Once Boone left for town, Domino applied the splint to King’s broken leg. When he was finished, he gave Fancy some last-minute instructions, then left with the others to return to the herd. Only Ace remained behind to fetch and carry for her while she worried and fretted over King. Ace lingered near as she put on a pot of chicken soup for the patient and a beef roast in the wood stove for everyone else’s supper. After the boy fetched kindling for the stove and milk from the well for cooking, she sent him on his way. He was anxious to get back to the pasture before Domino left with the cattle drive, so he could say goodbye.

When he was gone, Fancy found herself alone with King. She split her time between monitoring the food she was cooking and watching over him. Since Domino had wrapped his ribs in the strips she’d torn, King was left shirtless, the sheet only coming halfway up his chest. Even though she tried to quell the urge, Fancy couldn’t stop staring at him. His shoulders were so broad, his arms so strong. Just looking at him gave her pleasure.

For three hours, she ran back and forth, tending the food and checking on King. She baked two loaves of bread and put on a pot of collard greens. After searching the larder, she found some jarred peaches for a cobbler. Fancy smiled, imagining their Chinese cook putting them up for later. If she were to stay, she’d preserve everything she could get her hands on. The idea of having a home of her own, and a husband like King, kept her imagination running full speed…until a groaning from the bedroom set her feet in motion. He was awake. Thank God!

When she came to him, Fancy was disappointed. His eyes weren’t open, he was shifting uneasily and sweating. There were streaks of dirt and mud on his face and arms. “You need a bath,” she told him softly. “And the best time to do it is when you’re incapable of fighting back.” Heading to the kitchen, she put on more water to warm, trying to subdue the mounting excitement she felt at the prospect of touching King’s big body. Her anticipation made her feel a bit guilty. “You’re not going to enjoy this, Fancy, that would be wrong,” she cautioned herself.

Too bad she didn’t listen.

Once the water was warm, she found a piece of homemade soap and a sponge to clean him. For a brief moment, she just stared at the expanse of his powerful body, his manly face, and his strong neck, not knowing where to begin. Shaking with apprehension and delight, she took his hand in hers. Closing her eyes, she just held it for a few seconds. The warmth, the tactile pleasure when his callused skin slid over her palm, made Fancy gasp. For years, the only contact she’d had with another person was when someone lashed out in anger at her, or when she’d been serving them in some menial capacity. A twinge of guilt lashed at her heart, for this was no different. King was in her care and she had no right to receive pleasure at his expense, without his knowledge or consent.

After chastising herself, she proceeded to bathe him. Biting her lip, she made long strokes on his skin, her eyes caressing him as surely as the sponge. She studied his strong forearms, covered in golden hair, paying special obeisance to the prominent vein that ran down his inner arm all the way to his wrist. Her ministrations must have felt good, because he sighed a little and smiled. Fancy beamed at his approval, even if he wasn’t aware he gave it. After she cleansed his arms, shoulders, and the portion of his chest that was uncovered, she moved to his face and neck, being especially gentle around his eyes and mouth. During this time, Fancy absorbed every single facet of his appearance – from his firm generous mouth, to the smattering of freckles across his nose. If she were bold, she would’ve stolen a kiss, but she didn’t dare, she wasn’t nearly brave enough. Instead, she just took care of him, washing his legs, his feet, staying low enough on his thighs to preserve his modesty. She might have to do more later, but she’d give him a little time to recover. King might forgive her for the liberties she’d taken up to this point, but she didn’t want to give him reason to ridicule her, if possible. Once he was tended to, she felt of his forehead to insure he was fever free. Satisfied that she’d done all she could for the time being, Fancy brought the sheet and blanket up to cover him gently.

While she was emptying the water, King stirred, opening his eyes. “What the hell?” he groaned, then when he went to move, he yelped. “Damn, everything hurts!”

Fancy, hearing him exclaim, rushed to his side. “Don’t move, King!” She placed a restraining hand on his abdomen. “You’ve been hurt!”

