Oz? Her lips tugged up. That was one of her grandfather’s nicknames if ever she heard one. The man just couldn’t call someone he liked by a full name. Though she shook her head at the question. “He intends to leave when this is over.”
“So? I don’t see any fetters round your ankles. You could go with him, wherever he might end up.”
Would the panic ever stop nipping at her heels? Her hand sought her pocket again. “He already told me he has no interest in a relationship.”
Walker snorted and leaned back, folding his arms across his chest. “I have a feeling that was some time ago. Have you asked him lately?”
“Of course not.” It was one thing to tease a man about a kiss and quite another to demand he love her and seek her hand. How could she? Look what happened the last time she had planned to follow someone.
No, she must face facts. Maybe she inspired the wrong kind of passion in the wrong kind of man, but the ones worthy of her love would never deem her worthy of theirs. Not enough to fight for her.
“Aw, Yetta. Don’t go cryin’ on me, now. You know how I hate that.”
Startled, she lifted a hand to her cheek and felt tears slipping down.
“Thunder and turf.” Walker rubbed a hand over his face. “You really do love him.”
Had he just been baiting her when he said it a minute ago? She withdrew her hand from her pocket and slapped at his arm. And then slumped. “Maybe I do. But don’t worry. I’m sure it’ll pass after he leaves.”
It always did.
Twenty-Eight
You sure you’re all right, honey?”
Cora took a long moment to answer Walker’s question. Her breathing wasn’t heavy the way it was when the pains were fully upon her with Elsie, but the discomfort must have been intense enough. She kept her eyes shut, kept on gripping the back of the chair until her knuckles were white.
At length she gave him a weak smile. “Just fine, Walker. No more serious today than they were yesterday. Only, since they kept me up last night…”
Not knowing any words to make it easier, he just settled his hand on her abdomen. The muscles were tense, hard as rock. Might not be today, but his babe was coming soon, and he couldn’t decide if he was more excited or terrified. He remembered cradling the tiny, newborn Elsie, holding her to his chest so she could hear his heart beating for her.
Or in her case, feel it.
He looked forward to that again, but fear hovered as big as hope. So many women didn’t live through the birthing.
“Don’t you worry about me.” Easier again, she covered his hand and rubbed it. “I be just fine. Miss Barbara said everything’s as it should be, and she’s been well trained by all them doctors. If I need anything, she’s right there. You go on.”
He would rather stay by her side until the baby came, but since the horses wouldn’t take a holiday from their business just because he asked nicely, he sighed and took a step away. Though only one. “I think it counts.”
She blinked her pretty brown eyes at him. “Ya lost me, honey.”
He splayed a hand over her stomach again. “Maybe it won’t take effect until December, but the amendment passed. I think that counts. This little one will be born free.”
She cupped his face, tenderness in her eyes. “Close enough, I guess. I sure don’t feel like runnin’ anywhere, anyway.”
Relief washed through him as he kissed her. If she had insisted they make a run for it now, he didn’t know what he would have done.
A minute later he stepped out into the midday sunshine, feeling that he should have been inside this time of day for a sign lesson. But Cora didn’t feel up to them right now, so he went down the stairs, turned, and halted.
Osborne sat on a bench with no Marietta in sight. These days, that was something worth noting. “You get sacked, Oz?”
The detective looked up, but without the amusement Walker had expected, and only for a moment. “Yetta’s too blasted curious for me to read this in the house. It’s a missive from Booth.”
Feeling rather blasted curious himself, Walker came closer. “Bet the Knights were none too happy to hear about Lee’s surrender today.”
“You could say that.” Letting out a gusty exhale, Osborne shoved to his feet. “They’re going to act in the next few days. This was my notice to be ready. They’ve assigned me to capturing Stanton, the Secretary of War.”
“Isn’t that enough, then? To arrest them?”
Osborne shook his head as he slipped the letter into his pocket. “Right now it’s just talk, like their every other attempt. Besides.” He stared at the house, probably trying to divine where Marietta was, given his wistful look. “Hughes isn’t involved with this. He’s been working on something else, and I haven’t figured out what. I have a feeling it’s big, though.”
“So you need to figure out the one and stop the other.”
“Yeah. I—” He cut himself off with a frown when the clop of hooves sounded and took a few quick steps to where he could see the street.