

He pulled her against his chest, holding her so tight she could barely breathe. “When I heard you scream…” His voice broke. “I thought I’d lost you. Like I lost Sarah.”

“I’m here. I’m safe.”

They stood like that for a long moment, his heart pounding against her ear, his arms wrapped around her like he would never let go.

Finally, Thomas pulled back just enough to look at her. “I can’t do this anymore.”

Norah’s breath caught. “What?”

“Pretending you’re just a worker. Pretending I don’t need you more than air.” His thumb brushed her cheek. “I love you, Norah. I’m in love with you, and I can’t keep hiding it.”

Tears spilled down her face. “I love you, too.”

“Then marry me. Not someday. Now. Before anything else can happen. Before anyone else can try to take you away.”

“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes.”

Thomas kissed her. Deep and desperate and claiming, like he had been holding back for weeks and had finally broken. When they pulled apart, both were breathing hard.

“Tomorrow,” Thomas said firmly. “We’ll go to town tomorrow and marry. I’m done waiting.”

Inside the house, Grace started crying. They went to her together. A family in everything but name.

But tomorrow, even that would change.