“I need to get up.” He tried to raise up.

“No!” Fancy was emphatic. “You’ll be still if I have to sit on you. You have broken ribs, a broken leg, and your head would be bashed in if it weren’t so hard!”

After struggling without success, he let his mind settle enough to remember how he got here. “The Longhorn turned on me.”

“Yes. You have to remain in bed, at least until I can get a cast on your leg, and then you’ll have to get plenty of rest.”

King blinked his eyes, trying to process what this woman was telling him. “You? Why are you doing anything for me?”

Fancy sighed in exasperation. “Because you needed me. Domino left with the cattle drive and the other men are working. Boone has gone into town for some plaster, and when he returns, I’ll fashion a cast for you.”

“I don’t want you here!” He was emphatic. Taking in his freshened state, he snarled. “What did you do, give me a bath?”

“Yes, I did!” Fancy was just about tired of his mean streak. “I cleaned the mud and blood off you, you ungrateful cretin!”

He narrowed his eyes and snarled at her. “I don’t want you here!” he repeated his former declaration.

“I heard you!” Fancy yelled back. “The whole country heard you!” She folded her thin arms over her nonexistent chest and nailed him with a glare. “But, guess what? You’re stuck with me until you’re better!”

King seethed. “Well, that’s the best damn excuse to get better I’ve ever heard. I just feel like I got a good dose of medicine. I’ll be turning cartwheels in a day or two if it means you’re out of my house at the earliest opportunity.”

“Well, good.” She stomped her foot. “I guess you’ll cooperate with me, then, won’t you? Eat your soup. Drink your water. Stay in the bed and behave!”

“Behave?” He barked. “Who are you to tell me to behave?”

She picked up the tin basin from underneath the bed and waved it at him. “Because I have the bedpan, that’s why!”

King was a bit taken aback by her feisty attitude. “I will get up out of this bed soon, and when I do, the first order of business will be to haul your skinny ass back to where you came from!”

“Believe me, after dealing with you for a few days, I’ll be more than ready to go!” She huffed off, taking the bed pan with her. Once she was out of sight, Fancy slumped against the wall. Dealing with King was going to be quite a challenge.

Left to his own devices, King lay there, wondering at what the fates had against him. Even though he ached from head to foot, there was no way he would be able to stay in this bed and submit to Fancy Grace’s spinsterly whims.

In the kitchen, Fancy put the finishing touches on dinner. She also poured up a tea she’d made from some willow bark Domino had left behind to offset King’s pain. There was also a small jar of laudanum, but she didn’t want to give that to him unless he really seemed to need it. She wanted him to be able to eat and not sleep all the time. After tasting the soup, she deemed it to be edible. Knowing the other men would be in soon, she wanted King to be able to dine first. Taking a bowl from the cabinet, she dished him up a big serving and placed a slice of homemade bread next to it on a tray. A big glass of milk accompanied it, as did a generous portion of peach cobbler. Gathering it up, she returned to beard the lion in his den.

When Fancy came around the corner, King didn’t grumble. Whatever she was carrying smelled too good to refuse. She set the tray down on a small table next to the window and came to him. The look on her face was hard to read.

“I’m sorry I took your bedpan, I’ll return it to you shortly.” She approached his bed and picked up the pillow next to his. “Do you need to use it.”

“No.” The thought of her taking care of him in that way didn’t sit well with King. “I’ll get one of the men to help me.”

“The men are busy.” She held out her hand. “Let me help you sit up. I’ll slide this other pillow behind you, so you can eat.”

King didn’t want to, but he took her hand, a flash of familiarity clouding his senses. She smelled good too, like sugar and cinnamon. As he braced himself against the pain and allowed her to pull him to a sitting position, he noticed the state of her dress. In places, the material was so thin, he could see through it to the shadow of her skin below. He also saw several carefully darned holes where the garment’s seams were too frail to hold together. The hand holding his was small, a little roughened, but the nails were clean and neat. He could see the dusting of a few cinnamon colored freckles on her skin. In his pain induced stupor, he wondered if that was why she smelled like the exotic spice. “Thanks.”

