Read The Marshal Takes A Bride for Free Online Page B

dizzy, and he broke two ribs, so I had to put a binding around his chest. He’s pretty banged up.”
    “How soon before he can see patients again?” Tucker asked.
    “As his physician I don’t want him working for six to eight weeks, longer if there are internal injuries.”
    Tucker walked around the room, glancing at all the cabinets, the examining table and the different tools lying out. “He’s the only doctor we have in town.”
    “That’s what he told me.” She pushed back away from the desk and watched him as he strolled around the room. The feel of her eyes on him was pleasant.
    “You know, he was thinking of retiring and now this happens.” Tucker held his hat in his hands and twirled it around. “It just doesn’t seem fair for him to be so hurt”
    “Life isn’t always fair,” Sarah replied calmly.
    The words he had to say wanted to come tumbling out but he knew he had to move slowly or Sarah was likely to bolt and he needed her to stay in Fort Worth.
    “We need a doctor in this town, Sarah. You’re the only one we’ve got right now, and you’re just visiting.”
    Her eyes grew large, and her face tensed. “Don’t ask me to stay, Tucker. You know I have my own patients back in Tombstone. The man sitting in for me is new to the town.”
    Tucker walked to where she sat, forcing her to look up at him. “What about the people you love? The friends you grew up with? What about my sister-in- law? Her baby is due in the next few weeks.”
    “Your sister-in-law can get a midwife. I’m concerned, but I can’t stay.”
    “Why not, Sarah?” he asked. “Your husband is dead. Your grandfather is older. He could need medical attention.”
    Tucker felt like a hypocrite; hadn’t he yelled at his mother for using this same tactic? Yet he wanted Sarah to stay. Needed her to remain in Fort Worth for the town, not himself.
    “Your son is not old enough to care whether you’re here or in Tombstone. Why can’t you help us? At least until we find another doctor.”
    “I ... I just can’t.”
    Her facial expression was blank as if there were no emotion, and he knew something was wrong. He walked across the room and placed an arm against the window frame, leaning to gaze out into the street, not really seeing the people pass by.
    She was going to leave because of him. Something was eating at her and though he wasn’t sure what, he had a pretty good idea. He turned and stared at her.
    “Is it because of that night we shared together?” He paused. “You won’t stay in Fort Worth because of me.”
    “What night are you referring to?” she asked, as though she didn’t know what he was alluding to.
    “I never meant to hurt you that night,” he said, twirling his hat nervously in his hands. “It just happened.”
    She shrugged and tried to pretend indifference. “I don’t regret that night.”
    How could she ever regret that night? That was the night her son had been conceived, and she loved Lucas more than she thought possible. Yet because Tucker had walked away without saying good-bye that night, she’d come to the conclusion that he had never cared for her.
    He stared, disbelief all over his face. “You aren’t mad?”
    “No. That happened almost three years ago. It’s in the past. I got over you, Tucker.”
    Inside she cringed. She had gotten over him, and if she repeated the phrase enough, maybe she would believe it. But for her son, she could do just about anything.
    He gazed at her. “You did, huh?”
    “Yes,” she said, unable to meet his gaze. The memory of his big, strong hands caressing her breasts had her jumping up out of her chair. She wandered around the room, picking up objects and setting them down again.
    “Is that why you married your husband so quick?”
    She frowned. She didn’t need him checking dates and figures. If he started counting days and months, he could possibly realize that Lucas was his son. And that was her biggest fear of staying in Fort Worth.
    Her fear of