Would-Be Wilderness Wife by Regina Scott

door.”
    â€œNo, ma’am, of course not,” the deputy agreed while some of the men shifted on their feet as if Catherine’s words had made them uncomfortable. “But when our womenfolk disappear like that, we tend to worry.”
    â€œEspecially when there’s so few of us, I’m thinking,” Maddie put in, patting her horse’s neck.
    â€œI’m very sorry to have worried you,” Catherine said, keeping her smile in place from long practice. If she could remain calm while delivering the news to a family of death’s final decision, she certainly wasn’t going to faint under the deputy’s hard gaze. “I promise to let someone know if I set out on my own again.”
    The deputy nodded. “All right, then. We’ll be off. Look out for yourself, Wallin. Ma’am.” He tipped his hat to Catherine.
    As the men mounted, Maddie turned to Drew. “Would you be a darling, Mr. Wallin, and help me back on this horse? Sure’n it’s a wily beast just waiting to trample me.”
    Catherine thought Drew might cup his hands to give Maddie a leg up, but he swept her up in his arms and deposited her on the saddle.
    â€œWell, now,” Maddie said with a grin as she adjusted her seat. “That’s more like it. I hope to be seeing more of you, Mr. Wallin, when you come to bring my Catie-girl back.”
    Drew inclined his head, but Deputy McCormick’s face darkened. “Let’s ride,” he barked, and his men wheeled their horses and set off, Maddie with an airy wave over her head to Catherine.
    â€œThank you,” Drew said as the noise faded among the trees. “Levi’s already received two warnings from the sheriff for reckless behavior in town. If you had told them the truth, he might have ended up in jail this time.”
    â€œI did tell the truth,” Catherine informed him, taking a deep breath. Her palms were damp, and she wiped them on her skirt. “I came here to treat your mother. I thought you were going to wake me last night to tend to her.”
    She nearly winced as her statement came out closer to a scold. Here she’d thought herself in control of her emotions, yet the entire incident with the deputy sheriff seemed to have thrown her off balance. Or maybe it was Maddie’s outrageous flirting. Was her friend actually interested in Drew Wallin? Certainly, he was a handsome figure of a man, heroic even. Perhaps he was just the sort of fellow Maddie had been waiting for. She should be delighted for Maddie, but the thought made her feel as if someone had hollowed out her stomach.
    To her surprise, his smile grew, peeling away the years from his face, brightening his eyes. “There was no need to call you. You did it. Ma’s well.”
    Her heart leaped, but immediately she chided herself. She couldn’t give in to such optimism, not until she had seen the lady herself and could verify Mrs. Wallin’s recovery.
    A humming from the woods heralded Beth’s arrival. Today she wore a dress of blue gingham the color of her eyes. Seeing Catherine and Drew, she hurried up to them.
    â€œWhy are you out here? Who’s with Ma? I thought we had to keep watch over her.”
    â€œYour brother says she’s much better,” Catherine explained. “I was just about to confirm that.” She turned for the house, with Beth and Drew close behind. She could feel their excitement, but she refused to let it influence her judgment. Her own eagerness was danger enough for that.
    Once in the loft, Catherine sat beside her patient and checked Mrs. Wallin’s pulse, her eyes, her breathing and her temperature. Then she sat back with a smile.
    â€œMuch better,” she proclaimed. “I’d say another few days and you’ll be back on your feet.”
    Mrs. Wallin beamed at her. “Because of you, Miss Stanway. Thank you!”
    â€œYes, Miss Stanway, thank you!” Beth threw herself