After she tucked the extra pillow behind his head, she steadied him until he eased back against the pillows with an exhausted sigh. “Hurts?”

“Yea.” There were very few places on his body that didn’t hurt. “Such a damn fool.”

Fancy smiled, more from the joy of being close to him than anything. “Who? You or the cow?”

He chuckled, then winced. “Both.”

Reluctantly, she let him go, then turned to the tray, picking up the cup. “Here, drink this, it will help the pain. It’s willow bark tea.” Fancy placed it carefully in his hands.

“Thanks.”

“I’m glad to see you awake. I was worried.” While he sipped the tea, she placed a napkin over the bare skin of his stomach, and the tray on top of that. “There you go.”

King’s eyes grew wide at the bounty before him. “This looks great, but I don’t think I can eat it all.”

“Try. Do the best you can. Do you want me to sit with you or would you be more comfortable by yourself?”

Her congenial offer irritated him. Primarily because he was tempted to ask her to stay. “I’ll be fine by myself.”

Fancy nodded. Unsurprised. “Very well. Call me when you’re finished, and I’ll fetch the tray back to the kitchen.”

Once she was gone, he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, cursing the circumstances that put him in this untenable position. After the first sip of soup, he had to admit it was good, only the aches in his head and body kept him from enjoying it immensely. When he could eat no more, he hesitated to call, hating that he had to ask Fancy to do anything. He tried to move the tray to one side, but sloshed some of the remaining soup out on the bed. “Dammit!”

His voice carried well enough that she heard him. Fancy smiled. If he was able to curse, he would improve quickly. Without waiting for him to bellow further, she slipped into the room to retrieve the tray. After setting the bedpan next to him on the bed, she let herself glance at him. The bruising was becoming more obvious on the side of his face. “How’s your vision? Is it blurry?”

King felt resentment rise in him like a tide. “No. Unfortunately, I can see you quite clearly.”

Fancy took a deep breath. “I liked you better when you were unconscious.” The needles of his insult plagued her and the desire to retaliate rose in her breast. Since there was little to insult about him, she just told him the truth, knowing this would worry him worse than anything else she could say. “When I bathed you earlier, you smiled at me. There must be something about me you like.”

“I must have been dreaming about someone else.”

Most likely. “Possibly, it’s hard to say.” She picked up the tray, realizing that this type of struggle would define their relationship. “Is there anything else I can get you?”

“No, just leave me be.”

“The others will be in for supper soon, I’m sure they’ll be in to check on you.” She paused at the door. “Call me if you need me.”

He made some type of annoyed noise, one she interpreted as resolve not to need her at all.

So be it.

For the next hour, she took care of the others, feeling pleasantly surprised when they drew her into their conversations.

“How’s our patient?” Clay asked, after everyone had filled their plates and sat down to eat.

“He’s awake. I told him you’d all want to check on him, if you have time.” She stood by the stove, waiting for them to empty one pan of cornbread before she handed another to the table. “Once Boone returns with the plaster, I’ll prepare a cast and he’ll be able to move about in a few days.”

“I don’t like greens,” Ace complained. “Can I have my cobbler now?”

Fancy spoke up before she thought. “No. Young people need vegetables to grow big and strong. Eat your greens, then you can have cobbler.”

Ace eyed her, as if considering questioning her directive. “You must not be eating your vegetables, you’re just skin and bones.”

“That wasn’t nice, Ace,” Reno cautioned, ever the peacemaker.

All the men stopped eating, watching Fancy for her reaction. “That’s okay, Reno. Ace is right. I’ve missed a few too many meals.”

Reno remembered what she’d told him about being hungry. “Do you remember when you were tracking those calves because you didn’t have enough to eat, Ace?”

Ace nodded. “I was starving.”

Fancy was embarrassed. “Sometimes life is difficult.”

“Why aren’t you eating now?” Ace asked, in all innocence.

