“Nate!” Ruthann didn’t even think before she spoke, but it had been the right choice. The sound of her voice seemed to awaken him, and he pulled himself to his feet as Paul did the same.
Sitting here with Sissy felt useless as the men circled each other. She could run upstairs and attempt to find Nate’s guns, the ones she saw him take out only the one time. The other pistol was at her parents’ home. She’d packed it in the carpetbag she’d taken when she left the apartment over the studio. But by the time she found and returned with Nate’s guns, it might be too late. There had to be something else . . . Something in this studio she could use as a weapon.
She glanced frantically around the room as Paul gave a breathless chuckle and began to raise the gun again. An end table, a lamp, a cushion, a broom— Ruthann leapt to her feet, causing Sissy to give a startled cry.
“Where are you going?” Paul roared as Ruthann ran to the broom. It wouldn’t do her much good now that he’d seen her, she thought as her fingers closed around the broom handle. She’d meant to grab it without his notice and somehow sneak up behind him and—
“Ruthann!” Nate’s ragged voice tore through her frantic thoughts.
Ruthann spun around, the broom clutched in her hand, only to see Paul pointing the gun at her with fire in his eyes. He didn’t hesitate.
A loud roar filled the air—a gunshot—as Sissy screamed.
Nate leapt into the space between Ruthann and Paul, and immediately crumpled to the ground.
“No!” The sound tore from Ruthann’s throat. She dropped the broom and ran to Nate, heedless of Paul and his revolver. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sissy fly into the man she supposedly loved and begin hitting him with her fists, but the only concern Ruthann had was for Nate.
He was breathing, thankfully. She turned him gently onto his back, and there, on his side, she could see the blood beginning to well up through his shirt and vest.
“No,” she said firmly. “No, no, no, no! Do you hear me?”
She was barely conscious of the door opening again, of someone else arriving, of shouts and Sissy crying. Ruthann yanked off the shawl she wore, balled it up, and pressed it to Nate’s side.
“Nate,” she said, brushing a hand against his face when he opened his eyes. “I’m here.”
“I did it,” he said, his eyes finding hers.
“You got yourself shot.” She didn’t know what he was talking about, but she knew people in great pain could go incoherent. Pressing all her strength into staunching his wound with one hand, she grabbed hold of his hand with the other. “Stay awake. Please,” she said as he began to close his eyes.
“I did it,” he said again, with a slight smile this time. “They didn’t win.”
“Do you mean Paul? Sissy’s beau?” She glanced across the room for the first time since Nate had fallen. One of the sheriff’s deputies was placing handcuffs on Paul while the sheriff attempted to calm Sissy.
“I need you to go for the doctor,” Sheriff Young was saying to her. He glanced quickly at Nate and Ruthann. “Now.”
Sissy finally drew in a great gulp of breath and nodded before running out the door.
“They’re getting a doctor,” Ruthann said, squeezing Nate’s hand as he closed his eyes again. “Nate!”
His eyelids flew open and he smiled as he looked at her. “S-sorry.” His voice slurred some, and Ruthann pressed her lips together, trying to keep her fear at bay. It would do him no good if she fell apart now. She had to be strong for him.
“It’s all right. Whatever it is, you can tell me later.” His eyelids began to close again, and she regretted her words. “Or why don’t you tell me now? Nate?”
He smiled again, his eyes half-open. “I love you.” The last word was barely a whisper as his eyelids shut.
“Nate. Nate!” Ruthann dropped his hand and gently tapped his cheek, her heart feeling as if it were going to burst out of her chest.
But his eyes didn’t open again.