Out of the mouths of babes. Reno realized Fancy hung back from eating because she’d been pushed away so many times. Patting the table, he invited her to sit with them. “Fancy, fix a plate and join us.”

“Yea, Fancy. Come sit by me.” Ace scooted his chair over a few inches to make room.

Jericho passed the biscuits and Gentry passed the roast. Fancy took a little of each and smiled at them through a sheen of tears. “Thanks.” She looked up and down the long table and the big, kind men who sat around her. “I appreciate this.”

“We appreciate you taking care of that gruff beast in there,” Clay told her as he made sure she had a mug of water to go with her food.

Fancy laughed. “I told him I’d leave as soon as he’s better. I’m sure that’s the best dose of medicine I could give him.”

After that icebreaker, they finished the meal in good spirits. As soon as Fancy washed the dishes, she went to check on King. She found him asleep, which pleased her. Seeing the bedpan needed emptying, she took care of that, bringing it back when she’d finished. Before leaving him for the night, she laid a palm on his cheek to check for fever, and was relieved to find his skin cool. “Sleep well, Mr. Ramsay,” she whispered as she pulled the blanket up to his shoulders. As she left, she glanced back and tried to imagine what it would be like to sleep in his bed.

She couldn’t. The idea was too far beyond her scope of imagination

* * *

 

When Boone returned, a day later, he found the house in an uproar.

“If you try to get out of that bed again, you’re going to be wearing this bedpan for a hat!”

“Ha! You and whose army, Red?”

“I don’t need an army! If you try to get out of that bed, I’ll grab you and kiss you so fast your head will swim.”

As he made his way to the back, carrying the medical supplies, Boone’s eyed widened at Fancy’s unusual threat. He waited for King’s response and when it came, it made him laugh.

“You’d better watch it woman, you might get more than you bargained for!”

“Promises. Promises.”

When Boone made it to the door, he found King still in the bed and Fancy standing over him with a broom in her hand.

“Are you planning on whopping him with that weapon, Miss Fancy?”

Fancy wheeled around. “Boone! You’re back!” She held the broom out and smiled sheepishly. “I wasn’t going to hit him hard.” She leaned it against the wall and moved forward to see what he’d brought. “Crutches!” she exclaimed, seeing what he held in one hand. “Look, King, you’ll be up and about in no time!”

“Yea, I thought he might could use those.” Boone laid the other things by the bed. “Here’s the plaster and I brought some bandages too. I know we don’t have an endless supply of sheets to cut up.”

While Fancy rummaged through the stuff, she patted an amber glass bottle. “You brought the laudanum too.” Rising to her feet, she studied King. “Although, I don’t think he’ll be needing any of it. King’s pain is better.”

“You’re the biggest pain in my…” he grumbled, then nodded at Boone. “Glad to see you, Roberts. Could you please make this woman leave me alone?”

“Sorry, King. Fancy’s our resident medic at the moment. She’s going to make a plaster cast for your leg.”

Fancy gave him an evil smirk. “Yes, you’re at my mercy.” For a little longer, anyway.

King groaned. “What sin did I ever commit in my life that warranted this kind of punishment?”

Boone laughed. “Your list of sins is as long as mine, Cap. If Fancy’s your idea of punishment, I think you’re getting off easy.”

Fancy acknowledged Boone’s compliment with a slight bow. “Thank you. I’ll go mix up the plaster and then I’ll come back and put this troublemaker in a full body cast, then you can use him as a gate post.”

King snarled and scoffed. “Just so long as I get out of this house and away from you, I don’t care where I end up.”

Fancy let his insults roll off her like water off a duck’s back. In her time, she’d heard it all. Going to the kitchen, she found a bowl to mix up the plaster powder with water. She was just about to carry it back to King’s bedroom when Boone came through.

“Do you need help with that?”

“Not unless you’ll tie him up for me.” Fancy shrugged, then smiled. “I think we’ll be fine. Thank you for bringing these things. I know King appreciates them very much.”

“All right. I’m going to head out and see what work needs to be done. If he gets to be too much, come get me.”

“Oh, we’ll be fine. His bark is worse than his bite.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Boone tipped his hat and left Fancy to her task. “All right, ready or not here I come.”

King lay there waiting, knowing what was to come. He knew he ought to be grateful. The woman was going out of her way to take care of him, receiving no reward other than a temporary roof over her head and a little food. What rankled him most, was the fact that his friends tried to force this issue with him. Still, that decision certainly wasn’t Fancy’s fault either. If he was a victim in this situation, so was she.

“All right, here we go. One plaster cast, coming up.”

Going to the side of the bed, she sat the bowl on the floor, then moved the table close enough that she could work easily. “We’ll have to remove the splits, then wrap your leg with a piece of linen to keep the plaster off your skin. Then, I’ll dip the other pieces of linen in the plaster and layer them on your leg until we have a nice, thick, durable cast.” She didn’t wait for him to give her permission, Fancy just set to work. Over the last forty-eight hours, she’d touched him numerous times. Although, the pleasure and delight she took in the contact hadn’t lessened, Fancy had managed to curb her visible response. Hopefully, King had no clue how he affected her.

“How did you learn to do this?”

Fancy pulled back the sheet, then placed her hand under his thigh. “As I told the others, I used to live near a bonesetter. She had a bad case of rheumatism and I helped her when her joints became too painful to use.”

“You’re just a helpful sort, aren’t you?”

Fancy knew he didn’t really mean any harm, so she proceeded with the task. Removing the splint, she peered at his leg, running her hand over the muscles. “There’s still some swelling, but I think it’s gone down some.” Taking a clean wet rag, she tenderly washed his leg, then patted it dry, very careful not to cause him pain. “Next, we’ll wrap your leg in this cloth, then I’ll start building the cast.”

As Fancy worked, he didn’t really have anywhere to look but at her. Her face wasn’t ugly, it was just narrow, and she didn’t look very healthy. Her skin was pallid and there were dark circles under her eyes. As his eyes roved down her body, he could see her breasts were small and her waist narrow enough he could span it with his hands. He also noted her dress, the same one she’d been wearing since she arrived. “Why don’t you ever change clothes? You do own another dress, don’t you?”

Fancy dipped another strip of linen in the plaster, then carefully aligned it on the side of his leg. “No, actually, I don’t. This dress is all I own.”

King was taken aback. He didn’t know what to say.

“I was an indentured servant. When I earned wages, I used them for food.” She gave him a small smile. “I was saving up for a dress, but now…” Now, she wasn’t sure what would happen. “It’s clean though, I wash it every night and put it back on the next day.”

King laid his head back. The woman had a damn way of taking the wind out of his sails. “I can’t wait to get out of this bed, I’m so bored I’m about to go crazy.”

“It won’t be long.” She continued with her ministrations, keeping her concentration on making the layers smooth and keeping the plaster off his skin. “While I was cleaning, I saw you have a world of books in the library. I’d give my eyeteeth to get my hands on some of those. Do you feel like reading?”

“Not really, that blow to the head has left me with a dull headache.”

“Would you like for me to read to you a bit when you feel restless?”

“You want to read to me?” He sounded a little amused.

“Yes, I saw several of my favorites, but it would be your choice, of course.” She put the last strip on, then wrapped the whole cast with one solid piece of linen to give it a smooth finish. “I saw that you have a chess set also. I could beat you a time or two, that would be fun.”

King snorted. “There’s not a chance in hell you’d beat me.”

“Oh, really?” Fancy stood and wiped her hands. “Would you care to back up your over-confident claim with a small bet?”

King let his eyes rove over the unimpressive female standing so defiantly before him. “Do you have anything of value to wager?”

His question gave her pause. She had no money. A kiss would not be welcome. Her lucky piece was strictly off limits. “Well, I could make you a dessert or a dish of your choice. Would that be acceptable?”

“Hmmm, I have some coconut. Do you know how to make a coconut layer cake?” His mouth was watering already.

“I do. And what will I get when I win?”

King snorted. “Well, there’s no chance of that, so name it. What would you like if you win?”

Fancy studied his face. He was so cocky. There was no doubt in his mind that he would win. “Anything?”

“Sure. Money. A whole silver dollar. Or…” He pondered, thinking of something else she might want.

Fancy clutched her hands into fists. Did she dare tell him what she wanted? Oh, heck, why not. She would only live once, and so far, life hadn’t been kind. Perhaps, her luck was about to change. Who was she kidding? Luck wouldn’t have anything to do with this, she had skills.

“So, do you know what you want?” He spread his hands. “A moot point, actually, considering you’re not going to win.”

“Yea, I know what I want.” Fancy looked him straight in the eye. “If I beat you in a game of chess, I want a kiss.”

“A kiss?” He snorted, then choked a little, so he coughed.

“Yes.” Fancy stated in her newfound confidence. “If I beat you at chess, I want you to kiss me.”

“Well, what kind of wager is that?”

Fancy smirked. “Scared I’ll win?”

Yes. “No. Of course not.”

“All right.” She picked up the remnants of linen and the bowl of plaster. “Just rest and let the plaster harden. I’ll go put the pork shoulder and sweet potatoes in the stove. While it cooks, I can read to you, or we can play chess.”

“Read.” He said quickly. “Anything you choose.”

Fancy got tickled. He was scared. Of her beating him or him having to kiss her. One or the other. Maybe both. “Coward,” she whispered under her breath as she did her best to sashay out of the room.

* * *

 

As directed, King kept still. He wanted this cast to work, so he could get up out of this bed and out of this house before that woman drove him around the bend.

He couldn’t believe she’d challenged him to a game of chess. Him. He’d attended the University of Virginia. He’d been a chess champion! Well, he’d show her.

Or - - maybe she’d just forget about it.

In a little while, Fancy came breezing in with two books in hand. “I’m back! Your library is amazing. You are so fortunate! I was privileged to visit the subscription library in St. Louis and one of my employers loved books, so I’ve seen many.” She lowered her voice, like she was telling a secret. “I haven’t read nearly as much as I’d like. Although, I would love the chance to read as much as possible. I saw so many great books in your library, everything from The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper to The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorn.” She held up two leather bound volumes. “I brought two for you to choose from…” Fancy read the titles, “David Copperfield by Charles Dickens or Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.” 

King was fascinated by how happy she looked. She settled in the chair, then wiggled like a hen making a nest. “I know something of David Copperfield, it’s about an orphan, so there’s lots of poverty and abuse in the story.” She gave him a pointed look. “In other words, pretty much like my life story. Do you love to read stories that tug at your heart?”

He shrugged and said, “I don’t know.”

“I do, but it’s not so easy when you’re as woeful as the characters in the book.”

“Did anyone ever tell you that you talk too much?”

“All the time.” Fancy grinned at him. “So, have you read Frankenstein yet?”

“No, I haven’t.” He shifted trying to prop up on his pillow.

“Here, let me help.” She jumped up to assist him. “How does your leg feel? I didn’t get the cast too high in the bend of your leg, did I?”

“No, I think it’s fine. Thanks.” He didn’t say anything more as she went about adjusting his covers. The last time he’d had anyone so attentive to his needs was when Mattie took care of him as a boy.

“Okay.” She returned to her chair and repeated the motion with her hips, nestling down in the chair to get comfortable. “All right. Here we go. This is supposed to be scary now, so if you get afraid, tell me.”

To his amazement, she winked at him, then began to read.

Despite his restlessness, King hadn’t expected to enjoy this time. He’d agreed only because he was bored to death. Imagine his surprise when he found himself hanging on her every word. She read well, putting just enough of her own emotions into the story to make it come alive. Pausing only to periodically check her cooking, Fancy continued to read. They were both swept into the story of the intelligent and articulate creature who finds that people are afraid of him because of his appearance. When they came to the part where he saw his reflection in a pool and realized he was hideous, Fancy began to cry.

King chuckled. “You’re not feeling sorry for the monster, are you?”

Fancy ran a finger over her cheek, catching the tear that slipped from her eye. “A little. I know what it feels like to be ostracized because of my appearance.” She lifted her eyes to his. “I’m ugly, you know,” she informed him as if he hadn’t noticed or commented on the fact himself not too long ago.

“Nonsense.” King found himself coming to her defense without thought. “You’ve just had a hard time.”

His kind words washed over her spirit like a gentle spring rain. “I have,” she admitted, “but this atrocious red hair hasn’t helped.” After a quick grin, she continued to read until they heard the front door open. “Oh, they’re here! I’d better finish supper.” She stood and hugged the book to her. “Thanks for letting me read to you, I enjoyed it.” He’d done nothing more than nod before she placed the book on her chair and took off. Her parting words rang out. “I’ll bring your food as soon as it’s ready and we’ll play chess after supper.”

King frowned, started to say something, but the next thing he heard was her voice, still talking to him as she headed to the kitchen. “Unless you’re chicken!”

…Much to King’s satisfaction, he had lots of visitors that evening. His men came to sit in his room, some of them even bringing their plates of food to eat on the floor.

“It was one of those days, Cap,” Jericho muttered between bites of pork and sweet potatoes.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, full of concern. Lying in this bed and not being in the thick of things frustrated the hell of out of him.

“Clay’s horse threw a shoe, but I got that fixed right away.” One of the few good things that had come from the war was Jericho learning to be a blacksmith. He’d learned on the fly, from a man who’d been plying the trade for decades. “No, we got some bad news.”

“Bad news?” King’s fork paused halfway to his mouth.

“A rider came through, said hoof and mouth disease is spreading like wildfire through the territory.”

“Damn.” King considered the problem. “At least our herd is on the way and out of danger.”

“Yea, but what about our breeding stock?” Reno asked. “That’s what I’m worried about.”

King took a sip of water. “Hoof and mouth isn’t spread like other diseases. They can’t pick it up from the soil, it’s passed from another infected animal. We need to make damn sure our cattle don’t meet up with any others. Round up what’s left of the herd and bring them in to the corrals and holding pens until the danger passes.”

He was so caught up in the thoughts, he didn’t notice Fancy coming to collect their dishes until she spoke. “Anyone want seconds? There’s plenty.”

Clay and Gentry rose to refill their plates. Jericho and Boone begged off, having eaten a bigger noon meal than the others.

“How about you, King?” Fancy reached for his plate.

“No, I’m good.” His inactivity had cut his appetite way down. “I’m going to get fat if I’m not careful.”

“Miss Fancy’s cooking may make us all fat,” Gentry said. “I had to punch another hole in Ace’s belt this morning.”

“Well, don’t get used to it, I’m on the mend and she’ll be heading back to Waco before you know it.” King didn’t know why he felt the need to reiterate their agreement, he just felt like they were all getting a little too comfortable with the situation.

Instead of arguing, Fancy agreed with him. “That’s right, so take advantage of me while you can.” She penned King with a stare. “Are you ready for our match-up?”

“A match-up? What kind?” Jericho asked, seeing the odd look on King’s face.

“Nothing,” he began, but Fancy stopped him, holding up her hand.

“We’re going to play chess.” She glanced at Boone. “Could you bring the board in here for me?”

Boone jumped up, all smiles. “You betcha, be right back.”

“So, you play the game of kings?” Gentry asked her, impressed.

“Pay attention to what you just said,” King stated unequivocally. “This is the sport of kings, and I am King.”

“Ha!” Fancy pulled her chair close to his bed. “Prepare to be dethroned, there’s a queen in town!”

Reno laughed at the formally shy woman’s exuberance. “You sound pretty confident, Fancy.”

“Too confident.” King ran his finger down in the edge of the cast to scratch an itch. “Pride goes before a fall.”

“Well, we’ll see. Won’t we?” Fancy muttered as Boone placed the board on the edge of the bed, then proceeded to set up the chess pieces. “Have a preference of color?”

“Nope.” He glanced around at the others. “I’m not sure about having an audience.”

“Aww,” Jericho teased “Do you two want to be alone?”

Fancy grinned when King’s cheeks brightened. “Don’t tease him, he’s going to be in bad enough shape when I beat the pants off him.”

She smiled, and King grumbled when everyone laughed at her joke.

With confident moves, she placed her pieces on their home squares: rook, knight, bishop, queen, king, and the front row of pawns in front of them. She waited patiently while King did likewise.

“Ladies first,” King waved his hand. “The sooner you play, the sooner I win.”

Fancy didn’t argue, she just moved the white king’s pawn up to the fourth row. The game was on. Over the next hour, the room was silent except for the gentle tap of the pieces on the board and the breathing of their audience. On the twentieth move, King advanced a knight when he shouldn’t have, and Fancy was able to get a pawn to the sixth rank. He brought the knight back, but it was a wasted move and she had to bite her lips from smiling when she saw him do it. She traded her bishop for the knight. Then, on the next move, she pushed the pawn again. It would become a queen on the next move.

“Well, shit.” King glared at the ornate piece sitting there and reached out angrily and toppled his king. Neither of them said a thing.

“Did she just beat you, Cap?” Gentry asked in amazement.

“Yes, she did.” His voice was calm, but tight.

“Where did you learn to play like that?” Boone asked Fancy.

She told him about the old schoolmaster she worked for, the one who’d been kind enough to teach her to love books. “I grew up on the streets of New York, my schooling was haphazard at best. He taught me to love reading and to play chess.”

“He did a good job.” Gentry complimented her. “You played well.”

“Thank you.” She didn’t expect King to congratulate her and he didn’t. Rising from her seat, she stood back so Boone could move the board to the bedside table. Fancy didn’t entertain any hope he’d want to play again, but she wouldn’t bring up the topic to embarrass them both. The men bade their Captain goodnight and Fancy returned to the kitchen to clean up the dinner dishes. She’d heard no word from her patient. Once she was through, she went to check on him before retiring herself, making sure he had no need for anything.

“Are you cold? Do you need more cover?” Since he was improved, he’d been bathing himself, using the water basin that she would fill and bring to him.

“No, I’m fine.”

She found his bedpan needed emptying, so she took off with it. When she returned, she noticed the wrapping on his chest had come loose. “Let me fix that.” She came close and leaned forward to secure the binding. “Do you hurt anywhere?”

“Just my pride.”

“Sorry about…” Fancy was about to apologize when she was thrown off balance. King had lifted a hand to clasp the nape of her neck and brought her face to his. Before she knew what was happening, his mouth claimed hers in a long kiss that in Fancy’s mind held passion, promise, and warmth. Absolute joy and wonder flooded her whole body and all she wanted was more. More. More! She braced her hands on his chest when her knees grew weak as King deepened the kiss, their breaths mingling in a heated flurry while her heartbeat pounded in her chest. From a seeming distance, she heard a low moan and realized it was coming from her own lips. Tingles raced all over her body and there were enough butterflies in her stomach to darken the sky. She’d never known such pleasure, such need. Before she was ready, the kiss ended, and King’s hand on her shoulder changed from pulling her forward to pushing her away.

Fancy stumbled backward and raised a hand to cover her lips. Her eyes met his and she saw anger and another emotion shining in them that she didn’t really understand.

“My debt is paid,” King said softly. “Goodnight and leave me be.”

Fancy didn’t say anything in return, she couldn’t. Whirling around, she ran to her room, tears flowing down her cheeks like rain. She’d wanted the kiss, Lord knows she’d wanted it. Now, she knew she’d made a mistake. Now, she knew what she’d been missing – and what she’d never have again.